With a few small, fast tweaks, Remo drum pads can be transformed into triggers for electronic drum modules that work perfectly for building your own highly affordable electronic drumset. The Remo drum pads are great – they’re tunable, have a realistic response, and are easily disassembled. I have one and I love it, although I admit I should practice more often.

Here’s an overview of the procedure, as posted on electronicdrums.com. Another writeup with useful photos and instructions is available here as well.

Great overview of the history and mechanics of engines and petroleum, from the late 80’s/early 90s television show “The Secret Life Of Machines.” An entertaining and informative presentation, even for those who work with this stuff on a daily basis.

The hosts’ comparison on the power of gasoline to black powder is especially impressive: using a makeshift cannon, they demonstrate how far a projectile launches with a spoonful of black powder, then with a spoonful of gasoline. The difference is astounding.

RampCalc: Fun and useful flash-based tool gives you the layout and info for your mini ramp, using standard 4′ x 8′ sheets of plywood. More DIY skate and bike goodness!

Even if you’re not planning on building a ramp, this is a fun app to mess around with to see what you can fit on a sheet of wood.

For those of you into building ramps, check out my Ramp Plans Roundup.

The science nerd in me loves my EZ Heat handwarmers.

They’re filled with a supersaturated liquid that gives off heat when provoked/activated to crystallize. Temperature reaches about 130º F, and from my experience the heat lasts for longer than 30 minutes. Boil in water to reset.

Supersaturated solutions were my favorite part of chemistry: A liquid that has more material dissolved into it than it can normally contain, usually with the assistance of heat. Certain circumstances allow this solution to remain liquid indefinitely, until some event creates a crystallizing chain reaction, which turns it to solid. This transformation is exothermic, meaning heat is generated as well.

In the case of the hand warmers, a thin metal tab is inside the plastic packet with the solution. Clicking the tab creates enough of a disruption to begin the reaction. The liquid turns solid in a very awesome looking way. I’m not sure if I like these best for the heat they give off, or to continually watch them activate.

I bought six of these. Here’s the video review I made for Sneakmove.

Here’s how to make a supersaturated solution, from Wikihow. Click to continue »

The most basic style of camera is the pinhole camera, usually a light-proof box that holds a piece of film inside. When the pinhole is uncovered, the film is exposed for an arbitrary amount of time, and later developed to discover the results. The images often have a soft, almost ghostly look that is very distinct and artsy.

With the advent of digital SLR cameras in the past few years, you can now make an easy version of this same simple camera that uses a digital sensor instead of film, and simple materials you already have at hand. Here’s how to make your own.

Costume mannequin. Photo shot with my Nikon D80 using the pinhole cap.

Materials
• Digital SLR camera
• Spare body cap (get one cheap on Amazon or Ebay)
• Drill
• Two drill bits, one small and one medium (1/16″ and 1/4″ should work fine)
• Aluminum foil
• Ruler/Triangle
• Marker
• Black electrical tape
• Gummy eraser or other similar material
• The thinnest needle you can find

Step One: Mark the center of the body cap. There are a couple easy ways to find the center of a circle, using a right triangle or a compass. I opted for the triangle method as I have a t-square handy.

Click to continue »

78% off the list price ($291), December 12 only.
The special is over, but the price has only gone up to $89.

I have this exact model and love it. I’ve used it to measure simple things like the square footage of my room (it calculates area and volume automatically), to more extreme uses like how high the TV set dangling from the crane was, how far the coconut cannon was shooting, and the position of the power lines from the edge of the rooftop (to make sure the scooter launching off the building wouldn’t tear them down).

It’s rugged. I’ve dropped it a lot, but the casing is built to withstand shock. It’s also designed to stand by itself, something I liked more about this model than others.

And it’s small. 4″ tall. Slips right in your pocket.

Of course, like any laser rangefinder, it’s difficult to get a good read on long distances in bright daylight. Aside from that, it’s just about perfect. I keep mine sitting on my shelf, always close at hand.

I can’t believe it’s only $65. Grab this while you can.

A pizza peel (that’s the proper name) is a must-have tool for any pizza chef.

Most of the wooden peels you’ll find in the  restaurants and stores have a wide paddle area with a simple tapered edge, extending about 3/4″ around the perimeter, top and bottom. The paddle itself consists of strips of soft wood, glued together, with an unstained finish. Sizes can vary from a few inches in diameter to rectangular beasts that are nearly 2′x3′, without the handle.

Constructing your own peel can range from relatively simple to beautifully hand crafted.

The fastest and easiest way to make a peel is with a piece of plywood.
• Find a scrap piece of quality plywood. 3/8″ or 1/2″ thick works well.
• Cut the plywood to the dimensions you require (my home-use peel is about 14″ x 14″, and overall length is 24″ – it’s shown in the top photo). Click to continue »

Older houses come with plenty of charm, but they also have special requirements: Using the newer types of mortar on your walls and foundations can lead to problems; take care to keep your brickwork protected and to use the proper limestone mortar.

Three great books for anyone who likes to make stuff. Put these on your holiday wish lists.

Making It: Manufacturing Techniques for Product Design
Lefteri’s latest book (his material book lineup includes Plastic, Metals, Ceramics, Wood, and more). An easily laid out format shows how various manufacturing techniques are used to make the everyday items we have around us. Full of inspiration.

Fashion Geek: Clothes Accessories Tech
How many other fashion books include instructions on how to hack their pedometers or solder LED throwies?

I’m going to name drop again because I’m still star-struck that I got to be friends with the author of this book, Diana Eng (read about my Wired magazine interview with her). She sent me a copy of her book not too long ago, and it really is a fantastic melding of fashion and technology. But even better than the cool styles Diana comes up with is her instructions on how to create these designs (both the sewing and the soldering) yourself.

Learning Processing: A Beginner’s Guide to Programming Images, Animation, and Interaction
By far the most dense of these three books, but still completely digestible and useful for anyone that’s just starting out into the world of digital media. Read more about the open source Processing programming language here.

“This book teaches you the basic building blocks of programming needed to create cutting-edge graphics applications including interactive art, live video processing, and data visualization.

A unique lab-style manual, the book gives graphic and web designers, artists, and illustrators of all stripes a jumpstart on working with the Processing programming environment by providing instruction on the basic principles of the language, followed by careful explanations of select advanced techniques.”

No one can argue that the hovercraft isn’t the coolest vehicle ever. And no one will argue that building one is a great idea. Turns out that they’re not too complicated to assemble, and depending on the size you want you may have the materials in your garage right now.

All hovercraft use the same concept: A blower attached to a skirted platform creates lift. The amount of lift depends on the size of the blower, the strength of the platform, and the depth of the skirting. The air that pushes out underneath the skirting creates a nearly frictionless surface for the vehicle to move on.

Want one? Make it!

Simple version: The leafblower hovercraft.
Platform: small piece of plywood
Skirt: 6mil plastic
Blower: a leaf blower from the toolshed
Details:  The plastic skirting is affixed to the edge of the platform and continues entirely underneath it ( use duct tape and staples to get a good connection – and leave a bit of slack).
-A grommet (plastic coffee can lid)  is placed in the center of the plastic on the bottom and screwed through it to the platform, to create a donut effect when the bag inflates.
-A small series of holes are cut in the skirt just past the grommet to let the air escape. -Air from the leaf blower inflates the skirt, and pushes out the holes underneath, creating a film of air that is nearly frictionless.

A single leaf blower can levitate a grown human this way.

Locomotion and steering: Your  friend pushes you from behind. And laughs as you uncontrollably slide down a steep driveway.

Here’s a version on Instructables, one from Make magazine (PDF), and one person’s hovercraft projects.
Plus, a video:

More advanced version: Vintage chainsaw engine hovercart. Click to continue »