Introduction: How to Make a Minimalistic (and Cheap) Laptop Case
I got tired of looking at the scratches and dents my MacBook suffered every time i tried to take it somewhere without throwing it in my rather large backpack. I needed something slim yet good looking. Something rugged yet inexpensive. I turned to my two best friends cardboard and duct tape! In this instructable I'll show you exactly how to make one of your own!
Step 1: Materials and Sizing
Materials: cardboard, duct tape and a laptop.
I was lucky enough to find a box that was just the right size for my macBook. You may have to hunt around to find one you like but as long as there are no creases in the middle (eg too small a box) you should be ok with any size.
Your box is perfect if you can just barely stand your computer on end when it's all constructed.
I was lucky enough to find a box that was just the right size for my macBook. You may have to hunt around to find one you like but as long as there are no creases in the middle (eg too small a box) you should be ok with any size.
Your box is perfect if you can just barely stand your computer on end when it's all constructed.
Step 2: Trimming, Part One
Alright, screw your courage to the sticking place and prepare for first blood.
Cut your box open down one of the corners. Then trim it down to two sections and loose two opposing flaps.
There will be two measurements you will have to make now. The first corresponds to the depth or hight of your lappy. The second corresponds to the width. The easiest way to do these is to just roll it. First set it so the bottom lines up with the edge of the two flaps (like it is in the pictures) then set it up on end while keeping one edge on the cardboard like a hinge. If you are careful you will get the exact hight measurement you need. Mark with a pen. This measurement will be a crease. Keep rolling it so its lying upside down. Mark again. This measurement will be a cut.
You can crease however you like but I cut through the first layer down on the inside down a ripple of the corrugated middle layer.
see the photos. I remember something about 1000 words....
Cut your box open down one of the corners. Then trim it down to two sections and loose two opposing flaps.
There will be two measurements you will have to make now. The first corresponds to the depth or hight of your lappy. The second corresponds to the width. The easiest way to do these is to just roll it. First set it so the bottom lines up with the edge of the two flaps (like it is in the pictures) then set it up on end while keeping one edge on the cardboard like a hinge. If you are careful you will get the exact hight measurement you need. Mark with a pen. This measurement will be a crease. Keep rolling it so its lying upside down. Mark again. This measurement will be a cut.
You can crease however you like but I cut through the first layer down on the inside down a ripple of the corrugated middle layer.
see the photos. I remember something about 1000 words....
Step 3: Trimming, Part Two
Alright. Almost done cutting.
now we need to create the sides of the case. To do this you trim the remaining flaps to the same length as the hight of your computer.
now we need to create the sides of the case. To do this you trim the remaining flaps to the same length as the hight of your computer.
Step 4: Folding and Taping
I left enough material at the top to make a flap. I'm sure you could just as easily leave it open. If you do want a flap it's as easy as two extra creases and maybe a cut to shorten it.
Now fold her up. You can tape to suit you. some like straight lines, others like it all crazy like a square ball of yarn. I decided to do racing stripes.
The only thing that you need to do is get your horizontal strips in first. Everything after that can be purely cosmetic but you need some structure to start off with.
Now fold her up. You can tape to suit you. some like straight lines, others like it all crazy like a square ball of yarn. I decided to do racing stripes.
The only thing that you need to do is get your horizontal strips in first. Everything after that can be purely cosmetic but you need some structure to start off with.
Step 5: Cosmetics
Go wild.
I did red with white vertical racing stripes.
I did red with white vertical racing stripes.