How to Build a Covert Case for a Covert Clicker

In this instructable I will teach you how to make a Case out of an Altoids SMALLS mint tin for your Ninja remote, or other similar universal remote control. Basically these remotes allow to control any TV in sight. To program it you just have to hold the mute bottom until the TV mutes and then you have control of it. You can flip channels, change the volume, mute, select the audio video inputs and use the master on and off. One cool thing I do at school is to find a panasonic tv, program the remote to it, and then control the rest of the tv's in the school because they are all panasonic. These remotes are any where from $9 US to $2.21 US. The only problem is that it looks very sneaky to hold up the remote and so I built it a little case out of an altoids tin to hide the remote in.

You need the following materials and tools.

Materials
Universal Remote
Altoids Smalls Tin
Thin Foam Sheet
Paper - Letter Size
Shim Material- I used a piece of scrap wood.

Tools
Drill
A Bit that is the same size as the IR LED
5/64 inch Bit
Sand Paper/ Metal Files
Little Scotch Tape
Vise
Pencil
Something to cut the shim wood with

The first thing you have to do is trace the button pattern on to a piece of paper. Simply tape the paper onto the remote and trace the dill template with a pencil. Here is video for those who are slow like me.

Now tape on the template and drill away. Don't forget to drill out holes for the LED(s) in the front. It is most likely 3mm LED.

When drilling you might find it handy to have a small piece of wood in the inside of the tin to make sure it keeps its shape. Otherwise you might bend the tin to much and the top might not slide back on. :(

The next thing you will happen to notice is that the holes are really bumpy. To clean them up you can use some sand paper and/or metal files.

The final thing to do is to cut a small piece of thin foam and rap the remote in it. This will stop the the key chain part from rattling around. Alternatively you can just cut of the keychain. That is what I did. To stop the remote from moving I cute a little piece of plywood to fit in the tin where the remote didn't. This acted as a buffer to stop the remote from moving around while you use it.

Now no one (not even those who no about the remote) will think you have the remote. Just an altiods tin. On average it takes less than 10 seconds to take control and wreak havoc on your local tv. Please express your thoughts,suggestions and feelings about the instructable in the comments.Thanks For Reading.
Joe