Introduction: IWallet - Turning Your Broken IPod Into a Wallet!
So you broke your iPod, and now you don’t know what to do with it.
Well I decided to turn mine into a wallet.
Now, you can too!
If You Are Having Trouble Seeing The Tutorial
You can download this in a larger version on DeviantART - http://element-spirits.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d47yokj
DISCLAIMER:
Make sure your iPod is unable to be fixed by Apple OR make sure you are ok with completely destroying your iPod.
As you can see, my iPod had its LCD screen broken, and I had a spare iPod.
This tutorial is with an iPod Video - U2 edition. Smaller iPods will not hold as much stuff, so take care.
No, I do not know if this will work with an iPod Touch.
MATERIALS:
1 Broken iPod
1 Small Flathead Screwdriver
1 Large Flathead Screwdriver
1 Pair of Pliers
1 Pair of Scissors
1 Hairdryer
2+ Small Hinges
1 Epoxy
WD-40 (or other lubricant)
Step 1: Melting Glue
We will be melting the glue that holds the two halves of the iPod together.
Grab your (mom’s) hairdryer and point it at the base of the iPod.
Since we don’t care about ruining the electronics inside, set the Hairdryer to ‘High’ and start melting the base.
After about 5 minutes, start moving the hairdryer around the edges of the iPod. Spend about 30 seconds on each spot.
Go around the entire iPod about 3 times to be safe.
Step 2: Prying Part One
Now, using the small screwdriver, force it into the crack that is formed between the two halves of the iPod.
It usually works best to do this at one of the bottom corners.
If necessary, repeat Step 1 at a corner to enable this.
Once it is in the crack, slowly turn the screwdriver until you have pried open that corner.
You may hear a popping sound.
Repeat this all along the bottom edge, until it is sufficiently loose.
Step 3: Prying Part Two
Now with the large screwdriver, repeat the process along the bottom.
This time you need to hear the popping sounds as clasps snap.
Along the other three sides, alternate between hairdryer, and the small and large screwdrivers to pop the clasps on the sides.
They should get easier to pop as time goes on.
Soon your iPod will be completely open.
Step 4: The Inside
First cut the yellow tape that attaches the halves to each other.
Then, rermove everything on the shiny half of the iPod (shown).
Use scissors and pliers wherever necessary.
Do not be afraid to break any of the electronics, as you do not need the iPod to function anymore.
To remove the annoying little bits of metal on the sides (clasps), clamp the pliers on them and rotate the pliers so the metal wraps around the plier’s teeth.
Step 5: Removing LCD
The LCD will be found on the other half of the iPod.
It will have a white backing made of paper.
To remove, slip the small screwdriver under the paper and use it as a lever.
CAUTION: If you are not careful and exert too much force, you will scratch the glass protective screen. This is purely aesthetic.
The LCD should pop off fairly easily, and you can hear a lot of cool crackling sounds as it comes off.
Step 6: Intermission Step
Step 7: Hinges
Here, we start preparing the hinges with WD-40 to ensure they are as loose as possible when we epoxy them to the iWallet.
Start by applying WD-40 directly to the hinges as shown.
Both should be drenched in the lubricant.
Then, cover them with a towel, and cover with a book to let the oil soak in for as long as you want.
I let mine go overnight.
Step 8: Epoxy
It took me forever to figure out how to attach the hinges.
I talked to a couple jewelry experts, and they said drilling was out because of the cast plastic body of the iPod, which would probably cause it to crack.
Also, I wanted anybody to be able to do this.
After initial failed attempts with supergule, I consulted the internet, and they recommended a two-part epoxy, which is what ended up working.
I found it at Home Depot for only ~$6.00.
I can’t say if one brand is better or not, I just tried to find one that promised to work on a lot of different materials, specifically plastic and metal.
To save my counter, I placed newspaper down and then covered it with a paper towel. I then created a large blob of epoxy and mixed it around with a dime I had nearby.
To apply, I dipped the side of the hinge epoxy, trying to scoop up a lot, and then placed it on the iPod.
NOTE: You are going to want to put it so the hinge side is down, opposite of the pictures below.
You will also want to make sure that, when you close the hinge, both sides will touch the iPod, as seen below in the last pictures on this step.
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After letting those sides dry for a day, I moved the hinge around and noticed excess had formed, so I pulled it off with my fingers.
To do the second hinge, I repeated the dipping process that I had used in the beginning and then ‘closed’ the hinge, such as seen in the last picture.
Step 9: Finished!
At this point you should be done! Sometimes, additional application of epoxy may be necessary, but in my case none was needed.
Attached are pictures of the iWallet in action.
It can carry a reasonable amount of bills and cards, and it fits in my pocket nicely.
I recommend rolling all your bills in a rubber band to prevent them from springing out when you open the iWallet.
I use my iWallet mainly for cards, credit, debit, ID, etc... when I don’t want to deal with a wallet and bills.
I hope you enjoyed the tutorial. Any questions can be directed to my deviantART page;
www.element-spirits.deviantart.com
