How To: USB Steampunk a Flash Drive

Rich Gates July 1, 2010 Flash Storage, Hand Crafted USB, USB Tutorials

Here at GetUSB.info we love the USB steampunk drive.Â We’ve reported on at least a dozen of them over the past couple years and I’m sure we’ve missed three times that many.Â Today we are tipping you off to a great tutorial on how to USB steampunk your own flash drive. Instructables has a very detailed, 9 page tutorial on how to steampunk your own gear.Â It gives you a list of material, a detailed process, good and creative guidelines along with plenty of pictures and resources.

It’s my goal to actually do this over the July 4th weekend [2010] and post my result.Â Lets hope for the best! To give you an idea of the scope of project considering the following list of materials and tools.Â If it fits into your abilities, then give it a shot! For this project you’ll be needing the following materials (some of these are optional depending on your design decisions):

USB Flash Memory Drive – available nearly everywhere these days
Length of Copper Pipe (The diameter depends on how wide the circuit board on your drive is. I used 3/4″
Variety of sizes of brass tubing
Hot glue
JB Weld or JB Quick (if this isn’t available near you then some sort of strong 2 part epoxy)
Silver soldier
Jeweler’s flux
Silver banding (used for making bezels)
An assortment of brass and steel watch parts
Metal polish (I used silver polish)

As well as the following tools:

A vise
A hammer
A torch (if you will be soldiering anything to the case – i used oxygen/propane)
Needle nose pliers
Pipe cutter for small diameter pipe (a saw will work too but the cutter provides a nice perpendicular cut!)
Jeweler’s saw and several blades
Spring loaded Center punch (doesn’t have to be spring loaded but it helps immensely)
Drill with various bits
Fine files
Sandpaper in varying grits (100, 600, 1200, 8K)
Hot glue gun

Here is the full USB tutorial at Instructables!

Tags: Hand Crafted USB, usb steampunk, usb tutorial

Rich Gates

Administator for GetUSB.info GetUSB.info started in 2004 with the concept of providing USB information for everything USB related. At the time, USB was gaining momentum and every day new products, articles and news became published. Today, the site is focused on bringing technical information, tricks and hacks to USB related products. The site does publish off topic information as well, to keep the variety up. Please visit the footer area of any page if you or your company is interested in article or product placement via purchased advertising.

How To: USB Steampunk a Flash Drive

Rich Gates

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