Do it yourself, dude!
Have you ever gone to the store to purchase a network cable? If you have, then you know that they aren’t exactly cheap, not for a simple cable, that is. Well it should come as no surprise that companies make a good bit of of these accessories, as the markups are incredible. So how do you get around this? By making your own, that’s how. Not only will you pay less, but you’re also going to get a cable that’s…
With the economy how it is, people are trying to find good ways to earn an extra bit of cash here and there. One way you can accomplish this is by recycling aluminum cans (if you drink a lot of soda and such). It’s not a terribly difficult thing to do, as it merely requires the effort to crush each one and toss it into a bag. Once you have enough, take it down to your local recycling center and…
I’m all about repurposing old gadgets into another useful device. There’s just something about breathing new life into old electronics that is just fun. One way you can do this is by taking your old car stereo that you’ve upgraded, and turning it into your home stereo system. Obviously you aren’t going to be able to just set it on your shelf and plug in some speakers. It takes a bit more work, which is outlined in this guide. This…
Don’t you hate having a nice pair of headphones, only to have something happen to the cord? As long as the copper wire itself isn’t damaged, you can easily cover it with electrical tape. Of course, such a fix is very noticeable and unattractive. Well there is another easy way to repair them, without creating an eyesore. An Instructables user has posted a simple guide on using Plasti Dip to cover the bare wire, while giving it the same look…
Since winter has come and gone, we like to forget about the cold weather as much as we can. However, it’s still there, lurking in the back of our minds. And really, it’s never too early to start preparing. Here’s one tip for everyone that owns a touchscreen phone. We’ve all seen special gloves that you can purchase, which will allow you to use your phone while wearing them. However, when cold weather hits, you can’t really order a pair…
It’s funny how advances in technology that make our lives easier always seem to come with their own annoyances. Take, for instance, the wireless mouse. While it’s great to be rid of the cable going to your computer, I hate having to change out the batteries. Mostly because they only seem to die when I’m trying to do something really important (or I’m in the middle of a game that I can’t pause). Well if you really want to make…
Setting up a home security system can be an expensive chore. Many of the better ones even require a monthly subscription to keep your house safe and sound. However, for the smart DIY-er, you can setup a security camera that not gives you a live feed, but also sends email alerts with still images. The best part is that if you have the right parts lying around, it can be done for free. All you’re going to need is an…
Owning an aquarium can be nice, as there’s something soothing about watching a few fish swim around for a while. Unfortunately, one of the dangers of such things is the possibility of the tank overflowing. There are solutions out there, but one person decided to engineer an overflow sensor that would immediately cut power to the pump, should the water level rise too high. If you know a little bit about electronics, you should be able to handle this project,…
As humans, it seems that we’re on a quest to become lazier. We hide it behind the guise of making our lives easier. Either way, we don’t want to put any more effort into small tasks than is absolutely necessary. Take, for instance, the turning on and off of electronics. We’ve had The Clapper since I can remember. Just a clap can turn anything with a plug on or off. If clapping is too loud for you, you could always…
If you use your laptop as your main computer at home, you’ve probably found that using it on a desk isn’t the most ergonomic thing in the world. After all, your monitor should be sitting at eye level so that you don’t have to bend your neck to look at it. The easiest solution is to purchase a laptop stand, which props your computer up at the correct height and angle. So what if you don’t have the funds to…
If you use a DSLR, then obviously you’re trying to get the best images possible. You may have paid a good bit of money not only for the camera body, but for the lenses as well. Of course, all of that expensive equipment is no good if you don’t take care of it properly. One of the most important things to do is clean your lenses. A bit of dust and fingerprints can have quite the negative impact on your…
I love my computer chair. Which is a good thing, since I spend much of my day in it. Thankfully I’m on low-pile carpet, which means that I can roll around with ease, without the need for a chair mat. However, if you have high pile carpet, you understand how essential a good chair mat is. Without one, not only will your chair have difficulty moving, but you’re going to damage that soft floor covering. That is, unless you replace…
We’ve all seen those movies where someone has to navigate through a series of lasers to steal some valuable item from a heavily-guarded location. But how many people actually have such a security system in place? Not very many, I think. I would imagine that contracting someone to install something that lavish in your home would cost a pretty penny. However, if you want to put your DIY skills to the test, you can do it yourself on the cheap….
If you’re someone that likes tackling DIY projects, then you’ve no doubt encountered a situation that called for soldering. The strange thing about soldering is that when you watch someone, it looks easy as pie. Then when you sit down to try your hand at it, it becomes a nightmare. I’ve watched a number of how-to’s and read through a few guides here and there, but I’m still horrible at it. However, I think I’ve found the perfect guide, which…
Every now and then, a skirmish may break out over who will have access to the remote control. If you and your roommate or spouse have ever started an argument over what channel to watch, you may want to look into making an infrared LED driver circuit which will trump pretty much any other remote in the house. This IR jammer uses a 555 timer to constantly transmit infrared traffic. The signals it puts out don�t correspond to any TV…
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