Jake writes “I make kerosene lamps from old electrical lamp parts. Much of the hardware in today’s electric lamps is actually descended from the days of kerosene and gas, the ubiquitous 3/8″ threaded rod for instance. It’s amazing how genuinely useful a good kerosene lamp is, it’s oh so easy to imagine a steampunk future where Mr. Edison’s electric light never came to be!” Link.
Interesting device built from a Sherline 5400 tabletop milling machine…information on a a portable, battery powered, electromechanical projectile launcher the author designed and built. It is a type of “centrifugal” launcher powered by a DC motor. The launcher fires primarily plastic spheres (or steel with some modifications) semi- or full- automatically that is more powerful than a typical airsoft gun. No compressed air or any other energy source besides the battery pack is needed to power the launcher, so it is capable of sustained full automatic fire. The device is called a “PEST”, or Portable Electromechanical Slug Thrower for short. *grin* The PEST has the following specifications… Link.
MAKE Flickr photo pool member Kalanda has a photo set of the DIY video projector he made from an old overhead projector and a LCD screen. It’s a pretty low tech creation, but the results appear pretty good. The design also includes two little PC fans to keep the LCD cool while it is running. Link. Bonus link: There’s also another LCD projector project on the photo pool too here.
There are a few services out there that allow you to make your own postage stamps and here’s a new one from Yahoo! In a few simple steps you’ll be configuring your stamps online with our simple customization tool. In days, you’ll receive your stamps in the mail, ready for use! All you need is a Yahoo! Photos account. I’ll eventually try this out once they allow you to use Flickr photos, I really want a LM555 timer chip stamp to send to friends, or other geeky stamps. [via] Link.
We’ve covered a lot of the R2-D2 droid building, in MAKE and Makezine.com – so, here’s a wonderful site with all you need to make your own Dalek. “We were the very first site devoted to the building of the Dalek, and it is still our intent to supply all the information you’ll need to produce an accurate full size working Dalek as seen in the long running BBC TV series Dr Who.” Thanks Rick! Link.
Rick writes “How to make ultra light weight boats and canoes. Plans are available but there are enough details on the web site for you to go from there.” From the site: What is Geodesic Airolite Construction? It is a simple, inexpensive, low-tech, forgiving system utilizing some exotic materials. The sequence consists of building a simple rugged wood framework, braced with triangulated KEVLAR® roving strands. This tough basket-like frame is then covered with Dacron. This is a first cousin to sail cloth; except it heat shrinks. It is a super-weight, airplane wing covering type of fabric, used on crop dusters. Link.
Redbluefire posted some photos on Flickr of his experiences riding out hurricane Wilma – his power went out and with the phones only working he used the phone line to charge up the Walkie Talkie watch gadgets “…the two lines in the phone that supply power, Red was positive, but to my suprise the ground was not black, but GREEN! After that, it was all a matter of opening the watch, checking the pinout, and twisting the wires to hold onto the jack inside. I need to communicate, and sometimes a laptop just isnt worth wasting for idle communication.” Link.
