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TNT Newsletter for January 31, 2008
Put a little fire in your art, remove those darn ink stains, save some energy, help your dog see clearly, and never, ever forget the duct tape.
Happy New Year, Readers! (It's not too late for that, is it? After all, the Chinese New Year isn't until February 7th.)
I hope you have your resolutions in order, like keeping your workbench clean, learning a new skill (blacksmithing, anyone?), and finally finishing whichever project has been languishing for months on end (or starting a new one!). Here are a few ideas and tips for starting the year with a clean slate, whether its repairing your outdoor gear so you can have a stress-free camping trip come spring, cleaning ink off your child's favorite toy (where did those scribbles come from??), or figuring out new ways to save energy and reduce your heating bill this winter.
What are your new year's resolutions? Did your loved ones give you a fabulous new tool over the holidays? Shoot me an email at toolbox@makezine.com, and we'll send you a copy of the MAKE Pocket Ref to add to your loot!
Cheers,
Arwen O'Reilly
Staff Editor, MAKE Magazine
toolbox@makezine.com
Don't Forget the Duct Tape
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=756
$8
This book should be standard issue with every new piece of camping equipment sold. It's a great collection of tips for keeping outdoor and travel gear in tip-top shape. It's full of great advice for repairing broken zippers, snagged sleeping bags, and sputtering camp stoves, but even more importantly, it lays out the best way to keep these problems from happening in the first place. Kristin Hostetter is the gear editor at Backpacker magazine, and you can tell she's seen a LOT of gear. Heck, it's a great thing to take with you when shopping for your stuff in the first place.
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://www.mountaineersbooks.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=756
$8
This book should be standard issue with every new piece of camping equipment sold. It's a great collection of tips for keeping outdoor and travel gear in tip-top shape. It's full of great advice for repairing broken zippers, snagged sleeping bags, and sputtering camp stoves, but even more importantly, it lays out the best way to keep these problems from happening in the first place. Kristin Hostetter is the gear editor at Backpacker magazine, and you can tell she's seen a LOT of gear. Heck, it's a great thing to take with you when shopping for your stuff in the first place.
Fire Arts Chicago
Reviewed by Eric Schrempp
http://www.firearts.org
I know your article on The Crucible ran a while back, but I'd like to mention a wonderful place like it here in Chicago. It's the Fire Arts Center of Chicago, and they offer classes in foundry, forge, armor, sword-making, welding, and sculpture.
My son and I have worked in bronze and copper sculpture using the ceramic-shell lost wax process, making pieces upwards of thirty pounds. Vince Hawkins is the resident wizard/alchemist who keeps things running at Fire Arts, and he's a remarkable sculptor in his own right.
Editor's Note: Don't live in Chicago? Check out our list of industrial art spaces here.
Reviewed by Eric Schrempp
http://www.firearts.org
I know your article on The Crucible ran a while back, but I'd like to mention a wonderful place like it here in Chicago. It's the Fire Arts Center of Chicago, and they offer classes in foundry, forge, armor, sword-making, welding, and sculpture.
My son and I have worked in bronze and copper sculpture using the ceramic-shell lost wax process, making pieces upwards of thirty pounds. Vince Hawkins is the resident wizard/alchemist who keeps things running at Fire Arts, and he's a remarkable sculptor in his own right.
Editor's Note: Don't live in Chicago? Check out our list of industrial art spaces here.
Removing Ink Stains from Toys
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://babytoolkit.blogspot.com/2007/12/clear-unsightly-blemishes-case-of.html
In my experience, there's nothing makers like more than being a hero, so here's a good tip I saw on BoingBoing for Dads and Moms: acne cream and sunshine will remove ink scribbles from toys. I love the process the author of the post went through to test various solutions, and the before and after photos are astonishing!
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://babytoolkit.blogspot.com/2007/12/clear-unsightly-blemishes-case-of.html
In my experience, there's nothing makers like more than being a hero, so here's a good tip I saw on BoingBoing for Dads and Moms: acne cream and sunshine will remove ink scribbles from toys. I love the process the author of the post went through to test various solutions, and the before and after photos are astonishing!
Watt Watt
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://wattwatt.com/
Watt Watt is a "community for individuals interested in electrical energy efficiency." It has forums on topics ranging from appliances to transport to renewable energy.
And speaking of energy, I got an interesting list of energy-saving tips in the mail from my local gas and electric company. Most of them are common sense, like only washing full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine, or setting your thermostat lower at night. But a couple were things I'd never thought of, like cleaning out the lint from the dryer after each use, or letting dishes in the dishwasher air dry if you have time. I might just have to post this on Watt Watt!
Reviewed by Arwen O'Reilly Griffith
http://wattwatt.com/
Watt Watt is a "community for individuals interested in electrical energy efficiency." It has forums on topics ranging from appliances to transport to renewable energy.
And speaking of energy, I got an interesting list of energy-saving tips in the mail from my local gas and electric company. Most of them are common sense, like only washing full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine, or setting your thermostat lower at night. But a couple were things I'd never thought of, like cleaning out the lint from the dryer after each use, or letting dishes in the dishwasher air dry if you have time. I might just have to post this on Watt Watt!
Doggle (Doggie Goggle)
Reviewed by Lee Bonnifield
My dog rode with his head out the window, but he had to squint his
eyes against the 55 mph wind. I cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle
to save his corneas.
Cut off the top 1.5", including the spout. The plastic is thickest near
the spout, so how much you cut off determines how hard it is to cut,
and how flexible it is going to be wrapped around the dog's muzzle.
Cut off the rest of the bottle around the top of the label. Cut a
vertical slit so the bottle top opens up into goggle shape. Trim off
the sharp corners and smooth any ragged cuts.
The plastic will try less to curl back into bottle shape after a
while. When you have cut the spout off at the right level and
stretched it and fit it properly, the plastic's preformed curl will
keep the top of the bottle snug around the dog's muzzle. If there's
too big a gap, I suppose wind will lift the doggle and blow it off. It
shouldn't be squeezing his muzzle, just trim it so it is formfitting.
Poke a little hole in the plastic where you want to tie a string. I suggest two ties at the bottom rear corners clipped to his collar under his
chin, with a spring clip. The weight of his collar was enough to hold
doggle against muzzle when he lifted his head into the wind.
Once I got the right shape to fit and stay down, and the right
location of holes and length for ties, he could slip it off if he
wanted. But he routinely left it on and seemed to enjoy it, riding
head out, wide-eyed.
It won't stay crystal clear forever. When it's time for a new one,
wrap the old one around a new bottle as a guide for cutting.
Reviewed by Lee Bonnifield
My dog rode with his head out the window, but he had to squint his
eyes against the 55 mph wind. I cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle
to save his corneas.
Cut off the top 1.5", including the spout. The plastic is thickest near
the spout, so how much you cut off determines how hard it is to cut,
and how flexible it is going to be wrapped around the dog's muzzle.
Cut off the rest of the bottle around the top of the label. Cut a
vertical slit so the bottle top opens up into goggle shape. Trim off
the sharp corners and smooth any ragged cuts.
The plastic will try less to curl back into bottle shape after a
while. When you have cut the spout off at the right level and
stretched it and fit it properly, the plastic's preformed curl will
keep the top of the bottle snug around the dog's muzzle. If there's
too big a gap, I suppose wind will lift the doggle and blow it off. It
shouldn't be squeezing his muzzle, just trim it so it is formfitting.
Poke a little hole in the plastic where you want to tie a string. I suggest two ties at the bottom rear corners clipped to his collar under his
chin, with a spring clip. The weight of his collar was enough to hold
doggle against muzzle when he lifted his head into the wind.
Once I got the right shape to fit and stay down, and the right
location of holes and length for ties, he could slip it off if he
wanted. But he routinely left it on and seemed to enjoy it, riding
head out, wide-eyed.
It won't stay crystal clear forever. When it's time for a new one,
wrap the old one around a new bottle as a guide for cutting.
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Creative Sheet Forming Session II with Vivian Beer
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In Love with the Arts - Valentine's Artisan Fair
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Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show
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19th Annual Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
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2012 American Craft Council Atlanta Show
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Intergalactic Bead & Jewelry Show
