Sweet penny stove
We’ve covered these beer can stoves before, but this is a particularly nice one. And ’tis the season to be camping… Penny Stove Instructions and FAQ [Thanks, Pete Marchetto!] More: Make a Pepsi Can Stove A better soda can stove
Science
DIY science is the perfect way to use your creative skills and learn something new. With the right supplies, some determination, and a curious mind, you can create amazing experiments that open up a whole world of possibilities. At home-made laboratories or tech workshops, makers from all backgrounds can explore new ideas by finding ways to study their environment in novel ways – allowing them to make breathtaking discoveries!
Scottish rotary boat lift – The Falkirk Wheel
This amazing machine transfers boats between the Forth and Clyde and Union Canals of central Scotland, which are some 80 feet apart vertically. It was opened in 2002. Gareth wrote last year about artist Andy Scott’s proposal to install a pair of titanic mythical sea-horse heads as part of the lock mechanism below the wheel. […]
Trash menagerie
Unfortunately, the artist behind these cool component-sculptures goes unnamed. Anybody know who it is? These cool component-sculptures are the work of Ann P. Smith of Providence, RI. Thanks to Lithium Rain for providing us with her name and homepage. More: Animals made from e-waste are still your best friend Charming components Made in Japan – […]
Prototyping Thermatron, flame-controlled synth
Lorin Parker of Electric Western (creator of the Phantastron) puts fire to work controlling sound – The THERMATRON is essentially a voltage controlled oscillator and wave shaper controlled by the action of a flame. This is possible because electricity can be conducted through a flame. This is not a new discovery, in fact the electrical […]
Thinking of building a solar still?
Build It Solar has a great collection of solar DIY projects, including stills, cookers, food driers, and water heaters. But the gem of their solar-distillation collection, for my money, is this paper, from 1985, by Horace McCracken and Joel Gordes. It’s unformatted ASCII and black-and-white GIFs, but it provides a better review of the various […]
LOLrioKART: Dancing in the rain
Well, classes are finally over, and people like Charles can finally settle down to the important work of…extreme grocery carting: While I seem to be in “build season” mode year-round, it is during long breaks with little in the way of academic or life obligations that I get the most done. Last summer, I began […]
Blue wood exists!
OK, so it’s not like smurf-blue, but still: Blue hardwood! It comes from Talipariti elatum, the so-called “Blue Mahoe” tree, which is native to the Caribbean and is, apparently, the national tree of Jamaica. Turns out it also grows very quickly and shows some promise for sustainable forestry. Lumber is available through Tropic Ventures.
