DIY Projects

Hypnotic Clock Maker Does It Again

Kinetic art is a special kind of mesmerizing, and makers are understandably drawn to clocks. They offer possibilities in animation, explorations in user interaction, and are practical enough to be easy to justify. Having a whole collection of clocks might make justification a little bit harder, but it’s absolutely no reason not to build another. Moritz Von Sivers clearly has a thing for experimenting with unique mechanisms. You may have seen his original servo word clock,...

June 3, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , 0 Comments
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Build a Wa-Style Knife Handle

Making a Japanese wa-style octagonal handle as a replacement for an old or worn-out handle, or for a new blade, is a fun project that can change the look and feel of your knife. This tutorial will show you how to make a three-piece handle with two different woods, but you can use this same construction method and vary the materials and layout for a completely unique result. I’ve made over a thousand handles this way, some for Japanese blades...

May 1, 2026Uncategorized, , , , 0 Comments
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Maker Faire Los Angeles + A Century of Learning

This weekend, Sunday, April 26th – the City of STEM + Maker Faire Los Angeles is back for another year of science connections, creativity and discovery for everyone. More than two hundred organizations dedicated to science and education, along with creators and inspiring special guests from across Southern California will transform Exposition Park’s South Lawn into a hub for hands-on experience with activities, live music, expert panel conversations, science and making-themed entertainment for people of all ages and much more....

April 23, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , 0 Comments
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Maker Faire Philadelphia: An Historic Pier Becomes a Launchpad

On Sunday, April 19th along the Delaware River, Cherry Street Pier transforms from a relic of Philadelphia’s industrial past into a living laboratory of the future. Hosting Maker Faire Philadelphia 2026 (now in its sixth year) the pier becomes a vivid expression of the city itself—layered and constantly reinventing. Similarly, Maker Faire Philadelphia doesn’t exist in isolation and reflects the city’s deeper identity and its diversity. Philadelphia has long been a place of firsts and fabrication, from early...

April 16, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , 0 Comments
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Plasma Toroid Generator

There’s a new hotness in plasma physics demos. With a sealed vessel of near-vacuum xenon and exactly the right kind of magnetic induction driver, you can conjure a shimmering toroidal halo of stable plasma.  Producing the toroid effect requires high-voltage, high-frequency electronics. Compared to a typical Tesla coil the voltages are a bit lower at 600–1,000 volts, but the operating frequency is much higher at around 10–15 megahertz (MHz). This fully-open-source design is intended to be as reproducible as possible....

March 11, 2026Uncategorized, , , 0 Comments
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Book Review: Make it Yourself, by NODE

Every once in a while someone comes along and creates something that should have already existed, but no one else realized it. Hacker/curator Node put together this incredible PDF encyclopedia of 1,000+ maker projects in late 2024. Each piece is rendered in beautifully minimalist linework, equalizing the presentation of builds from hundreds of creators. Although an all-encompassing tome would be impossible, the range is exceptional, covering everything from electronics to furniture to fashion. Though it’d be at home on...

February 4, 2026Uncategorized, , , 0 Comments
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From Shoe Box to Smart Robot: A Maker’s Journey to Autonomy

Have you ever stared at a common, ordinary item and imagined a whole universe of possibilities within it? That’s exactly what maker Survy did, and he shared his journey with us at Maker Faire Bay Area. Survy demonstrates the powerful, real-world process of turning a vague idea like “I want to build an autonomous robot” into a machine that can successfully navigate a park and identify objects. The best part? He proves you do not need a fancy laboratory...

January 26, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , 0 Comments
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1+2+3: Hanging Book Frame

This project appeared in Make: Vol 94. Subscribe for more great projects. This hanging frame is an elegant way to display a favorite book, open or shut. I originally wanted a full-color e-ink display that would automatically download and cycle through a new comic strip each day, but this was easier, uses zero power, and frankly looks better on a wall. I have a Calvin and Hobbes book in mine, and turn the page every few days...

January 13, 2026Uncategorized, , , , , , 0 Comments
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Hot Metal — DIY Blacksmithing Forge

Last year I decided I needed a forge so that I could advance my blacksmithing skills as another technique for my sculpting. There are many commercial models available but, being retired, I have more time than money so I decided to try my hand at making one. To start, I studied YouTube videos of DIY forges. There are many and I watched them all. None were exactly what I wanted so I set out to design a hybrid. I researched...

November 11, 2025Uncategorized, , , , , , 0 Comments
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Simple Animatronic Eyes

This article appeared in Make: Vol. 90. Subscribe for the latest maker projects and articles! Animatronics, once relegated to the realms of theme parks and big-budget movie sets, are experiencing a renaissance in our DIY culture. Perhaps it’s childhood nostalgia, certain horror-themed video game franchises, or the desire to explore the intersection of technology and artistry. Whatever the reason, there’s excitement surrounding the creation of animatronic marvels. And amidst this wave of enthusiasm, there’s never been...

October 29, 2025Uncategorized, , , , 0 Comments
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