A Very Peculiar DIY “Hip-Neck Mount” Camera Extension
Check out this wacky “above the crowd” camera rig spotted at the royal wedding. What IS this thing? My friend Travis is an awesome guy and a talented photographer. He’s the type of guy that I admire for finding life curious and fascinating. Case in…
Celebrate your DIY-Handiness With My New Circular Saw and Drill Press T-Shirts
My first two DOIT shirt designs have just been finalized (totally designed by yours truly) and are ready for ordering. Here they are: Circular Saw Tee and Drill Press Tee. Two of my favorite and most used tools, diagrammed for easy explanation. Finally show off…
Using Your iPhone as an Audio Recorder Will Make Your Videos Better
A fast way and easy to make your videos better is to improve the audio quality. It’s a proven fact that poor audio will turn people away from a video much quicker than poor video. Have you ever seen a video that sounds like…
Setting Up and Adjusting Your Bandsaw
It’s actually been a long time since I’ve used a bandsaw regularly, so my recent acquisition (Craftsman 12″, 3/4HP) has me learning some new and useful tidbits about how to get a bandsaw adjusted for optimal performance. One of the best pieces of information…
Harbor Freight 25% Off Coupon
Tomorrow, April 24, 2011, Harbor Freight offers up a one-day, one-use only coupon for 25 percent off any one item. I already know what I’m getting with it. How about you? Use this coupon to save 25% off any item when you shop Online…
How To Cut a Bolt Or Threaded Rod And Save the Threads
One of those simple ones that is always good to think about ahead of time. Step 1: Put a nut or two onto the bolt/rod and tighten down past the point that will be cut off Step 2: Cut bolt/rod with hacksaw, grinder, or…
What’s the Right Extension Cord Length for My Tools?
Most of us spend very little time thinking about what extension cord to use for a project (I’m guilty too). For christmas lights, it tends to be thin and green, easy concealed. When using the electric chainsaw, grab the orange one, highly visible for…
Metric Drill Bits
I was working on a project this weekend and realized I don’t have metric drill bits. So I ordered some. This is not a terribly interesting post, but one of those things that I share to help spur those of you to action that…
The DIY Cheapo Thermocam
While filming Catch It Keep It and Rock and Roll Acid Test, we had a couple segments that were very heat-dependent. The scenes needed a way to show the temperature and changes of the stuff we were researching (one scene, frozen steaks; another scene,…
Wooden Honeycomb Surfboard – Taking board making to the next level
Surfboard making of the foam variety is one of those arts that really appeals to a select few. Most surf fanatics tend to live in coastal areas, and at that, the largest concentrations are those in favorable climates. But there’s something about wooden surfboard…
Hi, I'm Mike. I’m the executive editor of Make: magazine, and host of Discovery channel’s Punkin' Chunkin' and Catch It Keep It, TV shows where I build and explain crazy machines that crush stuff, blow things up, shoot fire, all in the name of science.
I've previously worked at Wired and ReadyMade magazines, writing about how to utilize new technology in our everyday lives.
This site is where I keep a list of instructions for fun projects I've done, am working on, or draw inspiration from. I encourage everyone to get involved — get up and do something!