Interchangeable Wood Phone Backers
Project by
Alex Berger
Published On
August 16, 2013
General Information
Mix and match backs that use residue-free micro-suction material
Project License
Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)
Open in Easel®
Cutting
Cut the shape from the file on a band saw. Drill the camera hole and file/sand. Please note that this is meant to fit an iPhone 4 or 4S.
Depending on your machine(s), you may be able to laser cut or mill this shape. Please test a small section of the wood to determine the feasibility. Leopardwood is naturally oily and may burn slightly in a laser cutter, and thin wood takes care to mill.
Sanding
Sand the edges until they're smooth. Sand the corners until they're rounded if you weren't able to achieve this on the band saw.
Applying Suction Cup Tape
Cut suction cup tape into thin strips that fit horizontally on the back of your piece. I find that 6 strips is the right amount to keep it secure on your phone. Remove the white backing and apply the adhesive side to the wood backer. Remove the clear backing and apply to your phone.
Mix and Match
Cut other woods and follow the same steps. They will adhere firmly to your phone but peel off with a moderate pull, leaving no residue behind. You can use them over and over. If the suction cup side gets dirty and loses some adhesion, simply wipe it with a damp cloth.
These are gorgeous. Nice job.
Jeff Talbot · August 22, 2013
What tool did you use to cut the suction cup tape material?
Philip Lomac · August 23, 2013
Thanks Jeff!
Alex Berger · August 23, 2013
Phil, I peeled the plastic backing off and cut it with regular scissors. I punctured a little part of the material to cut the hole with scissors as well. Although covering the whole surface makes it more difficult to remove than applying strips of SCT around the edges, it keeps the thin wood flat.
Alex Berger · August 23, 2013
Where do you find the cases for these to go on?
Ryan Clark · January 05, 2016
Hey Ryan, I actually just applied them directly to the back of the phone. You can find thin, clear cases on sites like AliExpress, but they don't always fit over the wood since they're designed to fit snugly on your phone. Hope that helps.
Alex Berger · January 06, 2016