The Do-it-Yourself Thread: A Home for Handymen and Artisans - General

[QUOTE=KillerTele;41253667]How did you clean it?[/QUOTE] 4 hours of wetsanding and steel wool.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;41253675]4 hours of wetsanding and steel wool.[/QUOTE] It looks like new... and what a great find! Nice work.

[QUOTE=Death King83;41248509]Just finished making this tension set pearl pendant for my girlfriend's birthday next week. It's not perfect, but that's fine by me. I had to improvise many steps because of my limited tools. The imperfections prove I made it. [/quote] I like it! Imperfections can be a good thing, it makes it unique. When I make something I usually joke around and say it's my art statement that man isn't perfect :v:

[QUOTE=Ajacks;41253675]4 hours of wetsanding and steel wool.[/QUOTE] Did you disassemble it before doing that...?

[QUOTE=Ldesu;41256605]Did you disassemble it before doing that...?[/QUOTE] Sure did, disassembled very nicely, luckily there were no rivets, just a few pins. Very smart design. [editline]30th June 2013[/editline] [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/cat_scratcher_zpsf7744ea6.jpg?t=1372635658[/img] Also made a cat scratcher today with my girlfriend for her new apartment out of some scraps I had laying around.

That's very nice looking too, but you might wanna check out that hole in the floor next :v:

Does this even count, well I'll post it anyway... [T]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/51088732/cam/20130701_101752.jpg[/T] Got myself a stereo + it's speakers from 2001, and it haven't really been handled with care it seems. Bass sounded like someone was taking a shit, and that's not how I want my bass to sound like :v: Noticed it sounded just fine if you pushed the lower part of the speaker in, so I put some tape there, and it sounds just fine! :v:

Soldering is fun. Made myself one of those USB phone chargers and a gameport-to-USB adapter for my old wingman joystick. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.52.51.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.53.11.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.53.38.jpg[/t]

Not the prettiest, but it appears to work. A drill press I threw together for about 20$. First trials come tomorrow. [t]http://i.imgur.com/fx4vpBB.jpg?1[/t]

that's pretty smart but I'd put a jig of some sort on it to keep the drill from shifting

Nothing big but I replaced my Zippo's flint, flint spring and wick today. For some reason the flame was being very cinematic in this picture, normally with the wick properly adjusted it's only about an inch high. I also lightly polished the zippo as well. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/lighter_zpsa3cec83c.jpg?t=1372809198[/img]

[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;41272437]Soldering is fun. Made myself one of those USB phone chargers and a gameport-to-USB adapter for my old wingman joystick. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.52.51.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.53.11.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23414526/2013-07-01%2021.53.38.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] How did you do the charger? Any instructions?

Wire the + from the battery to the + on the USB, and vice versa (- to -)

That can't be all. Voltage control and so on?

[QUOTE=Ajacks;41287061]Nothing big but I replaced my Zippo's flint, flint spring and wick today. For some reason the flame was being very cinematic in this picture, normally with the wick properly adjusted it's only about an inch high. I also lightly polished the zippo as well. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/lighter_zpsa3cec83c.jpg?t=1372809198[/img][/QUOTE] "Lightly"

[QUOTE=Killuah;41294306]That can't be all. Voltage control and so on?[/QUOTE] Yeah, unless you can match batteries to add up to 5V, you'll have to get a voltage regulator like the 7805, but it's fairly simple to wire up.

[QUOTE=Gulen;41296987]Yeah, unless you can match batteries to add up to 5V, you'll have to get a voltage regulator like the 7805, but it's fairly simple to wire up.[/QUOTE] You'll also need to wire up a voltage divider on the D+/D- lines to control current draw (iDevices only): [IMG]http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/PressRoom/altoids-fig1.jpg[/IMG]

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;41297138]You'll also need to wire up a voltage divider on the D+/D- lines to control current draw (iDevices only): [IMG]http://www.jameco.com/Jameco/PressRoom/altoids-fig1.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] I have a feeling there is something similar necessary for modern smartphones. A samsung 4.2 wifi tablet and a blackberry in my house wont charge off any old 12v lighter to 5v usb plug, yet an older samsung 4.0 wifi tablet will.

Wiring up your 9 volt directly to USB is a good way to kill your shit. Mine goes through a 7805 voltage reducer. The two data ports have like 100ohm resistance. This tricks modern USB devices into thinking that they're on a dock. If you don't have any load on the D+ and D- prongs newer phones and tablets won't recognize it as an "approved charger". The inside is coated in electrical tape to make sure it does't short out.

wouldn't a little DC-DC converter be better for USB charging? I mean, like a switching converter or something.

[QUOTE=fox '09;41303707]wouldn't a little DC-DC converter be better for USB charging? I mean, like a switching converter or something.[/QUOTE] The reason you use the 7805 is because of heat I believe.

[t]http://i.imgur.com/1kLHFrY.jpg[/t] Not sure if it counts as DIY or not, but I finally decided to tackle the rat's nest of cables under my desk. Bought some of that weird corrugated wirepipe, organized everything, and ran ten feet of the stuff around my desk to reduce the clutter. I think it looks better.

[QUOTE=woolio1;41304292]Not sure if it counts as DIY or not, but I finally decided to tackle the rat's nest of cables under my desk. Bought some of that weird corrugated wirepipe, organized everything, and ran ten feet of the stuff around my desk to reduce the clutter. I think it looks better.[/QUOTE] I think I should look into that... Anyways, me and my brother built a shelf to (better) organize and provide space for the electronics in our room. A day's work, we cut the wood and got as far as these pictures. [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/Ujaw6t0.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/zty4ZR2.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/pjRsRdB.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/aEAaB86.jpg[/thumb] Where we ended the next day, just some more assembly. You can also see the crap computer I resurrected solely for the purpose of putting my Google Sketchup model on, since I had all the plans laid out in it. [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/XBdxOfb.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/R4El4pE.jpg[/thumb] I think these were another two day's work? [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/jsXzPX2.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/ptgURe4.jpg[/thumb] Last day of building. [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/PeK1h06.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/N1vAeBS.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/3ks0jRF.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/anC5iG7.jpg[/thumb] This is what it looks like in our room. It's almost too big for where it is. It's 27.5"x27.5"x58" (LxWxH). The other shelf in the first picture is what the new one is replacing, something else me and my brother built some time ago. [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/8fSvJBm.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/u3IAmzD.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/ezuy0KQ.jpg[/thumb] I had meant to fully document the build but I was a little annoyed the first day when I realized just how long the build was going to take, so I forgot to do it. I also want some opinions on whether that surround speaker is too close to the computer. It's an unshielded speaker and it's only about 3 inches from the top of the computer. This is what the old setup looked like about a year ago. (That subwoofer was only there temporarily.) [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/KagDS8p.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/5lV88LW.jpg[/thumb] [thumb]http://i.imgur.com/kC3Zg49.jpg[/thumb] Quite an improvement.

[QUOTE=fox '09;41303707]wouldn't a little DC-DC converter be better for USB charging? I mean, like a switching converter or something.[/QUOTE] Yes, its more efficient and more compact (Considering the general lack of need of a heat sink)

That entetainment stand is really nicely built! looks great and incredibly robust. [editline]4th July 2013[/editline] Also that garage PC is a car...

I bought this fan for $19 today. The fan works when plugged in, the switch is a bit busted though. It's called a Victron, and it was made in Cincinnati, Ohio pre 1950. [t]http://i.imgur.com/y51EdZm.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/S624cWA.jpg[/t] So far I've only cleaned off one blade. Any tips for restoring it?

[QUOTE=Smokes;41306435]I bought this fan for $19 today. The fan works when plugged in, the switch is a bit busted though. It's called a Victron, and it was made in Cincinnati, Ohio pre 1950. [t]http://i.imgur.com/y51EdZm.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/S624cWA.jpg[/t] So far I've only cleaned off one blade. Any tips for restoring it?[/QUOTE] Ah, the days before safety requirements... If you know anything about electric motors and wiring, maybe you can gut it and replace the electrics. It's probably safer than worrying about shorts and faults in the current circuitry, and you'll still have the original shell.

Timmy learned his lesson the old fashioned way back then.

[QUOTE=woolio1;41306636]Ah, the days before safety requirements... If you know anything about electric motors and wiring, maybe you can gut it and replace the electrics. It's probably safer than worrying about shorts and faults in the current circuitry, and you'll still have the original shell.[/QUOTE] I wouldn't be worried about the electrics in it, I would just make sure that the wires in the base where the power cable comes in is sealed properly, and that the wirenuts holding the wires together are intact and if there is old electrical tape on the wirenuts, I would replace that. Other than that, I wouldn't worry about it. As long as the cord doesn't have any cuts in the shielding you should be totally fine. That's a cool little fan, I've gotten rid of all of mine but I definitely want some new ones. I've always loved how effective they are. As far as restoring it, I'd take the shields and blade off and see what a variety of coarse steel wool could do, I'm sure you could get that shined up nicely. Possibly even taking the blade to a mirror finish, that would take some grunt work but would definitely pay off. Today I decided to make a little gift for my girlfriend. She wants to stop using plastic razors like I have so I picked this up for her. It's a 1930's Gillette double edged razor in 24 carat gold, and an equally old tin cigar box to use as a case. I then made a velvet lined wood insert to fit both the razor and a pack of blades. Turned out really cool and she really likes it. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/razor1_zpsc8f9893c.jpg?t=1372908791[/img] [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/Razor2_zps187d26de.jpg?t=1372908823[/img] [editline]4th July 2013[/editline] Also I got myself my first straight razor, it's going to take a bit to get it properly restored to shave-ready, I'll end up sending it off to get professionally re-honed and sharpened. It's an antique J.A. Hennckels Twin works straight razor made in Solingen Germany. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/Yep_zps9f77f0ed.jpg?t=1372909561[/img]

[QUOTE=Ajacks;41307104] Also I got myself my first straight razor, it's going to take a bit to get it properly restored to shave-ready, I'll end up sending it off to get professionally re-honed and sharpened. It's an antique J.A. Hennckels Twin works straight razor made in Solingen Germany. [img]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a345/ajackss/Yep_zps9f77f0ed.jpg?t=1372909561[/img][/QUOTE] Damn, you went from cartridge to straight blade real fast. I've been using double edged safety blades for 6 months and I still wouldn't touch a straight blade! (I've cut my face occasionally being impatient.)