Construction site worthy hard case for under $1 [Archive]

dumwaldo

04-04-2007, 17:09

Here is the ultimate hard shell case for the D2 and you can do it yourself in about a minute. First the pics then the explanation.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/dumwaldo/CopyofIMG_0050.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/dumwaldo/CopyofIMG_0051.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/dumwaldo/CopyofIMG_0052.jpg
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/dumwaldo/CopyofIMG_0053.jpg

So basically it is an Altoids tin with a hole drilled in the side and a scrap piece of packing felt. Genius huh? LOL

Seriously though it worked out as perfect as I could possibly imagine. See if you drop a D2 into an Altoids tin it will rattle around. The piece of packing felt on the side acts as a buffer to keep the D2 snug inside the tin. I also made a small hole in the felt that the headphone wire pokes through and acts as a dust catcher for the hole.

There is no access to the buttons on the top but I do not see that as a problem if you don't mind getting some new headphones (which you should probably do anyway) with an inline volume control. If I really wanted access to the buttons I could drill a series of holes that align with the buttons then file the edges of the hole smooth into a straight line.

The reason I don't want to do that is because I want to try and keep my D2 as protected as possible from dust since it will be seeing many hours of use in my pocket on a construction site.

The last thing I wanted to mention about this case is I believe it offers added security. Drop it in your pocket with the hole facing down and it just looks like a tin of mints, not a kick ass little media player that might be worth stealing. Maybe that part is just the new yorker in me but I like to keep my nice stuff safe a exterior disguising is a good way to keep stuff safe in NYC.

Well thats it. My $1 hard shell case for the D2 that is worthy of protecting my toy in as harsh an environment as a commercial construction site.

peace out,
dumwaldo

mcramen

04-04-2007, 17:59

ye, I had altoids case for zen micro back in the days.
I'm also from NYC, so it helped me to disguise my mp3p from possible robbery (i'm serious)
It was expensive back then, cost me over $200.
But I had all access to the function when I used it with zen micro.

I'm happy to see D2 in altoids tin, but blocked access to the top volume/power controls + usb connector is negative, IMHO.

red5

04-04-2007, 18:35

lol

so cool!! I think I have a altoids tin somewhere, have to find it!

sillyrabbit

04-04-2007, 19:34

Awesome!

somethoughts: altoid tin hinges suck.

AussiePie

04-04-2007, 21:30

I just made 1 too thanks for the inspiration [smile]

Mine is the other way round (hole on the right) and has high density foam in it (bottom/side and top) with some low density foam near the hole (same as yours), the reason for this is i will try to put a sealed hole for the -M+ bottons.

Will post some pics when the glue drys [yes]

The case is cool green as well [biggrin]

pixels

04-04-2007, 22:49

hahaha. excellent

"dude why are you LISTENING TO YOUR ALTOIDS"

Rockin_amigo14

04-05-2007, 01:18

i'd do that, but the e4c's have an L-shaped headphones jack, which presents a bit of a problem.

calcheese

04-05-2007, 08:56

anyone know if there are any alternative cases like these in the UK? I've searched for altoids tins before for my digital camera but to no avail....

(I like what you did there dumwaldo!)

Captain Ødegård

04-05-2007, 09:00

LOL :d
No matter what player it is, somone will make an altoids tin :D To bad those are pretty much US only
very nice ^^

tabv

04-05-2007, 11:03

Wow, nice job dumwaldo....looks nice to...[smile]

I also use the small altoid tin for my IEM's...

dumwaldo

04-05-2007, 12:11

LOL :d
No matter what player it is, somone will make an altoids tin :D To bad those are pretty much US only
very nice ^^

????
i thought Altoids were made in the UK. It says "made in Great Britain" on the bottom of the tin.

AussiePie, I would like to see your pics. I wanted to put foam on the bottom but didn't have anything laying around that would work well. The stuff I have is to thick. I have been considering ripping apart an old cell phone to use the rubber pad and buttons to make something for the top to access the buttons on the D2.

Rockin_amigo14, I just finished connecting a headphone wire directly to the speakers of a portable radio so I could plug the D2 into it and when I finished I realized I used a wire with an L shaped plug [cursing]

Allen

04-05-2007, 12:41

If it rattles you might want to stick some felt or foam on the inside of the Altoids lid... I'll probably make one this weekend :jamming:

Judge

04-05-2007, 13:21

I'm happy to see D2 in altoids tin, but blocked access to the top volume/power controls + usb connector is negative, IMHO.Maybe you can also cut holes on top so you can reach those?

M4psycho

04-05-2007, 13:25

ROFL that is just plain awesome, I have to say. good job!!! Yeah it doesn't work quite as well for those with L shaped connectors on our headphones but if you put it close enough to the edge then it should be fine because the connected is fairly long, at least on my E3G's it is so yeah....

Good stuff!

dumwaldo

04-05-2007, 13:34

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d177/dumwaldo/CopyofIMG_0680.jpg

I am not happy with the way the top buttons turned out so I think I need to get another tin later and give it another go.

AdorkableChris

04-05-2007, 14:06

I'm from the UK also and I'm pretty sure that Fisherman's Friends used to and still do in some places come in tins, there was also another item that I can't quite recal that used to come in little tins, I'll check the shops tomorrow.

In the mean time though I stumbled across this site whilst looking it up and it looks like you can buy Altoids from here for about £4. :)

http://everythingcinnamon.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?cPath=2&products_id=69

And here for cheaper -
http://www.mrsomalleys.co.uk/pages-main/category-4/mints-and-lozenges.html

As for the tins above they look great and would be good for when I'm lugging things around at work. :)

PS :
How about some old antique tins -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-SMALL-OLD-TINS_W0QQitemZ170096767663QQcategoryZ10950QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SET-OF-3-VERY-CUTE-BUNNY-RABBIT-TINS-STACKABLE_W0QQitemZ250100411886QQcategoryZ10950QQr dZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Selection-of-Small-Keepsake-Tins_W0QQitemZ110109343036QQcategoryZ10950QQrdZ1QQ cmdZViewItem#ebayphotohosting

calcheese

04-05-2007, 16:33

????
i thought Altoids were made in the UK. It says "made in Great Britain" on the bottom of the tin.

i think they were originally made in the UK but now productions been moved to the US...or is it just that it's made here for the US market? I haven't seen any of these around in the UK anywhere but it seems pretty common in the US..I guess I'll have to get it imported...

Thanks for the info adorkablechris! But for some reason, fisherman's friend doesnt look as good as the altoids tins....also...aren't fisherman's friends for old fishermen....? I may have to resort to this in the end though!

what are you guys using to cut bits out of the tins?

dumwaldo

04-05-2007, 17:06

drill a series of holes then smooth it out with a metal file.

If you look at the pic I posted of the buttons you can see the remnants of drilling. There are scuffs on the paint from the drill chuck and one of the holes was a little out of line.

keal

04-06-2007, 00:56

Haha, I remember seeing the pics of a U3 in the Altoids chewing gum tin - I think it's in this forum? Anyway it never dawned on me to try the D2 in the mints tin!

Great idea, you guys! [biggrin]

Oh, and the earphones in the chewing gum tin is genius! I might do that as my ER-4Ps have a soft zipper case and don't offer much protection [smile]

AussiePie

04-06-2007, 09:14

Well this is my effort, not quite complete i still want to put some button controls in.

The white and blue foam is glued in and grey is loose/floating.

The white foam was from some packing/boxing i had held onto and the blue foam was an old foam camping matress.
The D2 is slightly angled down toward the headphone jack hole because on the partial foam covering on the tin base, the foam on the lid helps hold the D2 rigid and preventing it moving around in the tin (presses against the casing) as does the blue and grey foam from either end.

This pretty much stops any rattling in the tin and should stop any marking [smile]

asitmc

04-09-2007, 18:04

fuck awesome........
I know it sure won't get stolen if left on the table or something LOL
LMAO

setTopbox

04-27-2007, 18:19

Dude you are freaking brilliant. I'm off to the 7-11. (my first post lol)

Michalaq

05-02-2007, 19:51

I was wondering if there is any product that comes in a similar type of tin that's available in the UK. I mean I can buy 6 tins of altoids for ~£10 off fleabay, but it seems to defeat the purpose of making the case - a fiver more and I could buy an official leather case.
And I can't find any vintage tins that are quite the right size either...

calcheese

05-03-2007, 06:20

I bought a single tin of altoids from a seller on ebay for 99p and 1.99 shipping. But depending on whereabouts in the UK, you might try places like Waitrose, peckhams, international sweet sellers and even pharmacies. Good luck!

Michalaq

05-03-2007, 07:03

Yeah, I just ordered 2 tins for something like 4.22 shipped. i was going to buy a batch of 6, because I play around with DIY electronics a bit, and was thinking of making a mintyboost (battery powered travel charger in an altoids tin), but though it a bit excessive.
Only thing that worries me about the altoids tin solution is whether the corners of the player will not wear on the sides of the tin over time. Oh, well, only one way to find out.

magu2k

05-09-2007, 17:05

Hi everyone, this is my first post here, I will have a D2 in about 2.5 weeks, and this case is what pushed me over the edge to get the D2, it fits so perfectly, I've already orded some Altoids on Ebay, I spent a whole day searching teh mall for some but couldn't find a single tin, wherea I used to buy them all the time here, not sure whats going on there. Anyways, they cost about $2.00 CAD and $1.00 CAD for shipping each.

I have some plans in store for really modding out the tin, when I'm finished I'll post pics, if it works :)

calcheese

05-09-2007, 18:48

great, look forward to seeing your effort! I only drilled a hole for the ear phone socket and then got sidetracked with various work and hobbies...not sure when i'll finish it..

ManchesterBaby

05-10-2007, 04:55

I did the same thing when i got my D2 a few weeks back. I solved the problem of access to the top buttons by adding two pieces of cotton fixed to the lid and the base. These are under tension when the lid is open, but slack when it's closed. This lifts the D2 up when the tin is opened to an angle where the top buttons can be accessed and the D2 can be easily removed. Works suprisingly well - the D2 can be fully operated when still in the tin and can be popped in and out quickly without unplugging the headphones.

I've removed the bottom padding on the last pic to show how it works. It's a bit of a hack but that's the wonder of using and Altoids tin, an old mousemat (for padding!), some cotton and LX tape to make a case! Going to remake it better with ribbon instead of cotton and some other refinements when i get the chance.

(Love the way the tins have "Made in Great Britain" plastered on the front but finding them here (especially the fantastic cinnamon ones) is nearly impossible... got these brought back across the pond by a friend.)

Taustin Powers

05-10-2007, 05:34

That's pretty cool.... How does it compare dimensions-wise to a leather case like the Noreve?

henrycow

05-10-2007, 08:10

Has anyone considered using what I believe are commonly referred to as "stash tins" - for sale widely on tinternet and in "head shops" and all over the uk in newsagents and the like. they come in a range of attractive designs, some with your favourite bands on, and the like, and they are cheap as chips. .

henrycow

05-10-2007, 09:06

Just ambled down to the local tat market - among the bongs and replica guns I found some perfect size hinged tins for £1.50 - they come complete with a couple of disposable lighters and a pack of rizla papers. bit tacky on the design front though - all they had were naked ladies or slogans like I love weed or licence to chill. The search continues...

henrycow

05-21-2007, 15:45

I done this tin - tacky stash tin - sanded for an hour bung in some foam - thank you Dumwaldo - you ain't so dum ! Now my D2 is safe from my reckless cycling.

stonebeard

07-20-2007, 04:44

After finding this thread, I had to try this out.

Took a few tries, but now I got a design I like.

- Standard tin, with a hole on the right side, so that the hinge is at the bottom of the D2. I put my USB adapter on the opposite side of the headphone jack for padding and to keep it with the D2.

- I bought a cheapo eyeglass cleaner cloth and glued it to the bottom half of the tin, but making sure it would be long enough to cover the D2 when closed. So far, it works okay. Makes keeping the screen clean easy, and I just pull on it to remove the D2. It seems to be almost enough padding, it still moves around a little in the case.

- I also replaced the stylus with a replacement pen for the Nintendo DS. They fit my hand better, and it still fits inside the case for travel.

- I drilled a few small holes to reach the power, +,M,- buttons with the tip of the replacement pen. I usually leave the pen outside of the case on the stretchy string that came with the D2 and use it to select the hold feature or turn it off, or push the volume and menu buttons. The holes are only 1/8" diameter, so I am not reducing my protection by much.

- At home I have some magnets on my fridge to hold it near the stereo with aux input. I can leave the case open with no worries of it falling out (even with people slamming the fridge door).

I did notice that if you pulled out the door covering the USB port, you could probably drill a small hole there as well and just have the door bent a little over the top of the D2.

This case has definitely saved my D2 from certain destruction. I usually have it my my smock pocket and don't even realize I'm leaning against table. There are numerous small dings in my case from this, but the D2 looks great! Plus, I gotta admit it is great fun when people ask why I'm listening to my Altoids.

I'm going to make another one out of a Hershey's Cacao Reserve Truffles tin. It has a detent in the lid that looks like a good place to put an extra SD card.

BTW, this is my first post. Yeah!

-Stonebeard

fedito

07-20-2007, 08:51

cmetzner

08-12-2007, 08:40

Here is my effort. The holes were cut with a dremel. The fabric allows me to quickly get the player out of the case.

tobbis

09-07-2007, 13:59

Great soloution for accesing the top of the player ManchesterBaby

morgan

10-11-2007, 21:27

what a great thread.
would you say the altoids tin case is less bulky than the leather options?
i'm really after the thinnest case possible.

bomfg

11-06-2007, 12:59

great idea!
but i think i'd have less compunctions to steel a tin of altoids than a mediaplayer ;)
altoids origin is britain, but wirgleys bought them and some other brands back in 2004 or so, since then they're sold mainly in the usa, but if you search, i guess you'll find them elsewhere, too (in germany you do). in online-shops for sure. and if not:
fishermans tin = altoids tin, it seems to be a standart used for some more drops.

Lenny

11-09-2007, 17:41

I lined mine with an old t-shirt. I still need to cut holes for the buttons on top, but i think it's good for now.

http://i6.tinypic.com/814w46f.jpg

Huh?Jayon

11-17-2007, 20:25

darn.. ate all my altoids and tried it for my D2 but the case seemed too small..

bucky

11-20-2007, 19:24

darn.. ate all my altoids and tried it for my D2 but the case seemed too small..

I thought so too at first, but it's just the folded lip of the tin. The material is so thin that with a little bit of pressure it will bend slightly to accommodate the player. If you are worried about scratching the sides, just put a thin piece of cloth between the player and the tin.

Huh?Jayon

11-20-2007, 19:37

thanks, well bought another tin of altoids. This is going to be my thanksgiving project.

dOoBiX

11-20-2007, 20:14

darn.. ate all my altoids and tried it for my D2 but the case seemed too small..

For me, I can't just drop my D2 straight into the Altoids can. I need to insert the bottom of the D2 first, and then the top can go in.

klenk

11-20-2007, 23:19

Here is my effort. The holes were cut with a dremel. The fabric allows me to quickly get the player out of the case.

well done cmetzner, I love what you did with the button openings. If I may ask, what did you use to line those button holes?

baniels

12-27-2007, 10:14

I'd like to know the same thing.

well done cmetzner, I love what you did with the button openings. If I may ask, what did you use to line those button holes?

geoslack

12-28-2007, 12:13

You guys and girls inspired me... [thumbsup]

Here is my version of the altoid-box case. I butchered an old cell phone keypad for the buttons and cut holes with a dremel to fit the buttons. They are roughly in the same place as the three buttons on the edge of the D2 and allow me to control volume and skip ahead to the next song when the player's controls are locked. Inside I used a foam filler for the plug side and some metallic bubble-wrap like stuff glued in for top and bottom padding. The black strip is a rubber strip glued down to the bottom that helps to remove the D-2. So far the on-off-hold switch is accessible only with a hole in the top. I was experimenting with slider switches, but I am running out of old electro-gizmos to dissect for parts.

Cheers,
G

extc

12-28-2007, 14:21

Nice. Now you have to put a picture of what's really inside of an altoid box as your wallpaper. It would look good. :)

morgan

12-28-2007, 16:49

nice job geoslack, love the added phone buttons.
i'd make one of these but i think they'd make the D2 too bulky in my pocket.

geoslack

12-28-2007, 21:05

morgan and extc -- thanks! Bulk is not the issue for me - it's klutziness. I'd damage my player without a case... Besides up here in the northern hemisphere I have to wear a coat with big pockets this time of year. Now I just have to figure out how to get some altoids wallpaper on the screen.
-G

morgan

12-29-2007, 01:23

haha just take a photo some actual altoids...

Cameron Hawke

01-16-2008, 10:49

I'm going to be trying this today (Being in the US, I can get Altoids by the ton). I'm just wondering what size drill bit you guys are using for this and how you're sanding out the edges (if you are).

Also, first post! :)

cmetzner

01-16-2008, 11:26

I'd like to know the same thing.

I drew them out best I could. Then used dremel to rough cut an opening. The finish work was done with a conical shaped sanding tool attachment for the dremel. It actually cuts and leaves a rounded shape to each button opening.

I have tried several cases (leather, etc). I prefer the player with no case. After that, this is my most practical case. I am not saying that because I made it. I am saying that because it is true.

Sargaroth

01-18-2008, 15:00

And the best part is that you'll be workin' with a fresh breath all the time ;)

Cameron Hawke

01-20-2008, 13:23

The glue is drying right now my version of the Mentos case. I'm trying ManchesterBaby's method of having the tensile strength of some ribbons prop up the d2 when the case opens. Also using felt to line the top/bottom and some packaging foam to keep it in place. Will post pictures when its done.

blackworx

01-20-2008, 14:46

UK folks - that posh supermarket Waitrose stocks Altoids (at least my local one does).

They take the p*ss with the price though, but it's worth it to avoid fleabay :)

dstone

03-13-2008, 02:28

Here are my results after 20 minutes with a Dremel tool, a piece of eyeglass cleaning cloth, three small pieces of packing foam, and a few drops of glue.

The cloth is taped to the inside front of the open tin and lets me pop the D2 out with a bit of a tug. The cloth also covers the power and control button holes from the inside for a bit of extra protection without affecting function.

Thanks all for the inspiration and photos. [thumbsup]

I like the case. It's clearly fantastic drop-protection and very smooth in and out of the pocket. But I've also ordered a silicone case I think I might ultimately prefer for size and frequent button/screen access.

(Sorry my photos are sort of ghetto. Cheap phone-camera.)

Chevalier

03-27-2008, 22:50

My D2 will be here on Monday. In the meantime, I want to get all the necessary parts together for an awesome Altoids case. I'm thinking about attaching a black ribbon that pulls taut when you open the lid back and lifts the D2 up. I'm also looking for the right buttons to afix to the outside of the case. Another set of D2 buttons would be perfect.

Question: what kind of glue do you guys recommend for adhering a cotton lining to the inside of the tin? I want something smooth and seamless, like Lenny's.

Tim-0

04-05-2008, 17:42

If you find the Altoids case too small, try the Fisherman's Friend's. The one you get here in Germany is just right for the D2, even if you cover the inside with some fabric. I am currently working on my Fisherman's Friend's D2 case. I have already trilled a hole for the headphone jack and covered the inside with self-adherent stuff (I can't really describe it. It's black and about 1mm thick, made from synthetic fibres, hopefully shock absorbing.). I have also built sort of a short adapter so i can connect stereo jacks that would'nt fit into the hole in the box.
To do:
-do the holes for button access (i have no dremel, so i have to do it with a drill...)
-cover the rest of the inside with that shock absorbing material and add some possibility to easily pull the D2 out of the box when it fits in tight.
-find or create a cool Fisherman's Friend wallpaper that doesn't interfere with the Utopia theme.

I will post some pictures when it's done.

Alright, here are the pictures:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/7117/casefl8.jpg

notredame72

04-14-2008, 18:43

Altoids: A slap to the cerebellum[biggrin]

cowabung

05-01-2008, 23:47

u could also try remodel your case, more colorsful, soothe or inspire. otherwise looks good.:jamming:

vmpeds99

05-03-2008, 12:03

Well thats just too cool... now I definitely have to get a D2. :-)

p-virus

05-06-2008, 17:27

it's not as elaborate as some of yours, but here's mine. and i'm pretty content with it. [thumbsup]
thanks for the inspiration!
http://img44.imagevenue.com/loc1023/th_12909_Untitled-1_122_1023lo.jpg (http://img44.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=12909_Untitled-1_122_1023lo.jpg)
btw, the little cord is for pulling it out of the box.

BrianM

05-13-2008, 20:52

And here's another...

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/3505/d2006jx3.th.jpg (http://img179.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d2006jx3.jpg)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6929/d2001gg4.th.jpg (http://img87.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d2001gg4.jpg)

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/4498/d2004zp3.th.jpg (http://img246.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d2004zp3.jpg)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/6781/d2005md1.th.jpg (http://img153.imageshack.us/my.php?image=d2005md1.jpg)

I've only made a hole for the headphone and am undecided on putting holes in for the other controls. It's slightly annoying to have to remove the headphone jack and pull it up to turn it on/adjust the sound level but I'm not sure that it's annoying enough to risk the extra holes.

Brian

freshsoul

05-14-2008, 20:01

this may be a newb queston, but where do you get packing felt?

BrianM

05-15-2008, 09:30

No idea.... I, personally, used an old microfiber towel and some foam out of a packing box (from something, it was just floating around my office). Put the Altoids case on the towel and drew an outline, cut it out, sprayed the back with craft adhesive and pressed into place. The bottom has 2 layers, the longer tab that helps pull the D2 out, and then a layer over that to provide a little more cushion (the D2 could rattle just a touch before I did this). I've been thinking about adding another piece to the lid to act as a pocket for additional SD cards.

philadiophile

05-21-2008, 08:34

Uhhh... question...

...any idea what to do with these mints? I have a bunch of them and don't wanna throw them away or anything (since they are good mints & cost bout $1.70 ) lol

Alarictric

05-21-2008, 15:00

@philadiophile

see how many you can chew at once?

philadiophile

05-25-2008, 10:22

Heh, found an old bottle of medicine & dumped the few old pills outta there to dump the Altoids in :D

As for the tin itself, I was able to hack out the side for the ear plug (the only thing I can easily cut into tin since I have no fancy cutting tools that can easily go through metal). Then following alittle of what ManchesterBaby did (http://iaudiophile.net/forums/showpost.php?p=126509&postcount=28) I used the technique of having the D2's top buttons becoming accessible once it's open (except as you can see I used two pieces of thread instead of a single piece of fabric. The red piece of cushion that you see in the bottom is enough to keep it from rattling & moving around in case, used the white padding glued to tin as an extra layer for the screen (and to sort of cover up where the string runs to). Also secured the leverage threads using weather-proof tape figuring it may be long lasting & strong enough to continually hold in place. All in all it's a nifty not only for running commutes on public transit, but also by driving since it secures to front ash tray easier so player won't slide out so easily when I drive like a maniac [yes]

gfrantz

05-27-2008, 12:59

First post., hope it works.

Made a case using an Altoids tin similar to those described in thread (great idea whoever thought of doing that). Added slots for the buttons and phone jack and two ribbons to help lift the D2 out of the case when necessary to get to the ports or memory card. Oriented the case so that the top of the D2 is at the open (non-hinge) side of the case.

An improvement was to add a belt clip to the case. Used a metal belt clip from a retractable tape measure. Secured it to the tin using a 1/8 inch aluminum pop-rivet. If you don't know what a pop-rivet is, see http://www.emhart.com/products/pop/default.asp.

Need to add a backup washer to prevent rivet from pulling through the thin case metal. Instead of using a pop-rivet, you could possibly use a bolt, filing down the head so less protrudes into the case. The belt clip was originally attached to the tape measure using a screw through a single round hole, which was a perfect fit for the pop-rivet. (I noticed that some tape measures have clips with a "keyhole" type hole instead of a single round hole, don't know how good those would be). Rivet can be hammered down so it sticks into the case only about 1/16 inch or so. Used a piece of old inner tube for padding on bottom of case and to lift the D2 above the level of the rivet.

Belt clip works good so far and makes the case much more useful. The belt clip only adds about 1/4 inch to the case thickness, so still easy to carry case in a pocket.

Don't have a camera, so cannot show pictures of case.

i_is_cat

06-26-2008, 23:41

i made one too!
the altoids tin i had available was gross ugly and rusty so i used a runts tin i picked up in ontario while i was there..
there are pix on my site
http://chazzwozzer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=6&lastpost=true#25

vvill

07-21-2008, 13:02

I was reading this thread yesterday then this morning when I bought some milk at CVS/pharmacy I got a coupon for $1.50 off an Altoids 2 pack! So bought it and had a quick look at the size next to my D2. Looks really snug, which is good. I may be trying this soon. Just have to eat a lot of mints now.

Thaxos

08-20-2008, 17:30

Just bought an Altoids tin, hopefully once I plan it out and customize it I can get some pictures and maybe a tutorial or video up on here...
By the way, I couldn't find any in Canada at Walmarts or Superstores or anywhere. Until I tried Shopper's, they had them there. 3$ though, but still, 3$ is next to nothing for an mp3 player case!

Insta

08-20-2008, 22:34

lol I did the same thing a few months ago, and it really does look pretty cool :D
I used the red cinnamon altoids tin, and get compliments ALL the time. I would put up some pics, but I'm painting my d2 right now, so it all disassembled and all that jazz. I'll probably just post everything in the setup thread tomorrow [laugh]

Thaxos

08-23-2008, 11:10

So do you guys just drill half way up the bottom half of the tin and line up the hole? I don't want to drill too large of a hole, and I don't want to have to buy another one, but I have my drill ready and drill bit in as well....
EDIT: Tried that, realized that the Altoids tin is quite flimsy(by flimsy I mean when drilling only.... Once I had the hole finished, and put my D2 in, I stupidly dropped it back down the stairs I had just come up from my basement... NO DENTS!) in terms of the fact that if you're drilling and the drill bit catches, it'll just peel the metal away, making a less that round hole.
Also, I tried to fix the metal catching, but ended up just scratching a bit of the paint.... Unfortunately, for my high quality headphones, I'm going to need to make the hole larger yet.... Not by much, so I think I'm gonna try using a screwdriver to make it larger instead of drilling and risking the bit catching again....

Photos coming soon, though it is less than perfect...

Thaxos

08-23-2008, 12:18

Okay, so I filed the burrs and such, rounding out the hole to make it better, but there's still the less than attractive scratches, any ideas on what paint will blend in and fix them?
Also, I have found that if I put some force on my D2, barely any, and press the top of it against the side of the Altoids tin, I can then push on the outside and it will press the Volume Down, Menu and Volume Up buttons!
No more needing to cut through to make them available... I will be trying to figure out what I need to wedge into the small bit of space in order to put enough pressure so that when I press on the side, it changes the volume, but not too much to hold down the Volume Up button... that hurt my ears!

Thaxos

08-23-2008, 12:21

Solved that too, in fact... All it took was to put my glasses cleaning cloth wrapped around the bottom of my D2 and I can now use the buttons by pressing on the side of the case.... Pictures coming in a moment.

Thaxos

08-23-2008, 14:22

Here we go;
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones002.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones010.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones011.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones012.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones014.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones018.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones019.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones020.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones021.jpg
http://i322.photobucket.com/albums/nn414/Thaxos/AltoidsD2andSonyHeadphones022.jpg

There we go, sorry for the blurry pics, my camera can't do much for up close.
edit: Also, I'm going to be removing the protective screen that came with the D2 now, since the screen is safe and I'll keep my stylus in the case, probably taped to the lid or something...

Luki_CZ

08-31-2008, 15:25

So there is my case :) The filling works also like buttons for menu and volume.)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/3715/img0582cd6.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7789/img0580iq2.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/145/img0584tq9.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/2759/img0585aa3.jpg
http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7461/img0583iu3.jpg

Thaxos

08-31-2008, 19:57

Nice, although I found that it was much simpler to have the slight pressure on the D2 so that way I could press on the side of the tin instead of having to have a slot and then fill it.

Luki_CZ

09-02-2008, 14:37

Dont exactly know what do you mean ^^

Thaxos

09-09-2008, 18:46

You cut a hole on the side so you can press the volume and menu buttons... With the glasses cleaner cloth, I don't need a hole since I can press the outside of the case and it will press on the buttons.

Melkor

09-11-2008, 03:32

It hasn't been mentioned before, but I think a tin box for a single deck of cards should also be big enough for the D2.
This basically means you're not limited to the Altoids or Fisherman's Friend boxes.

I like the idea of the tin box for protection, but I doubt I could get my hands on an Altoids or Fishermans box in the Netherlands. (And I don't go ordering them from anywhere in the world. Also I don't really like the printings of these boxes, that aside) But with deck-boxes the options are pretty much unlimited.

Thaxos

09-14-2008, 08:51

A deck of cards is roughly the same size and shape so the case for some cards would probably work. And for me it's not the appearance of the tin that matters to me, it's simply for the protection of my D2 and if someone was to see my case, since there's only one hole, I doubt they would realize I had an mp3 player inside. So it's also safer and less likely to be stolen.

Alienheart

09-14-2008, 21:04

i don't live in america and i just ordered a pack of 3 altoids. do they taste any good?

Thaxos

09-16-2008, 15:56

They're ridiculously strong mints
If you like mints, you'll like them.
But they're STRONG

Alienheart

09-17-2008, 01:03

serg3

09-20-2008, 19:05

Omg Yummy! i took 5 already. they are STRONG. hope it doesn't give me a laxative effect.

EDIT: i tried using a drill which nearly ripped the altoids tin. so i think i am going to buy a dremel just for this.

these mints wont give you the laxative effect because theyre made out of sugar, not phenlananine (or whatever it is... sorbitol etc). Unfortunately, its made out of sugar which is bad for your teeth (thats why they use the phen/// chemical.

ive got my altoids tin but i want to keep the shield on my d2. so ill prolly be using it as a headphone amp case when i have the time to make the board

Thaxos

09-22-2008, 18:08

Yeah, I started getting the metal being peeled when it caught on the bit. But I just drilled it one size too small, then filed it out with a round file.

Chri5peed

09-22-2008, 18:19

They're ridiculously strong mints
If you like mints, you'll like them.
But they're STRONG

Sound like our 'fishermans friends'.

btw, Death Magnetic is a very strong mint!;)

in4mant

09-28-2008, 16:09

well here's my case. i went through 2 tins before i got to this. i found that the myntz! tin is slightly bigger then the altoids tin. i'm still debating if i should cut the hole for the - m + buttons cause i can just push on the tin to change music and what not. i still need to make another one for a friend, hopefully i can make it with 1 tin.

Ac1d

10-03-2008, 17:19

Just a quick note for anyone in the UK looking for Altoids. You can pick them up for 99p at Morrisons, usually on the sweets isle.

First Post :D

Ullrik

10-07-2008, 15:55

I got the link to this forum yesterday.. and I read new crazy things and ideas every minute.. it's awesome :D first I wantet to do a textilecase.. but this is totally genius :)
I'm gonna buy some fisherman's friend or w/e tomorrow !

Chri5peed

10-07-2008, 17:01

Just a quick note for anyone in the UK looking for Altoids. You can pick them up for 99p at Morrisons, usually on the sweets isle.

First Post :D

Lol, ironically Altoids are English...never seen a pack for sale.

Ullrik

10-08-2008, 09:02

Tim-0

10-08-2008, 09:38

Damn, I thought I saw a fisherman's friend tin a few weeks ago on a table.. but I don't find it anymore ;)
Seems like I have to buy a imported Altoids tin :D Or does anyone know where I may buy it in Germany? Fisherman's friend doesn't sell it anymore..

Ich hab's bei Müller gekauft. Da gabs in ner durchsichtigen Plastiktüte die Dose und 2 Tüten Fisherman's Friends. Weiß nicht, ob die die da noch haben. Ansonsten könntest du es mal in ner Drogerie versuchen.

Ben.aka.ObiWan

10-08-2008, 12:13

Or does anyone know where I may buy it in Germany?

Hi Ullrik,

Maybe you can find Fisherman's at a petrol station, service area or travel shop along the German Autobahn.

Regards,
Ben

Ullrik

10-08-2008, 12:25

Thx @ Tim & Ben
In my opinion is was a special edition and it is not sold anymore - but I will find it out :)

paule123

10-09-2008, 13:23

also bei edeka gibts die altoids dosen, für 1,99.

MoMonster

10-09-2008, 13:47

I bought a "Ricola Kräuterpastillen" tin (also in Germany).
The D2 fits in perfectly, but I don't see a chance of using the tactile buttons without taking the D2 out of the tin.
But since many Flash Skins have a Volume control, that's not too big of a letdown for me.

btw, Thanks for the inspiration guys, I got the idea from this forum

Ullrik

10-10-2008, 06:31

I will look for a Ricola tin, it was an awesome style :)
where did you buy it? In which supermarket?

MoMonster

10-10-2008, 07:06

I bought it in a DM drug store.

...and yeah, it looks awesome :)

Alienheart

10-28-2008, 02:59

i just tried to dremel holes for the hold switch and the +m- buttons but it made the hinges come off D:

in4mant

10-29-2008, 03:02

i just tried to dremel holes for the hold switch and the +m- buttons but it made the hinges come off D:

i did that with the first one i cut. so now i only use the other side of the tin, plus you have a little more play when you cut open the other side for the hold switch and the + m - buttons.

capman

10-29-2008, 11:00

hello all.

these all look great. thx for the ideas

I'm in the uk and tring to find a short (4 inches or so) standard headphone extension lead. does anyone konw if these are available anywhere?.

many thanks in advanced.

PS I have seen that M&S do Mint Tins which are the same size.

travelbore

11-01-2008, 09:39

...THIS is an M&S peppermint tin case. [laugh]

OK, sorry to those who don't live in UK and won't have seen the dodgy TV commercials for Marks & Spencer.

Capman: good call - I spotted these on sale at Knutsford services on the M6 LOL! (Sorry I don't have info on your short 3.5mm cable - I'd probably just hack my own - but I'm a bit slap-dash.)

'Curiously Strong Mints' made for M&S in the UK - oh, I wonder who makes 'em ;).

I'm properly chuffed: the tin makes a great case for stuffing into my laptop bag. No holes to drill for me: I don't tend to listen on-the-move. So I just wanted a tough case that won't draw attention to itself.

Nice one Dumwaldo!

chocopie0927

11-19-2008, 02:06

I swear the Altoids tin got smaller.

My D2 doesn't fit :( :( :(

Thaxos

11-19-2008, 18:49

You have to tilt it and put one end it before the other... Long as you didn't buy the small and skinny tin...

Alienheart

11-19-2008, 19:20

i'm gonna dremel my second/last altoids tin now, hopefully i don't stuff it up like last time.

EDIT:

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/4930/2011081612hw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1610/2011081614ta4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Finished! and got a lungful of poison metal dust. thanks to my poor man's padding, there is no rattling. yay!

LighT_Sh4v0r

11-20-2008, 08:38

looks neat :)

Looks like you did the sawing on that table?? :P

Alienheart

11-21-2008, 23:57

yup! i use this table for all my cutting/slicing needs

kindaRandomz

12-14-2008, 21:24

how do you get the holes to be so neat? Mine look disgusting with shards sticking out.

Alienheart

12-19-2008, 17:38

buy a dremel lol

vindalf

12-21-2008, 09:12

http://images.americanas.com.br/produtos/item/2475/6/2475621gg.jpg
Is that one? 1.76 oz - 50g?

I just bought a D2 and I want one of those "cases"!
The problem is that i'm from Brazil and here it's almost impossible to find these altoids. I found this one in a website and it costs R$10,00! It's $ 4,1913 haha

If it's the correct size i'll buy one!

Can someone tell me if it is?

Alienheart

12-21-2008, 20:02

Yup!.

Kirby1356

12-28-2008, 23:19

I know what to do with all the mints....
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f132/Kirby1356/GetRidOfAltoids.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f132/Kirby1356/ALTOIDSWINDTERGREEN.jpg
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f132/Kirby1356/AltoidsinPillTube.jpg

phoboskitty

12-31-2008, 16:18

I am having a hard time just finding a store that actually sells Altoids.... checked like 5 stores so far no luck...

but i am really impressed by this particular mod.... i think i will get a few tins i want to try to paper mache one with coloured tissue paper...

paker

01-01-2009, 10:33

I was in WalMart last week and there were Altoids tins in the checkout lane.

robjrock

01-02-2009, 09:03

Here's another altoids case I just made for my new Cowon 16gb! For anyone who owns Super.Fi IEMs you'll know what a pain it is to create a headphone slot due to the sideways design... I planned to create nice looking holes with a Dremel or something but got impatient and just cut them out.

I also decided against any holes for the power / volume buttons on top. The ribbon (which I just have loose, but doesn't seem to get in the way as long as you cut if fairly short) allows me to get to the power button easy enough, otherwise I just never lock it and use a flash skin such as Darkstage so I can adjust the volume on the screen instead of with the buttons. So far I'd say I'm pretty happy with it but eventually I plan to create a super slick looking one from another tin.

vindalf

01-06-2009, 13:39

I've bought one of these for me! :D

Just to know... how did you cut this stuff guys? I have no idea of how i'm gonna make these holes!

And of course I don't have a dremel. =~

robjrock

01-10-2009, 05:08

I've bought one of these for me! :D

Just to know... how did you cut this stuff guys? I have no idea of how i'm gonna make these holes!

And of course I don't have a dremel. =~

I used a stanley knife to cut guide incisions into the tin and then used a small pair of pliers to kind of snap the tin out. You need to make the guide incisions pretty deep so it snaps cleanly. Mine worked ok, obviously a drill / dremel would look way cleaner.

kobrakai

01-11-2009, 12:20

Made an attempt yesterday and it didn't turn out so great. Guess I'll buy another tin and try again next weekend.

Any tips on storing in-ear headphones?

agw

01-22-2009, 13:17

I found this the other day: http://countycomm.com/tin.htm - 0.98¢ USD

No shipping outside the US, though.

http://countycomm.com/tin2small.jpg http://countycomm.com/tin1small.jpg

paker

01-22-2009, 21:22

And $8.00 shipping [no]

Bullseye

01-23-2009, 03:53

And $8.00 shipping [no]

Exactly, just buy altoids, eat them and use the tin

agw

01-23-2009, 08:45

And $8.00 shipping [no]

Aw dang, I didn't even look.

mushbert

01-25-2009, 00:41

Made an attempt yesterday and it didn't turn out so great. Guess I'll buy another tin and try again next weekend.

Any tips on storing in-ear headphones?
if you want to store phones or other stuff in the box too, a plastic clamshell from some Sucrets cough drops might make a nice little case... interior dimensions are roughly 60x78x27 (mm) compared to the D2's reported 55.4x78x16.6 - still close on the sides, but with more room above/below. the molded plastic is thick enough to be rigid, and it can easily withstand 120lbs on any side, which i know because i just tried standing on it. unfortunately, as it is all plastic, the hinge will not last too long. likewise, the clasp isn't that good and it pops open from a 10' drop. both of those flaws could be fixed with a rubberband from some broccoli, however. i imagine most people will find plastic a lot easier to work with, and if they get the kind without DXM in the lozenges it will be less appealing to snatch than mints, even to people who like the 'tussin.

asmiller-ke6seh

01-26-2009, 10:48

I also use the small altoid tin for my IEM's...

Cool. I also was using the Altoids gum tin for my earphones.

Now, I carry my D2, earphones, and two 8Gb SDHC cards in a great little belt pack, the Lowepro Ridge 30 ... under $10.00 (including shipping from the dealer):
http://products.lowepro.com//CatalogImages/18-2020-IMG1_LRG.jpeg

phunko

02-02-2009, 03:02

hi,

i found a altoids case in germany. you can buy it at "galeria kaufhof" for only 2,29€

it fits very good.

cheers

rivus

02-06-2009, 16:46

I'm getting a D2 now that my old X5 finally kicked the bucket. I just found this thread and look forward to making my own altoids tin case. I've used altoids tins for lots of small electronics projects before, and came across an interesting tip a long time ago. If you have trouble working with the case and getting clean holes drilled or cuts made, because of how easily the thin metal tears, try this:

The night before you mod your tin, fill the larger bottom portion up with water and stick it in the freezer. Once it has frozen, as long as you work fairly fast and refreeze if needed, the ice will support the sides of the tin for easy, super-clean holes with no nasty metal shards from the drill blowing out the case. You can usually even get the case into a vise to hold it, as the ice will keep the sides of the case from buckling in.

Thaxos

02-06-2009, 21:40

The night before you mod your tin, fill the larger bottom portion up with water and stick it in the freezer. Once it has frozen, as long as you work fairly fast and refreeze if needed, the ice will support the sides of the tin for easy, super-clean holes with no nasty metal shards from the drill blowing out the case. You can usually even get the case into a vise to hold it, as the ice will keep the sides of the case from buckling in.
This sounds like a possible solution.
If I ever remake my case I will try this