Category: DIY

The piece we posted a couple of weeks ago on how to recharge non- rechargeable batteries got a lot of links o’ love. Here’s another cool battery hack. This one’s on “jolting” nicad battery packs back to life using an arc welder as a DC power source. What you’re doing is over-powering the cells which breaks up the crystal dendrites that build up and cause the cells to short. You can also use a car battery, a DC Power Supply, or even high-charge capacitors — any DC power source with decent juice. This operation is obviously not without danger, so you should know what you’re doing, wear proper protection, etc. But as you can see from the video, a little Frankenstein action is just what these batteries need to be brought back to life. Cool.

[Via Make]

Back in July, we brought you news of the Availabot, a concept project for a physical avatar, a puppet, that was upright when you were online (in IM) and limp when you weren’t. Belgian hardware hacker Pierre-Philippe Coupard has put together a Linux-controlled IM “push-puppet” of his own, and shows you how he did it.

[Via hackAday]

When Ben Heck was commissioned to build another of his mind- boggling Atari 800 retro laptops, he decided to revisit and improve the design. Looking at his work, I just can’t… well, imagine the work! The keyboard keypads are all hand-wired and soldered! I hope he’s got a really good air circulation system. My braincells start to wink out of existence just looking at this thing. Really gorgeous job on the case design and fab, all chrome and etched-laser black graphics. Nice.

One of the DIY sites I’ve been enjoying recently is Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. They’ve just released a couple of cool “Low-cost open-source holiday project kits,” namely a Micro-Readerboard Ornament Kit and an LED Mini Menorah Kit. Both are US$5 ea. with flat $5 shipping on all orders. These look like fun, quick projects that’d make perfect el cheapo gifties for budding wireheads.

I love how the Ornament kit has a pull-down for “Original: Includes the F-word,” and “Sanitized.” “I’ve had it with these mother-fing elves on this mother-fing sleigh!” No, it doesn’t say that, it says: “Merry F-ing Christmas” (or not). Does the evil mad scientist kiss his mother with that mouth?

Sebastien Bailard, of the awesome RepRap (another DIY fabber project you should definitely check out) sent us a message about the Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens with which I’m currently having a torrid affair. He says they are refillable:

1. Uncap the pen and set the cap aside. Put the fountain pen, nib point up, into a padded vise.

2. Take some pliers and carefully pull out the nib (you may want to pad the pliers with tape or otherwise protect the nib from marring). The nib will pull out, making a sort of “Schtuppf!” uncorking sound.

3. Set the nib aside and use an eyedropper or improvised pipette to refill the pen with your favorite fountain pen ink (I like Platinum brand Carbon Ink). Don’t use India Ink, it probably won’t work.

4. Replace the nib in the pen with the pliers.

Last month, we brought you a papercraft project, via Boing Boing, for an iPod Nano cover built on an a uploaded image. A reader, Ryan Stewart, was inspired by this project to create a Web-based automator for this process, and one that works with any iPod. You select your Pod, upload an image, and it generates a PDF for printing and cutting. Mark at BB made this lovely cover using the tool.

Ryan has built several other automators. Last night, I used the HipsterPDA Cover Generator to make a cover for my organizer. I just grabbed the first JPG I bumped into on my desktop, William Blake’s Glad Day, and it fit so perfectly and looks wonderful in action.

Ryan has it set up so that you specify the thickness of your Hipster and the cover is generated with side tabs (and a top width) set to that size. While this looks kind of cool in situ, my Hipster expands and contracts a bit, so the set definition of a width doesn’t make sense. I ended up slicing my side tabs off and I’m happier with it. He also says you must use Legal-size paper or card. I had Letter-size card and just moved the art in Acrobat to fit (just barely) on the page. Worked fine.

After the jump are the contents of my breast pocket: my newly covered Hipster next to my Moleskine Cahier and my new best friend, the Varsity Pilot disposable fountain pen. And yes, I know I suck as a photographer.

Thanks to Alberto on the assist!

If only there was something redeeming about smoking. Hey, look, you can use your cigarette box (and who smokes cigs that DON’T come in a box?) to create a camera flash diffuser! Drunken innovation in action.

[Via DIY:happy]

Here’s a very simple circuit you can use to build a battery charger that will recharge regular alkaline *non- rechargeables.* It uses a low current to charge and is reasonably safe. It may not be officially recommended, because there is some risk of a battery burst, but it’s not likely to kill you, blind you, make you impotent, or even make much of an impression on your day. The builder pushed a pair of AAs by charging them until they did “burst.” Three drops of “weak acid” fizzed out of the side, which he wiped away with his fingers. I personally wouldn’t recommend touching it, but I’ve certainly had battery acid on my skin numerous times, washed it off, and been just fine. I have WAY too many disposables around. I’d love to juice them all up again and spare throwing them away or buying more.

[Via Gizmodo]

‘Tis the season to collect FedEx and other boxes. I have a looming mound of them in my office right now. What to do with ’em? Well, with 3 large and 1 medium FedEx boxes, you could make an in-bed/laptop desk. It may not be pretty, but it works, and you could obviously paint it or cover it with fabric or something.

[Via DIY:happy]

Jake von Slatt, who I’m profiling in the next issue of MAKE, has posted the details of his awesome “Clockwork Guitar” project a Strat he outfitted with a gorgeous brass etching he did for a pick guard that looks like it reveals the inner gears and clockworkings of the geetar.