20 Secret Doors and Clever Hiding Places
The fascination with secret doors and hidden compartments has been around since ancient times and our desire to hide things hasn’t dwindled.
Workshop
The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for the industrial arts from metal and woodworking to CNC machining and 3D printing.
Review: Smooth-On XTC-3D Brush-On Coating for 3D Printed Parts
Sometimes 3D printed parts look interesting printed in lower resolutions with distinct layer lines. For example, the lines on a 3D printed scale model of a larger part to be CNC routed can represent a visible tool path in scale, but sometimes you want a smoother, more highly-finished part. I have found that PLA is […]
Building an Incredibly Detailed Star Trek Galileo Shuttlecraft
I’ve been a lifelong fan of Star Trek and was motivated, like many other students at the time, by the original TV series (as well the amazing space programs at NASA) to pursue a career in engineering. I even wrote a book, Starship Simulation. So, when I heard about the restoration project by Adam & Leslie […]
Explore This Elegant Wooden Arduino Puzzle Box
If you’re like me, you find yourself fighting the urge to push every button, flip every switch, and turn every knob you see. This arcade-style puzzle box was designed to satiate those deep-seated desires. Powered by an Arduino, with completely custom wooden enclosure and components, this is a wood shop geek’s first foray into the world of […]
Making the $25k Odaiko Drum on a Budget
When I ask myself: “Why did I put so much time and effort into building such a crazy, big drum?” it is important to first set the context: we teach at a school that is committed to the Arts as well as to Global Education. Our school’s mission statement reads: “Preparing students for ethical leadership […]
Geekbus Moves to Educate Young Makers
Geekbus is San Antonio’s mobile, 21st century innovation station. It’s a moving Makerspace inspired by garages, dorm rooms, and incubators of innovation, where businesses like Microsoft, IBM, and Facebook were first built. Teachers, parents, and industry leaders are excited because Geekbus students are having fun making things with digital design, by programing their own video […]
Metalworking a Replacement D-Handle
This D-handle build came about when the grandkids and I decided that we needed a wagon to haul our buckets of fishing gear and poles back to the lake instead of carrying them. Instead of buying one we decided to make one out of material in the scrap pile. When the wagon was almost finished, I looked […]