DIY Projects

Rick writes “This page shows how to make molds and do metal casting using rtv rubber and low temp metals, it also has sections on low cost plastic injection (very low cost) and styrofoam forming.” Link.

Brady writes “What you see is a homemade backpack flamethrower. I initially got interested after finding this page showing another guy’s plans on making one. I tried twice to make the main tank out of PVC, but for some reason the PVC just did not want to hold more than 50 PSI without leaking (the first one actually exploded at about 75 PSI). So I went the more expensive but safer route by using a metal tank. Also, with a metal tank you can use gasoline ($2.50/gallon) instead of denatured alcohol ($10/gallon) as the combustible liquid because gasoline eats PVC, so if I went the PVC route I’d have to use denatured alcohol.” Link.

Adnan writes “So what if your chances of ever becoming an astronaut are less than nil, you can still defy gravity using Oooms’s Anti Gravity Machine and you know it’s probably more fun. All you have to do is harness yourself on to the moving sea-saw contraption and voila, you can moonwalk like Neil Armstrong all over the Basketball court.” Looking at this counterweight machine, it wouldn’t be that hard to build, I’ll see if I can find (or make) a how-to. Link.

A honey extractor, made from old parts and bicycle wheels “There are few people more symbolic of rural African ingenuity than the bush mechanics. People with no formal training in mechanical repair, or engineering, who build strange contraptions to solve everyday problems and maintain fleets of ancient vehicles that keep Africa slowly moving forward…Dr Garth Cambray, a self professed ‘bush mechanic’ (and biotechnologist by profession) shows how he designed and built a very low cost honey extractor from readily available scrap parts.” [via] Link.

This is one of those woodworking projects I’d love to squeeze in over the holidays – The “Impossible Triangle Illusion” made into a shelf. I really like the idea of turning these iconic examples of optical illusions into real objects, for this project, I have enough optical illusion books to actually put on a shelf too! Thanks Walt. Link.

Leadingzero writes “It seems that these days everyone has the handy little gadget that we have all grown to know and love- USB storage devices. However, the appearance of the USB leaves much to be desired: grey, ugly, and plasticky, they aren’t easy on the eyes, to say the least. But not anymore. Imagine a USB drive that you can display proudly on your desk or cubicle; a USB drive that is so undeniably cool, that it actually overshadows your own personal lack of said cool. Imagine the Homer Simpson USB drive…” Link.

“Pressing the fresh curds to remove excess whey is important since spoilage of the cheese is hastened by retention of too much water in the finished cheese. This cheese press can be fashioned from items you may already have in your kitchen, or which should not be difficult to obtain. The pictures show the use of the press to press curds from the recipe to turn five gallons of milk into cheese.” Thanks Star! Link.