Do it yourself, dude!
If you’ve ever tried to use a hand crank flashlight, you will know that they’re a) very cool but b) a real pain, because you need to keep cranking the handle until your arm drops off to get any decent amount of run time out of the LED bulbs. But now some very clever chap has come up with a superb 3D printed DIY solution.
As everyone knows, repairing asphalt can get real expensive, real fast. It’s not just the machinery that’s needed, but also the materials, labor, time, sweat, bacon sandwiches and the rest. But now we’ve just spotted a solution which actually looks like it might help in an emergency. No, it won’t give you a perfect finish, but hey, at least it should stop the rain for a bit?
If you’ve ever wished you could revert back to a simpler way of living and avoid all the complications of our tech fuelled world, then this is a site which you’ll want to visit. The Maya Pedal is a place dedicated to bicimaquinas, or pedal powered machines.
Wouldn’t it be nice if our clothing did more than just sit on our bodies? What if they monitored our temperature or heart rate like a Fitbit but without having to wear a Fitbit. That clothing doesn’t exist yet but you can dabble in the science of it. The LilyPad Development Simple is a set to help you get started making e-textiles.
Clocks are very useful. Building your own is a sort of lost art. You can once again take pride in assembling a fine time piece. The Wooden Mechanical Clock Kit is a pendulum clock that you build yourself.
There’s something about playing with electronics that is really, really cool. It doesn’t matter what you’re building, a tiny robot or just a light switch, there’s something exciting about working with electronics. If you’re just testing something out, the Bare Conductive Pen could be an easy solution.
I love DIY project kits! I love them even more when they encourage kids to learn more about electronics than just how to turn them on. The Kano computer is a DIY computer that’s designed to help children learn how to build and code.
Those of us who are serious about doing home repair and DIY stuff will know how important it is to have the right set of tools to hand at all times. OK, so perhaps it’s more important to have the number of an emergency electrician or plumber after you’ve finished hacking your way through some major service arteries on your way to putting up that shelf, but you know what we mean. Well now those nice people at Dremel have…
Clocks come in a variety of styles, although shape wise they’re usually round. So as far as basic design goes this clock is pretty standard, but that’s where ‘standard’ ends. With the Infinitely Mirrored Anachronism, you have a DIY LED clock that puts a whole new spin on time.
The Raspberry Pi is one of the most versatile computers with the cutest name, and people are using the ultra low price device to make all sorts of cool stuff, including tiny robots and other unusual things. Something about this tiny little guy just breeds innovation. But if you’re only a casual user of technology trying to break into more advanced electronics, it can all seem a bit intimidating. Enter the Pi-Top, a DIY laptop based around the Raspberry Pi.
There are a million iPad stands out there for a million different lifestyles but the Safari TV is a cute and nicely green eco way to add a little whimsy and fun to your everyday. What’s more it’s got heaps more style than you’ll find in most of these plastic and chrome alternatives you find on the market.
When the chips are down, you definitely need eggs. And of course the best way to harvest the little critters is to get your own personal laying factory in place. Which is where this very cute Hobbit Chicken Coop, from US artisans Wooden Wonders, comes into play.
Picture this: A father and son working on the engine for a cherry red hot rod in the garage, dad bent over the open hood, beckoning for his son to hand him the next tool. So emotive. If you’re into building engines (or want to be into it) there’s another option for people who don’t have garages, kids, or cherry red hot rods. The Haynes Build Your Own V8 Engine is a no mess option for curious grease monkeys wannabes.
There are chilli peppers and then there are chilli peppers, and the Bhut Jolokia, or Ghost Chilli is the world’s hottest, at least according to the Guinness Book of Records. It’s so hot that villagers in India apparently use it smeared on fence posts to keep the elephants away. We’re talking ten times hotter than a habanero chilli. Get the idea?
Circuits are the building blocks of technology. They’re in everything you love. The guts of all your prized possessions. Unless you work with them though, chances are you don’t really care about how they work, until you find you can use them to make something cool. Circuit Scribe is a pen that lets you literally draw your own circuits.
