Imaging

How-To: Make cheap castable silicone from caulk

How-To: Make cheap castable silicone from caulk

Turns out, though, that mixing in some cornstarch accelerates the drying process; just how much depends on how much starch you add. The author recommends starting with a 1:1 mix. I’m not sure about his explanation that the process works because the hygroscopic starch carries moisture into the internal volume of the silicone, but in any case there are probably other additives that will accelerate the process as well as or better than cornstarch. You might even find one that’s not opaque and allows for translucent castings.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan17
Homemade Spacecraft

Homemade Spacecraft

The latest high altitude weather balloon video making the rounds is from the father and son team of Luke and Max Geisshuhler of Brooklyn, NY. Their setup included a 19-inch helium balloon with a payload consisting of a camcorder, GPS enabled phone, and a couple of hand warmers inside a styrofoam container.

Continue Reading Adam Flaherty6
Create your own CG holograms

Create your own CG holograms

This interesting tutorial delves into a couple of different techniques for making holograms using your computer. There’s even an associated java program that can help you through the process Creating a hologram is both fun and educational. There are quite a few good sites for learning about holography or purchasing supplies. As an alternative to […]

Continue Reading John Baichtal
Instructables soft circuit contest

Instructables soft circuit contest

Enter your soft circuit project on Instructables for a chance to win LilyPad Arduino and Fashioning Technology gear/supplies. Deadline is October 11! Unlike traditional circuits on rigid circuit boards, soft circuits are flexible and are ideal for building into soft mediums like fabric or paper. For this contest, make an Instructable showing how you made […]

Continue Reading Becky Stern
How-To: Anodized titanium jump rings

How-To: Anodized titanium jump rings

Titanium is really cool for a lot of reasons, but this Instructable by, ah, “Thursday” highlights one in particular: It is incredibly easy to anodize, and produces really striking colors when anodized. So, you know, if you’re interested in anodizing this is an way to start experimenting. Thursday has stripped the anodizing process down to it’s absolute minimum here: small titanium bits, white vinegar, a stack of 9V batteries, and a counterelectrode. Now I want to see somebody use all those differently-colored rings to make a chain-mail photomosaic.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan