I have a media computer hooked up to a TV that had been running windows 8.  After no end of having system updates failing and reformats I finally replaced it with Ubuntu.  I like the operating system.  It was easy to install, does everything I need on that computer, is fast, and appears stable.  Best of all it is free and can be installed with a USB stick.  I am going to be keeping a copy around from now on.  Might as well have a proper storage stick.

That is the Ubuntu symbol in case you aren’t familiar.  So my spray painting job isn’t exactly perfect, but I am happy with how this one turned out.  I took a standard USB stick, painted it orange (Ubuntu’s color), then carved the logo into the paint to reveal the white plastic beneath.  It may seem like tons of work just to identify a jump drive, but when you have a mill, things like this MUST be done!

It wasn’t without issue though.  I bought two incase I messed up one.  Good thing too, because I forgot to reset the zero (starting position) in my mill software and plunged an engraving bit straight through the poor thing.

Yes, that hole goes clean through.  Might as well try again.  The symbol milled into this drive was my second attempt.  It needed minor cleanup, but looks pretty good.  My attempt on the backup USB drive and was the finished product I showed first.

I think this speared usb stick can serve as a good example of what not to do.  Why not keep the engraving going and make myself a reminder sign?  I engraved some outline text into a bit of plywood, and sprayed it with black paint to highlight the lettering.

I went a little overboard with the paint, but after sufficient sanding I got through and had a decent looking set of letters.  I attached the USB stick and placed the new sign on the wall behind my mill.  Hopefully this will help keep me from making future mistakes… Yeah, probably not.