Project of the Day : Black Walnut iPad Cover

[shilala]

Hi guys,
I needed a cover for my ipad so I didn't destroy it while I waited for the Otterbox covers to come out. I had the cheesy sleeve that I bought with the ipad, but it drove me nuts. It was forever dirty and didn't really protect anything at all.
It did employ some good ideas, but the material was crap and it didn't work very well.
I was watching a ball game in the shop and came up with this thing.
I chose black walnut because I had some and hadn't used it to make anything. I just wanted to see how it finished because I was planning to build a humi. I'm glad I used it because it's truly a gorgeous wood.
I also wanted to see if I liked Satin Polyurethane, and wanted to try the stuff in spray cans, so I used that.
Here's what the whole deal turned out like...

Here she is all closed up. It looks really nice sitting around, and you'd never guess what was in it. I kept it nice and small, and the cover makes my clumsy hands hang on to it a lot better.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad1a.jpg

Here she is opened up and standing. It doesn't stand like that real well on slippery surfaces. It works awesome when I'm laying in bed or on the couch reading. It stands up on my stomach perfectly. I can read for hours and it never tips over.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad2a.jpg

When I fold the lid back, it puts a nice natural incline on the ipad, like a bookrest. It really helps when it's on a table so I can read without hanging over it, and I don't have to hold on to it.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad3a.jpg

Start paying attention to the hinge setup. There are two piano hinges and a reticulating douchebag that allows the back and front to fold all the way over and back. I chose piano hinges so it wouldn't be sloppy, and added the reticulating rocker thing to hide screws. It worked out great, although I wrecked one of the douchebags and had to make another one. I blew it out with all the screws. I was being fast and lazy.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad4a.jpg

more on the way...

[Blueface]

Holy crap Scott!!!
That is really cool.
Nice work.
How heavy is this thing now?

[replicant_argent]

a reticulating douchebag?



hang on, I need some mental floss.




Looks cool, Scott.

[elderboy02]

That is sweet! You are a smart, smart man! :tu

[Mugen910]

What the F!!! No room for even 1 cigar holder? You disappoint me sir! :r

[shilala]

Here she is all opened up. I really never use it in this position, but it looks cool.
The corners are held down by four removable corner stoppers. They were hell to make. I used one piece of wood to make all the corner stoppers and the middle layer so that the grain would be continuous.
It was the difference between it looking like a cob job and a nice piece of work.
I'm glad I took all the extra time.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad5a.jpg

This is just an example of one of the cutouts to get to the control buttons. I had to oversize them so I could get my big fingers in to reach the controls.
I had a lot of concern about how well I'd be able to manipulate the buttons when I was done. It's not a problem at all. I really got lucky there.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad6a.jpg

The last two pictures are of the grain and look of the front and back. The wood is absolutely gorgeous. I used no stain, just poly. The satin finish hides wear beautifully. I can't see a blemish or a scratch on the whole cover, and I use it constantly. It travels with me everywhere, too.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad7a.jpg

In this last pic, you can see the brass screws that hold the corner holddowns in place. They can be removed any time I like if I have reason to take the ipad out of the cover. I was a bit concerned how they'd look and hold up over time. They haven't been a problem at all.

http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad96/scottshilala/ipad%20cover/ipad8a.jpg

[md4958]

Nice work Scotty!

[shilala]

In summary, this cover has made the ipad a lot more special to me. I love seeing it laying around, love to pick it up and use it, and I love the warm feel of the wood (yeah, I got it, "that's what she said").
The extra protection keeps me from grimacing when the kids use it, although they are really careful anyways.
Hope you enjoyed the pics!!! :tu
Scott

[shilala]

Holy crap Scott!!!
That is really cool.
Nice work.
How heavy is this thing now?
The cover weighs a lot less than the ipad, Carlos.
I just checked, and the whole thing weighs 45 ounces. If it were a beer heavier, it'd be uncomfortable standing up on my chest when I'm reading.
I was concerned about the weight when I was building it, so I kept everything very thin. It worked out really well. :tu

[Brutus2600]

That's probably the best iPad cover I've seen to date! Nice work Scott :tu

[GKitty]

Absolutely freaking brilliant!!!

NOW, I want an iPad.

Any thoughts on patenting and/or making more of these?

A super classy piece of functional artwork is what you've got there.

[shilala]

Absolutely freaking brilliant!!!

NOW, I want an iPad.

Any thoughts on patenting and/or making more of these?

A super classy piece of functional artwork is what you've got there.
If I had to price this thing out for my time, they'd be 400 bucks apiece, Crystal. I'm not sure the market is there. :D

There's one major flaw, too. I can't plug in headphones. I could with two minutes of dremel work, but I don't want to do it.
I don't have any desire to use earbuds with it, and I still don't. I'm sure others would. My daughter wanted to once and I told her I'd fix it, but she told me to leave it be.

[issues]

Beautiful piece of work Scott! :tu

[BeerAdvocate]

Great work, but one question.......Wheres the cup holder?

[thebayratt]

WOW!!!

Superb job Scott!!
Great Idea...... I think I'd cancel the Otterbox... that is was more cooler IMO.

[Superbad]

Wow. Very nice work. I love my iPad and am pretty happy with my DodoCase cover, but yours is gorgeous!

[aich75013]

That looks really cool Scott!
Nice job!

[GKitty]

If I had to price this thing out for my time, they'd be 400 bucks apiece, Crystal. I'm not sure the market is there. :D

Just a thought. I've seen people pay more for less. Either way, it's a truly beautiful piece of art and ingenuity.

There's one major flaw, too. I can't plug in headphones. I could with two minutes of dremel work, but I don't want to do it.
I don't have any desire to use earbuds with it, and I still don't. I'm sure others would. My daughter wanted to once and I told her I'd fix it, but she told me to leave it be.

That's a good girl you've got there. Don't mess with Dad's toys. :tu

[MedicCook]

Great job Scott. You are a gifted man. :tu

[shilala]

Just a thought. I've seen people pay more for less. Either way, it's a truly beautiful piece of art and ingenuity.

That's a good girl you've got there. Don't mess with Dad's toys. :tu
If I'd make them out of pink plastic and bling them out with sparklies and a kitty, I bet I could move a million to teenage girls. :D

My baby girl uses all my stuff. She's a good kid. I taught her real early, and she takes care of everything even better than I do.
I'm on the fence about getting her an ipad, cause I think she could use an iphone more. Her birthday isn't till September, so we'll see.
I don't think she'd make much use out of an ipad, and she carries her phone and her ipod touch everywhere she goes.
Whatta ya think, darlin?

[GKitty]

Unless she's got some special need (document storage and display, art tools) that makes the iPad a better fit, I'd go iPhone.

[BigFrank]

you should make some pipe stands!

[shilala]

Unless she's got some special need (document storage and display, art tools) that makes the iPad a better fit, I'd go iPhone.
I think you're absolutely right, Crystal. Thank You!!! :)

[kelmac07]

Scott...beautiful work (as usual). Now the question...what are the chances of you making one for Kellie? Now that she has an Ipad, this would look AWESOME on hers. Let me know brother!! :tu :tu

[shilala]

Scott...beautiful work (as usual). Now the question...what are the chances of you making one for Kellie? Now that she has an Ipad, this would look AWESOME on hers. Let me know brother!! :tu :tu
I'd love to make one for her, Mac. They just take entirely too long to make, and it'd cost a fortune. You guys would have to take out a second mortgage.
If I didn't have ten projects on the bench right now, I could probably get one done. I wouldn't split black walnut to do it, for sure. I'd use oak or something.

[shilala]

you should make some pipe stands!

I looked at some pipe stands, Frank. I saw a burl wood cabinet that would be fun to make. Most stands are real simple. I'm sure the right wood would make them a lot more interesting.

[CigarNut]

Very cool Scott!

[captain53]

Very Nice - that Walnut should be very durable for wood and the finish looks great. :tu

[wolfandwhisky]

really really cool - nice work Scott

[Salvelinus]

Really cool idea.

[Lear31MX]

All I can say is wow that is great work, really well done!

[Smokin Gator]

That is awesome brother!!