Foot Pedal Saw from the 1880s
Drew Parrish operates a Barnes Velocipede Walking Arm Saw with foot pedals at theSplinters Fine Woodworking Show in downtown Eugene, Oregon.
Workshop
The latest DIY ideas, techniques and tools for the industrial arts from metal and woodworking to CNC machining and 3D printing.
Math Monday: Make Your Own Pentominoes!
A pentomino is like a domino, but with five connected squares instead of two. A set of all twelve can easily be cut from scraps of plywood.
How-To: Variable DC Power Supply
Hobbyist electronics projects need robust, reliable power supplies for prototyping and testing. I learned how to build this circuit from the Basic Analog Circuits class at ITP taught by Eric Rosenthal, but took it several steps further in building a solid enclosure and integrating a voltage meter. Now it lives on my desk, ready to power most small projects I’m working on, ranging from 0 – 24 volts and up to two amps. You can learn all about how to make one yourself using this Make: Projects tutorial.
Tinplate Girl Videos
I’ll admit I watched every one of these nine videos, and the one above more than once: Tinplate Girl shows you how to process cans into raw material for tinplate projects. In other videos she covers tools, soldering, bending, and many other techniques for making things out of this fun and easily-accessible material. Food and solvent cans are made from tin-plated steel and often feature silkscreened artwork for adding color to your projects. I have to say: Tinplate Girl reminds me a little of Tina Fey.
Tinplate Girl Videos
Tinplate Girl shows you how to process cans into raw material for tinplate projects. In other videos she covers tools, soldering, bending, and many other techniques for making things out of this fun and easily-accessible material.
Core77’s Crayon Mold Design Trophy
Clever, clever idea from NY design studio Rich Brilliant Willing (a play on the three founders’ names, FYI), on contract for design blog Core77, which is giving these away to winners of its inaugural Design Awards this year.
How-To: Carve a Wooden Spoon
I love the wooden spoon-carving instructions on this bushcraft knife-maker’s website. Makes me want to make one. Our magazine editor-in-chief Mark Frauenfelder is a spoon carver, but I’ve never tried my hand at it. Looks like fun.