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Jeff writes - "In some sense I'm using computer technology to both block out the sun and help me sleep in. With a box of old computer punch-cards, a used vertical blinds assembly, and some needle and thread I fashioned a device to help me in my ongoing battle against my bodies desire to wake-up.
We have where I work boxes upon boxes of these prehistoric paper punch-cards. I'm always looking for novel ideas to put them to good use again. Besides being good for blocking out the sun they also make good book marks and table leg stabilizer's... I think the cards I used were 'saved' Fortran programs." [via] - Link.
That's kind of cute.
I hope you kept the cards in order so you can still use the data on them ;)
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Nice! I remember people making christmas wreaths out of them- I've been looking for a photo of one- there was a lot of gold spray paint involved.
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What do you do that your work still has boxes of hallorinth cards?
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What do you do that your work still has boxes of hallorinth cards?
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This it GREAT! I actually have a punch machine, if you can believe that. I haven't used it for a while now, but I am always looking for more ideas and reasons to get it out of its box.
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Rob,
I've been looking for a good pic of the punch card wreath, too. I found this one (http://www-us.flickr.com/photos/bunchofpants/2603910/) but it doesn't give enough detail... Someone purchased one on eBay about six months ago, but I lost the member info before I was able to follow through to request a photo....
Phillip,
The curtain is awesome!
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Thanks for all the comments!
Many cards had already been taken out of the box before I acquired it with the desire to 'make' my curtains. I doubt that keeping them in order would have made them any more viable for there intended usage. But, since I only took cards out in order as I sewed them into vertical collumns, I guess I could say that I did keep them in order. I am a machinist(CNC and old-skool manual). I work at a university in a scientific instrument machine shop(see following link). I am also a student at the same school and am studying physics( p=mv ). I've worked there for a little over two years now and am very happy. In the shop where I work there are four boxes of these punch-cards. The boxes are big, about a foot and a half long. I don't know exactly where they came from. We use them as glorified shims most of the time. In the base-ment(sometimes refered to as the dungeon or morgue) of the building where the machine shop is there are alot more boxes, alot more...
This is where I work.
"You learn a little bit more with every part you make," Garman said.
Thanks again for all the comments - see ya around.
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Hi, I'm the person who posted the punchcard wreath photo mentioned below. My father worked at a data processing center in the '70s and brought home zillions of used punchcards. Making the wreath is incredibly easy (I'd post a picto-tutorial but I have no punchcards to use):
1. I don't know how many cards you need ... let's guess about 35. Fold the corners on one end of each punchcard toward each other so that the end of the card is now pointy. I think we used a stapler to fasten them this way.
2. Arrange the cards in a circle with the unfolded ends at the center, so that each card is like a spoke on a wheel. I believe we used glue to fasten them into position this way.
3. Make another circle of cards behind the first so that the pointy edges stick out pat the edge of the first circle like another level of flower petals. Glue them into place. Add another level, and then I think even another ... (I was just a little kid when we made these things ... I don't recall exactly!)
4. Spray paint the wreath (we used gold, silver, red and green) and sprinkle glitter on it if desired). After it dries, hide the ugly center with decorationslike pine boughs, pine cones, or whatever decorations you wish.
If I could find a supply of punchcards I would be delighted to make a wreath and document the process in a pictorial how-to.
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