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

[t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170435.jpg[/t] So I finally got the battery charger for my camera back (the one I converted recently for infrared photography) and figured out the reason my LCD screen stopped working was just a cable not being pushed back all the way. The images you get with digital IR are amazing. It's this surreal dream world where the environment takes on an ethereal white tone. Here's some shots I took today: [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170414_IR.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170428_IR.jpg[/t]

I've got so much infrared on my mind that I had to make a flashlight of sorts [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170441.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170445.jpg[/t] [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170446.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=HiddenMyst;45101187][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170435.jpg[/t] So I finally got the battery charger for my camera back (the one I converted recently for infrared photography) and figured out the reason my LCD screen stopped working was just a cable not being pushed back all the way. The images you get with digital IR are amazing. It's this surreal dream world where the environment takes on an ethereal white tone. Here's some shots I took today: [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170414_IR.jpg[/t][t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P1170428_IR.jpg[/t][/QUOTE] I've been meaning to build a little IR camera with the Raspberry Pi and the NoIR camera shield. Thinking about setting it up as a conversion for one of my old Kodak Brownies. Any suggestion on the IR filter? What should I look for there? Also, what city is that? It looks really familiar.

[QUOTE=woolio1;45103481]I've been meaning to build a little IR camera with the Raspberry Pi and the NoIR camera shield. Thinking about setting it up as a conversion for one of my old Kodak Brownies. Any suggestion on the IR filter? What should I look for there? Also, what city is that? It looks really familiar.[/QUOTE] I am using a Hoya R72 filter on the front of my lens (which you can see held half over the shot in that top photo), which accepts light of 720nm and longer. One thing that might be a little difficult is that I don't remember if the Pi camera software allows custom white balance settings. I followed the calibration instructions at lifepixel.com who suggest setting grass to be your neutral white point then I forced the correction to sway towards the red side as it helps give you a bluer sky once you swap the red and blue channels. I think it's definitely a cool project by the way. I am currently working on a Brownie 8mm Video camera conversion with a Raspberry Pi inside so I'd love to see your progress as you go. [editline]15th June 2014[/editline] Oh and that's Perth City in Western Australia

[QUOTE=A_Pigeon;45098431]generally when you have a sail cover you want it to be a lighter colour so that the sails inside don't get cooked. Heat is bad for sail cloth are wears it out faster. Think of the sail bag as a car on a hot day, in a cover like he has planned, it becomes an oven. Dacron deforms and stretches at the temperatures you'll see in one of those bags if it's black. There's no shade on the water, so anything black becomes a George Foreman. As for the yellowing stripe a lot of it is dependent on where you sail your boat and what you paint it with. It's a fibreglass hull so it needs gelcoat, and depending on where it sits in the water, and where he was going to put his bottom paint line, the gelcoat will start yellowing. Yellowing of hulls is HIGHLY dependent on where you sail though, so he may be in the clear depending on location... [IMG]http://www.neptuneproducts.co.nz/site/rosmac/files/images/Boats/RSRPhoDoc3.jpg[/IMG] That's what fibreglass gelcoat does after a while, unlike wooden hull paint, gelcoat is slightly porous and a complete bitch to maintain. Even in lakes I have to give my lasers a wash every once in a while.[/QUOTE] Dark sail covers like dark maroon, black and dark navy are extremely common. I've never heard of a dark sail cover damaging sails. Also I cant imagine having a white boot stripe would be problematic since every other boat has one. Also Serj that's an awesome project, do you work for a company that does restoration work? Where in the US are you? Around here the vast majority of people only care about pontoon and bass boats.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;45115376] Also Serj that's an awesome project, do you work for a company that does restoration work? Where in the US are you? Around here the vast majority of people only care about pontoon and bass boats.[/QUOTE] I am in the Bay Area in California. I work with my dad in a family business called Curtis Boat Restorations, or Curtis Boat Works, or Curtis Marine. We had to go through several business licenses because my dad likes to forget to renew them then people take the name. For right now, it's Curtis Boat works, the prior two have been taken by people doing similar work apparently, in other states. We're doing a 1947 Hacker Right now in the shop, and the Joltin Joe is for the city of Martinez. That's all volunteer work for the city, and I just get free breakfast out of it every Saturday.

[QUOTE=HiddenMyst;45106944]I am using a Hoya R72 filter on the front of my lens (which you can see held half over the shot in that top photo), which accepts light of 720nm and longer. One thing that might be a little difficult is that I don't remember if the Pi camera software allows custom white balance settings. I followed the calibration instructions at lifepixel.com who suggest setting grass to be your neutral white point then I forced the correction to sway towards the red side as it helps give you a bluer sky once you swap the red and blue channels. I think it's definitely a cool project by the way. I am currently working on a Brownie 8mm Video camera conversion with a Raspberry Pi inside so I'd love to see your progress as you go. [editline]15th June 2014[/editline] Oh and that's Perth City in Western Australia[/QUOTE] I guess all big cities look alike.

Starter up my leathercraft again this month since coming back home from uni. Decided to start a real business - Part time but still, its nice to get hands on so it's not about the money when I do start selling. Most of the pictures are uploads from instagram so filters etc... My bad. Got my embossing stamps form the leather (Cutting them by hand was such a bitch): [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/LmF7bN4.jpg[/IMG] Made a few card wallets mostly to test out the stamps: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/jkbcfZf.jpg[/IMG] Then got onto making belts! Made four today, Natural, Oxblood, Black and Brown, the dyed ones are drying right now though. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/4ljcyJd.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/0VTBxvE.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/xRaf6As.jpg[/IMG] What'd you guys think? I havent really got much feedback on my newer products and as these are the types I intend of marketing fully when I sort out a product line I'd appreciate any feedback! Be brutal...

[QUOTE=Bread Dog;45159799] What'd you guys think? I havent really got much feedback on my newer products and as these are the types I intend of marketing fully when I sort out a product line I'd appreciate any feedback! Be brutal...[/QUOTE] I like it, honestly. Your quality seems good, and I love the light leather colors. I don't know anything about the UK's subcultures, but if you've got a "hipster*" culture like we do in the States, you should have no problem selling a quality, handmade product. They tend to gravitate toward that more than most people. *I'm honestly not sure what this word means anymore, so I'm using the 2010ish definition... Before it was mainstream. All sarcasm aside, I really like the simple, clean designs. I think you've got something.

[QUOTE=Bread Dog;45159799]Starter up my leathercraft again this month since coming back home from uni. Decided to start a real business - Part time but still, its nice to get hands on so it's not about the money when I do start selling. Most of the pictures are uploads from instagram so filters etc... My bad. Got my embossing stamps form the leather (Cutting them by hand was such a bitch): [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/LmF7bN4.jpg[/IMG] Made a few card wallets mostly to test out the stamps: [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/jkbcfZf.jpg[/IMG] Then got onto making belts! Made four today, Natural, Oxblood, Black and Brown, the dyed ones are drying right now though. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/4ljcyJd.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/0VTBxvE.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/xRaf6As.jpg[/IMG] What'd you guys think? I havent really got much feedback on my newer products and as these are the types I intend of marketing fully when I sort out a product line I'd appreciate any feedback! Be brutal...[/QUOTE] They look pretty nice! I'm a fan of plain leather belts, my only reserve would be how robust are they? I've had a good english leather one for many years, but in that same time I've also had some crap ones. Also possibly a nice finish for the edges? Probably wouldn't buy one of those myself as I prefer black, but looking good. How much are you thinking of charging?

[QUOTE=Bread Dog;45159799] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/xRaf6As.jpg[/IMG] [/QUOTE] Wow, I'd really like to have a belt like this. How much would you charge to make one and ship it to me in Sweden?

That leather working is beautiful! Same for me, what would one of those belts cost minus shipping in black?

Thanks! In terms of robustness, I'm confident enough to offer a guarantee for repair if any piece becomes damaged through normal day-to-day use for atleast 5 years, likely more once I finalise things! The actual reason I got into leathercraft was that I hated the cheap tatty leather products which were expensive due to brand and had a short lifetime because they're manufactured by machines or using cheaper methods so I guarentee a long life for my products! In terms of pricing though I'm looking to charge £10-£15 for card cases (Like above), phone cases etc and £25 for the leather belts initially with options to customise colour, buckle and the screws/rivets (Including UK Postage) But considering the cost of many other handmade brands, I'd like to this this was fair! However, Facepunch discount may be in order... Perhaps... However, Im open to feedback on that kinda stuff at this this stage! But all my products will be the same price regardless of colour. But if you'd like one please message me (Is this allowed, mods?) and we can discuss stuff and work out a forum special! :)

[QUOTE=Bread Dog;45169373]Thanks! In terms of robustness, I'm confident enough to offer a guarantee for repair if any piece becomes damaged through normal day-to-day use for atleast 5 years, likely more once I finalise things! The actual reason I got into leathercraft was that I hated the cheap tatty leather products which were expensive due to brand and had a short lifetime because they're manufactured by machines or using cheaper methods so I guarentee a long life for my products! In terms of pricing though I'm looking to charge £10-£15 for card cases (Like above), phone cases etc and £25 for the leather belts initially with options to customise colour, buckle and the screws/rivets (Excluding Postage) But considering the cost of many other handmade brands, I'd like to this this was fair! However, Facepunch discount may be in order... Perhaps... However, Im open to feedback on that kinda stuff at this this stage! But all my products will be the same price regardless of colour. But if you'd like one please message me (Is this allowed, mods?) and we can discuss stuff and work out a forum special! :)[/QUOTE] To put it into a little perspective for the rest of us US folk, that's about $50 for the belts before shipping, and about $25-30 for the card cases. Shipping from the UK, at least when I order from Etsy dealers, is usually around $10-15 for small stuff. One thing I think would be kind of cool would be some sort of slim wallet. I'm thinking you could actually convert one of your card cases into one by adding a money clip to the back of it. I know for people like me, who don't like to carry around a pocket sandwich of a wallet, I'd be interested in something like that.

$45 max for belts and $25 for card wallets, phone cases etc... is around correct, luckily postage isnt TOO bad for europe and the US isnt far off that kind of postage cost either luckily. I was literally just looking at money clips actually, currently cant find a decent supplier I trust sadly. However, thats one of the things at the top of my list! Theres so much stuff I want to make and sadly funds are limited for R&D until next month. If you have any other suggestions Id be more than willing to take them on though for the future!

I personally would not warrant repair for 5 years. That's a good testament to the quality, but I don't think you want to get involved with never selling a belt to the same customer again. I think 1 year for craftsmanship is reasonable, and reviews will show how well it stands up. I have leather belts that my dad gave me that his dad gave him, and they are literally still good and usable. If your product lasts more than a year, the people who mistreat them will get them repaired elsewhere anyway. The lighter color you're displaying would last a long time. - Reason being - no one that is a construction worker, carpenter, mechanic, etc. will be using it at work because it will get dirty, and the cost outweighs trashing it around.

On a somewhat similar note, the ordeal of handdying is over and I finally got my other belts finished up with their hardware! What'd you think? [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/nvJR9hJ.jpg[/IMG] The problem with handdying is that the thinner colours (Oxblood in my case) leaves streaks unlike the darker colours and takes a hell of a long time to dry properly... Has anybody got experience with dyes which they could give me bit of help with to get better results? :v:

Well the sailboat fell through, ended up going for more than I wanted to spend (basically more than my girlfriend was okay with me spending to be totally honest) and so I let it pass, but I'm thinking of a larger boat, like a Mac 25 since there's some local ones in great shape for around $3k which isn't bad when it's got a 9.9 outboard and a recently painted hull, along with a ton more space inside. I've got a crew cab 5.4L V8 F150 so I can tow anything easy enough.W With a Mac 25 you even have a seperate head which is great, and this is a custom layout in this one but you can see there is plenty of room for comfortable things. [img_thumb]http://www.to-n-fro.net/sitebuilder/images/nice4-760x332.png[/img_thumb]

So much room for activities. In all seriousness, having as much room as possible when boating is really nice. Boats are cramped at the best of times and an extra foot or two in length can make a huge difference.

I bought a new Eames shell today. The local vintage & antiques store had two side chairs for $59 each. I noticed that one was a pre-1960 upholstered shell, from before they started gluing it to the chair. Before (Actually after): [t]http://i.imgur.com/TKM4GJW.jpg[/t] After: [t]http://i.imgur.com/lz2uv4a.jpg[/t] It's still got some scuffs and paint splotches from the factory, but I'm pretty sure I can take those off with acetone. Might also redo the gel coat with some Penetrol, get it all shiny. The Seafoam shells sell for about $200-300, so I can always sell it and make more than what I paid for it. I'll probably just try to clean the paint off the seat and leave it at that, though. I'm too lazy to do much else. Not bad for a random find, right?

Any of you guys work with boomboxes? I've been thinking of building one on a small budget of around $200, with everything newly bought. Feasible?

A battery powered boombox? Like a 80's shoulder carried one or a home stereo?

I had a hipster friend who put speakers in old suitcases. Does that count?

[QUOTE=Ajacks;45232217]A battery powered boombox? Like a 80's shoulder carried one or a home stereo?[/QUOTE] Battery powered, I've been looking into viable solutions and 12v battery looks like the most common battery to use for homemade boomboxes that you can grab with you, I think the one I'm planning on building is going to be the type you'd have to be two to carry however (due to sheer size).

Car head unit, a small motorcycle battery, and a couple small speakers. Definitely doable, but it might get a bit heavy, yeah. It's quite similar to what I'm gonna do once I get the female adapter (don't wanna cut up the adapter to the head unit, should I wanna put it in my car), except I'm doing a home stereo.

I've been wanting to make this picture frame for a very long time and finally got the paint to do it. I've got an awesome section of mandelbrot that I rendered in a similar colour scheme and printed it out on metallic paper at 600dpi. If this one looks good when I finish it, then I'll make a series of them and might sell a few. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P6290001.jpg[/t]

Why didn't I remember this subforum was here... Beware, because I shall begin making stuff! Starting with a GoT/LOTR inspired costume.

[QUOTE=PLing;45245107]Why didn't I remember this subforum was here... Beware, because I shall begin making stuff! Starting with a GoT/LOTR inspired costume.[/QUOTE] The more the merrier

A few weeks ago I started working at the machine shop in my college. Nothing new or original had been made on the CNC there for years so my boss let me play around with the machine to get it working. I got a few things made on it but my end goal was an aperture logo. Here's the stl file I made in blender. [IMG]http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g427/kingmysion/Screenshot2014-06-29181828.png[/IMG] After importing it into mastercam I was able to make this bad boy. It's ~ 12 inches across. [IMG]http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g427/kingmysion/2014-06-25082843.jpg[/IMG]

That's pretty cool.