Introduction: Make a Theremin Enclosure Out of an Old Tea Tin

This is a very simple instructable on how to make a cool looking enclosure for a home made theremin out of an old tea tin.

Step 1: Get Your Theremin Ready

A theremin is a very cool music instrument that you play without actually touching it. You simply differentiate the proximity of your hand to an antenna which then changes the pitch.

I made my theremin from a kit i bought from Harrison Instruments for around $45. http://harrisoninstruments.com/

I wont go into detail on how to build it, as the theremin itself comes with excellent instruction.

Step 2: Find a Tea Tin and Drill Some Holes

I found mine in the kitchen at my work, no one was using it, so i took it! Make sure that the tin can fit the circuit board, all the components, the off-board wiring, and the 9v battery required to power it.

There are 4 holes needed to be drilled. Make sure when drilling that you aren't opening the holes up too wide, or else your components will slip right through them.

1) potentiometer knob
2) power switch
3) antenna
4) 1/4" audio out jack

5 optional) there is a small audio taper pot used for tuning that's very small and is actually located an the circuit board itself. Unless you fine tune it BEFORE you put it in the tin, you will have a really hard time getting to that pot once all the parts are screwed in (which was my big mistake). My suggestion is either loosely place everything in its spot, and then take out the circuit board and tune it, or drill a small hole where ever your tuning pot is. It needs to be just big enough for a small flat head screw driver to fit into.

Step 3: Install Your Components

Install your stuff! Use a small wrench to tighten all your components into place!
I put my audio out jack on the lower right side, as it seemed the most logical.

Step 4: The Antenna

The antenna is a tricky part. The kit doesn't come with an antenna, and suggests you use a metal plate elevated on a rod. If you can manage to find a part like this and make it work efficiently, good luck.

I however simply used a small antenna I lifted from an old remote control car remote. I was initially having trouble thinking of a good way to mount the antenna. I had to keep it connected to the circuit board ONLY and not let it become grounded (which kills the signal instantly) by touching the metal tea tin. Eventually my friend suggested I use an RCA jack!

I soldered the antenna to the male end of an RCA jack, and wrapped the bottom with some white electrical tape. This kept the metal of the antenna from touching the grounded casing around the male end of the jack. Then I soldered the female end to the circuit board and screwed it to the lid of my tea tin.

This was a very nice outcome, as it allowed for the antenna to be removable.

THAT'S IT YOU'RE DONE!