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

Plumbing, your move. All repaired, just ran my washer for the first time, laid a new drain pipe under the concrete basement floor, new waterlines both hot and cold to the washer, new valves, new line from the water main, new house shutoff valve, re-routed existing lines for better efficiency, all to allow my new basement shop to have as much space as possible. It's so nice to turn the water main back on, hear the water rushing through the pipes and everything holding pressure. Perfect time to crack open that beer and sit alone in the basement appreciating my work.

Wait, where did this thread come from? [editline]27th August 2015[/editline] Anyway even though I already posted it into the creative arts thread, here's my latest project. It started off as a steel sled. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/Kgq77Gn.jpg[/IMG]

What did you have to do for that project? Looks awesome.

I started with a [url="http://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Flyer-826-Steel-Saucer/dp/B0006N8WYM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440734894&sr=8-1&keywords=flexible+flyer"]flexible flyer[/url] sled and cut off the rolled edge after I found the center by drawing straight lines across the handle holes. [t]http://i.imgur.com/eEVoqzi.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/Jl9RJdu.jpg[/t] I then made a compass with some scrap wood to measure out a diameter of 24" (to be screen accurate, it should be closer to 25" or 26" with a 9" or 10" center but I'm working with what I have :v:) Surprisingly, cutting it with a jigsaw was a breeze. I filed down any rough edges and trued up the circle. [t]http://i.imgur.com/2Ac312w.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/XJrOtS7.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/tNYPV4j.jpg[/t] I scuffed up the paint and used paint stripper and a wire brush on a drill to get it to bare metal. It was a bad idea because it left swirled scratches that won't come out. With the same compass I sandwiched some sandpaper to get the radial brushed effect as if it were actual spun metal. I also driled holes in the compass to scribe out an 8" center and stripes that were calculated to be something like 2.44" or something. [t]http://i.imgur.com/W7myuEc.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/fyMAwEU.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/BzQn2S6.jpg[/t] I masked the circles with 3M vinyl tape. Masking perfect circles is a bitch, but the scribed lines were a huge help. I can't imagine doing it without. I actually messed up with the star because the paint bled under due to the texture the sanding left. I figured I'd use the technique I learned from [url="http://www.volpinprops.com/planet-express-ship-futurama-part-2/"]Volpin Props[/url] when he was working on his planet express ship and spray clear to seal the edges and then the anodized color over and it worked a charm. I used Duplicolor Metalcast red and blue for the faux anodizing. My spraying conditions were less than optimal, so I've been wetsanding between coats with 2000 grit. I've learned that duplicolor paints cans don't like being held horizontally and spatter, so I build a stand to hold the shield vertically.. Also, rustoleum spray caps are shit and make a lot of fog and overspray which left a gritty texture, so I have to sand and buff the clear. Right now the center star is just masked off, but once I pick up some aluminum sheet, I'll cut one out and epoxy it on. Also if I could do anything over again, I'd spray the bare metal with clear first before masking cause I swear it rusts the moment you turn your back. Fun fact: this method really caught on in the prop community and the sleds are on backorder almost everywhere online. In fact, until recently the only one you could find on amazon was marked up to $90 from the original $25~. It's still expensive now at $45~.

Awesome work ToastedBread!

after moving all my stuff in, turns out there's less space than i expected gonna have to look into something else

How about just a pipes with hanging drapes/fabric for a divider?

Not much activity in this thread anymore uh? Well, today I had the day off from work, so I went to the shop anyway, except I took a project with me this time. As some may know I don't do TV in the living room, I have a 120" projector screen with an Epson Home Cinema 8350 HD projector. My peripherals are up front under the screen, and then a HDMI cable goes under the house to the back wall, up it to the projector. For the longest time I had a Walmart $30.00 shelf holding stuff and I hated it since the day I got it, but it worked. It stored my Receiver, my Xbox one, had a shitty side shelf that stored the router, and couldn't even fit my cable box. Flashback to 4 years ago when I bought the stupid thing, about a year later my brother called me to go to a garage sale he was at and buy this sweet 1947 Firestone console radio. It was missing all the chassis and tube, but had a speaker, and I got it for $20.00. I was intending to turn it into my media center, but when I got it home, there was an issue, it stuck up 8" too high and was in the middle of my screen, so it wouldn't work. I build some small shelves into it, and used it to hold Blurays and sat it against one of my side walls for 3 or so years. Well, today was the day I guess. This was my dissapointing front end setup. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_142203_zps1dwijnbw.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_142203_zps1dwijnbw.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I had tried painting it, built a cool center channel speaker for the top of it, but i still disliked it. So the radio went down to the shop with the simple mission of cutting 8" out of it, cutting the trim off the center, and then building shelves in it. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_124139_zpsilzrtcur.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_124139_zpsilzrtcur.jpg[/IMG][/URL] It had an original piece of glass with the firestone logo and all the radio station selections, but that broke in half in transit to the shop. I was pretty sad about it as I was just going to have the cable box sit behind it so the lights would shine through it and it'd still look stock. That plan was cancelled though due to the breakage. I looked over the radio and decided I just had to go ahead and do it. There was a seperation groove where they had put two different kind of veneers on the sides, so I used that to make the cut, and then cut 8" above that, then put the two parts back together. It would make the seperation line the actual seperation line where the two halves join, so it would look like nothing had changed. I cut the bottom off, where all the cool trimwork was, and then ran it over the table saw a couple times to get a nice flat edge on it the same height all around. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_125701_zpsyotzjuwv.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_125701_zpsyotzjuwv.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Once I had that, I took the other part of the radio, set the tablesaw for 8" and cut it on all three sides. Then I stacked the new top half onto the base, and secured it with two plywood gussets in the back, and then later two gussets towards the front on the inside. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_130048_zpshtxg3udv.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_130048_zpshtxg3udv.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_132054_zpstslrwa7c.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_132054_zpstslrwa7c.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I also placed that piece of 3/4" inch poplar on the back to make the shelf sit level when I put it on. Next I cut some 1/2" aircraft plywood, to the width of the radio (about 28") and then cut some indents in the front so it would poke out into the trim. I removed the stock center support that was there, as it'd be in the way. I then put some 3/4" poplar across the back on the inside 7 1/2" above the first shelf, then put two 7 1/2" feet made of 3/4" x2" poplar in the front corners to support the shelf at that height. I was thinking of how to be non-invasive and not have any screws needing to go into the body, besides those in the bottom and back. This was the best way to do it and maintain a large shelf space - and also a gap on either side to run wires up and down between the shelves. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_134005_zps17f528it.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_134005_zps17f528it.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_135738_zpsxkxqamtu.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_135738_zpsxkxqamtu.jpg[/IMG][/URL] On top of that, what I neglected to take a picture of was a third shelf about 7 1/4" above that, but narrower to sit above the xbox one, which holds the xbox harddrive on it and the router. above that is a 4" tall podium that is sitting on top of that to hold the cable box. When I got home I stained the shelves, fixed some scratches on the radio, then loaded the electronics after it had dried. When I got to the cable box, I was surprised to see that it actually fit right through the old radio faceplate opening. It looks intentional but I had no idea it would do that. It looks awesome. I thought it would be sitting right behind it. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_152614_zpsx7hjsrsa.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_152614_zpsx7hjsrsa.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_152622_zpsst9eiac6.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_152622_zpsst9eiac6.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20150907_152634_zpsibdx92hu.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20150907_152634_zpsibdx92hu.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Now the console radio finally serves the purpose I have always wanted it for, and the old thing is going in the dumpster.

I posted this in the one in Fast-Threads, but I figure I might as well resurrect this one too. I backlit and biverted another DMG for better contrast and gave it a snazzy paintjob, as well as cut and buffed it. I was inspired by Samus' Varia Suit. [t]http://i.imgur.com/6tRunxj.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/cXIuqb9.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/s7dy8F7.jpg[/t] [t]http://i.imgur.com/DxpxusR.jpg[/t] I'm especially proud of the factory looking switch i added on the bottom to toggle the led buttons on and off, as they can be very obnoxious.

That looks great

I miss the DIY sub-threads. Seems more dead now. Anyway, last minute costume idea since I couldn't finish my Rocketeer from 2 years ago (it's incredibly hard to figure out diagrams and pep for the rocket-pack) I decided on my second favorite hero - Chris Pratt - As Starlord I started with the helmet by using pepakura and foam, and made something that kind of resembled the helmet. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151017_085748_zpsfz2rv6ab.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151017_085748_zpsfz2rv6ab.jpg[/IMG][/URL] But then I made a huge mistake - I tried to use paper mache' instead of fiberglass like i usually do. I thought I was saving time and thought - why not. Well - unfortunately I must have oversaturated the paper or something because the whole paper part turned into a runny mess and the whole thing fell apart into a big pile of wet goo that kind of looked like a starlord helmet. I was pretty upset. Never trying that again. Well, I scoured the internet, and found a company that makes the mask and sold through amazon, for $87.00. DONE. I got it in the mail, and it was just straight-up dark grey, and kind of squished. -It's made of PVC flexible material. I bought some gold spray paint, masked off everything but the accents, face, and cheeks, and sprayed it. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151019_141243_zpsl5wwko5v.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151019_141243_zpsl5wwko5v.jpg[/IMG][/URL] After that all dried, I peeled off the tape and got out some Testors silver model paint and a brush and brushed in all the fine details and whatnot that are supposed to be silver. For the rest of it I intend to use RUb N buff to make a weathered gray/silver effect. Did I mention the mask also came with LED functionality? It's kind of cool but your vision is basically a red wall when they're on. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151019_151824_zpsepsompgg.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151019_151824_zpsepsompgg.jpg[/IMG][/URL] The actual Sony Cassette Walkman used in the movie goes for a lot of money on Ebay - sometimes over $500, and the reasoning I'm told is because they purchased all the ones they could find to make the movie since they assumed they'd get lost or broken, etc... and the headphones... go for $1,200 in some cases. I wasn't looking to spend that.... So I started with every nearby thriftstore i could find, until finally, I found a Sanyo or some junk for $2.50. There were no cassettes though, so I scoured another place and found one blank - in the package still - cassette with a blank label. Perfect, and it was $0.30. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151016_135201_zpsbnyypots.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151016_135201_zpsbnyypots.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151016_193653_zpsze5cxkmm.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151016_193653_zpsze5cxkmm.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I had to strip the player of its viewing window because it was tinted and made the tape difficult to see. The tape itself, I cut some of the label back, painted red lines across it with model tape, and then wrote the label on it. Next I spray painted the player silver. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151016_211929_zps6xbznyud.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151016_211929_zps6xbznyud.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I glued the tape in, and glued the door shut because the door hinges were broken off - oh well - it's just for show. I then painted the door blue, by hand by mixing some blue and white till I had something that looked kind of right. I think it looks the part. [URL=http://s43.photobucket.com/user/serj22/media/20151017_182743_zpsg6exp2j2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e356/serj22/20151017_182743_zpsg6exp2j2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Close enough, ya know? The next part I've been working on is the jacket. I bought a $10 suede jacket from Goodwill, and some $4.00 satin burgandy spray paint, and dyed it. It worked out, now I am building a spaulder for the left shoulder and a forearm guard for the left arm out of some craft foam, and a different brown leather jacket. It's slowly coming together, even though I'm rushing technically.

Hey I might be able to help you on that front. I made myself a few, if I could brag, pretty damn close Awesome mix tapes a few months back. [IMG]http://s16.postimg.org/h1eutcwv9/awesome_mix_zpsomrlj9ni.jpg[/IMG] I've got the files if you were interested in it. Made the file from scratch off screengrabs. I printed it out on normal paper, and then just sprayed some 3M adhesive contact cement on it. Also recorded the actual sound track on them of course. The pair was a going away present for my friends in my final college course, which happened of all things to be a Sci-fi lit course. [editline]20th October 2015[/editline] Scratch that, apparently I didn't back it up properly and lost the files. I could though get the original high resolution image that I posted above and you could just print off that if you were interested.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;48940009]Hey I might be able to help you on that front. I made myself a few, if I could brag, pretty damn close Awesome mix tapes a few months back. [IMG]http://s16.postimg.org/h1eutcwv9/awesome_mix_zpsomrlj9ni.jpg[/IMG] I've got the files if you were interested in it. Made the file from scratch off screengrabs. I printed it out on normal paper, and then just sprayed some 3M adhesive contact cement on it. Also recorded the actual sound track on them of course. The pair was a going away present for my friends in my final college course, which happened of all things to be a Sci-fi lit course. [editline]20th October 2015[/editline] Scratch that, apparently I didn't back it up properly and lost the files. I could though get the original high resolution image that I posted above and you could just print off that if you were interested.[/QUOTE] Yeah that would be cool. I'm all for it. I never even thought to just print it out...

Do you guys know what the name is for those super tiny 2 pin quick release connectors that are usually at the end of li-po batteries?

[QUOTE=ToastedBread;48941807]Do you guys know what the name is for those super tiny 2 pin quick release connectors that are usually at the end of li-po batteries?[/QUOTE] I believe they're called JST connectors.

Hey guys, I'm looking to make a large enclosure to hold water in. It needs to be like 10 feet x 10 feet and 5 feet high, I'm also trying to do this on a really tight budget, what do you guys suggest I use to make it?

Long term or short term?

Short term I guess? I won't need it for more than a year, and it won't be enclosed with water all the time, it'll probably be filled up and drained constantly. It does need to be fairly mobile as well, whether that means having to take it apart to move it or what.

I haven't done anything yet, but you guys have. Reading through this thread and seeing all the cool shit you guys made gave me the inspiration to get out of this funk and start working on the house. There's a lot that needs done. Like I need a desk, the bathroom sink is clogged, the prior wanker put a thin coating of plaster on the concrete ceiling, which is now flaking off. I'm going to fix atleast one of these today. Keep making cool shit guys. :)

[QUOTE=kyle877;49014088]I haven't done anything yet, but you guys have. Reading through this thread and seeing all the cool shit you guys made gave me the inspiration to get out of this funk and start working on the house. There's a lot that needs done. Like I need a desk, the bathroom sink is clogged, the prior wanker put a thin coating of plaster on the concrete ceiling, which is now flaking off. I'm going to fix atleast one of these today. Keep making cool shit guys. :)[/QUOTE] I've scraped and painted a ceiling of plaster in a day, it was a very satisfying project. Getting rid of the "popcorn" ceiling was great.

I needed a desk. Couldn't find one i liked. Made one myself. This is the final pieces being put together in a half a year long project i've been working on on and off between workdays. I can't say i have any real prior experience with carpentry, i knew how to drive a nail into a board and i know what a woodscrew is but pretty much everything i needed for this i also had to teach myself how to do first! I've asked around for some advice, tips and tricks and borrowed a LOT of tools, but other than that this has been entirely my own project from the start to the, just around the corner, finish. [img]http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/10-30-2015/zZn-1C.gif[/img] On top of the actual desktop there will be a dark green linoleum tile floor laid out in a, hopefully, neat looking pattern. The corners of the desktop will also be needing some sort of detail. i'm thinking some kind of rustic bronze looking metal bits since that's what the drawer handle look like. Sketchup has been an immensely helpful program for this and i definitely suggest anyone to give it a go if they plan on building anything which requires a lot of measuring, wierd angles and mathematics! or just want to see a concept model of the final product!

That looks really nice.

[QUOTE=Ajacks;49015597]I've scraped and painted a ceiling of plaster in a day, it was a very satisfying project. Getting rid of the "popcorn" ceiling was great.[/QUOTE] I just had to do this in a 1,000sf space I'm building a comic book shop in. Luckily it was the newer water based junk, rather than the asbestos junk so I was able to remove it and throw it away without hassle.

[B][I]Raptor cabinet:[/I][/B] I dubbed this the Raptor as It looks a little like a small dinosaur sat on its haunches from the side. It is used for both PC and console games and incorporates a 32 inch display. The sound output is taken from the display and run through to some active speakers located in the upper compartment of the main cabinet. This was originally built for my son to use and now houses a PS4 with the XBOX shown in the picture in another room. A few general build pictures: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade9.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade9.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade11-1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade11-1.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Slots cut to fit t-molding: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade57.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade57.jpg[/IMG][/URL] This project was the first time I'd made any front panels - here I've used automotive mesh to allow the necessary air circulation within it: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade87_zps321fd6e9.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade87_zps321fd6e9.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Metal table legs have been used to provide the main support for the display and white tubing used to conceal all the cabling: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade92_zps5c068e44.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade92_zps5c068e44.jpg[/IMG][/URL] A retaining piece was fabricated to tidy up the holes the support legs extend from: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade51.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade51.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Self leveling feet were used to ensure stability: [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/XBOXArcade93_zpsca7eb947.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/XBOXArcade93_zpsca7eb947.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Complete (apart from some vinyl artwork which I need to design and fit): [URL=http://s218.photobucket.com/user/SpaceHedgehog/media/RoomAfter_zps0d229cea.jpg.html][IMG]http://i218.photobucket.com/albums/cc26/SpaceHedgehog/RoomAfter_zps0d229cea.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

What should I do with my Raspberry Pi 2 B? I currently have it set up so I can plug it into a TV and play games, but I'm bored of it. I kinda want to make it into a mini laptop, but eh. Any ideas?

Automate your Christmas lights.

Anyone got a suggestion for my project?: [QUOTE=thefreemann;49004964]Hey guys, I'm looking to make a large enclosure to hold water in. It needs to be like 10 feet x 10 feet and 5 feet high, I'm also trying to do this on a really tight budget, what do you guys suggest I use to make it?[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=thefreemann;49029777]Anyone got a suggestion for my project?:[/QUOTE] Well, let's see. Water weighs about 62lbs per cubic foot. 10x10x5 = 500 cubic feet 500x62 = 31,000lbs. So, let's just ask a simpler question, what do you believe that is cheap, that will hold back 31,000lbs. Cheaper swimming pools use some posts that nail into the ground and do a pretty decent job at that. Something like plywood is right out, unless you want to reinforce the sides of it to the bottom, and then tie it all together with a few cargo straps to help it reinforce itself against the water. Also, plywood comes in 8x4, so you'd have to custom order the bottom and two sides, or just utilize a joint in the wood, then cover it with a sufficient amount of plastic to line, or bituthane or some other waterproof material. What exactly are you trying to make?:

I'm buying a house soon and I want to DIY the shit out of it. My first project idea is a smart home of sorts. Buy a ton of Wifi-connected smart LED bulbs, buy a bunch of wifi-enabled speakers, and buy a tablet to put in the bedroom. Then connect a bunch of microphones all over the house to the tablet somehow so anywhere in the house you can say something like "OK Google, enable party mode." Suddenly all the lights start changing colors and dance music plays across the entire house. The hard part will be figuring out how to do the microphones and speakers well. The voice recognition can just piggyback off the tablet's Android "OK Google" technology, and I can write a basic app to handle different commands. I also want to put the tablet in the center of the wall in my bedroom as a console of sorts so I can also just hit a button to enable party mode. Obviously my plans extend far beyond a simple party mode idea.

[QUOTE=geel9;49032196]My first project idea is a smart home of sorts. Buy a ton of Wifi-connected smart LED bulbs, buy a bunch of wifi-enabled speakers, and buy a tablet to put in the bedroom. Then connect a bunch of microphones all over the house to the tablet somehow so anywhere in the house you can say something like [/QUOTE] You write smart, I read vulnerability.