As a graphic artist, I like to store extra x-acto blades in a steel container for safety. Altoids containers are the best....but then what do you do with the Altoids?

Step 1: What You'll Need:

X-acto knife
Altoids
dead shuffle
pliers
glue (not pictured)

Step 2: Opening the Shuffle Case

Very carefully dig away the glue around the inside lip of the end plug.

for more details go here:
http://www.chipmunk.nl/ipod/ipodshuffle.html
or:
http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000700034044/

Step 3: Glue Batter Indicator Switch

If you remove the insides of the ipod, the battery life indicator switch button will fall out unless you glue it in place. I had to glue mine in after removing the all the guts, but maybe doing it first would be easier.

Step 4: Pop the Socket Out of the USB Cap

Pry the USB socket out of the end cap with an x-acto knife.

Step 5: Modifying the Cap

The next two steps are to make the cap resealable like a wine cork.
First cut two pieces from the rim of a styrofoam coffee cup. You want them to be the same length as the inside of the cap, and about 1/4" taller than the depth of the inside of the cap.

Step 6: Modifying the Cap_02

Glue the two pieces into the cap. I arranged mine so that the concave sides faced outward, to add some springiness the the seal. Be sure to use a water based glue, so you don't desolve the styrofoam.

Step 7: Fill With Altoids

If the glue is dry on the battery indicator switch button, you can fill your new holder with couriously strong breath mints.

Step 8: Replce the Cap

If the glue is dry on the cqp, you can now replce it.

http://www.societyofrobots.com/materials_styrofoam.shtml

Step 9: Finished

Now you're ready to go the mall and share the gift of fresh breath with all you friends, and show off your new stylish Altoids case.

here is the opposite of what I just did:
http://www.techmanifesto.com/archives/2005/08/17/altoids-ipod-shuffle-case/

see also:
http://shufflehacks.blogspot.com/

Participated in the
The Instructables Book Contest

Be the First to Share

Recommendations

Rubik's Cube Solver by aaedmusa in Gadgets

27 3.4K

Laser-Cut Infinity Dodecahedron (Fusion 360) by thomasj152 in LEDs

156 13K

Pingo, the Secret Color Clock by Illusionmanager by illusionmanager in Clocks

1 33 3.0K

A Pocket Sundial From a Broken Pocket Watch! by JGJMatt in Metalworking

78 7.8K

Game Design: Student Design Challenge
Big and Small Contest
For the Home Contest

61 Comments

coolblue

12 years ago on Introduction

Trick question: Why would you like to ruin an iPod shuffle so you can put mints in it? A broken iPod shuffle can be sold on ebay or enywhere else:|

ryan w

15 years ago on Introduction

anybody knows similar sites as instructables.com

didgitalpunk

12 years ago on Step 8

this is very nice! id like to do that with my ipod mini but its too big :{

Vissy

13 years ago on Introduction

i LOLed so damned hard...hahaha!

mr.mallow

16 years ago

i think it could be dangerous..if you got mugged and the mugger stabbed you or broke ur arm..for a "shuffle" but really they just almost killed a guy for a few mints... just saying, dont brag lol