Back in the day a cool japanese guy made an awesome cardboard replica of the famous Muji Cd player. I wanted to do the same, but now some years later the instructions about how he made it is gone. So i am now making my own and sharing the instructions with you.

It is a fairly simple project, just some old electronics, soldering, cardboard, and a lot of hot glue. It is also quite easy to make this cd player a bit more high end, by choosing better components or using nicer materials then cardboard.

Lets make a string activated cd player

And yes, i will put up some better pictures and giffs :D

Step 1: Get Some Stuff

You will need

a portable cd player, (with front accessible batteries if you want to make this portable) (the older and simpler the better)

a couple of speakers, preferably with a external amplifier.

some tools, soldering iron, knife, ruler and likewise

cardboard

a pull cord button of some type.

A power supply (right voltage and enough Amps ( you can never use to many amps)

Also, coffee

Ps: i will not go into detail regarding the soldering because i am guessing you will not get the exact same cd player as mine. But do try to get a amplifier and cd player that operate on the same voltage.

Step 2: Take Things Apart

Remove the lid of the cd player and unscrew all visible screws and pry things apart. We do this so that we can reach the buttons and power supply in order to move them to the outer cardboard.

Do the same with the speakers and the amplifier, but in this case mostly to save space.

I had to desolder the battery compartment on the amplifier to remove it.

I was lucky enough to pick an amplifier that used the same voltage as the external power needed for the cd player, so that i could use the same power plug to power them both.

Step 3: Desolder and Solder and Some Remodelling

Desolder the buttons and the external power supply,

All my buttons had nice labeling on the electronic board, so the next step was quite easy.

Then resolder them with some wires attached, i used all the buttons except that i replaced the small button with the pull cord switch. (even though i dont know what al of they do)

Also i soldered the amplifiers power supply + and - togheter with the external power port on the cd player.

Pry off some of the bottom lid of the cd player so that we can put it all togheter with the wires sticking out.

Put it all togheter again, attach some power, and take it for a spinn to be sure it is all ok.

NB, most portable cd players have a switch somewhere that is activated when you close the lid (to keep the cd from spinning when the lid is open) find this and glue it shut. My was a small whole on the side. You can se me holding the switch down with a screwdriver in the gif.

Step 4: Measure, Cut, Glue and Build

Then do some "precise" measurement and cut out 2 squares of cardboard, top and bottom, and long strip(s) for the side. I hade some thick cardboard for the bottom and some thinner stock for the front piece.

Then use something round to mark the round edges, also mark the center of the front/top piece.

Then cut and cut some more. I used this nice circle cutter to remove a big circle in the front, but you can really use anything.

Then, glue and glue some more. I used some extra cardboard and glue to lift up the pull cord button so it would not be flush with the back. Use extra glue and cardboard to strenghten vulnerable areas.

Drill some holes for the button and use some sandpaper to finish them off.

In addition i made a hole in the back where i can turn on and off the amplifier.

Next, building and gluing

Step 5: Glue and Construct

Glue down the amplifier, make some support of cardboard to elevate the cd player and then glue it in place, try to position this in the center as it will look better, and will be quite obvious if it`s not. (as you can se on my object)

Glue down the buttons, and the pull cord switch. (with some added cardboard as support)

Glue down the speakers (a tight fit for my part, next time i will make the box 1 cm bigger.

Mark and drill a hole for the pull cord switch and fasten it down with some hot glue.

Drill another hole (for the power supply) and tread the cord and make a little knot so it cannot be pulled out. (or use hot glue)

Glue the rest in place and mark the buttons and they`r function on the outside.

Hook up the power and then take it for a spinn again.