This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a good while now. Computers and gadgets out date themselves so quickly these days that we are left with a lot of old parts that are pretty much useless. Having the slogan “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” ingrained into my head as a child helps foster the desire to be creative when it comes to old computer parts and broken gadgets. Maybe it was the fact that I’d take stuff apart as a kid to find out what’s inside and how it worked. Usually I’d only find a circuit board and some buttons, but I was always intrigued by the way circuit boards looked. There are so many little paths and different shapes that have secrets inside and I could just stare at them for a while to try and figure out how it all worked together. Later down the line I started building computers and learned how they all worked together. I think I liked it better when there was more of a mystery about them though. I’ve managed to store away some cool looking parts and motherboards from PCs for making stuff with later, but so far I’ve only made a simple bracelet made of capacitors and wire.

I get inspired every once and a while when I visit sites like Acorn Studios and Fractal Spin. They both carry various forms of recycled technology parts utilizing old floppy disks, circuit boards, capacitors, IDE cables, Cat5 cables, fan guards, keyboard keys, hex standoffs, resistors, transistors, and more. With these parts they create and sell necklaces, bracelets, magnets, notebooks, card holders, money clips, coasters, clocks, and a bunch more stuff. Check out Fractal Spin’s Blog for viewing their stuff in person at special events. Also check out Acorn Studios for information on when to see them at an upcoming craft show.

Just writing this makes me want to bust out my Dremel, techno scraps, and glue to start crafting right now.

You can find some other places that sell similar items like these circuit board accessories. These are just simple business card holders and money clips made from recycled circuit boards, but when equipped by the right person, they can make a big impression.

Posted by Sean in Clothing and Accessories, Indie, Nerd, Unique
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