DIY Projects

Lovely handmade wooden door latches

Lovely handmade wooden door latches

Matthias Wandel writes:

My dad originally started making wooden door latches for the cottages he built at Amogla camp. Conventionally available doorknobs and strike plates don’t allow for a lot of latitude in terms of dealing with shifts in the buildings from frost heaving. That, and the available door hardware just didn’t suit his style.The door latches pictured above are for the house he built for the main house, more than 10 years after making his first door knobs and latches. They are an evolved version of his original door handles.

Matthias’ site bills itself as “an engineer’s approach to woodworking.” If you like what you see here, chances are you’ll find it worth the click.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan12
How-To: Ultralight camp pot from Heineken “keg” can

How-To: Ultralight camp pot from Heineken “keg” can

In the summer of 2002, Heineken introduced its 24 oz. “mini keg” can in the US. Besides having twice the volume of a normal aluminum beverage can, the “mini keg’s” unusual design includes a number of ridges and rings that make it much more rigid. Sometime around 2004, so far as I can tell, ultralight backpacking enthusiasts began experimenting with using the new can design as a cooking pot.

The community has evolved the design of these cooking pots to a remarkable extent, and although there seem to be as many variations as there are builders, a few common features seem to be emerging:

1. The top of the can is removed with a side-cutting can opener and preserved for use as a lid. The tab may be bent up to provide a handle, or a small knob may be attached.
2. The side of the can is wound with 1/16″ fiberglass wick to provide an insulated gripping surface
3. An elastic silicone wristband is stretched around the rim of the can for drinking comfort.

I’m sure to screw it up if I try to give any particular person “credit” for any of these ideas, but the embedded video overview from Minibulldesign Cult gives the best general overview of the idea I can find. And Rick of Wilderness Survival Forums has produced a good phototutorial describing the fiberglass winding process.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan10

Design Squad Nation

This week brings us the premier of Design Squad Nation, the reworking of Design Squad, with new hosts, and a new approach. All material from the first three seasons is archived on the Design Squad site along with lots of great short video segments in the parents and educators section explaining lots of important concepts useful to makers of all ages.

After the jump, check out the first episode of the new season. Full shows are available on the Design Squad site and Youtube channel. While you’re waiting for each new episode, make sure you check out the new Design Squad section of Make: Online.

Continue Reading Chris Connors