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Archive: MAKE Podcast

September 4, 2009

Weekend Project: Mini Fume Extractor

Candy tin fume absorber helps keep your air clean and your lungs healthy.
Thanks go to Marc de Vinck for the original article in MAKE, Volume 19.
To download The Mini Fume Extractor click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the complete Mini Fume Extractor article in MAKE, Volume 19
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Mini Fume Extractor (PDF)

Candy tin fume absorber helps keep your air clean and your lungs healthy.
Thanks go to Marc de Vinck for the original article in MAKE, Volume 19.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

August 28, 2009

Weekend Project: Barrel Water Collector

Save money while helping the environment with this rustic, wine barrel water collector.
Thanks go to Chris & Michri Barnes for the original article in MAKE, Volume 18.
To download The Barrel Water Collector click here or subscribe in iTunes.
Check out the complete Barrel Water Collector article in MAKE, Volume 18
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Barrel Water Collector (PDF)

Save money while helping the environment with this rustic, wine barrel water collector.
Thanks go to Chris & Michri Barnes for the original article in MAKE, Volume 18.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

August 21, 2009

Weekend Project: Stun Gun Potato Cannon

Launch potato projectiles 200+ yards with this stun-gun triggered, high-powered potato cannon
with see-thru action.
Thanks go to William Gurstelle for the original article in MAKE, Volume 03.
To download The "Nightlighter" Stun Gun Potato Cannon video click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete "Nightlighter" Stun Gun Potato Cannon article in MAKE, Volume 03 "Nightlighter"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Stun Gun Potato Cannon (PDF)

Launch potato projectiles 200+ yards with this stun-gun triggered, high-powered potato cannon
with see-thru action.
Thanks go to William Gurstelle for the original article in MAKE, Volume 03.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

August 19, 2009

Collin's Lab: Guitar pedal modding with Arduino

Instead of chaining multiple guitar effects in search of a new sound, I decided to mod just one. Using an Arduino microcontroller board + digi-pot chip (MCP41100), I was able to add a variable gating effect to a fuzz pedal fairly easily. I definitely dig the resulting sounds and a bit of rewiring should reduce the unwanted noise in the output. Switching to the MCP42100 would allow control over a second pot - perhaps the volume control for a tremolo effect.

You can find the "WavePot" sketch I used (including the necessary wiring list) here.

Download the m4v file or subscribe in iTunes

August 18, 2009

MAKE Volume 19: Robots, Rovers, and Drones

MAKE, Volume 19 features a special section on robots. Learn how to make a model plane with an autopilot and a small built-in robot brain. We also show you how to make a comfortable plywood chair, a bicyclist's vest that shows how fast you're going, and projects that introduce you to servomotors. There's a free downloadable papercraft diorama featuring a robot picnic with his human and feline friends. MAKE, Volume 19, on newsstands today!

Subscribe to MAKE, or log in to check out the Digital Edition.

Subscribe to the MAKE Podcast in iTunes, or download the m4v video.

August 14, 2009

Weekend Project: Electric Cigar Box Guitar

Build your own 3-string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds.
Thanks go to Ed Vogel for the original article in MAKE, Volume 04.
To download The Cigar Box Guitar MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Cigar Box Guitar article in MAKE, Volume 04 "Cigar Box Guitar"
and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Electric Cigar Box Guitar (PDF)

Build your own 3-string, electrified cigar box guitar and make some sweet sounds.
Thanks go to Ed Vogel for the original article in MAKE, Volume 04.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

August 7, 2009

Weekend Project: DIY Teleprompter

Get rid of those cue cards and make a low-cost teleprompter for pro results
Thanks go to Brian Lawler for the original article in MAKE, Volume 02.
To download The DIY Teleprompter MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete DIY Teleprompter article in
MAKE, Volume 02 "No More Cue Cards" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

August 3, 2009

Collin's Lab Notes: DIY Cymatics

Sound can have some amazing effects on liquids - and some downright bizarre effects on non-newtonian fluids such as the conveniently simple mixture of cornstarch & water. I'd experimented a bit with cornstarch cymatics in the past, but never quite matched the writhing results I'd seen from others. Now, after bringing my own small puddle of goop to 'life', I feel pretty much satisfied =]

Some additional pics from the session -

Download the m4v file or subscribe in iTunes

From the pages of MAKE:

Volume 16, Page 122

July 31, 2009

Weekend Project: Covert Wireless Listening Device

Install a sneaky bug in a book or any small covert object. I used an old vcr tape to capture secret surveillance.
Thanks go to David Simpson for the original article in MAKE, Volume 16.
To download The Covert Wireless Listening Device MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Covert Wireless Listening Device article in
MAKE, Volume 16 "Covert Wireless Listening" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Covert Wireless Listening Device (PDF)

Install a sneaky bug in a book or any small covert object. I used an old vcr tape to capture secret surveillance.
Thanks go to David Simpson for the original article in MAKE, Volume 16.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

July 24, 2009

Weekend Project: Head Mounted Water Cannon

Make the ultimate soaking weapon for this summer's water warfare! No squirt gun even comes close.
Thanks go to John Young for the original article in MAKE, Volume 07.
To download The Head Mounted Water Cannon MP4 click here or subscribe in iTunes.

Check out the complete Head Mounted Water Cannon article in
MAKE, Volume 07 "Head Mounted Water Cannon" and you can see that in our Digital Edition.

Weekend Project: Head Mounted Water Cannon (PDF)

Make the ultimate soaking weapon for this summer's water warfare! No squirt gun even comes close.
Thanks go to John Young for the original article in MAKE, Volume 07.
View the PDF of this project. and then subscribe to MAKE Magazine for other great projects
you can do over the weekend.

July 23, 2009

MAKE: television Episode 6 - Music Machines & Trebuchet

Enter the plugged-in world of Tim Kaiser, a maker who fashions experimental musical instruments from scavenged objects. In the Workshop John Park assembles a portable trebuchet from plastic plumbing pipe, and circuit bender Bianca Pettis demystifies the art of soldering. The Maker Channel presents a Smash Bat that snaps moment-of-impact photos, a drum synthesizer played with Skittles, a pedal-powered tennis ball launcher, and an evil mouse that causes the cursor to misbehave when moved. Watch in HD at blip.

Get the m4v or subscribe in iTunes

July 18, 2009

CRAFT Video: DIY soda

It's summer and all I want to do these days is relax with a fizzy beverage, but I can't stand too-sweet soft drinks! In this CRAFT Video, I show you how easy it is to make your own soda at home, and it's inexpensive, too! I use brewer's yeast to produce carbon dioxide, and whatever flavors come to the imagination. In the video I used honey, green tea, strawberries, and grated ginger, but you can use any combination of fruits, juices, fresh herbs, and sweeteners that you like. Thanks to Matt Mets for the tea recipe inspiration.

Subscribe to CRAFT in iTunes or download the m4v video.

Check out the complete tutorial with recipe ideas over on CRAFT.

July 17, 2009

Collin's Lab Notes: Exploratory IC torching

After a recent post on the topic, I decided to experiment with a bit of IC decapping by way of propane torch. My first chip roast went relatively well allowing access to the precious chip within. I imagine a more evenly distributed & thorough torching would have made the hammer unnecessary - but I was happy with it as a first try.

Now I find myself in need of better optics - anyone have any microscope recommendations?

Download the m4v file or subscribe in iTunes

Update:Already some very helpful tips rolling in! -

Marc writes -

The hottest part of a flame is the tip of the inner cone (blue part). You should never touch the cone to the work-piece. (sorry, I majored in product design - metals)

Duely noted & Thnx!

Keith writes -

Boy Scout tip -- be careful heating porous rock and concrete. If it has a high moisture content and the water boils faster than it can be driven out, the rock could potentially explode.

It certainly doesn't look like that was an issue here, but one might recommend baking the moisture out at < 100°C for a while before torching.

Another reason I should've stayed in scouts - good point.