makers market

How-To: Fold Dustin Wallace’s “Mini” Robotagami

How-To: Fold Dustin Wallace’s “Mini” Robotagami

It’ll be no secret, to our regular readers, that I am a giant fan of Dustin Wallace’s “Robotagami” product and the concept behind it. Dustin, whose work I’ve covered here many times, just recently added a “mini” version of his original humanoid Robotagami figure, water-jet-cut in 0.035″ stainless steel, for $25. I ordered one immediately. Making these is a side-line for Dustin, who works full-time as a mechanic, and so far hasn’t had time to put together proper instructions for the “Mini.” So I thought I would help him out, promote his product, put together my new toy, and try out my fancy new light tent at the same time.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan
Bottle opener ring for bartenders

Bottle opener ring for bartenders

Dustin Wallace, whose Oriboto Robotagami I am always raving about, also makes this wicked-looking wearable bottle opener intended for beverage-slangin’ professionals. You can wear it on the top or bottom of your palm. It’s good-looking, provides plenty of leverage, and seems like it might come in handy when the guys in black cowboy hats start smashing bottles over people’s heads.

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Hollow spy bolts

Hollow spy bolts

Brian Dereu of Hollow Spy Coins showed us how to make this hollow dead-drop bolt for stashing secret messages back in MAKE 16. It’s not hard to do if you have access to the necessary equipment–a drill press, hacksaw, vise, grinder, and the appropriate taps and dies. But if you don’t have those tools, or you don’t have the time to use them, and you still want a spy bolt, Brian will gladly sell you one hand-made by his family and him for the not-unreasonable price of $37.

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Bulbdial clock has no moving parts, casts shadows for hands

Bulbdial clock has no moving parts, casts shadows for hands

This clever clock kit from EMSL has an analog-style face, but no hands. Instead, kinda like a sundial, it has a “gnomon” that sticks up in the middle. Three rings of inward-pointing LEDs are positioned around the rim, each a different color and each at a different angle relative to the face. The blue ring is at the shallowest angle, and thus casts the longest shadow representing the “seconds” hand. The red ring is at the steepest angle and casts the shortest shadow to make the “hours” hand. The green ring, in the middle, is minutes. Check the video above, courtesy YouTube user amandachou, to see it in action.

The “Bulbdial” clock is available as a kit with four different case options, but the clear/black variety shown above is definitely my favorite because it shows off the cool retro-futurist logo on the circuit board. Here’s a time-lapse video of YouTuber jcorsaro building one from a kit.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan
Geek Chic in the Makers Market

Geek Chic in the Makers Market

We’re coming up on the end of April, and the end of our annual “Geek Chic” theme. But I didn’t wanna let the month go buy without at least mentioning the fact that we’ve got an entire collection in the Makers Market full of awesome stuff that is both geeky and, um, chic-y. If you or someone you love finds themselves in the intersection of that particular Venn diagram, you might take a moment to check it out. There’s stuff here you can’t find anywhere else, and it’s all lovingly made, sold, and shipped direct to you by indie makers trying their hands as entrepreneurs.

Continue Reading Sean Michael Ragan

Parker Papercraft tessellations

Benjamin Parker will blow your mind with his origami tessellations. Pictured above is his Light Blue Tessellation, folded from one hexagonal sheet of dyed Zanders Elefantenhaut paper and sewn to a piece of mat board. Based in Connecticut, Benjamin has been making origami since he was 6 years old, and it shows. Check out the […]

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