Projects Archive
How to build, bright, high-quality flickering LED lanterns!
When I was young I went to Disney World and while I enjoyed the park, it was the lighting fixture and effects that really captivated my interest. In particular I loved the flickering lanterns that festooned the tree in the waiting area for Splash Mountain. For years I’ve wanted
WTF is a Saturable Reactor?
A saturable reactor is an arcane piece of electrical kit that modulates a large AC current with a small DC input. This unit was removed from a Bridgeport Series II CNC milling machine where it was used to regulate the power supply to the stepper motor drivers that moved
TIL: you can totally use a Ford regulator on a Toyota alternator, it bolts right on!
TIL: you can totally use a Ford regulator on a Toyota alternator, it bolts right on!
Heat Bluing Steel for my 2×72 Inch Belt Grinder Project
I’m in the process of building a 2″ x 72″ belt grinder powered by the permanent magnet motor from an old treadmill. The business end of the grinder is a pair of rollers and platen that supports the sanding belt. I milled these out of some 3/8″ steel plate
260 Pound DIY Anvil
I built a 260 pound anvil from some scrap steel plate. The top plate was hardened in superquench and the horn was CNC milled on my Bridgeport Series II.
Meet Geordi The Forge!
I built a coal forge from the remnants of an old Burnham oil furnace and a bunch of other junk I found at the town dump.
The #ratwelder – Part 5 in the DIY Welder Series!
The latest episode in the homemade welder series wherein I complete an enclosure for the #ratwelder so I can store it outside without having to put a tarp over it.
The Steampunk Roadster
Update: car has been sold! In a few short months The Steampunk Workshop will celebrate it’s 10th birthday! I can barely believe that it’s been ten whole years since this whole “steampunk” thing blew up on the internets. It’s been a lot of fun for me, but I also
Stroh Violin Repair
I generally do not take commissions, however every once in a while a friend will ask me to make or repair something and it will be an interesting enough project that I will take it on. That was the case with this Stroh violin. The Stroh violin was an
Pentayurt for Burning Man
I’m heading to Burning Man again this year. If you’ll recall, last year I built a Hexayurt for the Playa. It worked very well and I was much happier in the Hexayurt than I have ever been in a tent. But I had painted the Hexayurt to cover up