DIY Kindle Case

EnginerdLisa · 09-27-2008, 12:27 PM

My Kindle arrives on Tuesday (according to the shipping tracker). I am already convinced I want to make a custom case for it. Partly because I want it to suit my personality, partly because I am crafty like that and a little bored. For those of you that have made your own what do you use to stiffen it? I'm thinking either cardboard or plastic needlepoint mesh, but I'm worrid that neither will be sturdy enought to truly protect my device.

Any tips?

daffy4u · 09-27-2008, 01:39 PM

It seems to me that people are mostly adapting a cover from something else for use with a Kindle. Day Planner or similar sized note book covers seem be the most conversion friendly.

RickyMaveety · 09-27-2008, 10:30 PM

Normally I am partial to plexiglas ... but it is brittle . For screen protection I would go with hobby board rather than cardboard. Not brittle, good protection; and can be made water reistant with paint.

Given that you will cover it, consider that if the cover does get damp ... the cardboard could swell or disintegrate.

nekokami · 09-27-2008, 10:56 PM

Masonite is another possibility, but it also disintegrates in moisture and is rather heavy. PVC can be bought in sheets at hobby stores, but PVC can shatter. You can get ABS in sheet form at different thicknesses, and it's shatter-resistant, but you may have a hard time finding reasonable sized sheets except online, when you might have to buy a huge 4x8' sheet. I would suggest checking a framing store for shatter-resistant plastic used in picture frames (probably acrylic). This is most important for a panel to protect the front, especially the screen. Even if you use some kind of folder like a day planner, you might want to tuck a rectangle of shatter-resistant plastic (or sealed hobby board, as Ricky suggests) into the front to protect the screen.

MAKE magazine had an article about making an iPod case from carbon fiber and resin in Volume 9. You might find it helpful for your purposes, though I wouldn't rely on fiber and resin to protect the screen.

09-27-2008, 12:27 PM	#1
EnginerdLisa Member Posts: 21 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: none	DIY Kindle Case My Kindle arrives on Tuesday (according to the shipping tracker). I am already convinced I want to make a custom case for it. Partly because I want it to suit my personality, partly because I am crafty like that and a little bored. For those of you that have made your own what do you use to stiffen it? I'm thinking either cardboard or plastic needlepoint mesh, but I'm worrid that neither will be sturdy enought to truly protect my device. Any tips?

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09-27-2008, 01:39 PM	#2
daffy4u I'm Super Kindle-icious Posts: 6,734 Karma: 2434103 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Long Drive, Calinadia Candafornia Device: KDXG, KT, Oasis	It seems to me that people are mostly adapting a cover from something else for use with a Kindle. Day Planner or similar sized note book covers seem be the most conversion friendly.

09-27-2008, 10:30 PM	#3
RickyMaveety Holy S**T!!! Posts: 5,213 Karma: 108401 Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, California!! Device: Kindle and iPad	Normally I am partial to plexiglas ... but it is brittle . For screen protection I would go with hobby board rather than cardboard. Not brittle, good protection; and can be made water reistant with paint. Given that you will cover it, consider that if the cover does get damp ... the cardboard could swell or disintegrate.

09-27-2008, 10:56 PM	#4
nekokami fruminous edugeek Posts: 6,745 Karma: 551260 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Northeast US Device: iPad, eBw 1150	Masonite is another possibility, but it also disintegrates in moisture and is rather heavy. PVC can be bought in sheets at hobby stores, but PVC can shatter. You can get ABS in sheet form at different thicknesses, and it's shatter-resistant, but you may have a hard time finding reasonable sized sheets except online, when you might have to buy a huge 4x8' sheet. I would suggest checking a framing store for shatter-resistant plastic used in picture frames (probably acrylic). This is most important for a panel to protect the front, especially the screen. Even if you use some kind of folder like a day planner, you might want to tuck a rectangle of shatter-resistant plastic (or sealed hobby board, as Ricky suggests) into the front to protect the screen. MAKE magazine had an article about making an iPod case from carbon fiber and resin in Volume 9. You might find it helpful for your purposes, though I wouldn't rely on fiber and resin to protect the screen.

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