Showing posts with label Modern. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Modern. Show all posts

Sunday, December 1, 2013

how to transform your old electric oven into a modern digital thermostat controlled one (aka: the meringues solution!)

thermo01.jpgIf you ever tried to cook meringues you knot that it's almost impossible if your oven can't keep a constant temperature over the time. Modern electric ovens have a digital integrated thermostat so to achieve that goal with no efforts, but if you like meringues and you have an old oven you could probably feel in troubles.. old thermostats only have a graduated scale, and the only way to maintain the exact temperature is to put a thermometer into the oven, then set the knob consequentially.
A better solution is to buy a digital temperature controller with a thermocouple, and connect it so it will regulate the oven in place of you. thermo02.jpgYou need few tools for this project.
To avoid to cut the power cable of the oven you need to use a female socket, and connect it to the thermo controller with some wires. So you need a pair of screwdrivers and a wire stripper.

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Sunday, September 29, 2013

HomeMade Modern DIY Puzzle Stool

¾” Plywood
Purchase at Home Depot
There are many types of plywood with different laminations and surfaces. I used ¾” furniture-grade plywood with a sanded finish. I had 12” wide scraps left over from another project, but if you are going to buy plywood I would recommend doing it at Home Depot and having them cut the plywood into strips that are the width you want. A single 4’ by 8’ sheet of plywood cut into 12” strips is more than enough to build 2 puzzle benches.

Screws
Purchase at Home Depot
1¼” wood screws are ideal. It's possible to use longer screws and connect multiple pieces at a time, but you have to be careful to avoid gaps.

220 Grit Sand Paper
Purchase at Home Depot

1” Diameter Dowels – 48” Long
Purchase at Home Depot

1/2” Diameter Dowels – 48” Long
Purchase at Home Depot

Wood Glue
Purchase at Home Depot

RYOBI 18 Volt Cordless Drill

RYOBI 6.1 Amp Variable Speed Jig Saw with Speedmatch™


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Friday, September 20, 2013

HomeMade Modern DIY Screwdriver Coat Rack

This post is the first part of my tool scavenger experiment. I budgeted $150 and bought a bunch of different tools – mostly from Craigslist and eBay. I then sorted through and separated my newly purchased collection into two neat sets of hand tools. After I was done, I sold the remaining, miscellaneous tools and was able to recoup $142 of my original investment.

Many people these days are using cordless drills and drivers, or hand screwdrivers that have replaceable heads. While these are great in their own respect, sometimes a traditional driver is all you need.

Let’s say you're in the middle of a project and are in need of a screwdriver. Sure, you could stop what you're doing, go pull out your toolbox and scrounge around until you find one; but wouldn’t it be more convenient to always have one right where you can see it?

This made me think,"Why can’t tools be displayed out in the open around the apartment?"

This project encapsulates a few of my favorite concepts. First off, it includes screwdrivers that are reclaimed and refurbished – so there's no waste involved. It also incorporates a disparate assortment of orphaned objects into a single, unified design. All of the pieces are useful and they are arranged in a design that prevents them from being hidden. That ultimately saves you a ton of frustration. Not to mention, this set can also do double duty and serve as a coat rack, which makes it incredibly versatile.

This project acts as the first part of my exploration into what an urban toolbox should look like. Tools can improve your life but are often designed and marketed to suburbanites who have extra storage space in large garages and spare rooms. It’s time to figure out what the most essential and compact tools are so that urban DIY projects are feasible in even the most cramped of spaces.


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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

HomeMade Modern DIY $5 Bucket Stool

Quikrete 5000 Concrete Mix
Purchase at Home Depot
Quikrete 5000 is my go to concrete mix for all sorts of DIY projects. It’s stronger and cures faster than standard mixes and has a nice grey color. Quikrete 5000 is available at Home Depot. The only thing challenging about working with Quikrete is the moving the 80lb bags it comes in.

1 ¼" Diameter Wooden Dowel 48" long
Purchase at Home Depot
A single 48” dowel is all you need to make three sturdy legs. 1” diameter and 1 ½” diameter dowels would also work just fin. If you have some old tool handles you can try that as well.

5 Gallon Bucket
Purchase at Home Depot
I picked up a bucket in the paint aisle at home depot. Look for a bucket with a smooth bottom.

Copper Pipe Caps and Washers
Purchase at Home Depot
Copper Pipe caps and washers can be used to even out the legs if you don’t get them to set evenly in the concrete. Simply put more washers in the caps that go on the shorter legs. Construction adhesive can be used to keep the pipe caps on the dowels.

Clean Tap Water
Always use clean water for mixing with concrete.


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Friday, June 7, 2013