Recycle a Book into an iPad Stealth Case

 by tewharau
Featured
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Sometimes you don't want everyone to know you are carrying around your iPad.  No one will notice that you are carrying a book, especially if it is a 1970s ex-library copy of "New Zealand in Colour."  With a hobby knife, a paper clip, and a bit of patience, you will be able to recycle the very thing you are replacing into a case for its replacement.  That could have been said simpler but you get the idea.
 
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Step 1: Find the right sized book

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Take your iPad to a second-hand book shop or thrift store and find a book that  is the right size.  I found the best size was when you set the iPad on the pages of the book, there is about 20mm (3/4") to 25mm (1") all around it.  Too small is a problem because the paper won't be strong enough to hold the iPad in and too big is fine, if you like carrying alot of size and weight you don't need.  The perfect thickness is when the pages of the closed book are the same or slightly thicker than the iPad.  I also chose a book with lots of photos because the pages were thicker which meant stronger and less to cut.

On second thought, why not breath new life into that old Masters thesis as a personalized iPad case?  You're probably not going to read it again are you?
drilldogg says: Sep 17, 2012. 7:05 AM
Kiaora, I will view all people carrying this book around as a disciple of this excellent pre-quel to the iBook from Godzone.
ddebets says: Sep 16, 2011. 6:35 AM
For the iPad 2 you can add magnets to the bookcover, this will put the iPad in sleep, when you close the book. Same method as the smart cover :)
gallo1993 in reply to ddebetsMar 3, 2012. 12:07 AM
How so if you please
building king in reply to gallo1993Mar 28, 2012. 4:01 PM
All you would have to do is find where the magnets have to go and then cut and place them into the cover. It shouldn't be too hard.
peggyzoewong says: Dec 13, 2011. 7:24 PM
Hi, I just re-discovered Instructables. I was browsing and saw this. Great to see up-cycled projects. I did something similar back in Sept 2010. Just wanna share with you. http://clothwithpegs.blogspot.com/2010/09/ipad-case-by-booked.html
Now that I am a user here also, I hope to be able to share some projects here too. ;)
tewharau (author) in reply to peggyzoewongDec 14, 2011. 1:34 AM
Very cool. Did you sell many?
peggyzoewong in reply to tewharauDec 14, 2011. 2:25 AM
I didn't sell these ... I'm still using it though. You sell yours?
startrees says: Nov 24, 2011. 12:03 PM
I liked this it was pretty easy I didn't glue the pages or anything but it still worked out well. I added a "sidebar" or a little extra space for my smart cover, great instruct able thanks!
tewharau (author) in reply to startreesNov 24, 2011. 12:06 PM
Great! Can you post a pic or two? Cheers.
flosco says: Jun 5, 2011. 12:43 PM
Awesome! a New Zealand touch. Am a bit gutted about the book though. Will need to find my own copy to make all the paper things I was thinking of, with the retro tourist photos that are cut out. Love it!
rug in reply to floscoOct 23, 2011. 12:18 AM
its great to see new Zealanders on this site, i thought i was alone :(
tewharau (author) in reply to rugOct 23, 2011. 2:57 AM
What are you doing on the inter-webs when the final of the Rugby World Cup is on. That's one of the most stressful games I've ever watched.
rug in reply to tewharauOct 23, 2011. 11:15 PM
i know, it was a really intense game, but we won in the end so yaaayyyy :D
tewharau (author) in reply to floscoJun 5, 2011. 1:28 PM
I still have the photos if you want them, with nice rounded corners. Postage might be more than they are worth... Twitter: @tewharaunz.
flosco in reply to tewharauJun 5, 2011. 2:32 PM
Ha, cool. I would.
Am in New Zealand so would be happy to pay ya for the postage. Hey, did you just have another Earthquake? A 5.5?
I'm not on Twitter. Are you on Facebook?
tewharau (author) in reply to floscoJun 5, 2011. 3:11 PM
Did feel it - look at comment below!

Send me a private message on Instructables with your address and I'll send the photos.
craztheking says: Oct 1, 2011. 8:22 PM
started cutting up a book and realized my desktop dosent fit
XD haha
ducktape.mac says: Sep 13, 2011. 6:21 PM
I like it!!! Giving new meaning to iBook!!
inowits says: Sep 7, 2011. 12:25 AM
Great Idea and make the things organic. Use reCycle and save nature
FrozenIce says: Sep 1, 2011. 9:08 AM
might do it with my ipod touch :) thx
Callum Snowden says: Jun 4, 2011. 4:23 AM
Instead of an iPad, a bookPad...
finton in reply to Callum SnowdenAug 5, 2011. 3:59 PM
Or use a bigger book to hide your Notebook laptop running Windows Notepad on one side (i.e. Chapter One) and your iPad on the other (Chapter Two) and you'd have a "bookNotebookNotepadPad".

Actually... fitting one's tablet and smartphone into the same book might not be such a silly idea. Hidden in a boring book in the bookshelf, no thief would ever find them. I'll have to try it whenever I get both/either device (currently have laptop and iPAQ HW6965).
TALKTALKER says: Jul 18, 2011. 9:39 AM
I HAVE IPAD 2
finton in reply to TALKTALKERAug 5, 2011. 3:42 PM
Dude, you also have your Caps Lock on. Unless you're warning us of danger, you don't need to "SHOUT"! Cheers.
Zachintosh says: Jul 27, 2011. 12:58 PM
I'm sitting here reading this, and I respect you for cutting out all the pages with a knife. However, wouldn't it be a lot faster and easier if you use a Dremel rotary tool with a cutting disk on? That just makes a ton more sense to me.
tewharau (author) in reply to ZachintoshJul 27, 2011. 2:11 PM
So how would you handle the corners? Cheers.
TALKTALKER says: Jul 18, 2011. 9:38 AM
DOES ANYBODY HAVE INSTRUCTABLES FOR IPAD2
tewharau (author) in reply to TALKTALKERJul 18, 2011. 12:30 PM
This instructable works for an iPad 2 as well.
Ninzerbean says: Jun 22, 2011. 12:28 PM
I used a picture book so the pages were kinda heavier than a regular book. I glued the cut pages together with PVA glue and had no wrinkles. I also did not have to use the dremel to smooth out the corners. Thanks ever so!
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tewharau (author) in reply to NinzerbeanJul 18, 2011. 12:27 PM
Looks great!
X3R0X77 says: Jul 2, 2011. 8:41 PM
Teacher : What are you doing?
Me : "Reading."
wonderdog01 in reply to X3R0X77Jul 4, 2011. 9:03 AM
Haha that's funny!
cincymikeb says: Jun 17, 2011. 2:54 PM
Love it ,did it
a few couple comments,
I used a glue stick to glue pages together individually just 3 sides say 1" wide along perimeter.
this made the pages a littl rippley but not bad . make sure you smooth them out . close book often so pages are lined up .
i cut with exacto knife then the drum sander which worked great .
2 problems
I made a small half circle cut out in the center by the binding with the drum sander to aid in removing the i pad .
this worked great but this area was not glued so when sanding it bulged this area making it thicker . should have possibly cut out with knife first or glued along binding .
also i ran out of glue sticks using white liquid (elmerrs ) seemed more ripply in that part .
Next project the magnet .
tewharau (author) in reply to cincymikebJun 17, 2011. 5:20 PM
Sounds Excellent. Do you have photos you can post?

I like the idea of the half circle to get the iPad out. I might add that to mine.

You can get rid of the bulging with (small) taps from a (small) hammer, then clean up any uneven-ness with the sander.

Did the glue would make the whole thing thicker? I originally thought about doing some glueing, but mine worked without (probably because of the thicker photo paper).

Thanks for the comment.. Magnet progress photos?

If you write a new Instructable, I'm happy to put a link from here to it.
stubbsonic says: Jun 14, 2011. 5:44 PM
A few suggestions:

1. I don't know if the rounded corners to the opening are especially necessary-- but I guess they don't add too much difficulty.

2. To keep the pages stacked properly during cutting, perhaps a person could use some combination of ratchet claps and some metal with a straight edge.

3. A sharp blade will make short work of the cutting. The depth of the cut could be restricted either by inserting some barrier below the bottom page of the cut.

4. I suppose if a person wanted to keep their iPad plugged in while in the book, that would require some additional engineering to accommodate the plug-- (perhaps that was addressed already).
tdrama says: Jun 10, 2011. 9:31 AM
i'm going to make one for my iPod nano will probably find one of those small notebooks or a novel that is about 2 and 1/2 inches by 4 inches !

It will be awesome !!

Thnx a lot for this idea
BOMB_CRAZY says: Jun 5, 2011. 8:32 AM
nice! Im Going To Try This With My Ipod 4G
Zanaji in reply to BOMB_CRAZYJun 9, 2011. 10:15 AM
I have a nook color that needs something just like this :) Time to go book shopping.
bryandhispup in reply to BOMB_CRAZYJun 5, 2011. 5:01 PM
My thoughts exactly for my Androd Phone!
frq says: Jun 5, 2011. 7:02 AM
If you have a iPad 2, you can also insert a magnet in the cover, so it will turn off when the cover is closed. Just check for the right position puting the magnet over the iPad (it is 2 or 3 inches below the top right corner).
tewharau (author) in reply to frqJun 5, 2011. 1:16 PM
Awesome idea. I don't have an iPad 2 but it sounds like you should write an instruct able about it!
frq in reply to tewharauJun 7, 2011. 7:28 AM
I bought an iPad 2, and I really liked your instructable. I think I'll make one with the magnets, if you don't mind.

Cheers!
tewharau (author) in reply to frqJun 8, 2011. 12:29 PM
Please do, & post photos!
Apple37 says: Jun 8, 2011. 11:00 AM
Apple captures world
BtheBike says: Jun 8, 2011. 8:41 AM
that is very slick .
SBUX says: Jun 5, 2011. 11:32 AM
umm wouldnt this over heat the ipad?
jsgraham in reply to SBUXJun 6, 2011. 11:51 PM
Not really. My iPad is in a similar case from Griffin and it stays nice and cool. It's not a very sturdy case, and the design isn't all that great. So I've had to do some mods to it to make it user friendly. Like the tabs on the back that turn the front cover into a stand. They're cheaply made, and easily worn out. So I added some velcro strips to the back to keep the front cover from slipping out. Also, I've used velcro on the front to keep the cover closed. It makes a nice ripping noise when I open it in class. My professors aren't to keen on the idea though. ;)
tewharau (author) in reply to SBUXJun 5, 2011. 1:46 PM
My iPad doesn't get very warm, but I probably don't do anything that pushes the CPU very hard. Anyone else have heat issues?
vwluvrs says: Jun 6, 2011. 1:09 PM
Possible alternative, is to glue the pages together in the "closed" position, and then using a band saw or a scroll saw, cut your opening. Then the books pages are rigid, so drilling for plugs and adapters may not be an issue...
You could also then drill and insert small yet powerful magnets in the "edge" to keep the cover closed.....
jspits says: Jun 5, 2011. 7:49 PM
Nice work - I was thinking of doing the same thing with my ipad, just looking for the right book.
For added security you could also use elastic diagonally on the corners and secured to the inside of the back cover to hold the ipad inside the pages.
And the paper clip for the power button was a nice touch.
IamSASORI says: Jun 5, 2011. 6:46 PM
firstly, this is an excellent idea for a case! (even though i dont own an ipad)
secondly, (WARNING: CRITICISM AHEAD!) wouldnt it be easier to attach a premade ipad1 case to an old book spine and cover, then add false pages to the edges?
recycledgrandma says: Jun 5, 2011. 3:55 PM
How about overheating? Does the nestle-effect endanger it iPad?
dulciquilt says: Jun 5, 2011. 12:00 PM
I did something similar for our Nook. I found a thin book that slid inside a matching box/sleeve and glued fabric inside to hold the nook in place. It ended up a little tight for the sleeve, but if I open the book and insert the back cover and nook only, the cover folds over the front of sleeve and looks fine. The whole thing then fits inside a netbook neoprene case with room for the power cord.
tewharau (author) in reply to dulciquiltJun 5, 2011. 2:19 PM
Sounds cool! Please post a photo. Crap! Another aftershock! Piss Off, earthquakes!
meyotch says: Jun 5, 2011. 12:28 PM
Would you be able to make successive passes on the pages with a laser cutter to cut this with perfectly smooth edges? Is anyone out there experienced enough to know if clamping the pages in the closed configuration could be cut this way?
tewharau (author) in reply to meyotchJun 5, 2011. 1:33 PM
Sounds like a great idea, but most of my solutions are usually lo-tech with found materials.

Just remember, only the top sheet is visible so making it perfect underneath would only look good when you're not using it
Green Silver says: Jun 5, 2011. 8:44 AM
Brilliant idea! I'm going to make one for my iphone 4, it's looks an excellent protective case too. Just got to find a copy of a Gideons bible, so even getting mugged the mugger want want to have that! 10/10.
Thanks.
tewharau (author) in reply to Green SilverJun 5, 2011. 1:20 PM
Thanks. Post a photo here when you've done it.
rtempleton says: Jun 5, 2011. 12:41 PM
Unfortunately, I already spent extra money on a cover for my Apple iPad 2, but this looks amazing...
So... I might just have to do it for fun. I'd include two magnets on the front cover (one to lock the cover down and one for hibernate) as well as glue the pages together and the extra hole on the side/bottom for the charging cable.
Two thumbs up!!!!!
greiss122 says: Jun 5, 2011. 12:07 PM
Taking a paintbrush with book binding glue on it to the edges before cutting makes it so the pages won't slide around, in addition to making it stronger. Also, if you do the same thing to the inside after you cut, it makes it stronger and smoother.
Something like this: amzn.to/lHn3x2
Try it!
greiss122 in reply to greiss122Jun 5, 2011. 12:09 PM
Although on second thought, you wouldn't be able to charge it if you did that.
You should cut a whole to put the charger through, and then bind it.
Blue Rose says: Jun 5, 2011. 11:55 AM
Love it!

I've been meaning to do something like this for my ereader as well. I really like how yours turned out :D
Ninzerbean says: Jun 5, 2011. 10:22 AM
Love this, and here I was thinking I didn't know what to do today...
flamingbeads says: Jun 5, 2011. 7:58 AM
I'm hopefully getting my ipad2 next week!!..yippeeee...saw this done for the Kindle in the same way..brilliant..;o)
capricorn says: Jun 3, 2011. 1:46 AM
This is an 'Ible that makes you want to buy an Ipad. The Paper clip touch is bordering McGiver level.

Two thumbs up mate and thank you for sharing :D
tewharau (author) in reply to capricornJun 3, 2011. 2:13 AM
Thanks for the thumbs up and the McGyver level made me laugh.
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