Volume 16: Spy Tech
Available as a Single Volume
Volume 16: Spy Tech
No mission is impossible when makers put their minds to it. Make Volume 16 will help you get smart with a special section on spy tech. Learn how to build and use tiny surveillance devices, and how to know if a spy is using them on you. From tiny video cameras to sneaky recorders, this volume has enough cool stuff to make James Bond's inventor Q envious.
View a list of all links referenced in this volume
Table of Contents
The Visible Hand by Dale Dougherty
in Welcome
The DIY mindset must again become an essential life skill. Page 13
Selectable Output Control by Cory Doctorow
in Make Free
Hollywood's most insane idea yet. Page 14
Reader Input
in Reader Input
Tales of hardware stores, wind generators, and pine derby cars. Page 16
Out of Their Shell by David Pescovitz
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 18
Shake-o-Rama by Megan Mansell Williams
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 20
Avian Spacecraft by Eric Smillie
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 21
Gliding on Air by Bruce Stewart
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 22
Technozoology by Donna Tauscher
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 23
Spying for Kicks by Megan Mansell Williams
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 24
Ship of Bricks by John Baichtal
in Made on Earth
Snapshots from the world of backyard technology. Page 25
Making Things Work by Saul Griffith
in Making Trouble
The LHC project makes me feel good about being human. Page 26
The First Picture Show by Dale Dougherty
in Maker
Jack Judson reveals the beginnings of the entertainment industry at his Magic Lantern Castle Museum. Page 28
24 Hours of Make: Television by Dale Dougherty
in Maker
Building a TV show is a project in itself. Page 34
Great Balls of Fire! by Keith Hammond
in Maker
Why old chemistry sets were better - and how to make your own today.
Page 38
Junk Pedalers by Peter Smith
A company that hauls away your trash - on bikes. Page 43
Were Number 33! by Jason Torchinsky
in Maker
The Make: Way race team takes on the 24 Hours of LeMons. Page 44
Star Bust by Star Simpson
in Maker
The "Boston Logan Terrorist Suicide Bomber" explains what really happened to her. Page 46
The Art of the Frame by Jess Hemerly
in Maker
Akio Tanabe creates some of the world's most sought-after bicycle frames. Page 49
Sparky 2: No Sellout by Marque Cornblatt
in Maker
My robotic alter ego steps out - open source. Page 50
DIY-brary by R.U. Sirius
in Maker
Rick and Meg Prelinger couldn't find a library with what they wanted, so they made their own. Page 54
Meet TRIZ by Richard Langevin
A methodology for inventive problem solving. Page 57
Fun Idea Machine by Jake Bronstein
in Maker
Proof that you can buy happiness ... for 24 cents. Page 58
Talking Booby Trap by Bob Knetzger
Surprise enemy spies with the sound of your own voice. Page 60
Portable Spy Scope by Eric Rosenthal
Turn your cellphone into a high-power digiscope. Page 64
Simple Laser Communicator by Simon Quellen Field
Talk in secret over your private laser beam light link. Page 67
Survival systems: shaken, not stirred by Thomas Arey
Miniaturize a serious survival kit. Page 70
Dead Drop Device by Brian Dereu
A hollow bolt hides secret messages. Page 72
This object will self-destruct... by Andrew Lewis
Create objects that melt into uselessness at your command. Page 76
USBattery by Andrew Lewis
Hide a secret flash drive in an innocent AA cell. Page 80
Checkmate, Mr. Bond! by Andrew Lewis
Unlock a secret compartment with magnetic chess pieces. Page 84
Covert Wireless Listening by David Simpson
Install a sneaky bug in a book. Page 88
Invisible Ink Printer by Mike Golembewski
Take a new twist on lemon juice. Page 92
The International Spy Museum by Laura Cochrane
Visitors explore the secret and exciting world of international espionage. Page 94
WARHOLIZE! by James Grant
in Upload
Turn your favorite blonde into a silk-screened glamour queen. Page 96
Create an Insect Eye by Charles Platt
in Upload
Make a multifaceted image from any portrait photo. Page 98
Shadowless Closeups by Charles Platt
in Upload
A simple setup for better auction photos. Page 100
Flipping Faces by Erico Narita
in Upload
Reveal the asymmetry in familiar featuresincluding your own. Page 102
Alien Projector by Brian McNamara
in 123
Shine an alien, large or small, on any wall. Page 104
Pole's-Eye View by William Gurstelle
A mast-mounted aerial photography rig. Page 106
5-Minute Foam Factory by Bob Knetzger
Cut 3D shapes out of styrofoam. Page 114
Chladni Plate by Edwin Wise
Make sound visible with this vibrating setup. Page 122
Surface Mount Soldering by Scott Driscoll
in Primer
Techniques for making modern circuits. Page 132
G-Meter and Altimeter by David Simpson
in DIY: Outdoors
Double-duty aerospace instrument on a shoestring budget. Page 141
Twinkle Toes by Dan Bassak
in DIY: Circuits
Add a flashing, tricolor UFO to your roller skates. Page 145
Remote Volume Knob by Paulo Rebordão
in DIY: Circuits
Turn the knob without leaving the couch. Page 149
The Disembodied Voice of Judy Garland Speaks! by Greg MacLaurin
in DIY: Telephony
How to make a Ghost Phone. Page 151
Chatter Telephone by Frank E. Yost
in DIY: Telephony
Surprise! A classic pull-toy phone that really works. Page 154
Chumby Phone by Daniel Gentleman
in DIY: Telephony
A hackable platform disguised as a red hotline. Page 157
Hacking the Glade Wisp by Wayne Holder
in DIY: Home
Make your own scent output peripheral from a piezo air freshener.
Page 161
USB Motion Detector by Ken Delahoussaye
in DIY: Home
Turn your PC into an ambush multimedia presenter. Page 165
Relative Measurements by Donald Haas
in DIY: Home
Making good guesses using what's at hand (including your hand). Page 168
Paulownia Archery Bows by Dan Albert
in DIY: Home
Making stuff with the wood that just might save the world. Page 169
The Spinning Cylinder Illusion by Donald E. Simanek
in Toys, Tricks, and Teasers
This is a toy, a puzzle, and an illusion all in one, with only one moving part. No batteries are required. I like simplicity, especially when it produces puzzling complexity. Page 172
Toolbox by Ryan Beacom, Bill Byrne, Kenny Cheung, Shawn Connally, Dick DeBartolo, Brian Graham, Ross Griffith, Mitchell Heinrich, Tim Lillis, Goli Mohammadi, Meara O'Reilly, Arwen O'Reilly Griffith, Ken Olsen, John Edgar Park
in Toolbox
Magnetic tacks, a doorbell for your cubicle, science for the hungry, and lessons from the Game of Life. Page 176
MakeShift: Bomb in the Parking Garage by Lee D. Zlotoff
in MakeShift
The creator of MacGyver challenges you to avoid being blown up by a subterranean bomb. Page 184
Len Cullum in Seattle, Wash. by Laura Cochrane
in Workshop
Making Connections Page 186
Maker's Calendar by William Gurstelle
in Maker's Calendar
Our favorite events from around the world. Page 189
Wooden Stilts by Nick Dragotta
in Howtoons
Page 190
Puzzle This by Michael H. Pryor
in Aha!
A baseball wager in North Korea. Page 193
Homebrew by Bryant Underwood
in Homebrew
Wheelchair safety system Page 200
Extras
Additional content for this volume available only online.
MakeShift 16: Analysis, Commentary, and Winners
by Lee D. Zlotoff;
April 15, 2009
MakeShift 16: Dave's Most Plausible Winning Entry
Dave's entry was awarded the MakeShift Master Plausible award for his solution to MakeShift 16.
by Lee D. Zlotoff;
April 15, 2009
MakeShift 16: Jeffrey Swan's Most Creative Winning Entry
Jeffrey Swan's entry was awarded the MakeShift Master Creative award for his solution to MakeShift 16.
by Lee D. Zlotoff;
April 15, 2009
MakeShift 16: Don Nelson's Honorable Mention Entry
Don Nelson's entry was awarded an Honorable Mention award for his solution to MakeShift 16.
by Lee D. Zlotoff;
April 15, 2009
Mulitimedia for this Volume
New battery wrapper from USBattery
Artwork that can be printed onto sticky-backed inkjet paper or film to make your USB flash memory battery look like an ordinary AA battery.
Download now: PDF
Transcript of Jack Judson interview from The First Picture Show
Download now: PDF
A complete video of the Jack Judson interview from The First Picture Show
Download now: QuickTime .MOV
MAKE: Amends Errata for this volume.
| Where it appears | Twinkle Toes, Page 148 |
| The error | In the circuit diagram, the 8-pin DIP has the pins reversed on the right-hand side, which should read 8, 7, 6, 5 from top to bottom. |
| Where it appears | Chatter Telephone, Page 155 |
| The error | The Hang-Up Hinge instructions ask you to drill "four 1/4" holes through the sides of the phone," but they should be four 1/8" holes. |
| Where it appears | Hacking the Glade Wisp, Page 163 |
| The error | In Steps 2 and 3, references to a 150MHz signal should have been to a 150KHz signal. |
Join the conversation -- every MAKE article has an online page that includes a place for discussion. We've made these RSS and Atom feeds to help you watch the discussions: subscribe.
Explore More in Make Magazine
Search the pages of MAKE
Raves for MAKE!
“Now we've got geek DIY (do it yourself) porn. Just as would-be Emerils pore over lushly illustrated cookbooks with recipes involving hard-to-find morels and complicated instructions for roux, Tom Swift wanna-bes are devouring MAKE.”
— Steven Levy, Newsweek
“...O'Reilly Media recently launched what has already become the bible of this new movement, a magazine called MAKE.”
— Daniel Roth, FORTUNE
“If you're the type who views the warnings not to pry open your computer as more a challenge than admonition, MAKE is for you.”
— Rolling Stone
“One of the most innovative magazines I've seen in a long time.”
— Steve Riggio, CEO Barnes & Noble
“The kind of magazine that would impress MacGyver”
— Marcus Chan, San Francisco Chronicle










