MacBook Keyboard Bangle

MacBooks are intricately engineered and manufactured with precision. The organs are meticulous too, and there is beauty in the engineering. This machine served me for over 15 years, a workhorse that was present though many important stages of my university education and early career and whilst I could send it to recycling, there is still value in the components for a new life. This Intractable guides you through the process of ho to DIY a bracelet.

Tiny Screwdriver

Old MacBook

Drill

Sandpaper

pliers

Turn over the MacBook, Remove the battery cover and battery, then remove the rest of the cover.

Remove the internals (and save them for future crafts)

The back of the keyboard will have a protective black cover, peel this away to reveal a frosted sheet of plastic. Remove this to reveal multiple tiny screws.

These screws are Phillips, but are tiny. If you have a screwdriver that can remove them, then do so, but as they're so small, you can easily drill them out with a metal drill bit. The posts of the screws will remain behind but the heads will fall away and the keyboard can be lifted out.

Remove the keycaps and separate the three layers of the keyboard.

The letters can be kept for other projects. So long as you don't have repeating letters, you can use them to spell out a sign. So 'ANNA' wouldn't work, but 'JOHN' would.

Decide on the length of your bangle. Aesthetically I chose to cut two rows up. I thought the F key holes, numbers and first two rows of letters had the nicest structures, but you can of course choose a length that works for you. Cut carefully with scissors. The metal is relatively soft but do take care not to let your skin rub against the cut edge.

Sand the sharp edge of the cut edge. Support the metal and use repeated passes rather than rubbing hard to prevent bending.

Roll and manipulate the sheet into a circle. Keep the rough side facing out and try a test fit to make sure it fits over your hand.

The key holes will align naturally. If any folds are proud, crimp them down with pliers. Any which stick through from under, you can fold backwards over the top layer to help keep it secure. Several of these will line up.

Take a small screw from your disassembly pile. This one came from the hard drive enclosure. Identify an area where a hole lines up with another and gently screw the post in. This will secure it rigidly. It is also short enough that it won't come through the other side too far so shouldn't be uncomfortable for wear.

You're finished. You can always make a smaller bangle with the cut off strip, following the steps from step 6. Style your bangle with a short sleeved top. I would avoid wearing this with loose knit garments.