We're thrilled with the response that we've been getting to our new Make: Projects platform. We're building up a nice library of projects, technique, and primer articles from us and user-submitted projects from the maker community. Thanks to everyone who's checked us out and chipped in.

Here are just a few items from the site. Please come and see what we're up to, roll up your sleeves, and get involved. It's a wiki, so it's thirsty for content. If you have an area of expertise, share it with us by fleshing out a topic area. If you have a project, please share that. And if you build one of the projects, hit the "I did it! Success!" button, and let us know what you learned via the Notes feature. And remember, you can amend projects, so if you've figured out a better way to do a step, have better pictures, have variations on the project, submit them. We want this site to feel like your virtual Maker's Notebook. Don't be afraid to jump in.

Projects from the Magazine

The Most Useless Machine

The mysterious machine from the current issue of MAKE that almost drove a fake news pundit crazy. Few people have looked at this project and not said: "I wanna build one of those!" I wanna build one of those!

Medicine Man Glider
The gorgeous old-school tissue and balsa plane project from MAKE Volume 17. I did build one of these, in my youth, and it is one of my fondest (and most frustrating) hobby memories of my youth.

Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » |

    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

We've been making allusions for a while now to a new area of the MAKE website, "to be launched soon." Monday is blast-off! So, what are we launching? It's our new! improved! (now with more WIN!) answer to the Make: Projects area. The new Make: Projects platform will be a place where we, Maker Media, can post our step-by-step projects, and a place where you, the maker community, can too (and we can all add to and improve each other's content). We teamed up with the fine folks at iFixIt to create it and we're really excited about what we came up with. We hope you will be, too. It's custom-rolled, wiki-based -- a collection of living documents -- so we can't wait to see what grows out of it.

Stay tuned for more details on Monday.

Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » |

    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 






    Digg this!

Just in time for the holiday weekend, Brookelynn @ CRAFT shows us how to spruce up an old charcoal grill with special BBQ paint:

The humble BBQ is an essential part of summertime fun. All season long they can be found at block parties, tailgating, camp-outs, and down by the river. A good BBQ will weather the outdoor elements year after year and still grill up a great dinner. Yet, with lots of use, the grimy inside and the pitted outside can start to look less than appetizing. When I moved into my house, I found this perfectly good, but completely grungy grill abandoned in the yard. It was overgrown with ivy, and filled with cobwebs. I decided to fix it up with a fresh coat of red paint! Now it looks great with my vintage dishes and cute ruffled apron. I took it from old and beat to cherry condition in no time!

You can download the project PDF to get started.

Read the Full Story » | More on MAKE » | Comments » |

    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 




    Digg this!

We asked Dustyn Roberts, who teaches a course at NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), called Mechanisms and Things That Move, to contribute something on fabricating your own gears for our Physical Science and Mechanics theme. Dustyn has written a book, called Making Things Move. It'll be out in the fall and we'll have more about it, and likely a giveaway, then. Thanks, Dustyn! — Gareth

Gears are easy to understand, make, and use, if you know the vocabulary and can space the gears at the correct distance apart. One nice thing about gears is that if you know any two things about them - let's say outer diameter and number of teeth — you can use some simple equations to find everything else you need to know, including the correct center distance between them. First, look over the anatomy of the spur gear pair in figure 1 and the vocab below.

Number of Teeth (N) Pitch Diameter (D): The circle on which two gears effectively mesh, about halfway through the tooth. The pitch diameters of two gears will be tangent when the centers are spaced correctly. Diametral Pitch (P): The number of teeth per inch of the circumference of the pitch diameter. Think of it as the density of teeth — the higher the number, the smaller and more closely spaced the teeth on a gear. Common diametral pitches for hobby-size projects are 24, 32, and 48. The diametral pitch of all meshing gears must be the same. Circular Pitch (p) = pi / P: The length of the arc between the center of one tooth and the center of a tooth next to it. This is just pi (π = 3.14) divided by the diametral pitch (P). Although rarely used to identify off the shelf gears, you may need this parameter when modeling gears in 2D and 3D software like we're doing here. As with diametral pitch, the circular pitch of all meshing gears must be the same. Outside Diameter (Do): The biggest circle that touches the edges of the gear teeth. You can measure this using a caliper like Sparkfun.com's # TOL-00067.
Note: Gears with an even number of teeth are easiest to measure, since each tooth has another tooth directly across the gear. On a gear with an odd number of teeth, if you draw a line from the center of one tooth straight through the center across the gear, the line will fall between two teeth. So, just be careful using outside diameter in your calculations if you estimated it from a gear with an odd number of teeth. Center Distance (C): Half the pitch diameter of the first gear plus half the pitch diameter of the second gear will equal the correct center distance. This spacing is critical for creating smooth running gears. Pressure Angle: The angle between the line of action (how the contact point between gear teeth travels as they rotate) and the line tangent to the pitch circle. Standard pressure angles are, for some reason, 14.5° and 20°. A pressure angle of 20° is better for small gears, but it doesn't make much difference. It's not important to understand this parameter, just to know that the pressure angle of all meshing gears must be the same.

Figure 1

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 





    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 




    Digg this!

Instructables user ScaryBunnyMan made a Rubens' tube controllable with a Wiimote, and wrote up a guide so you can too. Who doesn't love fire?

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 




    Digg this!

Adam Meyer wrote in to let us know that the private beta for bildr has launched, and as a special for Make: Online readers, he's shared an invite code you can use to sign up and try it out.

bildr is a community driven site for Artists, Designers, Makers, Builders, or anyone interested in the world between electronics and code.

At bildr we are rethinking the ways in which DIY sites have previously approached this world. Typically, the approach has been to showcase an individual's project, while including instructions that would enable a user to create a duplicate. bildr's method is quite different.

Instead of focusing on individuals' projects, bildr features community-written, collaborative articles that can be used as the foundation of an individual project. The articles come in two forms: Components and Modules

Components - (example: ADJD-S371 Color Sensor) show you how to connect and use an individual component. These pages also include code when needed. Modules - mini-projects. These are all about how to do/make one thing. Like making an electro magnet, or sensing distance.

bildr - in private beta now, use invite code bildrInvite76f3

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

If you're looking to build a home for your buzzing, pollinating garden helpers, consider this simple bucket bee hive design, tutorialized by Thinkenstein. It's not for harvesting honey, but will help bring these imperative insects to your garden. The author admits that this design is untested, and there's a great discussion in the comments. For a professional's advice on getting started in beekeeping, check out Cameo Wood's beekeeping gift guide from last holiday season.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 




    Digg this!

My new book is out! Made by Hand is about the fun and fulfillment I got from making my own stuff. I wrote about my not-always-successful attempts to do things like raise chickens, keep bees, grow and preserve food and make my own musical instruments.

Made by Hand is published by Portfolio / Penguin, who described it like this:

DIY is a direct reflection of our basic human desire to invent and improve, long suppressed by the availability of cheap, mass-produced products that have drowned us in bland convenience and cultivated our most wasteful habits. Frauenfelder spent a year trying a variety of offbeat projects such as keeping chickens and bees, tricking out his espresso machine, whittling wooden spoons, making guitars out of cigar boxes, and doing citizen science with his daughters in the garage. His whole family found that DIY helped them take control of their lives, offering a path that was simple, direct, and clear. Working with their hands and minds helped them feel more engaged with the world around them.

Frauenfelder also reveals how DIY is changing our culture for the better. He profiles fascinating "alpha makers" leading various DIY movements and grills them for their best tips and insights.

Here are a few advance reviews:

• "This is a must-read book. Mark has lovingly and candidly documented the complex, myriad, intangible and often very tangible rewards of grabbing the world with both of your hands, and learning how it works." -- Adam Savage, Mythbusters

•"...this is one of the most inspiring book for do-it-yourself'ers that I've ever read." Shane Speal, Cigar Box Nation

• "Made By Hand is a wonderfully inspiring read and makes turning to a make-centric way of life feel not only approachable, but utopian." -- Jaymi Heimbuch, Treehugger

• "Made by Hand an absolutely fascinating read."  -- Jon Mueller, 800CEOREAD

• "...not only was I entertained I was educated on a wide range of topics!" -- Recycled Crafts


• "Frauenfelder has been at the center of the emerging maker movement, chronicling its rise as an economic force. Here, he describes a parallel evolution: his own embrace of making, as he applies the lessons he's been learning to his own life. It's as inspiring as it is entertaining. You'll never look at your lawn the same again!" -- Chris Anderson, Editor in Chief, Wired


• "Why do otherwise well-adjusted people take to raising chickens in Studio City? What sort of contrarian spends a lot of time and money to kill his own lawn? These may be the projects of one quirky individual, but they point to something universal and true. Human beings find their proper home not in large-scale corporate structures but in the struggle for individual agency. You have to admire the doggedness with which the individuals in Made By Hand try to render their own world intelligible." -- Matthew B. Crawford, author of Shop Class as Soulcraft


• "Frauenfelder believes -- as do I -- that the DIY ethic is only partly about the things you produce. It's also about learning how to learn, about connecting with others who share your interests, and about taking pride in your accomplishments. ... I think the book is great, and I encourage you to pick up a copy if you're at all interested in DIY." -- J.D. Roth, Get Rich Slowly

Buy Made by Hand | Read free sample chapters

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

Jeri shows how to lift finger prints off of a water bottle with super glue.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

My favorite laser-cutter is offering these switch/outlet covers in faux-aluminum diamond plate acrylic. $4 for a single, $6 for a double. [Thanks, Angus!]

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 






    Digg this!

MAKE subscriber Pete Mills of Plymouth, MI wrote in with this excellent project: a Lunkenheimer steam engine train whistle pressed into service as a doorbell.

(H)ave you ever missed the doorbell ringing? Perhaps you were in the shower or vacuuming the floor. Well, fear no more; you won't miss hearing this one.

I was given this Lunkenheimer steam train whistle as a birthday gift quite a few years ago. I came up with the idea to make it into a doorbell shortly thereafter for pretty obvious reasons but I was unsure how I wanted to execute the wireless part of it. As you can see here I ended up using an el-cheapo wireless doorbell. This solved a lot of problems for me, not the least of which is that I can let the bell ring for a bit first before activating the steam whistle so my heart remains firmly in my chest rather than being startled to death every time UPS stops by.

More photos and text, a schematic, as well as a short video, on Pete's blog.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

Every useful circuit board deserves a good enclosure. Providing a proper case for your circuit can protect it from accidental spills & falls - plus give it a cool look you can proudly show off even to those unfamiliar with soldering and such.

Subscribe to the MAKE Podcast in iTunes, download the m4v video directly, or watch it on YouTube.

Personally, I'm a big fan of designing & casing up my electronics projects. The sturdy & functional results always leave me feeling a little impressed with myself, and I'm often surprised at how useful the completed device can be. In the above vid, I set out to build a basic waveform generator for testing and experimenting - but I ended up with something I'm more likely to use for noise-jamming, synthing and well ... just plain fun.

If you'd like to build your own waveform generator, check out the Function Generator Bundle over @ Jameco. It includes all the pots, switches, enclosure, kit, etc - just add wire & a 1k resistor (for the LED). If you do build one, be sure to let us know by leaving a comment or posting pics to the MAKE Flickr pool.

Oh - and in case it helps anyone, here's the wiring diagram I followed in the video:

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 








    Digg this!

I'm going to see this Rod Roddenberry 'Trek Nation' documentary the moment it comes out. I'm hoping the maker of the scuba BORG costume reads MAKE and can post some more photos and what went in to it, love it.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

Here's a thorough tutorial by gerlindagrimes (Atlanta, GA) on building your own cigar box guitar. We sure love them 'round here!More:

Intern's Corner: Cigar Box Guitar bloopers

Intern's Corner: Naked piezo pickup for Cigar Box Guitar

Weekend Project: Electric Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Build notes

Maker Workshop - Cigar Box Guitar on Make: television

Traditional Cigar Box Guitar in MAKE Volume 21

Cigar Box Guitar in MAKE Volume 04

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 






    Digg this!

Everything tastes better in the backcountry. Fact. To bump your trail gourmet status to the next level (and impress your hiking buddies beyond measure), try whipping up a batch of Backcountry Tiramisu. Backpacker magazine provides you with the recipe (below) and a great how-to video.

Backcountry Tiramisu Serves 2-3

Ingredients

1/3 cup water 2 tsp instant espresso powder 2 Tbsp Kahlua (get one of those mini bottles from the liquor store) 3.4-oz packet of instant white chocolate pudding 2 cups milk (use 2/3 cup powdered milk plus 2 cups water) 16 Ladyfingers cookies Dark chocolate

Directions

1. Heat water to a boil, then mix in espresso and Kahlua.
2. Make pudding according to package directions.
3. Place six ladyfingers in the bottom of a pot, drizzle with half of the espresso mixture, then half of the pudding over it. Repeat to form a second layer.

4. Use a pocketknife to shave thin strips of chocolate on top and serve.

   Read more | Permalink | Comments | 
   
   
   
   Read more articles in DIY Projects | 
   
   
   Digg this!
   

I love this how-to on Instructables for making a nice-looking bird feeder out of bamboo plates from Ikea. Instructables member PaulEl explains how he made it, and for just $2.19. It's perfect for attracting feathered friends to your garden space this spring. And if you need tips for sprucing up your garden, check out this month's gardening theme over on CRAFT.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 










    Digg this!

Are you a fan of cotton candy that wishes you could enjoy the fluffy confection year-round? This DIY cotton candy machine from tukenmez0kalem seems like it could get you through the leaner months. [via Max]

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 





    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

The DIYLILCNC project is a set of plans for an inexpensive, fully functional 3-axis CNC mill that can be built by an individual with basic shop skills and tool access.

CNC devices are used to fabricate physical objects with a high degree of precision. Some CNC devices, including the DIYLILCNC, feature a gantry-mounted cutting tool (like a router) that can move in two or more directions. The operation of the tool is controlled by a computer, which is tasked with translating a digital design into actual tool movement.

Download the DXFs and instructions on the DIYLILCNC website. [Via the Ponoko blog.]

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

Check out Matthias Wandel's excellent homemade wooden bandsaw. His build log provides detailed notes and plentiful photos. [Thanks, Don!]

More:Bandsaw beautificationPedal-powered hacksaw

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!

From "You Built What?!" The Electronic Didgeridoo @ Popular Science...

Kyle Evans, a 24-year-old artist, bought his first didgeridoo in a small shop in Cairns, Australia, three years ago. The owner helped him pick out one of his handmade Aboriginal instruments, and after Evans taught himself to play, he decided to build an enhanced version: an electronically modified, Bluetooth-enhanced PVC pipe that cranks out didgeridoo-like sound with added digital flourishes.Traditional didgeridoos are simple wind instruments made from hollowed-out trees. While learning to play the one from Cairns, Evans was also getting into computer-synthesized music, and he noticed similarities between the sounds. His first attempt to combine the two, involving a Big Gulp mug and a USB link to his laptop, proved too cumbersome, so he designed a Bluetooth version instead.He cut a length of PVC pipe to form the body of the instrument and then mounted several square sections of a larger-diameter pipe to the outside. These platforms hide the wiring for the Bluetooth board and the control knobs that let him tweak the instrument's steady drone.When Evans plays, he blows through a beeswax-coated mouthpiece on one end, as with a traditional didgeridoo, and a wireless microphone positioned inside the far end relays the sound to his computer, which outputs sound to a speaker. At the same time, he can adjust the knobs, wirelessly signaling his computer to modulate the notes. He's thinking of recording original music for it and has performed with it at some small venues. But the one audience he really wants to play it for are the Aboriginal people whose instrument inspired his invention.

    Read more | Permalink | Comments | 



    Read more articles in DIY Projects | 


    Digg this!