Converting a RadioShack Enclosure Project Box to a Battery Tray
 

Thanks to Finnster for his tips and recommendations.

I picked up a RadioShack Enclosure/Project box, dimensions - 6x3x2" Plastic ABS box.

It cost me about $3.79, so a total of $4.

But I bought two, thinking I'd cut up 75% of one, and 75% of the other, but figured, why not try taking one, and cutting it in half.

The boxes come with 4 binder screws (I think they're binding, they look like self-tapping), a plastic cover, so it's a rounded box, instead of straight edges, the edges are kind of curved. Not only does it come with a plastic cover, it comes with a aluminum lid.

I think this should be going OVER the plastic lid, or without the plastic lid, it will go into the box, leaving excess plastic over the sides.

Here's some pictures from when you buy em, still new....:yes:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3376.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3378.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3379.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3380.jpg

Dimensions..
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3387.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3388.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3390.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3391.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3396.jpg

Insides and Outside:
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3397.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3398.jpg

Then you cut them into two halves...
Well, I didn't get two pictures of it completely split, so I'll just put my final pictures with the massive hotglue in.

Excuse the hotglue mess! :whip: :oh:

No dremel, and a crooked hacksaw later...
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3399.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3400.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3401.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3402.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3403.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3404.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3407.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g6...4/IMG_3408.jpg

As you can see, the top is quite crooked, because the hacksaw is probably older than me... No joke, it probably is :oops: And I'm 14 =/

The saw is crooked, and I didn't feel like taking a day to fix it or however long, since my dad wasn't gonna help me fix it, don't know why.

He had a bad day :neutral:

Anyways, you can see I went a little overboard with the hotglue, so I'm gonna take out a few razors and get it into neat little shapes whenever I feel like it. :na:

The hotglue will help hold the sides up, hopefully, it won't split in half.

As you can see, I also had to snip the screw on one side in half, and had to hotglue the screw in, as most of the screw was on the floor :mdr:

I made a little notch on the side.

This probably GREATLY decreases the durability on the lid box, but, eh, it works.. for now.

I like it, it seems pretty solid, and I'm waiting for my new screws to come in so I can counter-sink and mount them up on my TVPs!

Anyways, any questions, feel free to ask em here.

Had to use direct links because of the 10image limit... :no:

I'll keep you guys updated!!

---

BTW, does anyone know how to countersink without buying a countersinking kit?

nice, now put it in your savage tvp and dive it into a tree, or a curb, etc. to see if itll survive the real bashing world! Also, you might want to dremel off those little standoffs on the bottom of the box...

Oh.....
Didn't I tell ya, I don't have a dremel!

Thats why it looks so messy!

Wanna donate me a dremel? :lol::whistle:

Hmm, I would be a little leary about strength. The walls on Mike's trays are pretty thick (1/8" IIRC), and those have been known to break. Those RS boxes are much thinner. I would definitely use velcro on the bottom to reduce lateral movement...

Yeah, I forgot to mention that, I'll be hotgluing the velcro plus the adhesive, that's why I haven't been getting many updates, because I'm waiting to pick up some velcro off eBay!

:]

You DON'T HAVE A DREMEL???!! :oh: Shame on you! :whip:

No self-respecting hobbyist wouldn't be caught dead without one! Now go out and mow some lawns or something and get one ASAP. That's an order! :mdr:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Chris just IM'd me saying the same thing!

I wish I could mow lawns, around here, people can afford more than one gardener :yes: :oh: :neutral:

Why can't you mow lawns? You racist...

WAH!?

I dunno, no one wants to hire a 14 year old to mow their lawn when they already have gardeners doing it..

Bid lower and do an extra good job. Best way I know to steal some needed business. Plus you can tell people sob stories about how your (insert family member) has (insert disease) and does not have medical insurance. Tell them you have to mow lawns to pay for bus fare to go see this person before they kick off. Or something like that.

And your battery box looks wack. You need some kydex, a bench vise, and a heat gun...

Hahahahahaha

Man I wish...
If only I got allowance, sigh.

LOL, come on Linc, that was a little weak... :lol:

Probably.....

Hey, It was $4 for two trays!

We'll see how it goes!

I'm gonna go wrapping it in duct tape once I find some... :D

Your mama....

:lol::lol:

Random!?:party: