The trick is three-fold. Getting the adhesive to be sturdy, getting the mod to stand straight and look good, and integrating the tag in the first place.
This is handy if you are getting old like me and misplace things.
-A big washer with a 3/4” hole,
-a roll of 3m heavy duty foam tape, (black with red coverings)
-a Dremel with stone grinding bits,
-a tube/stick of epoxy plumbing putty (which means plastic filled),
-a utility knife and/or sharp small scissors for the tape
-a pack of jocular air tracker tags. (You need 1. They come in packs of 4)
All can be had off Amazon, but the washer may be better found at a local hardware store.
1. The washer needs to be beveled on the inside rim to hold the tag. These tags are both initially cheaper and smaller, but they have two problems: one is they are rounded on both the top and the bottom, and the other is that they eat batteries. So while they may start out a lot cheaper ($16 for four instead of $75 for 4) they may not stay that way.
These AirTags have a few differences from the Apple ones that matter: they are held together with tiny Philips screws (that may be removed. They are ALSO held with an interference snap) and they have a button on them which is good for testing them.
2. Remove the screws and place it cap up on the washer in such a way that the button (which is now on the bottom) can be reached. Additional grinding may be necessary.
3. Stick it to the washer with the epoxy putty WITHOUT sticking the cap closed. If desired a smooth fillet can be made. Epoxy putty can be rubbed smooth before it is dry with a wet finger. Or a file after it is dry.
4. Cut a really thin strip of 3m tape off the edge. Maybe 3-5mm. Cutting it at an angle makes triangles easier. If not start one triangle before you start sticking.
5. The top of the thing needs to be made close to flat. Do that by sticking the strip to the beveled part of the tag so you can cut a single triangle and snip one off. The tape is incredibly sticky (the stickiest I could find by a lot) pull the bottom stip off only to stick it to the tag. Continue around the edge till there are little red triangles in a ring around the top.
6. Remove the red bit while leaving the black bit as unmolested as possible with the utility knife (this is a PITA)
7. Stick the mod on top straight. It should look a bit like this:
The bottom will snap off allowing you to change the battery (which you will eventually need to do)
This is handy if you are getting old like me and misplace things.
-A big washer with a 3/4” hole,
-a roll of 3m heavy duty foam tape, (black with red coverings)
-a Dremel with stone grinding bits,
-a tube/stick of epoxy plumbing putty (which means plastic filled),
-a utility knife and/or sharp small scissors for the tape
-a pack of jocular air tracker tags. (You need 1. They come in packs of 4)
All can be had off Amazon, but the washer may be better found at a local hardware store.
1. The washer needs to be beveled on the inside rim to hold the tag. These tags are both initially cheaper and smaller, but they have two problems: one is they are rounded on both the top and the bottom, and the other is that they eat batteries. So while they may start out a lot cheaper ($16 for four instead of $75 for 4) they may not stay that way.
These AirTags have a few differences from the Apple ones that matter: they are held together with tiny Philips screws (that may be removed. They are ALSO held with an interference snap) and they have a button on them which is good for testing them.
2. Remove the screws and place it cap up on the washer in such a way that the button (which is now on the bottom) can be reached. Additional grinding may be necessary.
3. Stick it to the washer with the epoxy putty WITHOUT sticking the cap closed. If desired a smooth fillet can be made. Epoxy putty can be rubbed smooth before it is dry with a wet finger. Or a file after it is dry.
4. Cut a really thin strip of 3m tape off the edge. Maybe 3-5mm. Cutting it at an angle makes triangles easier. If not start one triangle before you start sticking.
5. The top of the thing needs to be made close to flat. Do that by sticking the strip to the beveled part of the tag so you can cut a single triangle and snip one off. The tape is incredibly sticky (the stickiest I could find by a lot) pull the bottom stip off only to stick it to the tag. Continue around the edge till there are little red triangles in a ring around the top.
6. Remove the red bit while leaving the black bit as unmolested as possible with the utility knife (this is a PITA)
7. Stick the mod on top straight. It should look a bit like this:
The bottom will snap off allowing you to change the battery (which you will eventually need to do)
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