You’ve heard it said before.  Maybe from a manager or coworker. Maybe during an interview to try to connect or relate.  Maybe during crunch time as a misguided offer of assistance.  Maybe from someone that slapped their knee and gave you a little bump with their elbow like they were the first person to ever think of and say it. I KNOW ENOUGH TO BE DANGEROUS. Maybe you just gave a polite little laugh of acknowledgment… “ehh-he-he-BLEEEEEH.” And maybe that was the end of it.   “I know eno..” Do Not Say It. Do Not Even Think It. So what’s the big deal, Dan?  Don’t like jokes? Or are you so…

Here’s a question for all us maker types. “Is it possible to both cut and sand a piece of material simultaneously using a common table saw?” Having pondered the question himself, John Heisz on his Youtube channel I Build It could not hold back his curiosity any longer! He set out to give us all an answer at the risk of jeopardizing life and limb. The scenario was this, affix a sheet of sandpaper to the sides of a saw blade, flip the switch, and let her rip! If you want to know what happened after the dust settled, read on. Setting Up The Test John set up his test…

Have you ever thought about building your own motorcycle? The TV shows make it look so easy, don’t they? But, I’m not talking about a chopper, I’m talking about an electric motorcycle. And not just any electric motorcycle. Not long ago, contractor, carpenter, and renewable energy enthusiast James Biggar designed and built his very own electric motorcycle from scratch. By attaching a 72-volt motor to a welded steel tube frame wrapped in custom molded fiberglass body, the end result is an electric bike as street-worthy as any motor vehicle, and cooler than most electric motorcycles on the market today. Building an Electric Motorcycle As mentioned, the frame is constructed with…

Those of you who inhabit itty-bitty living quarters know that space is a premium. For most, the name of the game for everyday living becomes home organization and efficient use of space. Taming the little stuff is simple enough by just following the old saying “there’s a place for everything and everything is in place.” Yet it’s a little trickier when it comes to big furniture pieces like tables. They are serious space hogs and often sit unused for hours. Much like the small objects, it would be great if the table could be store away or take on a different form and use. Enter German company Smart Living with…

We all know the basics of how a wind turbine works. Using passing winds as an energy source, a typical wind turbine converts kinetic energy into useable electricity. While many wind turbines are large and found in mountainous regions or open fields, the Enlil has a more urban source of wind energy. By plopping this tiny tower in the middle of a street, even one with relatively little traffic, it captures the wind of passing vehicles and convert it into electricity. This relatively small wind turbine is easily installed on an island between traffic lanes, where it captures the winds from both directions of traffic flow. And for moments when…

A new online service has emerged that hopes to guide 3D printer operators to better printing parameters: 3DOptimizer. FabControl SIA, the producers of 3DOptimizer, seems to be a spinoff from well-known 3D printer manufacturer Mass Portal. Their claim to fame was being able to achieve 3D prints of astonishing quality, so there’s definitely skill present. In fact, one of the founders and former CEO of Mass Portal, Janis Grinhofs, is now running FabControl SIA. Optimizing 3D Prints Getting the best print is a quest known by any 3D printer operator, and it is usually a tedious affair. Benchmark 3D prints are produced iteratively, each time tweaking this or that setting.…