Archive for May 2019
Burningman pedal car
When my wife decided to come with me to the Burningman art festival I started looking for ideas on a two person pedal vehicle that I could make for the event. I spied on this picture. During WWII when France was occupied by the Germans and fuel was confiscated for the war effort,…
Read MoreFWD recumbent trike
I had an idea of making a skate type quadracycle. I felt this would be a fun racing vehicle on a short tight-turn course. Before making a full scale mock-up I wanted to test out the idea of using neoprene wheels. I purchased two wheels from a push scooter outfit and decided to…
Read MoreThe Cycle Kart
For PDF plans, click here! Once my other prototype proved the neoprene wheels would work, I ordered 4 wheels from a push scooter outfit. These are 9″ in diameter, which are bigger than most. A BMX free wheel hub was added to the drive wheel. I don’t have proper machining tools for accuracy, but I…
Read MoreCooking oil candle stove
I made this heater/stove for a small push cart shelter. For the main housing I used a Costco peanut can. This top view with the lid off shows the three vegetable oil candles. To make the you first need a floating wick. I used a small 3/8″ length of wine cork. I drilled a…
Read MoreAmmo box stove
This was my version of the air tight Ammo stove. The box I had was pretty small in comparison to others I’d seen. It was fun to build but the fire wouldn’t last for more than a half hour. I was hoping for a longer burn time. The bolt on the front (left) of the…
Read MoreMouse trap race car
In my old shop at Boeing they use to have challenges to keep up moral. This was the mouse trap car challenge. Not for speed, but for distance. All the engineers and floor workers would compete. It was serious business. On the green mat are several materials I tried out before settling for foam board.…
Read MoreDIY car top carrier
Here I am playing around again with a $20 sheet of 4×8 foot 4mm thick fluted plastic. I thought I’d make a car top carrier. I buy my fluted plastic at Laird Plastics Inc. (206-623-4900) in downtown Seattle Washington where they stock several thicknesses, sizes and color choices. Made with zip ties and held down…
Read MoreSurvival kits
First I want to say that a common space blanket is one of the best things to carry on a day hike. Here I’m exploring more than just keeping warm. In 1986 Mother Earth News asked a few Outdoor experts to come up with a DIY survival kit. They were all huge and too big…
Read MoreMicro survival kits
In 1985 I read an article in Mother Earth News. They asked several outdoor experts to come up with their version of a good personal survival kit. I was surprised how bulky and useless the kits they showed. I came up with this version using a pint size tin can. It had everything but the…
Read MoreSurvival mailbox stove
Made with a mailbox, bent electrical conduit, copper wire and a rain gutter, this was an experiment in what a person could use around their home to create a make-shift stove for cooking and boiling contaminated water in case of a natural disaster. I used a drill for holes, but you could use a nail…
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