"Cordless electronic" is kind of a lie, because behind every portable, sleek, and compact phone, PDA, or MP3 player is a bulky adaptor with a stubborn tentacle of cord. Untangle and tidy up the Gordian knot with a homemade charging station.
Tools and Materials
Two cloth-covered boxes with hinged sides and grommet finger holes. ("Library project" cases,containerstore.com)
Utility knife with a fresh blade
Metal ruler
Power strip (with an on/off switch to conserve electricity)
Self-adhesive Velcro strips
Self-adhesive cord hooks (3M Mounting Cord Clips, amazon.com)
1 foot of 1/2-inch-wide ribbon (optional)
Glue (optional)
Station How-To
1. Prepare the bottom box: On the side of the box that has the grommet hole, draw a 1-inch-tall rectangle at the other end (trace a small Post-it note). Using a metal ruler as a guide, carefully score along this line with the knife until you cut through (do not try to pierce the box and then saw).
2. Push the prong end of the power strip out through the hole from the inside. Use the Velcro to anchor the power strip to the inside back of the box (or the bottom, depending on what best accommodates your adaptors). Plug in the adaptors, and thread their ends out through the grommet hole.
3. Prepare the top box: Space the cord hooks a few inches apart, attaching them near the back of the box to allow room for the gadgets when you shut the lid. Thread the device ends of the adaptors in through the box's built-in grommet hole, and anchor them under the hooks
4.Optional Finish the edge of the rectangular cutout with ribbon and glue. Also optional (if a little messier inside): Use just one box, stick the power strip to the very back, and coil the cords with twist ties.
Tip: Leave the box open when recharging so heat doesn't build up, and so you don't forget to grab your gadgets on the way out.
Part 1
I think this is a clever idea, this is just their version of how to personalize an idea ?
Part 2
All charging stations will supply electricity to the adaptors when the product is not plugged in, MS did not create that situation?! What a bunch of freaks, if Walmart stopped selling your generic toilet paper, would you [filtered word] to the store manager OR simple pick up a pack of Charmin ?
unfortunately, unless you have a switch on-off for each of the devices, you're sending electricty to all of them. :-/
I guess you missed "Power strip (with an on/off switch to conserve electricity)" in the supply list...
This kind of supposedly so beautiful charging station means your adaptors remain in the power plug day after day each second sucking energy which is not used since your gadget is not always at the end: you are just sending energy and your money in the air for nothing. This also reduce the 'life time' of your adaptor.
Thank you for this not environmentally friendly box and remember that sleep/stand by mode is a threat to environment but also directly to your money!
No, you are not the only one with a problem spending that kind of money on cardboard!
Am I the only one that has a problem with TWO boxes at $17 each (plus many more other items) ... might as well buy a nice wooden charging station for $40. No thanks.
about the printing problme, I just saved it to "my collections" while I was logged in, then went to the article, pressed the print button, new window opened up
How come the print button doesn't work anymore....it just opens a new window of the same page instead of opening a new window with just the project on it.
Yes-these are not available online at Container Store. Any luck on locating them?
I can not find this type of box anywhere. Any one know where I can find them? I do not see them at the link (Container Store) above, nor have I found them at Michaels
I have about 4 or 5 rechargers that were causing a mess so I got myself a little rose covered box from the local dollar store and stuck them in there. It looks pretty sitting on my desk and takes hardly any space.
My sister's house could really use this idea though. They are a sea of cords and tangles. :)
They seem to be now under the name "Stockholm Project Case" when searching at the Container Store's Website. However, you could probably do this with any fiberboard box if you just score the flip-open part (or just lift the lid off when necessary), and make the grommet holes on each end by just cutting a circle out. No need to spend $14 on each box when it looks like one of the cheapie $3.50 ones from Michaels would do.
These boxes are no longer available at the address above. Anyone have a suggestion?
Really wish I knew what Hollygallagher suggested it doesn't seem to be here?
Do not buy one - the ones I got did not fit the adapter well. This will work much better.
I thought about buying one but now I don't have to. Thanks for the tip!