I found this helicopter while browsing YouTube for Stirling Engines. Not only is it a beautiful helicopter but it is powered by a stirling engine. No, it doesn’t fly, but the rotors spin as though …
Continue ReadingI have always been fascinated by miniature steam engines and have wanted to build one since I first began metal working. For years I searched for a design that was esthetically pleasing and one that …
Continue ReadingEver since the fourth grade when we made solar systems with coat hangers and styrofoam balls, I’ve wanted to build a more realistic Orrery but was never able to find a design or set of …
Continue ReadingWhen my store bought knife block ran out of space I decided to build my own. I wanted it to be unique, so I spent a lot of time viewing images on the Internet and …
Continue ReadingA Cryptex is a very clever device for storing secrets. It first appeared in the movie The Da Vinci Code and has inspired many people to create their own versions. If you search the Internet …
Continue ReadingI’ve built lots of simple model kits over the years but this one, a gift from my son, came with over 900 parts. Although the model wasn’t designed to have lighting, I wanted to make …
Continue ReadingMy dad taught me to use a hammer and saw when I was around seven and I have been doing woodworking ever since. From go-carts to tree houses to simple pine furniture and finally to …
Continue ReadingThe last step in completing a Jedi’s training is to build his own light saber. For me, it was the first step in learning metalworking. I spent months making test pieces, mastering each of the …
Continue ReadingOne day I decided to combine my love of music, woodworking, computer programming and electronics. The result was an acoustic guitar that plays itself (with the help of an attached computer).
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