Guide
What a stench: the Sleeper PC case
by Kevin Hofer
Sleeper PC upcycling: what to do with 14 Super Disks
25.7.2019
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Super Disks used to be the Mini Discs of IT. They were supposed to replace floppies, but CD burners came first. Today they're unusable, with only their miniscule 120 MB of data space. But you don't have to use them on your PC. With a little ingenuity, you'll be able to make your workplace look better with them.
I built a sleeper PC. That's modern components in an old PC case. I'm raffling it as well. Find out how to win it at the end of this article.
I miss floppy or Super Disks about as much as CDs. Not at all. That's why I'm more than willing to use the 14 discs included in the original Sleeper case in four upcycling projects.
Pen holder
I've got a boringly regular pen holder on my desk. Fortunately, Super Disks can bring some retro to your workspace.
I need five floppy discs, cable ties and some device to make holes in the Super Disks. Our office isn't very well equipped in those regards. Only the Dremel 4000, which I used for milling out the back wall of the Sleeper PC, is at my disposal. Luckily I can drill with it as well.
Anyway, I can still connect the disks with cable ties. I lay them out in a cross shape in front of me. The Super Disk in the middle will become the bottom of the pen holder. I connect it to the sides without tightening the cable ties too much. As soon as all sides are attached, I lift them into a vertical position and tighten the cable ties. Now I just have to connect the sides to the drilled holes at the top and my Super-Disk pen holder is ready.
Notepad
The next project is a little less complex. I need two Super Disks to make a notepad. One for the front and one for the back. I can't use the existing holes here, because they're too close to the edge. If I punch out the paper that close to the edge, it'll tear out. I need to drill two new holes a little further in.
After having drilled the holes, I grab a stack of paper and cut it to Super Disk size with a boxcutter. Then I make two holes with a hole punch at the same location as those on the disks. Now all I have to do is insert two cable ties and my notepad is complete. Instead of cable ties you can also use ring binders, if you feel like spicing up the look of your notepad.
Photo holder
Seven Super Disks down, seven to go. My most ambitious project requires four. Out of the three I have left, I'll make a photo holder. The protective cover of floppy discs is a great place to attach photos. Improve your retro aesthetic even more with pictures from an instant camera.
Table clock
The last thing I attempt is a table clock. I don't really need one – my PC and smartphone clocks are sufficient – but a Super Disk clock would look awesome.
The clockwork's manual tells me that the dial must be between 9 and 13 mm thick. A Super Disk is thinner, so I have to stack three Super disks on top of each other. I then fasten the dial to the bottom of another diskette with two cable ties, which function as a stand.
Since the hands are black, I spray them white. They stand out better from the black dial this way. While they're drying, I connect the clockwork and the dial to the stand. I quickly realise they're too long. That's why I shorten them with scissors. The clock is ready.
What's next?
Until August 1, 2019, you have time to enter the Sleeper PC competition. You can win like this: At the end of the previous articles I'll ask you a question with three possible answers. You can find the correct answer in the article itself. You get one point for every correct answer. Answer as many of the questions as possible correctly and you will make it into the final draw. The draw will decide who wins the PC.
If you've only just joined us: don't worry, you can still answer the questions on the previous articles. I'll list them for you here:
Kevin Hofer
Senior Editor
kevin.hofer@digitecgalaxus.chFrom big data to big brother, Cyborgs to Sci-Fi. All aspects of technology and society fascinate me.
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