Workshop

The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for the industrial arts from metal and woodworking to CNC machining and 3D printing.

Maker Faire Detroit: The Midwest at its Best – What We Hope for Detroit

Maker Faire Detroit: The Midwest at its Best – What We Hope for Detroit

The fourth Maker Faire Detroit took place at The Henry Ford in Dearborn on July 27-28, 2013. When we first started planning Maker Faire Detroit five years ago, we knew it would be a challenge. The regional economy was as bad in 2008 as in any part of the country, and the forecast seemed grim. Yet, even then you could see hopeful signs, even in downtown Detroit. Now that Detroit has declared bankruptcy, one might think things have only gotten worse. I want to tell you that in fact they have gotten better and Maker Faire Detroit offers any number of hopeful signs, that there’s new life not just in Michigan but perhaps for the entire Rust Belt.

Pedal Power: The Quest for the 100 MPH Bicycle

Pedal Power: The Quest for the 100 MPH Bicycle

England’s Tom Donhou makes some beautiful hand-built road and mountain bike frames. He got the idea to put his handiwork into action build (and pilot) a bike that could reach 100 miles per hour on the flats. Working in his shop and with England’s Royce he build a rocket of a bike with a monster front chain ring nearly as big as his wheels. !He was inspired by the homebuilt cars roaring across the salt flats of Utah. There are no salt flats in the U.K. so he choose a two-mile WWII-era runway. But his quest didn’t stop there. The short documentary below documents his efforts and those of his collaborators. It’s a great story of ingenuity, daring, and the maker spirit.