Here’s another project utilizing the ever-handy film canister. NASA shares how to create small constellation models using a film canister, a bit of paper, and a pin to poke some holes. Going one step further, a flashlight can be pointed through the film canister to “project” the constellations on your wall, turning your room into your very own planetarium. Patterns are included for several popular constellations.
Here is a cool digital compass that uses a regular old analog compass to work. This small device is able to interface through the I/O port of a computer. It has twice as many points as a traditional digital compass.
The traditional compass is mounted with a small disk containing reflective and non-reflective markings. Four IRLED phototransistor pairs are then utilized to “read” the position of the disk and translate it’s position into a direction. [via]
In an effort to create the ultimate DIY toolkit, I have decided to create a list of “DIY essentials.” These are items that come in handy in so many projects that it is necessary to keep them on hand at all times. Often these are simple items that just have a ton of modding potential.
DUCT TAPE
Any respectable list of necessary DIY tools would be incomplete without at least mentioning duct tape (AKA gaffa tape). I decided to mention it first because it was the easiest and most obvious choice.
From wallets to prom dresses to bean bags, duct tape has earned it’s place at the top of the DIY scene. There have been books written on its many uses and websites devoted to cataloging extensive duct tape projects.
See: A Million Uses for Duct Tape, 101 Uses For Duct Tape, Packing Tape Sculptures, CD Cases Galore.
FILM CANISTERS
Film canisters are another handy item that can be made into all sorts of crafts, bombs, and containers/organizers. The fact that they are readily available to anyone who takes pictures (okay, not so much nowadays with digital cameras and all) makes them even more useful.
See: Remote Camera Trigger, Soldering Wire Holder, Film Canister Rocket.
LEDs
Any project or craft, electronic in nature or not, can be made better by attaching a few LEDs. With their low power consumption, wide availability of colors and styles, and small size, LEDs can be put in almost anything, anywhere for some added aesthetics. They can truly turn any project into an every day DIY to a feature in the next issue of MAKE.
LEDs can be purchased inexpensively or pilfered out of existing electronics. They have a long life and are fairly resilient to the elements.
See: LED Throwies (ghetto version), Wearable Pixels, Pimp Bed, Shake Light, Bright LED Flashlight.
Tip: A great way to find more DIY projects involving any tool like film canisters, duct tape, or LEDs, is to do a google image search. You may be surprised with what you find!
There are many more items that belong on the list. Send us your ideas for DIY essentials part 2 in the comments or at tips@diyhappy.com
Here is a remote trigger made with an old film canister. It’s a very simple built and will allow for wired remote triggering of your camera. As one of the comments noted, it would probably take you longer to pick out a trigger from a camera store than to make this. Any serious photographer should already have the required film canister, and the other parts are not hard to come by either, putting the cost of this innovative trigger at zero.
Film Canister Camera Trigger.
Canister Trigger Guts.
This ski cap wig is insanely awesome. It is made from your run-of-the mill yarn that can be found in any craft shop. The weirder the color the better. I predict that these will be all the rage this winter season, so you’d better start making your own or be left out when the time comes.
“I found myself wondering just what I could do with all that cheap, bright acrylic yarn one finds in craft shops. I also found myself thinking about Halloween. Add in a bad hair day and this is what I got.” [via and via]
In an effort to make DIY:happy even better and deliver you more great projects, we have moved to a new, better, faster server. We now have a managed server in a data center with dedicated resources and our own IP address.
You shouldn’t notice anything too different except the site will be quicker and won’t go down every time we get dugg.
If you are seeing this message that means you’re looking at the new site on the new server. If you notice any problems with the site, please let me know in the comments or by clicking on “submit a link!” on the right sidebar. If there’s anything else you would like to see from DIY:happy that you’re not currently seeing, likewise let us know.
Here is a fun way to make a 1×1 LED screen (that’s a joke) you can wear or place in an interesting place. Looks like a pretty cool fashion statement for geeks and is sure to get comments from your friends and coworkers.
“The whole concept is that an LED can have it’s legs pushed through a piece of clothing and into the battery packs connector. With one of the leads bent over to keep it attached to the battery pack, the LED will light on the front of the clothing like a tiny pixel of light. For favourite clothing, a male connector can be soldered to the LED to make it a permanent part of the garment.”
At first we thought this looked like a microphone and thought it was some sort of digital recording device. Nay! This is a real old fashioned musical recorder! It’s a wind instrument made from one of our favorite materials - PVC pipe. This is a pretty easy project and you’ll be able to play tunes and call Oompa-Loompa’s to do your bidding in no time flat.
Here’s another great way to get that design of yours onto a shirt where the world can see it. This particular method uses the sun bleach to bleach a pattern into your shirt. Be sure to read all warnings attached to the sun before use - we don’t want our readers dead or injured and the sun can be seriously dangerous. All joking aside, this is a pretty cool way to get that “weathered” look in your latest fashion designs.
Related: Screen Printing, Solvent Transfers
This is much like the hard drive oscilloscope we’ve seen before except it adds a second hard drive to give us an X and Y axis in our visualization. This results in more interesting patterns and effects being projected onto your wall. This requires a laser pointer and two hard drives you’re willing to trash. Got more lasers? Throw ‘em in for even more crazy effects!
Dual Hard Drive Visual FX Generator.
Here’s a handy guide on melting down plastic toys - in this case to extract the delicious magnets inside. Magnets are a lot more fun when they can be attached to LED throwies or what have you, rather than being encased in boring old plastic.
Extract Magnets from Toys. [Thanks, Lenore]
Your hands are pretty useful tools that can do all sorts of amazing things including improving your vision. Your hands can be made into emergency glasses that will fit any prescription in just seconds. Additionally, you can make glasses using the same concept out of cardboard or tinfoil (tinfoil is good because it also keeps the government out of your thoughts). Sure, you’ll look like a goof wearing any of these - but you’ll be a goof who can see. Some people even say using this method will improve your vision permanently.
Universal Prescription Hand Glasses.
The high writer is like having a really long arm for your … ahem … art projects. Seriously though, we don’t want you to do anything illegal and this is a pretty cool tool for street and traditional artists both. Graffiti research lab never fails to impress with a high writer tutorial and video.
This simple idea for a soldering wire container will make your soldering life easier. Being able to hold the solder more comfortably means more accurate soldering. Using a film canister as a solder dispenser is simple, yet effective. It’s easy to get more solder out, and you can easily hold it in your hand while you’re working on your projects.
Want to make a rocket just like those guys over at NASA? Well, their engineers have been hard at work simplifying their shuttle launch program and have come up with an easy rocket you can make yourself. Although this probably won’t get you to the moon, the Matchstick V1 will allow you to get into some awesome rocket wars with your friends.
More rocket projects from NASA here.
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