I noticed a while back that sitting on my wallet all day hurt my back. So I took some steps to get rid of the thing.

I got a belt-clip style cell-phone case that has a pocket for my debt card, drivers license, etc.

However I didn't have a good way to carry paper money. Pockets are good, but there are issues.

1. I might lose money if kept in my back pocket.

2. Carrying in my front pocket invariably left me with a wad of crumpled bills.

What I needed was a money clip. I asked for one for X-mas, but alas, I didn't get one.

So I decided to make one. Since I'm in IT, I thought I'd use something cheap and plentiful.

PCI slot covers. You know, those blade-like doohickeys that you have to take out when you add a modem or sound card to your PC?

Step 1: What You Need.

A PCI slot cover. There are many different styles. I chose one that had parallel ribs running down it's lenghth. You want the thickest one you can find so that it will keep it's shape when bent.

A hammer.

Assorted pliers.

Access to a cement floor or other hard surface.

Access to a work surface with a fairly sharp edge. (Table, counter top, cinder bock, etc)

Note: My clip shows a few tool marks. Which is OK with me since I used tools to make it. You could probably cover your work with duct tape when using tools to make the bends and avoid the marks. Or if you like that "brushed steel" look, hit it with some fine grit sand paper when you're finished.

Step 2: Beat the Bent End Flat.

With a hammer pound the 90 degree bent end flat.

Step 3: Bend It.

Take your flat cover to your work surface.

Place it so that the half without the hook is hanging over the side, perpendicular to the edge of the work surface.

Fold the cover over so that the bend has a nice rounded shape to it. This should create two flat "prongs" that should parallel and about 1/4 inch apart.

Note: I wanted to use the stamped ribs as a style element, so I made my bend with this side facing up.

What we're trying to do here is create a spring that pushes the prongs flatly together.

To accomplish this, I used the pliers to squeeze the prongs together about an inch from the bent end.

Keep in mind that we are not trying to crush the bend. It should maintain it's rounded shape as much as possible.

It's a good bet that your prongs wont fit together snugly. Mine didn't

Don't worry, we'll fix that in a later step. At this point just make it look like the picture.

Step 4: Get Bent. (Well, a Little More Bent, Anyways)

We need to make it a little easier to get money in and out of the clip when it is under tension.

Notice how one of the prongs has a "hook" on it.

Now notice how the other end has a blunted point to it. We are going to bend this point.

You want to use your pliers to make a perpendicular slight bend at the spot where "point" begins to widen.

Bend away from the other prong not toward it.

Step 5: Fix the Tension.

This is a little hard to explain, but I'll do my best.

Note: "Bottom" is the part with the hook, "Top" is other side

Take your clip in both hands so that your index finger is flat on the top and your thumb is flat on the bottom.

Bend, firmly but gently, down in the direction of your thumbs until you take up the slack between the prongs. You are using your thumbs as a fulcrum.

You're finished bending when you have enough tension to cause the prongs to rest flatly together.