The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for the industrial arts from metal and woodworking to CNC machining and 3D printing.
Our Make: Online second-quarter theme of “Make: Time and Space” got me thinking about all of the workshop-related articles that have graced the pages of MAKE magazine. One of my favorites has to be Seattle-based master woodworker Len Cullum‘s “$30 Micro Forge” from MAKE Volume 18. When he found himself needing 500 old-style Japanese nails, […]
Metalsmith Tedd McDonah makes these gorgeous fishing lures from recycled cans. He calls them “Recyclures.”
With Easter coming up, the smell of chocolate is definitely in the air. Luckily, our friends at BurdaStyle turned us on to Chocri, a German chocolate maker that offers people the chance to design your own high-quality, just-for-you bar. We were delighted to try the process, and came up with some delicious creations. And naming […]
Mark Fuller sent us this video demoing his 3D-printed, humane mousetrap. Love this simple gravity-powered design. Mark says he made the trap with the help of the rapid prototyping class at Pennsylvania College of Technology (www.pct.edu). The device was printed on the Dimension uPrint, in little a under six hours. Tilt-N-Trap (Mouse Trap) on Thingiverse […]
I love all of the instructional videos that are now available online. At this point, there are probably very few trades where you couldn’t get a decent starter education in the subject just by studying videos (and other materials) at trade association websites, online trade mags, and YouTube channels. The Copper Development Association is producing […]
Now, there are a jillion combination pocket/keychain tools on the market. I’ve owned, carried, and used a bunch of them, and I generally find that only the test of time effectively sorts wheat from chaff. I’ve never owned, carried, or used this so-called “screwpop” tool, so I have no way of knowing how it stands up to pocket wear. I’d be a bit nervous that the reversible hex bit would get lost somewhere along the way, although it looks like their bit features a ball detent to hold it in place. Also, for those of you are counting, the “fourth” tool–besides the bottle opener and the flat and phillips screwdrivers–is a 1/4″ hex nut driver, which is a bit of a cheap marketing gimmick because what they’re really talking about, of course, is the socket that holds the hex bit.
But I like the no-frills design and the price is certainly right at $5. If I see one on a counter by a cashwrap at a hardware store someday, I’ll probably pick it up. [Thanks, Kurt!]
Punched metal is a classic technique used worldwide that transforms tin scraps and old cans into beautiful and delicate pieces of art. This project uses a recycled tomato can filled with ice to create a sturdy and safe candle holder. The standard motifs for this type of project include hearts, stars, and spirals, but I […]
