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March 11, 2007
Make your own biodiesel
Biodiesel has better cold weather properties than straight vegetable oil, and it requires no modifications for your diesel engine or fuel system. It may take a little more processing time, but when you consider the impurity filtering that needs to be done with waste veggie oil, a lot of biodieselers will tell you that it's not really much more work. What's best is that the process is something anyone can do, and you can experiment with it easily on a small scale.
Anybody can make biodiesel. It's easy, you can make it in your kitchen -- and it's BETTER than the petro-diesel fuel the big oil companies sell you. Your diesel motor will run better and last longer on your home-made fuel, and it's much cleaner -- better for the environment and better for health.
If you decide that the 50-cent to $1 per gallon price tag still isn't worth the trouble, at least you'll be able to learn a few things from an afternoon chemistry experiment! -Link.
Related:
- Making Biodiesel - from MAKE:03 (read it online. lot's of biodiesel community links.)
- MAKE AUDIO SHOW: Biodiesel!
- Homebrew Biodiesel reactor plans
Posted by Jason Striegel |
Mar 11, 2007 04:13 PM
Science, Transportation |
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March 9, 2007
Homemade balancing one-wheeled scooter
Ben writes -
I've put together this page to document a one-wheeled balancing scooter / skateboard that I've just finished. It's the culmination of several iterations over the last few years, and definitely my favourite.It's very similar to a snowboard to ride, requiring no user input other than the movement of your body mass. Leaning forwards and backwards controls the velocity and moving your weight from heal to toe controls the turn radius. It's easy and very intuitive to ride.
Balancing One-Wheeled Scooter - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 9, 2007 06:48 PM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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March 8, 2007
79 year old veggie oil maker
David Wetzel, 79, makes his own fuel from recycled vegetable oil for his 1986 Volkswagen Golf, gets 46 miles per gallon - pretty neat huh? Well, the Illinois Department of Revenue visited and want him to pay a "motor fuel tax" (retroactively) and he might be hit with a $2,500 bond, a class 3 felony and a lot of other awful stuff - or it might just end up being $244 in taxes for the fuel he made.
State makes big fuss over local couple's vegetable oil car fuel, Thanks NovySan! - Link.
From the pages of MAKE:
Making biodiesel - The best way to learn how to make your own backyard biodiesel is to start with a one-liter batch. It's easy to make a small batch that will work in any diesel engine. You won't need any special equipment--an old juice bottle will serve as the "reactor" vessel--and on such a small scale, you can quickly refine your technique and perform further experiments. MAKE 03- Page 72. Subscribers--read this article now in your digital edition or get MAKE 03 @ the Maker store.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 8, 2007 03:12 PM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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| Comments (9)
March 7, 2007
5-Minute project: Drill-Powered skateboard
Our friends at PopSci have a great "5 minute project" up on Instructables, a drilled powered skateboard for a kid!
Do you have a skateboard that is gathering dust in the corner of your garage? Breathe some new life into those wheels by zapping them with some volts. Specifically, attaching a battery-powered electric drill to the front of your skateboard will provide effortless nosegrinding and endless hours of fun.Three factors will enhance your battery-powered skateboarding:
- More Volts. Higher voltage battery-powered drills (at least 9.6V) will provide more minutes of skateboarding fun.
- Greater Torque. Drills that can generate more torque will be able to move, ahem, heavier riders.
- Big, Bad Rubber Wheel. The more rubber that meets the highway, the higher the performance.
5-Minute Project: Drill-Powered Skateboard - Link & the new h20 blog.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 7, 2007 12:40 PM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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March 5, 2007
VW Beetles
Here's a gigantic gallery of VW Beetle mods and creations --
Dark Roasted Blend: What can be done with the VW Beetle - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 5, 2007 01:16 PM
Transportation |
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| Comments (3)
March 1, 2007
Treadmill propels child's wagon
Popular Science 1939 -
Walking on rollers that are geared to the rear wheels of a novel treadmill wagon, a child can propel the odd vehicle along the ground. Invented by Harry Kister, of Philadelphia, Pa., the cart is fitted with removable floor boards that cover the rollers, so that it may be used as a conventional express wagon for transporting small articles. When the wagon is turned upside down, the rollers are exposed, permitting the device to be used as a stationary exercising machine, which is strong enough for regular use by adults as well as by children.
Modern Mechanix » Treadmill Propels Child's Wagon - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Mar 1, 2007 03:17 AM
Modern Mechanix, Retro, Transportation |
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February 26, 2007
Use car's exhaust to vacuum your car...
From Popular Science 1932 - for when cars basically came in three models...
Using the exhaust gas of the automobile to clean the upholstery is the accomplishment of a recently invented device. An aluminum attachment is fastened to the exhaust pipe and the engine is allowed to idle. As the exhaust gas passes through this device suction is created at the inlet hole. Collected by a nozzle, the dust and dirt are drawn through the hose and expelled into the air at the rear of the car. It is made in three models, for cars of different size.
Modern Mechanix » USE CAR'S EXHAUST TO CLEAN CUSHIONS - [via] Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 26, 2007 01:27 AM
Modern Mechanix, Retro, Transportation |
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| Comments (1)
February 21, 2007
If you can't buy it, build it: Wanky the safety cat
Mike sent in this awesome Wanky the safety cat project -
When I got my first beater car as a proto-hoon of 16, my dad had some excellent advice, straight from the Midwestern heartland where he learned about wrenching: "Son," he said, squinting at my barely-running Corona, popping the top on his can of Old Milwaukee, and taking a mighty swig, "You need to get yourself a JC Whitney catalog!" He knew the address by heart: JC Whitney, Chicago, Illinois, so that's what I wrote on the postcard requesting my first catalog. Soon the first of many wonderful pulp-paper treasures appeared in my mailbox, straight from the City Of The Big Shoulders......and the thing that caught my attention, each time I scanned its wondrous pages, was the Winky The White Cat listing. Soft, Fluffy... and Safe! Red Eyes Flash Warning!
I wanted Winky for my car, to keep me safe with his soft fluffiness and his acrylon-like fur. But I was young and foolish, worried about image. What would my friends think? Could I blast Fresh Fruit For Rotting Vegetables on the cassette and still sport Winky in the back window, all the while keeping some semblance of coolness? Sadly, a victim of teenage peer pressure, I couldn't bring myself to buy Winky. A few years later, JC Whitney stopped carrying him. Winky was no more.
Now, 25 years later, I realize that all is not lost. Yeah, I can't buy Winky (not a real one, anyway), but I can make my own!
If You Can't Buy It, Build It: Wanky The Safety Cat - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 21, 2007 03:07 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Retro, Transportation |
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| Comments (8)
Ski Chair - Unsafe at any speed
Papa-G writes -
My son found an abandoned wheelchair in the summer and after spending a week having chariot races (i.e. tying ropes to a bike and getting pulled too fast) it ended up in my garage until winter.As you can see from the image, I have no room for anything in the garage, so I told him - find something to do with that or I'm throwing it out.
A trip to Goodwill and $5 later, we had skis attached to the chair.
Because of the high centre of gravity, this chair feels very unstable, couple that with the complete lack of steering/braking and you're ready for fun on the slopes!
We took it out for a spin at a local tobogganing hill and got large numbers of 'stares of wonder'. This actually goes much faster than most toboggans and it just feels great.
I didn't include full pictures of assembly, because if you can't figure out how to bolt two skis to a chair from the picture, you probably couldn't make this with instructions either.
Have fun, and remember to play safe on the hills.
Ski Chair - Unsafe at Any Speed - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 21, 2007 09:05 AM
Instructables, Made On Earth, Transportation |
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| Comments (0)
Bicycle for sleeping or maybe drunk OK
Edy Arturo Lopez Peralta's "Bicycle for Sleeping or Maybe Drunk OK" from Ross... - Link.
Related:
Bicycle projects @ MAKE - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 21, 2007 12:07 AM
Bicycles, Transportation |
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| Comments (1)
February 19, 2007
Maker version of a car alarm - The Tesla anti-theft fevice: Eye of Sauron
Goodness, this is incredible -
How about a "Sauron's Eye" for your car? My wooden counterweight is on fire here at the top of the coil. It's quite safe to be in the car although my son was apprehensive. This was a hire car (as I don't own one) and it still works. I did get extra insurance "in case".
Tesla_coil_sparks - [via] - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 19, 2007 01:38 PM
DIY Projects, Electronics, Transportation |
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| Comments (3)
February 18, 2007
HOW TO - Build a redneck roller coaster
Here's a great video detailing how to turn a 91' Cavalier into a "redneck" roller coaster" - outstanding!
YouTube - how to build a redneck rollercoaster - Link (video).
Thanks Aquaman!
Related:
- Do-It-Yourself Roller coaster... - Link.
- Homemade roller coaster (video) - Link.
- Working model roller coasters - Link.
- Roller coaster built in school gym... - Link.
- Boy built backyard rollercoaster - Link.
- DIY Robot ride - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 18, 2007 03:30 AM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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| Comments (8)
February 5, 2007
HOW TO - "Fly" a human powered hydrofoil - the "Aquaskipper"
Tim shows you how those Aquaskippers work and how to take one out for a spin...
The "Aquaskipper" is a human powered hydrofoil made by Inventist.com . It's similar to the original Swedish Trampofoil, which is no longer available. There's also one called the "Pumpabike" from South Africa.They're also called "hull-less watercraft" and "flapping wing propulsion vessels". You bounce up and down to make the wing fly and propel you. If you stop you fall into the water and swim back to the dock. It's completely ridiculous and works really well once you get the hang of it. It's hard to do at first but that seems to make it even more fun.
HOW TO - "Fly" a human powered hydrofoil - the "Aquaskipper" - - Link & M4V.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Feb 5, 2007 01:35 PM
Instructables, MAKE Podcast, Transportation |
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| Comments (5)
February 3, 2007
1969 Hybrid Pinto Vega
The Pinto/Vega bodystyle wouldn't be my first choice for style and maybe that's why hybrids didn't catch on in 1969! Click through to read the old Pop Sci article. - Link
Posted by Bre Pettis |
Feb 3, 2007 01:09 PM
Transportation |
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January 31, 2007
HOW TO - Add a LED to an old bicycle headlight...
Here's a vintage bicycle headlight that has been given a touch of current LED technology... How to and more @ howtofixbikes - Link.
Let there be (bike) light:
- Make a LED Bike light system - Link.
- HOW TO - Make the ultimate 18v Bike Light! - Link.
- Tape case bike light - Link.
- HOW TO - Make a 40-LED bicycle light - Link.
- Antique bike light LED mod - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 31, 2007 11:40 AM
Bicycles, DIY Projects, Transportation |
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| Comments (0)
Homemade Knight Rider K.I.T.T car...
This homebuilt 1984 Trans Am Knight Rider K.I.T.T car took over 4 years and $40k to make.. and now it's on eBay...
"...features a 2tv dash with real working digital gauges with dual 4" lcd screens..... gullwing steering wheel, upper console, lower console, pod unit ...all complete with buttons and displays as they were in the show ! complete stereo system with DVD/CD/MP3 player, amplifier and speakers. " [via] - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 31, 2007 08:30 AM
Made On Earth, Transportation |
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| Comments (2)
Homemade Zamboni - Interview with the maker...
I really like Pop Sci's podcast series, the latest is an interview with the maker of an awesome homemade Zamboni, Jonathan Coulton writes -
"Inventor Damian Renzello has been making portable skating rinks and related accessories for years, so it's not surprising that it's come to this: a homemade super zamboni that blows snow, shaves ice, and looks totally awesome. I love projects like this - the false starts, the dangerous accidents, the madness - I think those are the three ingredients that make up what they call "Yankee Ingenuity." I was a little disappointed to find out this wasn't a meaningless, self-destructive quest for a personal homemade zamboni, and instead the latest invention from a genuine entrepreneur. I should have known from the photo--it's far too well built to have been cobbled together by a crazy person." - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 31, 2007 03:22 AM
Interviews, Transportation |
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| Comments (4)
January 25, 2007
Musique Concrete: Transforming space, sound, and the city through skateboarding
Wow, when you do tricks on a skateboard it composes music in the city you're in making an urban soundtrack...
"Musique Concrete is an interactive performance piece which explores sound and the urban landscape through the physical movements on a skateboard. The result is a musical composition which transforms the skateboarder into a composer. It aims to provide an audience of all ages with a stimulating experience of new media, skateboarding, the city and sound.
Mounted underneath the skateboard is an interface which transmits data wirelessly to a laptop computer. Physical actions are detected using three sensors connected to the interface. Acceleration, turns and vibration are monitored by a photoresistor, a flex sensor and piezo sensor respectively. Using the MIDI protocol, the sensor data is transferred to a software program enabling the skateboarder to control and modify sounds directly from the skateboard." [via] - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 25, 2007 07:47 PM
Arts, Transportation |
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| Comments (0)
Maker made transportation, sea batteries, shoe torture tests and more from the past...
Look in to the future, from the past... a few maker-like projects from Modern Mechanix....
Neighborhood Streamliner (Jun, 1950) - Link.
Batteries of Robots Scoop Power From Sea With Shovels (May, 1934) - Link.
Torture Tests Tell The Truth (Sep, 1938) - Link.
NEW ZEALAND BOYS COAST ON MUD (Mar, 1933) - Link.
Motor Unit Runs Bike or Mower (Jan, 1948) - Link.
More:
- Modern Mechanix - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 25, 2007 05:26 AM
Modern Mechanix, Retro, Transportation |
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| Comments (0)
January 24, 2007
Will it run? Tulsa to dig up car buried for 50 years
What do you think makers, will it run?
"Organizers of a coming-out party for a buried 1957 Plymouth Belvedere could use some help.
The car, which was buried in brand-new condition under the lawn of the Tulsa County Courthouse in 1957, is scheduled to be unearthed June 15 as part of the Oklahoma Centennial.
Promoters are looking for people who helped lower the car into its crypt in 1957 to perhaps shed some light on what to expect when the car is unearthed.
There's speculation the car may have turned into a pile of rust. Or that it's in pristine condition and worth thousands of dollars.
Sharon King Davis, who has chaired Tulsa's centennial efforts, looked at photos of the people responsible for burying the car in 1957 and found her grandfather." - Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jan 24, 2007 01:13 AM
Transportation |
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| Comments (1)
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