Monthly Archives: May 2016

A wifi enabled door alarm

Posted on May 20, 2016 by robertwilkie

AHAHAHAH.  The author took a cheap $1.50 door alarm and added an ESP8266 to it to make it wireless.  Clever idea overall http://www.instructables.com/id/4-WiFi-Door-Alarm-Using-a-ESP8266-IoT/

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, Misc-Life, Security | Comments Off on A wifi enabled door alarm

Simple hacks with PVC

Posted on May 20, 2016 by robertwilkie

Lots of videos on simple hacks with PVC pipe.  I like the sign one. http://www.instructables.com/id/10-Life-Hacks-With-PVC-13/?ALLSTEPS

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Tools | Comments Off on Simple hacks with PVC

Want to stalk someone from pictures they post?

Posted on May 20, 2016 by robertwilkie

Interesting tool that takes the info from pictures on social sites and maps out where they where took. http://www.geocreepy.com/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Security | Comments Off on Want to stalk someone from pictures they post?

Nice corner clamp jig…but…I think I can get it cheaper

Posted on May 20, 2016 by robertwilkie

I like this jig, and its pretty flexible in use too.  But….I can get one at harbor frieght for $4, the clamps used for this one cost $3 each.  So…bit mixed on this one. http://www.instructables.com/id/Corner-Clamp-Jig/?ALLSTEPS

Posted in Misc-Life, Tools | Comments Off on Nice corner clamp jig…but…I think I can get it cheaper

Support for LiFePO4wered/USB for RPi

Posted on May 16, 2016 by robertwilkie

Interesting hack to convert the board to work with a raspberry pi.  Only down side is the buggers are $18 (after shipping).  But still its a good start to having your RPi powered without a cord. Hackaday Prize Entry: Powering … Continue reading →

Posted in RaspberryPi | Comments Off on Support for LiFePO4wered/USB for RPi

Simple hack to use a drill for buffing small objects

Posted on May 16, 2016 by robertwilkie

Interesting hack of basically bolting a drill down to a workbench and putting a buffing pad on a bolt.  Cheap, and effective.  The author uses a zip tie to hold the trigger down.  I wonder if a strap would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Tools | Comments Off on Simple hack to use a drill for buffing small objects

Cool trap for mice, and cheap but..

Posted on May 13, 2016 by robertwilkie

How the heck do you get the bugger out?  Its a clever trap, and cheap to make.  But … Oh I see, the clip on the side. http://makezine.com/2016/05/12/simple-humane-mousetrap-made-soda-bottle/

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, Tools | Comments Off on Cool trap for mice, and cheap but..

A $600 underwater robot

Posted on May 13, 2016 by robertwilkie

Seems a bunch of Stanford kids built a cheap underwater exploring robot.  By cheap, $600. http://spectrum.ieee.org/view-from-the-valley/robotics/drones/stanford-ai-grads-launch-lowish-cost-underwater-robot?utm_source=feedburner-automaton&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ieeespectrum%2Fautomaton+%28Automaton+-+IEEE+Spectrum%29  

Posted in Cheap, robots, water | Comments Off on A $600 underwater robot

Small WiFi enabled weather station

Posted on May 13, 2016 by robertwilkie

At the rate things are going, these little ESP boards are going to take over arduinos.  Nice simple build for a weather sensor setup using ESP8266 for comms. Tiny Matchbox WiFi Weather Station

Posted in Arduino, Cheap, Misc-Life | Comments Off on Small WiFi enabled weather station

One sheet flat pack picnic table

Posted on May 12, 2016 by robertwilkie

Clever build.  Its a modified design of existing flat pack picnic tables that you can build from 1 3/4 inch plywood sheet.  A nice addition would be to include a way to tie it together for transport. http://www.instructables.com/id/Flat-Pack-Picnic-Table-From-1-Sheet-of-Plywood/?ALLSTEPS You can … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheap, Misc-Life, woodworking | Comments Off on One sheet flat pack picnic table