Faraday Cage Phone Pouch

 
This Faraday Cage phone pouch blocks all radio signals coming in or out of your cellphone. Material costs are about $10, it takes ~ 30 minutes to build, and it can fit in your pocket!

The purpose of this pouch is to prevent access to your phone and its data (e.g. location) if and when you so choose. Before placing in the pouch, be sure to put your phone in airplane mode as the phone will drain its battery trying to find a signal.

Materials

-- Conductive Fabric
Sized to fit your phone + a top flap. For an iPhone w/ a (giant) case, I needed about 7.5" x 3.5".
-- Thread (regular, any color)
-- Button (any type)
Alternatively, you can use velcro, a safety pin, or any other means to hold down the top flap.


Tools  

-- Scissors
-- Ruler
-- Needle or Sewing Machine (preferred)
-- Safety pins (optional but helpful)


Build it! Pt. 1 

1. Measure the width, height, and depth of your phone (+ case, if you have one).

2. Add 1" to your phone width measurement and 2" to your phone height measurement. Cut conductive fabric into a rectangle of that size.
For example, the iPhone 5 is 4.87" tall, 2.31" wide and 0.30" thick. Thus, you want a rectangle that is at least 6.5" tall and 3.5" wide.

To double check your measurements, mark where you plan to cut the conductive fabric w/ a pen or pencil. then wrap the fabric around your phone. Be sure that you can fold down the top of the conductive fabric.
Helpful tip: It's always better to leave extra room. Measure twice, cut once, and so forth.

3. Place phone on one side of the conductive fabric and fold the fabric over the phone. Safety pin sides together.
Leave an inch or two above the phone so the top can be folded over like an envelope.















Build it! Pt. 2 

1. Sew bottom + sides of conductive fabric together using small hand stitches or a sewing machine.

 

2. Turn pouch inside-out to hide stitching.
3. Place phone inside pouch, fold top down and mark where the button will go.








4. Sew button on & cut a small slit in the top flap to attach.

Remove excess fabric as necessary, but be sure that the conductive fabric completely encases the phone when the top flap is folded down.













 
Done!

Place phone inside the Faraday Cage pouch whenever you want to cut off all radio signals coming in and out of your phone.

For another awesome version of the same concept, check out my friend's scarf project here.

Curious as to how this works? Awesome! In super simple terms, a Faraday Cage "traps" radio waves in the wires that make up the cage. In this design, the conductive fabric threads are the metal wires that form the Faraday Cage. Due to the small mesh size (aka wires are super close together), this design will block any electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength larger than visible light. :)

Here's a good overview on what a Faraday Cage is and how you can build a different version.

And here's the Wikipedia blurb on Faraday Cages, an excellent source if you want to learn more!