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

i don't know if this is the right thread, but would it be very hard for someone a bit inexperienced (i did 1 year of shop :P, taking programming instead) to make a simple desk out of wood? [editline]30th June 2014[/editline] i don't know, i think i'm a bit over-ambitious

[QUOTE=ProfHappycat7;45260334]i don't know if this is the right thread, but would it be very hard for someone a bit inexperienced (i did 1 year of shop :P, taking programming instead) to make a simple desk out of wood? [editline]30th June 2014[/editline] i don't know, i think i'm a bit over-ambitious[/QUOTE] If you've taken a year of shop, it should be a piece of cake. Just sketch out some plans, try to get an idea of what you're building, and then make your measurements and buy your wood. I built a plywood and 2x4 desk for $60. I could have done it cheaper. It took a few hours to design, and I had everything cut at the store. It was easier than I thought it would be.

[QUOTE=ProfHappycat7;45260334]i don't know if this is the right thread, but would it be very hard for someone a bit inexperienced (i did 1 year of shop :P, taking programming instead) to make a simple desk out of wood? [editline]30th June 2014[/editline] i don't know, i think i'm a bit over-ambitious[/QUOTE] I would suggest using Google Sketchup to build a plan for your desk. It's free, it's easy to use, it doesn't care if you can't draw, and you can endlessly and easily change up your plans.

[QUOTE=Kilr;45260616]I would suggest using Google Sketchup to build a plan for your desk. It's free, it's easy to use, it doesn't care if you can't draw, and you can endlessly and easily change up your plans.[/QUOTE]tbh to me it looks alot more like a 3d modelling program and my plan is just a slab of wood with 4 legs nailed/glued/w/e is sturdier to the bottom [editline]1st July 2014[/editline] (of course i would measure all of that stuff, not just slap shit together)

It is indeed a 3D modeling program, but for my last two projects I used it to lay my plans out and it was a great help.

[QUOTE=ProfHappycat7;45260862]tbh to me it looks alot more like a 3d modelling program and my plan is just a slab of wood with 4 legs nailed/glued/w/e is sturdier to the bottom [editline]1st July 2014[/editline] (of course i would measure all of that stuff, not just slap shit together)[/QUOTE] Remember, sticking legs to the bottom of a slab of wood is a terrible idea because wobble. You would ideally build an apron and secure the legs with pocket screws and glue instead. Since you have no intention of designing your own desk, check out Ana-white.com or the Design Confidential for easy, free plans. It'll save you some headaching.

I've been thinking about painting my bass guitar, and I've come up with a simple colourscheme. The only question now is, what sort of spray would be best? I'm thinking of using matte colours, so no glossy stuff please. :)

If you don't want to fuss with paint guns and paint thinner and mixing and all that, Dupli-color are probably the best cans you can get. I used their Perfect Match paints on top of SEM high build primer to pretty good effect several times, so I recommend checking them out for matte paints. I admit I don't know if they actually have any, but the clear coat is where most of the gloss comes from anyway. If you do want to spray through a gun, I have no clue.

I finally finished the first of what I hope to be many fractal prints. This one is going to be a donation to a small coffee shop I go to as a 1 year birthday present of sorts. Hopefully it will garner some attention too because I'd be nice to get this stuff out there. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P7050004.jpg[/t]

That looks fantastic, though it hurts my eyes a bit :v:

I built my quadcopter this afternoon and filmed this neat little timelapse video in the process. Still waiting on the remote and receiver to get here, but when the do I'm going to have some serious fun! [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnuKOZRGg_Q[/media]

ordered a airbrush and am going to order a mini compressor w/2l tank to save money i thought i might build a spray booth rather than ordering one of the chepo ones from ebay as i have some good 180mm case fans, i drew up the basic design in sketch up but i lack any woodworking tools so im not sure how to proceed. if i rent or purchase a jigsaw and bench any saving will have gone out the window, might resort to either facebook begging or see if a local joiner will cut the pieces for a reasonable cost missing the sides/top because i couldnt work out how the fuck rotate worked last night, gap in front would hold some filter material round hole at back is for 110mm dryer hose [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/SQiYPEs.png[/IMG]

anyone here have experience with reptile enclosures? (specifically iguanas or bearded dragons) i'm going to be building one soon and i'd gladly accept any tips on the matter

I redid the layout of all the components in my quad. As it was my first build I just figured that they could go wherever. I quickly realised the only free space for my battery was underneath and that the small feet on the end of the arms were too short to avoid landing on the battery, so I have gone through and moved the lot. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P7100395.jpg[/t] I apparently also placed the flight controller facing the wrong way originally, so that had to change. Now the flight controller is on top, giving easy access to the cables. I placed the receiver up the back, hanging off a little, but it's not under extreme load so the smaller contact area will be enough to hold it on. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P7100392.jpg[/t] The biggest benefit to this layout though is that I can slide the battery into the empty space down the middle, keeping the bulk of it out of the way. Right now I don't have it secured to anything, but it's a bit of a tight squeeze so I think that it should be ok and hopefully won't fall out. [t]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/62766551/P7100393.jpg[/t]

Made a couple of new leather things, the first, a phone case for my mothers work college. (Lighting makes the colour seem more purple than red, but its the same colour as the pen case below) [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rkhClY0l.jpg[/IMG] The second, a bespoke piece for a member of Facepunch (XL5) who contacted me about getting a piece made. A nice single pen case in Oxblood. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/H1eYOgvl.jpg[/IMG] Hopefully gonna get my first full product line released in a week or two aswell! Exciting times!

[QUOTE=Bread Dog;45352578]Made a couple of new leather things, the first, a phone case for my mothers work college. (Lighting makes the colour seem more purple than red, but its the same colour as the pen case below) [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rkhClY0l.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE] Seeing the purplish colour from the lighting there makes me think there's potential in purple leather products. Theses are seriously amazing though. I love that red with light threading.

Your leather stuff really is impressive. Do you do the stitching by hand, or do you have some industrial upholstery machine? And how did you make your embossing stamp? I remember you saying something about carving them by hand but that seems crazy to me lol.

There seems to be some real popularity in brighter leather colours these days, purple and blue are on my list of dyes next time I order! As for stitching, everything is saddle stitched by Hand and all of the holes are punched individually too. I'd love to have a leather sewing machine but industrial ones for leather are near enough £1,500... one day though! If I ever do a kickstarter, that'll be why I do it. Making bags without one is such a hastle and usually means the products are higher and price due to labour, I'd prefer to be more affordable so everybody could try my products for less, not a select few The embossing stamps were made by dipping the metal sheet in acid, I don't actually know the term. It was so much cheaper as individual stamps from steel or brass are CNC'd or carved by hand, again, I can't afford that stuff :v:

Acid? That's bad ass! :v: The fact that you do all of this by hand makes it a little more sincere/novel, even if it is more difficult for you.

I haven't done much in the way of DIY stuff. I've been sitting at home for a week now trying to think of something to make. Shelving is boring, and I have way more than I need, and I'll be sitting for a while till I go back to work on the Hacker on Monday, and then start a new job hopefully within a month or two. I'm now joined as a Journeyman Carpenter for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. No more B.S. pay for me. No more b.s. pay to do this: [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/CAM00100_zps17093bc4.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/CAM00100_zps17093bc4.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/IMG_20140515_082012_zps5b20b058.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/IMG_20140515_082012_zps5b20b058.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It was a fun two years, but I am a trim carpenter, and I do nice exotic things - like you know - classic boats and walnut cabinetry. Not wood rollercoasters. My next DIY thing I want to accomplish is to somehow get welding equipment and use it in my appartment. I know - that's probably not what people do, but I can't do it in my shop and risk getting metal dust and junk all over my wood projects. Even if there's just a small welder that can be had. I have no idea how to weld at all, and they offer free classes now that I'm U.B.C. member, but they're an hour away, so I won't be able to do that for a while. Basically all I need to do for a project is weld iron to steel, then steel to steel. If someone knows what I need to do that, I'd be all ears. I'm making a turbo manifold for my 68 dart. Edit: This is what I'm thinking of: [url]http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Grade-Ultra-Portable-100-Amp-Electric-Welder/dp/B000V663G8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top[/url]

That boat on your photobucket serj, is that a boat you're working on for yourself? Looks familiar, who designed it?

[QUOTE=Ajacks;45360693]That boat on your photobucket serj, is that a boat you're working on for yourself? Looks familiar, who designed it?[/QUOTE] It was designed by hacker co. In 1946. Its a 1947 hacker "streamliner". It had a few odd quirks, like hand carved laps on the outer seams and a 1947 Cadillac dashboard and steering column, as well as the steering box and everything else. Its a project for a client I've been working on with my father since three years ago. These things take a long time. It shouldn't be familiar because its literally the only one that exists unless you are the guy that sank it sometime long ago for my dad to find in 1985ish. You probably remember me talking about it sometime. Like I said I mention it every once in a while. I haven't been able to work on it much the last two years but I was part of all the replanking and hand carving then went to work for a company for a while and he's been plugging away and I only could work on it about 2 hours everyday after work. I was always busy. Lol

Not me, but my dad built a thing this weekend because he was tired of the grill rolling off the patio. It's now firmly bolted into this pedestal. [t]http://i.imgur.com/2mGjghj.jpg[/t]

[QUOTE=woolio1;45393964]Not me, but my dad built a thing this weekend because he was tired of the grill rolling off the patio. It's now firmly bolted into this pedestal. [/QUOTE] Reminds me of some kind of urn. Looks nice though.

[QUOTE=OtherDalfite;45396220]Reminds me of some kind of urn. Looks nice though.[/QUOTE] It's built like one too. It's made of half-inch thick ceramic.

That's an expensive grill, my dad would be envious.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;45407580]That's an expensive grill, my dad would be envious.[/QUOTE] Oh yeah. Ours cost about $1100, with the cover and everything. However, they have an almost unconditional lifetime warranty, so it's the last grill you'll ever need to buy. (Officially, it doesn't cover things you break. However, we've never had any issues getting replacements for things we've broken.) When you consider that most gas grills end up costing $300-500 every two or three years, it starts to make more sense the longer you have it. We've had ours for almost ten years now, and it's still going strong. Also, because it's a smoker as well as a grill (and a pizza oven/normal oven), it gives anything you cook in it a really unique flavor. It's almost impossible to replicate that on a conventional gas or charcoal grill. Honestly, I'd highly recommend one if you ever buy another grill. I'm already saving up for mine.

My dad's addicting to smoking meats, he's got two large 6 foot tall steel smokers, and he's got the big webber charcoal grill which is the most used one. He gave up on big gas grills and just uses a small portable propane one that gets taken inside. In this climate they always seem to go to hell after a few years, even covered.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;45407818]My dad's addicting to smoking meats.[/QUOTE] It's a miracle you're here, then :)

That's a dam good looking quadcopter! You kept the wiring very neat and tidy, looks sexy ;). Any luck with flying it yet? BreadDog that's some good leather work. The purple looks a lot better than what I would have expected.