When it comes to turning objects on a lathe, crafts made of wood, resin, and paper seem to work best. This is because the materials mentioned are softer and easier to chip away with your tools piece by piece. How about a pile of push pins? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCvFgz8_6ro&ab_channel=CookWoodworks Drew from the Cook Woodworks YouTube channel has…
Despite being home to hundreds of dangerous insects, many people’s first thought when they see a wasp nest is to poke a stick at it. That’s the first thought. Once the wasps have evacuated their home and finished stinging everything in sight, these people would probably look for an act of revenge. Well, we’ll tell…
We’ve seen some weird things cast in epoxy resin before, from a Godzilla bust to a McDonald’s cheeseburger, but never have we seen something as delicate as an ice cube encased in the permanent mixture. There is a good reason behind this. Since epoxy casts have to be pressurized to remove the air bubbles inside…
It’s been a while since we’ve seen some good woodturning projects here on SolidSmack, so let’s take a look at something you can actually use: a coffee mug. Using an apple log as the basis of the project, woodturner Matt Jordan starts his morning by carving out a container for his cup o’ Joe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EDF4g7xpEM…
Whenever you hear the word “resin casting,” your mind usually gravitates to objects you would normally dunk in a vat of resin. Things like wood, metal, or even mosquitoes cased in amber like in Jurassic Park. Rarely, if ever, you think of food. YouTuber jedrek29t must have been thinking on an empty stomach a few…
For those who are only familiar with its Minecraft counterpart, obsidian is a volcanic glass formed when lava cools so quickly that a crystalline structure is unable to form. It isn’t terribly hard to find either, so maker Patrick Adair decided to combine his love of Minecraft with his love of making things to craft…
Woodturning wood, metal, and plastics are interesting and amazing in and of itself. From bowls in bowls to a cherry burl egg, the possibilities are endless. But who would have thought of woodturning a stack of colored straws into a vase? Well, the Wood Workshop is who. And they captured the entire, fascinating process that…
As the title implies today we’ll delve into how to make realistic looking objects that can be used as film props or Cosplay accessories. And we’ll do it with the help of a new friend, The Crafsman! You’ll learn a few techniques for making molds and objects using two-part pourable silicone rubber. And after the…
We all know Eric Strebel is a savant when it comes to prototype making. He’s done a hundred cast parts from a single master part, used a CNC machine to manufacture 200 vaccum-formed panels, and even showed us how to finish and paint different molds. In his latest video, Strebel dips into the world of…
You know Eric Strebel likes to show you how to make stuff, right? Did you also know he’s a science fiction fan. Upon watching a movie involving a magical, glowing amulet (which narrows the potential number of films down to about a thousand), he felt inspired to create his own wearable glowing rock – one…
Before you get to work on the final product of your design, it’s in your best interests to make a prototype first, right? Of course. You’ll have a physical sample to test and abuse, plus you can adjust the aesthetics of the design without worrying about the cost. We’ve covered plenty about 3D printing, but…
Mini Museum project creator Hans Fex comes off like the kind of guy you might want to talk to at a party: he’s a bit on the eccentric side, knows a thing or two about history, and has spent his teenage and adult years developing a museum that you can carry in your pocket. Well,…