Fireworks are the best part about the Fourth of July and other celebrations, but they can easily cause accidental injuries. It's both safer and more fun to set them off remotely, so we'll hack some standard fireworks with nichrome wire, a relay, and an Arduino to ignite remotely over Wi-Fi using any smartphone or computer.
There are plenty of times when we need to charge our phones but don't have access to electricity. Whether the power is out do to storms, you're camping and run out of juice, or you're in a Tom-Hanks-like Castaway situation, it's important to have a charged phone in case of an emergency.
A typical resistance spot welder can range in price from about $200-$800, but with a little resourcefulness and a bit of free time, you can make one like this for about $10 or less.
Want to spice up your origami cranes? MIT's High-Low Tech Group made two electronic origami cranes that flap their wings when you squeeze their tails.
This video clip from The Crafts Channel shows how to make a bead cage. A bead cage is where a piece of wire is wrapped decoratively around a large bead. For the example bead cage .8 mm wire was used. If the wire is too thin it will not hold its shape, but if it is too thick it will be hard to bend into the desired shape. Take some needle nosed pliers and make a complete circle, and then use some flat nosed pliers to begin forming a spiral going outwards. Now do the same thing beginning at the...
This video is about making a mummy type sleeping bag or an over bag for a hammock with a woolen blanket. The first task is to make coat rings and hooks. Take a piece of flexible wire and bend it into a ring of diameter 1 3/4 inch or 2 inches with a overlap of about 1 1/2 inches make 6 or 7 rings. Now take a small straight wire and make a hook of 1 or 1 1/2 inch, make the tips of the wire pointed so that it can penetrate. Overlap the edges of the blanket by 2to3 inches. Fix the rings with the ...
TheCreativeJeweler teaches you how to create a pair of two teared crystal drop earrings using findings, headpins (can be any type you want, or if you want to make your own) and crystals. You take your headpin and put a 6mm Swarovski crystal bead, a 3mm silver bead, a 4mm Swarovski crystal bead, and a 2mmm silver bead in sequential order. Take your flatnose and flush 90 degrees over the top of it (gives you more space to wrap wire and some more pattern). Using the same technique, make a loop. ...
First stipple moisturizer onto your face. Gently rub the lotion into your skin until completely absorbed. Next apply liquid foundation, preferably Mac Studio Fix Fluid (four shades lighter then your skin's natural tint. Shake and dabble your foundation onto a clean surface, using a #187 foundation brush to apply to your face carefully blending into your skin. Now that you've created an even canvas to your face, you're ready to apply a clown white oil based face paint for accent. Apply the whi...
Basic instructions on how to troubleshoot the heater blower motor of a Saturn S-series. The heater blower motor is located behind the glove compartment of your vehicle. Disconnect the negative and positive power supply. (The black wire is usually the negative.) Using a multimeter set on the Ohm scale, use the positive lead and test the black wire. To check the purple wire for current, use your ignition key and turn it to the run setting, turn the heater power to full power and set the multime...
Cut your ribbon or lace into two evenly sized pieces. This can easily be done by folding the ribbon or lace in half and cutting it on the fold.
Choose ribbon in an appropriate color, texture and width. Are you trying to match the ribbon color to a particular gift wrap? Will the ribbon width give you the size bow you want? How will you be using the bow?
Not sure what to be next Halloween? A princess is a classic choice. Whether you’re making a costume for your little girl, or want to feel like royalty yourself, a princess costume is always in style.
Eagle Lake Woodworking, hosted by John Nixon, offers great do-it-yourself guides for building your own furniture, especially in the American Arts and Crafts style, and turning your garage into an amateur woodshop. Search Eagle Lake on WonderHowTo for more carpentry tutorial videos. From Eagle Lake Woodworking on this specific lesson:
Learn to clean your hair dryer filter. You'll extend the life of this handy tool and you'll save money.
Are you bent out of shape over damage to your clothes caused by wire hangers? Don’t buy new ones – follow these easy steps to modify hangers you already have. Watch this video to learn how to turn a wire hanger into a cloth one.
Try these simple fixes to salvage your specs. Learn how to fix your eyeglasses with this helpful guide.
Making a PCB is very simple; it does not consume a lot of time and the results look professional. After watching this step-by-step how-to video, you will be able to make your own PCB in your workshop using just a few inexpensive materials.
Please only use the information in this video if you have lost your own car key or you are helping out a friend who has lost theirs! If you need to start a car without the key, this tutorial shows you how to find the wires in the steering column to find the eight cables underneath. Here's what to look for and then what to do so you can get your car running and go to where you need to be.
OK master spy, it's time to get your lurk on. If you're going to be spying, you'll need to be able to spy at night. This video will show you how-to make your very own night vision goggles so you can keep up with your mark well after the sun goes down. You'll need a 9V battery, an infrared LED, some wire cutters, a small screw driver, and some wire with a battery clip. You can easily find your needed infrared LED in any old TV remote control. Try it, and make some home made spy gear today!
In this video by Simon Leach, we learn how to fit a lamp base into pottery with Simon Leach. First, you will take the lamp base that has all the wires inside of it. From here, you will wire the cables through the proper fittings for the light. Then, you need to put a hole in the bottom of the lamp base so you can string the light base through and then place the light bulb on top. When you are finished, the pottery can sit on top of the base and then you can add a light shade to finish up the ...
Here's another fun summertime craft for your budding engineer - make a spinning paper pinwheel or fan! You'll need a C-battery, a toy motor, two soda caps, a popsicle stick, foil paper, copper wire, a small sheet of foam, a sharp pencil, a hot glue gun and some safety scissors.
Wine glass charms go around the stems of wineglasses to help guests at your BBQ, dinner or other party identify their glass of wine. You can use any sort of bead or charm to make these, but this tutorial shows you how to make a set of summery charms using beads and memory wire.
In this video, we learn how to install a Toad Stop braking system for towed vehicles. First, determine where you are going to install the braking system. Insert the electrical wires into the appropriate spots by reading the labels that are on them. After this, use a drill to lock down any parts that are loose. Once you place the braking system in, you will need to lock it down using the wires that come with it. Make sure these are installed properly throughout the entire vehicle up until you ...
In this video, Rick Pin teaches us how to measure the clutch fork pedal travel in a Saturn S series. First, remove the air box and the resonator box from the vehicle. Also remove the duct work from the vehicle and set aside. Once these are removed, you will be able to see the plate cylinder underneath where the air box was. To measure the fork travel, us a piece of wire with tape on it that has measurements listed. Push down on the clutch travel as you do this, then remove the wire and you wi...
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a holiday wreath on a budget. You will need: branches, round wire frame, Next, buy some holiday flowers, and ribbon. First, start to arrange your branches with some wire and mix different types of branches together. After this, start to add in the flowers and some holly to the branches as well. Tie these tight in different bunches so that you have a more secure bundle. After this, start to wrap them around the round metal frame that you have, then situat...
Decorative dragonflies are usually associated with little girls' shams and pink backpacks also plastered with iron-on hearts and happy faces. But you don't have to be ten years old to enjoy the dainty beauty of these winged creatures.
In this clip, learn how to make super powerful 9 volt LED flashlights using things you most likely already have around the house. You will make these mini-lights out of things like batteries and scrap wires. So, dig around in your garage and see what you can find to get started building these useful, bright lights.
Covered hangers are great for your clothing. They help to maintain the shape and texture of your dresses, plus they look nice! Check out this tutorial and use old scrap fabric to cover ordinary wire hangers and make them look expensive and stylish. This is a great idea for a guest room or anywhere else you would like to add a special, homemade touch.
In this tutorial, learn how to make a very cool new lamp for your home. This string pendant lamp is so much fun, people will think you spent a ton of money on it, when in reality you can create it for less than ten bucks.
We are shown how to make a delectable piece of art given by the author of Delectable Art. It's an Easter candy bouquet. Its a great gift to give during the Easter season following the candy giving tradition of Easter. The supplies needed to make this are: cellophane wrap (four different colors are used), scissors, floral wire, ruler, needle nose pliers, wire cutters, decorative Easter mug, sterofoam, clear scotch tape, glue and glue gun, floral tape and the candy of your choice. Directions on...
Follow this video to view suggestions on how you can decorate a Christmas tree. It is best to start placing the lights first. Try to space them evenly and you can secure them in place by means of crafting wire. When you finish with the lights start decorating the Christmas tree with garlands and tinsel. Apart from giving a nice effect they will also serve to hide the wires of the lights. The next step is to start hanging the baubles and trinkets. Instead of including several colors try decora...
In this very basic but informative tutorial, you'll learn how to build a follow focus for your Canon 5D Mark. This method has the virtue of being very cheap, using just a clamp, nuts and bolts, a bit of wire, a rubber band and some shrink wrap. But used well, you can probably achieve some fairly professional looking results with this rig.
Did you know you could create a battery by using a few items from around the house? Get you and your family "Hooked on Science." You need two electrodes, some wire and some lemons.
In this video we manage to power a clock with nothing but two potatoes. In order to make this you will need two potatoes, a triple A battery powered clock, bare wire, galvanized nails, and leads, which you can find at radio shack. The clock is powered by the potato battery.
Turn two salad bowls into a spherical array, ball of sound. Speaker arrays are common at large venues, but are practical for your home environment to give your home theater a good sound. Make this spherical ball of sound from Make Magazine using 8 speakers, 6 quart salad bowls, a dremel and some wire. Disperse the sound across your home with even acoustics.
This is an instructional video featuring Doug Prime, founder of the Future Engineers Center at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. If you want to make a homemade switch watch this video on using solder to tie the wire. Use sandpaper to clean where you will solder.
Want to make bows and arrows with paperclips, tape, a rubber band, and some Q-Tips?
Here is what you need: a Bluetooth headset, some standard wires, at least one glove, knife for cutting, and time. That's it. How simple and how awesome?! Mod the Bluetooth to fit on your finger and be a cool spy device, perfect for James Bond.
A mouse in the house? Why not? Pet mice are cute, easy to care for, and fun to watch. You will need a wire cage or ten-gallon glass aquarium, aspen shavings, paper, or hay, rodent food, a water bottle, untreated wood blocks, paper towels, toys, an exercise wheel, and of course, a pet mouse. Find out how to care for a pet mouse by watching this video animal care tutorial.
Sonya Nimri of sonyastyle.com shows you how to take a beaded pearl necklace and refashion it into a cute headband. You will need fishing wire, an elastic cord, ribbon, a pearl necklace, and scissors. Watch this video crafting tutorial and learn how to transform a pearl necklace into a headband.
