DIY USB Power Hub Station

Mark McCrosky November 1, 2021 Hand Crafted USB, Power for USB

Using very simple and inexpensive items, create a USB power hub station for all gadgets like headphones, chargers, GPS units, GoPro camera’s and more.

In addition to a very organized solution, the DIY USB power hub station is out of the way, yet easily accessible. No more taking up valuable kitchen counter space with cluttered gadgets and a birds nest of cables.

The solution is ultra-easy. For the DIY USB power hub station all you need is a shoe rack for the closet, a USB hub and your cables.

In less than 10 minutes you can be organized, powered and out of sight. This DIY project was less than $35 dollars.

First, grab a hanging shoe rack from Amazon. I found this 10 slot shoe rack for $13.

Next, grab a USB hub that only runs power (less expensive) and I found a matching 10 socket version for my 10 slot shoe rack for $20.

The only thing left to possibly buy are cables. However, you probably already have the powering USB cables required for your devices. I do think getting cables that have a combo Apple Lightening cable and microUSB cable allow things to be a bit more flexible when connecting various devices.

Here is a set of two cables with three different connectors (Lightening, USB-C and microUSB) for $6.00 (each) $13 total.

Once your items arrive the assembly is literally two minutes. There is a good chance it will take longer to clean out your closet than assemble the DIY USB power hub station.

The best location would be in the closet under your stairs. This is true because the space most likely has a power outlet.

Step 1 – Cut a small piece of fabric in the back of each shoe rack slot
Step 2 – Place USB powered hub in the bottom shoe rack slot
Step 3 – Lay out the shoe rack and thread each power cable from the USB hub to each shoe rack slot
Step 4 – Place devices in shoe rack slots and connect
Step 5 – Hang USB power hub charging station in your closet

Hedgehog USB Holder

Rich Gates July 3, 2019 Hand Crafted USB

What can you get with a 3D printer and plenty of flash drives? A hedgehog USB holder. With over 200+ downloads head over to Thingiverse to get your 3D template download. Looks like the hedgehog holds about 15 devices

Just finished print a hedgehog usb holder! Much easier way to keep all of these organized then thrown in my draw! Next up is a really cool bearing system! pic.twitter.com/dbtkv6Dn97
— SteeleEgg 3D (@Steeleegg3) July 2, 2019

Steampunk USB, The Gatling Gun Flash Drive

Rich Gates April 16, 2019 Hand Crafted USB, Rugged Flash Drives, USB 3.0

The Gatling gun is one of the earliest known rapid-fire, hand cranked weapons. The Gatling design is a forerunner of the modern machine gun and rotary cannon. Invented by Richard Gatling, it saw occasional use by the Union forces during the American Civil War in the 1860s.

Megan Kening at Etsy has taken this concept and made a steampunk USB flash drive. The Gatling gun USB has incredible detail, impressive color LED during operation and a rotating cannon when power up.

Megan’s collection includes the Gatling gun and a ball-point pen in a nice wooden case. Both devices are 100% hand made from a collection of materials that include copper, brass, glass tubing, USB and motorized engine with gears.

Mr. Kening has been mentioned before on GetUSB and his work continues to impress. With a near perfect, five star rating, we are confident to say any purchase from Megan is worth the money. Additional pictures after the break…

Steampunk USB, Rocket Shape with Illumination

Rich Gates April 12, 2019 Hand Crafted USB

Here is our second post of eight for a steampunk USB flash drive. Using classic steampunk material such as brass, cropper, glass and stainless steal gears, the Rocket ship USB really comes to live.

Alex Slotzkin is based in Hawaii and has been a master craftsman for the past 30 years. Originally starting out in ceramics and jumping around in jewelry for a bit, Alex has branched out into new mediums such as digital technology and steampunk flash drives.

This Rocket ship is available for $125 USD and uses a Sandisk flash drive to hold datat. 32GB and illuminates during connection and blinks during data transfer (typical flash drive function).

Alex has over 1,000 positive reviews so if you are interested, I don’t think you will be disappointed with the purchase. More photos after the jump:

5 Realistic Looking USB Airplane Flash Drives

Rich Gates August 27, 2014 Flash Storage, Fundraising via USB, Hand Crafted USB, USB Prototype Design, Useless Novelty

Promotional items have been around for years. Coffee mugs, pens, etc are still the default item for marketing manager without an imagination. Back in 2000 the flash drive was the new kid on the block for swag. Flash forward five years and the USB stick was a bit like the coffee mug, old and boring. At about this same time manufacturing processes started improving for using silicon as a moldable material. This is where the custom flash drive started gaining popularity. As time move along, the process and technology got even better. Today we are seeing some fantastic promotional items in the shape of logo’s, parts, products and even airplanes. Today we list five realistic looking USB airplane designs that would get any marketing manager excited about a promotional flash drive. Let’s take a look large cabin cruiser airplane usb, flash drive

Here is the Pilatus airplane flash drive airplane, pilatus

Here is a Hawker airplane usb airplane, hawker

Here is the F16 and F35 planes designed by Lockheed Martin usb jet, F16

These are all very impressive designs and certainly a piece of swag any trade show junkie, or even executive, would love to have. Times have certainly changed. The source for these designs is through a company named www.USBCOPIER.com and these products or any customized design can be created, just contact them. Continue Reading

Best USB Steampunk Flash Drives for 2012

Mark McCrosky November 26, 2012 Hand Crafted USB

What is it about USB steampunk flash drives?Â Am I the only one with a keen interest in showing off these hand crafted USB drives?Â Could it be the material used which draws my attention?Â Could it be the fine detail of each device which peaks my interested?Â Could it be the impressive number of hours required to make each piece?Â I’m not sure, but I could flip through pages and pages of these USB steampunk drives. For 2012, here are the top 12 styles.Â There is not particular order as each person will favor their own, but you will agree these are probably the 12 most unique designs you’ve seen the past twelve months. steampunk USB

$3,549 USB Cable. Nuff Said.

Rich Gates November 30, 2011 Hand Crafted USB, USB Cables

Locus Design Group has the ultimate in high quality USB cables.Â A good example is their USB cable [type A to type B]Â for $3,549 for three feet. Using thread techniques only Locus Design Group knows, in addition to top notch raw materials and a proprietary shielding system you’ll never doubt cable quality with this bad boy. To fully understand the craftsmanship which goes into such a product, just visit their page. I’d love to knock them with a joke about “why” but how can one be so disrespectful toward such a twisted fate of love.

Source:Â Locus Design Group. Continue Reading

USB Cryptex – Old Idea – New Hack

Rich Gates July 11, 2011 Hand Crafted USB, USB Tutorials

Who didn’t love the movie thriller “The Da Vinci Code?”Â Not only that, who didn’t dream about having a cool Cryptex gadget to store all your valuable secrets?Â Come one, you know it would be phenomenally great to have such a device.Â Well, it might not be that far off.

A Russian engineer has posted his version of a USB Cryptex case which includes detailed drawings, CAD files and component assembly. You can’t help but to want one. [more photo’s after the break] Continue Reading

Steampunk USB Cufflinks Will Break the Bank

Rich Gates March 21, 2011 Hand Crafted USB, USB Prototype Design

We’ve reported on USB cuff-links before, but we’ve never seen them with a steampunk twist…and you know we love USB steampunk gear.

This is a fine set of steampunk design work, with the small gears so well placed inside the walnut case. Very nice. The addition of 8GBs of storage make it usable as well. Granted, the cost of $200+ is steep, but I’m sure it’s a one-of-a-kind art piece. The idea of using them for an event is unique, but I sure wouldn’t want a job which requires them.

We’ve read these USB cuff-links are something James Bond would wear…but I’m sorry, James Bond has never been a steampunk guy, he’s much too classy for this cult following design work. Continue Reading

NES Cartridges as USB Storage Devices

Rich Gates February 8, 2011 Flash Storage, Hand Crafted USB, USB Gadgets, USB News

If you have a geeky love one, the following NES USB storage cartridges might stike that cord to make a perfect Valentine gift.Â Etsy dealer 8BitMemory is doing a fantastic job ofÂ mod jobs for NES hard drives like the Zelda cartridge below:

Some live, eat and sleep SuperMario, or at least did when they where younger will enjoy this small USB flash drive cartridge:

Or for the hard cord geek who needs a boat load of extra storage you can pull out all the stops for this 1TB hard drive, Continue Reading

USB Steampunk: Imperial – The Eagle Has Landed

Rich Gates September 23, 2010 Hand Crafted USB

Yes, we have a soft spot for USB steampunk of just about anything.Â Here is another design release from WWWorks aptly named “Imperial.”

USB steampunk Eagle

Like the USB Scorpion steampunk, the Eagle wraps around the tail of the USB with the LED in the position of the beating heart.Â What beauty.Â What symbolism.Brass tubing protects the inner USB but is also very decorative for looks, the etched brass overlay holds the dark red garnet cabochon above the LED.Â The head and tail plugs which hold the USB inside the brass tube is made of scorched wood with “highly visible grain” to give it the old craftsman style look.

USB steampunk Drive

Made in Budapest you can pick one up for just $180USD off Etsy. Continue Reading

WWWorks USB Steampunk Drive – New Kid On The Block

Rich Gates August 26, 2010 Flash Storage, Hand Crafted USB, USB Gadgets, USB Prototype Design

If you’ve been to this site before, you know we are a fan of USB Steampunk.Â We just received word there is a new kid on the block who’s doing some cool USB steampunk. This design is coined “Steampunk Scorpion USB.”

USB steampunk Scorpion

WWWorks is the profile name over at Etsy and he’s done some nice work on his first release.Â What I like about the style of this design is the lack of gears you so commonly see with USB steampunk.Â Rather, WWWorks put some detail into the design on the brass. So here is a bit of detail about WWWorks.Â Based in Budapest Hungary WWWorks is a computer IT guy by day and a craftsman by night.Â Trying to break away from the Continue Reading