This weekend project is full of all the good stuff: it's practical, it's customizable, and it's a great way to practice and further your woodworking skills...with the tools that'll your store in it. The circle closed.    Instructable-r blue-ice whipped up this design using poplar scraps and some easy-to-find hardware, held together with screws. I like the simple, but functional design, which works well, or could be applied to upgrading this project to more of an heirloom piece, using joinery or hidden screws, a hardwood case (like walnut) and brass hardware. 

He says,

Although the exact type and nature of the tools can vary from one hobby to another and one profession to another, this sturdy toolbox can be used to transport almost any piece of equipment. This toolbox is something that can be used for a long time, even if your interests change. Not only is versatility a key feature of this toolbox, but sturdy construction is also important. With 8 metal corners, and weatherproof wood glue, this toolbox can stand up to rough handling and a tough environment. Finally, the last main feature of this toolbox is its price. The total cost for me was less than $75, including some tool purchases. The amount of scrap wood from the project is also very small. Overall, this toolbox is a project that will further your woodworking skills and allow you to create something that will be useful and long-lasting.

Check out the full tutorial at Instructables. Happy weekend! Functional and Sturdy Wooden Toolbox

We've all seen them. We're walking around some urban gathering of boutiques, restaurants, and the like, and we stumble across some new bar with an aesthetic that inspires us to say..."Man, that's going to look so 2012 in a couple of years." You know the place: the bartenders arm garters, everything's served in mason jars, and there's probably a meat cleaver in the logo.   And, of course, the names. Designer Lauren Hallden came up with this humorous name generator, that plugs in random, obscure, 1890s-sounding nouns into that trendy cocktail bar format. 

Every single one is spot on, and probably already exists, or might as well. 

It's hard to stop clicking... Give it at shot at Lauren's Site: Name My Bar

[via The Hairpin]

A secret bookcase door isn't the sort of thing you can just whip up over the weekend: assemble a quick IKEA bookcase, hang it in the doorway, and start stashing your stuff. Instead, it requires planning, creativity, and some clever design features to make it not just look like...well, and IKEA bookcase hanging in a door way.  But, done well, it's a feature I can't imagine anyone wouldn't like. At least, I don't want to me the person that wouldn't. 

Vancouver-based Instructable-r MakeNDo created this clandestine masterpiece entirely from scratch - new, custom bookshelves, and, most interestingly, " a unique locking mechanism based on a sliding book, multiple secret compartments inside the bookcase (aside from the big one behind it!), and it's fitted with electronics that generate some geeky but fun sound and light effects."

What a cool dad. See the full build process at MakeNDo's Instructable: Secret Door Bookcase

For an original ManMade take on something you could put together over a weekend, check out How to: Make a Secret Bookshelf Stash and Storage Spot

 

If you've worn a button down shirt in, oh, the last 100 years or so, you may have noted an interesting feature: the last button hole and button thread are sewn with a different, contrasting color than the rest, particularly in solid color shirts. Or, you could be like me, and have worn button down shirts thousands of times over your existing decades, only to recently realize the thread color was different, and, once aware, started noticing it everywhere. Or perhaps you just looked down as you were reading this and learned that it is indeed true of the shirt you're wearing right now... Regardless, the question stands:

Why? Why are the bottom hole and button sewn with a different color thread?   

First, take a closer look, and check for another interesting feature of the bottom button: it's also sideways. The top six or seven button holes are oriented vertically, for ease of buttoning, but the bottom button hole is horizontal, as is the top collar button. This makes them harder to button (did you ever note that, either?), but reduces the likelihood that the button will come undone. This is especially important since it's the bottom button usually tucked into your trousers, where it experiences a little more stress from being pulled side-to-side.

Traditionally, when shirts were still made by humans, this meant reinforcing the button and the buttonhole with a thicker thread, which was either done on a second sewing machine, or as a last step when finishing a job. Hence, the different thread and different color.

These days, while the bottom and top collar button holes are still oriented sideways (the trick does work), the bottom thread color is likely just a nod to tradition, where it indicated a thicker reinforcing thread. 

Check out your button downs next time you wear them, and note which have horizontal button holes and which even have the contrasting thread. Please share your experience in the comments below.

I've own my current DSLR for nearly five years, and for nearly five years, I've been promising myself I'd upgrade the stock strap. It's functional, sure (my camera is often placed in dangerous predicaments) the bright yellow Nikon logo atop the black webbing is pretty visually intense... 

So, I (and my camera) are ready for an upgrade, like this simple but stylish leather strap project. It's designed to be used as a grip rather than a neck strap, but the design could be adapted to your needs. Just a strap, some smartly placed holes, and you're good to go.

Matt says, 

It provides just the right amount of handle, but still be very pocketable. You’ll need a small strip of pliable, yet strong leather. I’m using a small piece of the leather we use on our bags, from SB Foot tannery in Red Wing, Minnesota. About 4.5oz weight works really well for this....If your camera has loops like shown, you’re set. If you have a lugged camera, you can buy some small rings to attach first. Make sure your knots are big enough to keep from slipping through the rings. Or, if you’re using detachable rings, you can use the slotted end on both sides.

Get the full how-to at Wood & Faulk: Camera Mini-Strap

Photographer Michael Rababy set about capture an interesting subject: the dirtiest rooms in the homes of some of the United States dirtiest people: bachelor's. The results are fascinating, in the "I can't believe people actually live like that" and in the "whoa, those photographs are actually pretty compelling, and I want to keep looking."

I think there's definitely more going on here than "even a junk-filled sink looks cool in a shallow depth of field." It's a little Vice magazine, sure, but that doesn't make it less interesting. 

I quite like it. And hate it. And that's the point of art, I guess. 

Also - don't do this. 

Photos of the Bathrooms and Kitchens of America's Bachelors [Vice.com]

Grilling and outdoor entertaining season is well on its way, and there's nothing better than a summer evening spent with friends or special someones eating outdoors. Gathering around a Weber can be fun, but I love the idea of not only cooking food outside, but being able to do the prep work, cocktail mixing, and food presentation outside as well, rather than running in and out with tongs and platters and the like.

Enter this DIY outdoor bar and countertop project by Mejones. It's constructed from easy-to-find cedar fence pickets and a few 1x2s, as well as just a few tools: crosscut saw, drill, square, and some clamps.

Mejones says, 

I love cooking and hanging with friends. I especially love grilling. So I finally decided to design and build an outdoor counter top for all my grilling prep work (someone makes me chop my onions outside)...oh...and I added a bar top as well. Best thing, since I used fence pickets we are talking less than $100. It can be made even cheaper if you use standard painted outdoor screws and don't seal it. Without a sealer cedar will gray naturally and cedar is naturally weather resistant, but I wanted mine to maintain the original color of the wood. Hopefully the sealer I chose will last.

We unfortunately don't get to see any images of it all styled up, but the author mentions the need for some ballast in the bottom to keep things sturdy...some bricks, or better yet, a cooler of cold drinks will do just fine.

Get the full tutorial at Instructables: Cedar Fence Picket Outdoor Bar / Countertop

As cycling and bike commuting continue to grow as a realistic transportation option, among the changes, these two are true: 1) there are lots more people with bikes to store indoors, and 2) bike frame and component design and styling have seriously improved, creating beautiful works of craftsmanship.   Enter, then, a third truth: there are lots of cool bike storage design options available now, allowing you to not only safely store but show off your bike as a piece of practical art. 

Jeri Dansky from Core77 has collected some of her favorites. She says, "

Bicycle owners with garages have an obvious place to store those bikes—but what about those without garages: apartment dwellers, etc.? Those end-users may want to store their bicycles in their living spaces, and they'll want their bike racks to look good. Since floor space will probably be limited, wall racks have a lot of appeal.

Designers are recognizing the need, and addressing it in various ways."

See the full collection on Core77: Designing for Bikes Stored on Walls

Artist and 3D illustrator Jessica Dance has collaborated with food photographer David Sykes for "The Comfort Food Series," a collection of knitted tableaus that are "low calorie, high in wool."   While we love all kind of realistic objects writ in knit, the detail and craftspersonship here is really incredible. 

While it's not surprising they're made of fabric, it's pretty stunning that they're made by hand. 

See the full collection on Colossal: Low in Calories, High in Wool: Knitted Comfort Food by Jessica Dance

A solid DIY lighting project is a great way to add some personality to any blank space, and I'm especially digging this one because it's created entirely from easy-to-find (and hack!) materials from the craft store. 

Inspired by a West Elm piece, Tasha from Designer Trapped in a Lawyer's Body figured out how to create this cool bent wood pendant lamp using embroidery hoops and floral rings which you can snag at any craft store. 

I sure love a big, raw-ingredient, made-from-scratch project, but I love these clever reuse ideas that require very little tools just as much. 

Get the full tutorial at Tasha's site: West Elm Knock Off ~ DIY Bentwood Pendant Tutorial

Spray paint and spray finishes can be a DIYers best friend, but if you don't have an outdoor space or the weather's not cooperating, it can be tough to get the solid, thick coats you're going for indoors.    

Toy inventor Bob Knetzger, who tends to work with small parts, came up with this clever solution - stash it underneath a stairwell.  

Even if you don't have such a space available, the basic design here would work well for any space: a hooded area created from 2x4s and composite materials with an included 2-stage filtration system. Bob says,

I measured the space and assembled a frame using 2x4s and wood screws. Its slanted top fits the stairwell space snugly so everything else is mounted inboard. The panels are 1/8″ tempered hardboard screwed to the frame. The back panel is 3/4″ plywood with a hole cut out to accept a bathroom ceiling fan. I vented the fan to an outside wall with a flexible clothes dryer hose and vent. There are two stages of filtration: I staple an inexpensive paper furnace filter over a sheet of fine filter paper (and just tear them both off and replace when they’re loaded with paint). Clamp-on spots provide plenty of light and a little bit of heat for drying paint. The lights and fan plug into a switchable power strip for instant on/off action.

This rig has worked out great for painting, adding filler putty, spray mounting, or any other stinky project. It’s tucked out of the way and offers plenty of storage on the shelf and underneath, too. What’s under your stairway?

See the full project at Makezine: Toy Inventor’s Notebook: Stairwell Spray Booth 

It's that time of year when our special dinner nights are in that "in between" phase. Gone are the chili nights, the slow-cooked soups, and the long braises of winter, but it's not quite time for all day cookouts, the throwing together a plate of summer produce and bread and just embracing the simplicity of the season.   

To which we say: good. Use this transitional time to nail down something technique-based, like perfecting homemade pizza. 

Bruno wrote up this tutorial years ago, but it's still our go-to method for getting that just-so-blotchy crisp crust that eludes homemade pizza in a traditional oven. 

The only update here is we now always use a cast iron skillet to get things really hot and evenly heated. 

Check out the ManMade guide here: How To: Unbelievable Pizza from Scratch and at Home

Esquire's Aaron Goldfarb recently hung out with Jim Koch, the co-founder and chairman of the brewery behind Samuel Adams, and, unexpectedly, learned the brewmeister's trick for being able to taste and drink socially professionally without losing his composure.   Goldfarb writes, 

That's when things got dead serious for the first time all afternoon. Koch leaned in toward me, stared straight into my eyes, and whispered. 

"You wanna know my secret? How I can drink beer all night long and never get drunk?" 

In fact, I had always wondered that. Though this was the first time I’d ever formally met Koch, I’d “met” him in the past at a few beer festivals. Those sorts of events are always kind of Bacchanalian shit shows, with people imbibing dozens of beer samples in a short period and soon stumbling around large convention halls drunk of their asses. Brewers included. But not Koch, who I’d long noticed was always lucid, always able to hold court, and hold his own with those much younger than him. This billionaire brewing raconteur was doing likewise with me at 4 PM on a Thursday afternoon despite the fact we were both now several beers deep. So what was the secret?

“Yeast!”

“Yeast?”

“Active yeast. Like you get at the grocery store.”

Really? Really. Of course, you need to be safe, and we don't ever recommend careless or irresponsible consumption. But, apparently, there's something to this. Now, if there was only a trick to dealing with the extra calories.

Check out the full piece for the details: How to Drink All Night Without Getting Drunk 

Designer and LEGO artist Chris McVeigh, the mastermind behind these LEGO ornament sets, presents his latest series of builds: retro technology, including old tube televisions, Ataris, rotary telephones, vintage cameras, and an NES.    

The series is available in three unique ways: you can download the plans for free at Chris' site, or as kits with all the necessary parts needed to build each piece. Or, you can get art photo versions of many of the projects at Chris' Society6 page. 

See more photos and the full series at Colossal: Retro Technology LEGO Kits by Chris McVeigh

This warm and rustic yet contemporary copper planters are killer. They'd work in any kind of space, whether you live in a lush home or a modest apartment. Having a fair share of greenery adds lots of life to your environment, and it looks super polished, especially when you dress your plants in swanky pots like these copper planters found in Garden Life.

These planters are a wee pricey ($225) but copper ain't cheap. Here's where the crafty you comes handy: you can recreate this look with copper piping from the home improvement store. They almost always have a scrap bin, or you can have new lengths cut to size. 

After you have your odd pipe pieces, you can use some pipe caps to cover the bottom. If they are big enough you could even put the whole plant with its pot inside the pipe. Or, if you want something larger in scale, how about a new paint bucket sprayed with copper or covered in metallic contact paper?

If the copper look is not your thing, but you're still on the hunt for planter ideas, check out these ideas on ManMade.

I love a complicated weekend project as much as anyone, but I get equally excited about a quick 15-minute build that's full of clever use of materials. Case in point: this industrial modern magnetic notice bar. 

This one was assembled in less than half and hour using about $15.00 in materials from Lee Valley and the local home improvement store.  Eric Reinholdt of 30X40 Design Workshop built this project from a raw steel bar and some rare earth magnets. He says, "I personally like the raw steel look, but the steel could be painted, or wire-brushed for a more finished look. I purchased additional rare earth magnets along with my spacer/cup sets as I find they hold just about anything (i.e. multiple layers of paper) to the steel. I’ve also used these cups recessed in door panels to hold pocket doors closed and they make versatile hangers for many different items around the house (kitchen knives, hidden hangers for pictures, if you use steel angle in lieu of the bar you have a small shelf too.)"

Love it. Get the full how-to at Apartment Therapy - Easy Organizing: 15-Minute, $15 DIY Floating Steel Notice Bar

ManMade reader and filmmaker Alessandro Rodrigues got together with his buddy to create "Against the Grain," a film documenting the process of making a wooden surfboard from scratch.   The video details the process from gluing up the blank, cutting the form, then shaping the wood by hand so that it can cut through the water efficiently. 

I'm guessing that beer at 1:30 wore off by the time the glue dried and the shaping started, but do be careful about drinking and power tools, please :) 

Thanks for sharing, Alessandro! See more of his work here: vimeo.com/alessandrorodrigues 

Sunglasses weather is back! Well, sorta. Close enough for me, anyway. Sporting a pair is not only practical (it is), stylish (can be), but's it's also good for your health. Seriously.

Years ago I learned that in order to keep track of sunglasses, remember to wear them, and not lose or break them, I had to lay down the cash for an investment pair. And in order to protect that investment, I'm looking for a way to carry them around and keep them safe when not on my face.

Why should you make a DIY case for your glasses?

A - Because you lost the original, or

B - Because a handmade one is better.

Either way, you should protect your sunglasses from the harshness of your back pockets and the dangers that lure in your backpack (cue scratches from keys and loose change).

Wanna make one? Awesome! Run to Clad and Cloth to get the full tutorial before the sun comes out!

For more, check out: The ManMade Guide to Sunglasses: 5 Stylish Pairs Under $100

Artist, writer, and teacher Andrew Salomone came up with this creative way to print an eight-page book from a single sheet of paper. The process is simple: understand the folding layout, organize your info thusly, and then, in this case, carving a linoleum block to print. But this technique could be applied to screenprinting or even a simple inkjet or laser print.

Get the full how-to at Craftzine: How to Print a One-Page Book by Hand

Each Wednesday, I post some of my favorite can't-miss links, images, and otherwise mindblowing goodies from across the web.

A very thorough guide to the surprisingly not-so-simple act of: tucking in your shirt.   As The Art of Manliness points out, "Is there really a need to teach men something most of us have been doing since we were 5? Well, yes actually. Just look around. How many men do you see sporting a billowy, unkempt-looking shirt? Or what about that guy giving a presentation who unconsciously re-tucked his shirt three times during a 5-minute talk? Most men probably have no system for tucking in their shirts. Just because you do something, doesn’t mean you are doing it correctly."

How and When to Tuck in Your Shirt

20 years ago this week, NPR got 'internet' in its headquarters. This is the memo announcing its availability. 

A camping and backpacking stove that converts heat into thermoelectricity to charge your phone, GPS, or other gadgets. 

Remember this trick next fall... Power Peeler

Detailed Mosaics of ‘Star Wars’ Characters Created Using Tens of Thousands of Multi-Colored Staples