Cy Tymony
Cy reads six newspapers a day. "I am inquisitive about all aspects of how life works," the Los Angeles author/inventor says. His career started as a child, when he made a sleeve-mounted shocker device to defend himself from schoolyard bullies. His Sneaky Uses books explore the delight of finding. He also roller-skates, practices aikido and judo, plays with cardboard boomerans, and eats tuna salad when he is not working on finding still more sneaky uses for everyday things.
Author of these Magazine Articles
Batteries From Everyday Things
Sneaky batteries are everywhere!
In
Weird Science
from MAKE:
schoolsout: School's Out page 85
Mini Foosball Game
With just a few straws, paper clips, and a common 3-bag microwave popcorn box, you can quickly put together your own Sneaky Mini Foosball Game.
In
123
from MAKE:
28: Toys and Games page 82
Sneaky UV Ink Password Protector
Write your computer passwords with an ultraviolet (UV) invisible ink pen so the information cant be seen by the naked eye, and hide the UV light.
In
123
from MAKE:
28: Toys and Games page 169
Action Root Beer Pong
Bring back the fun of beer pong by adding motion, with your own pong toy that scuttles about.
In
123
from MAKE:
27: Robots page 115
Urban Survival Button
Prepare yourself by making a Sneaky Button Survival Kit, which contains practical items you can use to protect yourself in urban situations.
In
123
from MAKE:
25: Microcontrollers and Arduino page 40
Sneaky Milk Plastic
When separated from milk by using an acid such as vinegar, casein becomes a moldable plastic material that can be used to create everything from glue to fabric to billiard balls.
In
123
from MAKE:
24: Space page 116
Hypsometer
Using simple trigonometric principles, you can closely estimate the height of objects with an easy-to-make-hypsometer (hyps means height in Greek).
In
123
from MAKE:
23: Gadgets page 110
Cup Positioning System
Use a cup to put you in your place.
In
123
from MAKE:
21: Desktop Manufacturing page 30
Batteries From Everyday Things
Power an LED with lemons or spare change.
In
123
from MAKE:
19: Robots page 110
Mechanical Image Duplicator
With a few everyday items found in the home, you can make a pantograph.
In
123
from MAKE:
17: Lost Knowledge page 136
Sneaky Sleeve Pocket
Stick a secret compartment inside your jacket for hush items you want to stash.
In
DIY: Hide It
from
CRAFT:
06: Play page 97
Candy Alert
Devise sneaky uses for high-tech candy packaging and other small toys.
In
123
from MAKE:
13: Magic page 112
Boomerang
Make a real boomerang out of cardboard and foam rubber.
In
123
from MAKE:
12: Upload page 77
Easy Motor
Make a spinning motor with a minimum of parts.
In
123
from MAKE:
11: Alt Vehicles page 126
Origami Flying Disc
Understand Bernoulli's principle of flowing fluids and gases with a paper flyer.
In
123
from MAKE:
10: Home Electronics page 167
Aircraft Band Receiver
Modify an AM/FM radio to pick up air traffic control communications.
In
123
from MAKE:
09: Fringe page 27
Shaker Flashlight Power Source
Powering small electronics with your muscles.
In
123
from MAKE:
08: Toys and Games page 48
Magnetic Switches from Everyday Things
Control many devices from afar with the magnetically sensitive Sneaky Switch.
In
123
from MAKE:
07: Backyard Biology page 51
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things
Turn a remote control car into an alarm system.
In
123
from MAKE:
05: Science, Weather, and Outdoors page 113
Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things
Turn a cup into a speaker and a microphone.
In
123
from MAKE:
04: Music and Kits for the Holidays page 152










