USB Cigar Flash Memory (with LEDs)

Glows red when connected, brightens upon disk access.

A touch of distinction for your computer!

UPDATED VIDEO:

• _{(the music is stored on the cigar, but played by the PC as soon as the USB disk is connected and recognized)}

For cigar lovers, gadgeteers, spies, etc... and also for nonsmokers !

_{Gosh, I am too late for the "Get the LED out!" contest, so I'm applying for the "Pocket Sized" contest -- and I won't describe the pocket; to entirely fit into a pocket, a robusto-sized cigar should be used; and BTW a cigar has to not entirely fit into pockets ! ;-).}

Please vote for me ^(*) and rate me high if you think (like me) that it's one of the coolest USB disks !

_{(*) when the pocket sized contest is open}

Step 1: Needed Stuff

Before you start:

• This project may take more time and effort than one may thinks at first.
• It is not difficult, but it needs patience and skill.

Materials:

• A thick cigar
• An USB flash disk of small dimensions
• Some wire, 2 x LEDs (red!), 1 x 10K resistor
• Wood primer
• Some tape
• A short USB extension cable
• Very thin paper, the size of a stamp

Tools:

• Cutter
• Drill and bits
• X-Acto knives set
• Files
• Soldering iron, solder
• Desolder kit (e.g. desoldering braid)
• Hot melt glue and gun

Comments

[Warlrosity]

OMFKWWLGOHMAHGODNESS!! A cigerette pen? Hmm.. A electric cigar, yes.. I see it now, a gigar, all sealed up, with a led... hmm..

[Lokisgodhi]

What kind of wood primer is this? All the wood primers I've ever seen are white and dry opaque. The stuff you're showing seems to be translucent and dries to transparent.

[laxap]

The wood primer I use is milky in the can, and becomes transparent and a bit shiny when dry. It darkens the wood very slightly. It dries in 15 minutes.

[ItsTheHobbs]

I'm going to make one for my grandpa! You've got my vote.

[laxap]

Did you vote ? ;-)

[ItsTheHobbs]

Yup!

[laxap]

(Actually I don't care winning --I wanted to think-- but now it's thrilling!)

[laxap]

Thanks !

[Mr. Rig It]

Dude that is so sick! (as in cool). You have my pocket sized vote (somehow that doesn't sound right). You need an old fashion ash tray to put it on. Great instructable, excellent pictures as well. Good job.

[laxap]

Did you vote ? ;-)

[Mr. Rig It]

yep

[laxap]

Thanks ! Two votes made it move from the 2nd page to the 1st page (sorted by votes). Meaning that we're still at the beginning of the voting period!

[laxap]

Thanks! With an old-fashion ash tray and a copper-painted USB cable, it could be a cool steampunk accessory...

[Mr. Rig It]

That would be awesome looking!

[Ktooms]

how do i know where to connect the LED's for data access and power on?

[Marcos El Malo]

What a great idea! One thing I might suggest regarding the wrapper. Try moistening it slowly (with a spray bottle) and unwrap it from the cigar completely, then rewrap it around a tube shaped flash drive you have previously constructed. Use distilled water to moisten to avoid discoloration. You might not even need to prime it. For others that want to try this instructable, you needn't purchase a premium cigar (like the AVO in the example), but you might want to ask your local tobacconist if he has any cool bands (the paper rings) he'd let you have for this project. Be sure to explain the project so he doesn't just think you're going to try and pass off a crappy cigar as a premium. Another consideration, as I think about it, is wrapper selection. laxap, I take it that the AVO you used had a natural wrapper. Did you consider using a Maduro or Criollo wrapper? I'm thinking they might be stronger, and with the maduro, your priming process wouldn't be as obvious. OTOH, a Sumatra wrapper might be too delicate. Anyway, great project.

[laxap]

Thanks a lot for your improvement ideas.

[Redgerr]

man, this is great lol... very nice cheif, very nice

[DanW1975]

that is great...

[lordofthedonuts]

good luck with the contest, your thing is awesome.

[vhcl]

Cool project! very James Bond.

[CerealKiller]

Dude simply amazing. You are a true genius for coming up with this.

[agis68]

dude u r insane!!!! grate idea for smokers as a git or a nice try to cut smoking 5/5

[Derin]

Lol,this gives a new meaning to the term "burn your data on to a disk".

[twocvbloke]

Funny, I refer the smell of a cigar over the smell of a cigarette, but still, as a non-smoker, I find this to be a better use of a tobacco product... :P Very cool indeed though, all you have to do next is to somehow make it smoke... :D

[Enventer]

any man who sacrifices his cigar deserves praise good job

[laxap]

My heart kind of broke indeed, while sacrificing this AVO. But this "dissection" increased a bit my knowledge and respect towards cigars...

[SirBrittanicvs]

Very creative and nicely executed. For aesthetic reasons (and just to make it smaller) it would be cool to have the cigar be just a little bit longer than the USB stick itself. Maybe even make an ash cone.

[Yerboogieman]

One day i bought a cigar in vegas and it had a stupid mix of news paper and tobacco.

[PrinceJ57]

Damn I wish I saw this before Fathers Day my pops would have flipped his lid! Awesome Instructable!

[I_am_Canadian]

Does it smoke when your computer crashes?

[laxap]

I wish it could, that would be cool!!! Or glow upon data read, and smoke upon data write.

[itsaidhi]

this is genius

[slipknotFTW]

you should mass-produce them and sell them

[Arbitror]

I like the burning effect! Five stars! *****

[PyroMonger]

genius...and great imagination to come up with this idea. this one i think i will definitely try

[Bongmaster]

nice job :)

[DuctTapeRules!]

Wonderfully insane! (and by the way, you look like a dodgy street dealer in picture two, step 11 :D)

[JakeTobak]

That's insane, you're awesome.

[laxap]

thank you. When I told my wife what I was so mysteriously working on, she said I was crazy! then I new this project is cool...