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This project is about making a slightly annoying birthday present for a friend's 40th birthday. It's a quick one.

The birthday girl plays computer games, so I figured she'd like a steam gift card. But gift cards are one step above cash in terms of thoughtlessness, so I decided to fancy it up a bit.

I had some 25x25x1.5 steel box section leftover from a previous project. I cut it open lengthways.

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-040951.png}}

I then used a set of punches to punch the steam gift card code, a 15-character string of letters and numbers, onto the inside of the tube. 

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-041150.png}}

I also punched "steam card" on the outside to reduce the risk the gift would be discarded as one from a madman.

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-041238.png}}

I cleaned and butt-welded the two pieces together. No filler. I trimmed off the end with the blowout visible in this photo.

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A coat of primer and a coat of matte black spraypaint.

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The end result

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-041504.png}}

I didn't grind down the seam so there's a hint of something afoot.

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-041548.png}}

Another clue is the marks on the outside of the tube from my punching the inside. I did the punching on a concrete surface, which probably transferred the pattern of the concrete onto the pipe. Next time I will use a smooth surface as an anvil.

{{:projects:shs_steam_card:pasted:20191130-041659.png}}

[[projects:shs_steam_card:solution|The solution]]