RFID Blocking Wallet
Written by Dustin Kirk   
Friday, 30 December 2005

Protect your money and privacy!
With the proliferation of RFID devices and related privacy concerns, it seemed due time to create the RFID Blocking Duct Tape Wallet. There are many ways to prevent Radio Frequency ID tags from being transmitted from devices. I often use my work badge and school ID which both contain RFID tags. With drivers licenses, credit cards, and cash now beginning to contain RFID tags, why not create the wallet.

It seemed to be pretty well known online that aluminum foil prevented the transmission of RFID signals. A quick test at my work place using my badge confirmed this. The next step was to design a wallet with aluminum foil embedded inside. Using the plans to make Duct Tape Wallets I created previously, it was simple to modify them to include the aluminum foil.

Instructions written by Dustin Kirk | www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/


In creating a RFID Blocking Duct Tape Wallet, the first step is to create a sheet of RFID Blocking tape, simply place a sheet of foil on the table, and place strips of Duct Tape overlapping on top. Once created, the sheet can be cut with scissors to the sizes needed to continue making the wallet. (click image to enlarge)

We want to make a large sheet, make it 8.5 inches by 7 inches.



Step 2
Trim the edges, fold the wallet in half and tape the sides to create a large pocket to hold bills.

 

 

Step 3
To create credit/business card pockets create another sheet 4 by 3.5 inches.

  Step 4
Fold 1.5 inches over. To create two more pockets, repeat the step above and then tape the two pieces together, taping the second pocket a little lower on top of the first piece.

 

Step 5
Tape the edges of the pockets and then tape the whole piece to the large pocket. To create another pocket, leave the inside part untaped.

 

Step 6
Make a sheet of tape (as in the first step) larger than your ID card. Cut the sheet so the outside part of the frame is slightly larger than the height and width of the ID. Cut the inside .5 centimeters, (big enough you can see you picture and info, but small enough the ID can't fall through the opening. Now trim the outside so it is slightly larger in all directions than your ID. Tape three sides of this window to the inside of your wallet, or on top of the credit card holder. It'll take a some trial an error to get it right, but it will be a great addition to the wallet. When your done, the ID should be able to slide into the untaped side of the holder, and once in, not fall through the open window.

 

 

 

Step 7
Tape the completed pocket to the large pocket and again you can create an extra pocket if you wish by leaving the inside part untaped.

 

Step 8
This is the completed wallet. There are an infinite ways to personalize this design. Some ideas I've embeded in mine are coin pockets within the large bill pocket and placing flaps on the credit card holders so business cards don't fall out when the wallet gets dropped.

I chose to make one more addition to my RFID Protective Wallet. A simple flap on the left hand side prevents cards inside the wallet from broadcasting even while the wallet is open half way.

Here are a few more pictures from the creation process...




Instructions written by Dustin Kirk | www.rpi-polymath.com/ducttape/

Last Updated ( Friday, 30 December 2005 )