The latest issue of MAKE, Volume 30, is on newsstands everywhere, and one of my favorite projects is actually four projects in one, titled “Pipe Dreams” by Larry Cotton and Phil Bowie. Humble, readily available, and inexpensive, PVC drain pipe can be used to make a variety of unexpected projects. As the article states, PVC “is strong, works like wood, and accepts various fillers and finishes. It’s also thermoplastic, so it can do something wood can’t — bend into new shapes with the application of heat.” Cotton and Bowie share tips and techniques for cutting, drilling, bending, fastening, and finishing PVC, and show you how to make a kids’ table with a dry-erase top and matching stool, a two-faced clock that displays two time zones, a plant holder, and an accent lamp that appears to float on light. These projects are so accessible that you could tackle them all in a weekend. You can find “Pipe Dreams” starting on page 96 of Volume 30, but we’ve also shared the how-tos with you on Make: Projects.
Check them out:
PVC Kids’ Table and Stool
PVC Plant Holder
PVC Two-Faced Clock
PVC Floating Accent Light
From the pages of MAKE Volume 30:
Until recently, home automation was gimmicky, finicky, and user-hostile. But today, thanks to a new crop of devices and technology standards, home automation is useful, fun, and maker-friendly. In the special section of MAKE Volume 30, we’ll show you: how to flip any switch in your home with a smartphone, home automation without programming, controlling your HVAC with an Arduino, a webcam security system, and a wall-mounted Notification Alert Generator (NAG) that plays timely reminders as you walk by. Plus, you’ll build a Yakitori Grill, a robust R/C flying-wing airplane, sturdy furnishings from PVC, and more!
ADVERTISEMENT
