This single-unit lunch-table design was originally featured in a 1939 issue of Popular Mechanics and recently revamped with some hip new additions. Not to mention it can be built entirely out of scrap wood.
The new design is slightly more compact and has been reworked for the constraints of modern living. It makes a perfect fit for a bachelor's apartment, especially for those of you who don't have enough space for a full dining area.
Check out the full plans on PopularMechanics.com.
Tim Parks, a scholar, novelist, and Associate Professor of Literature, offers a look at active reading; a way of achieving better attentiveness when spending time with a book. Want to have better understanding and retention when reading a book? Says Parks: use a pen. Like when you were in college.
There is something predatory, cruel even, about a pen suspended over a text.... The mere fact of holding the hand poised for action changes our attitude to the text. We are no longer passive consumers of a monologue but active participants in a dialogue. Students would report that their reading slowed down when they had a pen in their hand, but at the same time the text became more dense, more interesting, if only because a certain pleasure could now be taken in their own response to the writing when they didn’t feel it was up to scratch, or worthy only of being scratched.
There's a pretty interesting discussion of the relationship between writing in the margins and the current (not) equivalent: the internet comment section. Worth a read.
A Weapon for Readers [NYBooks.com]
At its core, a chair is simply a seat with a back. And while they often have legs and arms and complex joinery for strength, sometimes, a little physics can accomplish the same thing.
Instructable member More Cowbell shares his simple plans for making a minimalist, stow-able chair from one 8' long, 12" wide pine board. It's basic design allows it to be disassembled and stored flat in standby mode under the bed or in a closet for parties, barbecues, or camping trips.
The technique involves cutting a large mortise - or, as More Cowbell dubs it, a slot A for tab 1, - to insert the seat, creating rigidity and a comfortable sitting angle. The wood costs less than $10 each, and can easily be sanded, stained, or painted.
Get the full how-to and measured drawing at Instructables: One Board Minimalist Chair
Most of us get a bit disappointed when the glass goes dry. But these new pint glasses from North Drinkware make it awesome to drain that drink and see what's at the bottom. These handblown glasses from North Drinkware based in Portland, Or. have an interesting feature that really make them stand out. Molded into the bottom of the glass is a USGS 3D rendering of Mt. Hood. This nod to the beautiful peak adds a distinctive and interesting feature that caught my adventurous attention and inspired me to become a kickstarter backer (they're well over the goal numbers with a little over a week to go).
At $40 or so each, you really have to love them to drop the coin; but handblown adventure doesn't come cheap. One day when they cast Mt. Shasta, I'll definitely be at the front of that line. At that point, I may drop the $600 and go to their studio to cast my very own.
Watch this thrilling (and humorous) super cut of the cinematic Batman and his evolution through different era's of filmmaking. Created by Jacob T. Swinney, this video pulls from some of the more obscure early 40's serials (and the Lego Movie) while of course taking a good romp through the 90's and the Dark Knight Trilogy as well.
The Evolution of Batman in Cinema from Jacob T. Swinney on Vimeo.
I really enjoyed this because 1. who doesn't love Batman? and 2. because it's also fascinating to watch the design elements evolve over time. Whether its Batman's costume or simply the cinematic space he inhabits, it's a unique experience to watch a single character reflect the various times in which he was imagined.
With age comes maturity, and usually a little wisdom. By the time a man hits thirty, that wisdom should be apparent in the company he keeps, the deeds he does, and the things he owns. ManMade advocates for those that are built to last; we oppose the culture of disposability. Here's our list of things worth owning.
This post is brought to you by Murphy-Goode Winery, a California winemaker that has supported us in creating great original content, like last summer's outdoor entertaining guide, our holiday gift guide and our guide to simple gift wrapping techniques any guy can use. This year they're celebrating their 30-year anniversary, and they asked us to come up with 30 things guys should try to own by the time they're thirty.
We're sharing items 1-20 below, Murphy-Goode blog. Cheers!
1. An amazing pair of boots: Make the investment, and they'll last for decades, continually molding to your feet as they develop a perfect patina. Look for a USA-made pair with all leather uppers, and a classic, rugged style that work equally well with a pair of jeans or with a suit. Be sure to protect them with regular care and proper dressing.
Pictured: Murphy-Goode Terra a Lago Cabernet Sauvignon
2. A proper set of wine glasses: It's no longer cute to drink wine out of mixed juice glasses and jelly jars. You're a grown-up now, so find a set of wine glasses you can be proud of. A wine glass enhances the aroma and flavor of your vino and gives your guests – or your date – a proper tasting experience.
Recommended: We like the Riedel Vivant series, which offer a great combo of crystal quality, refined style, and sturdiness. A large-bowl red is the most versatile, and would match the Murphy-Goode Snake Eyes Zinfandelor the Poker Knight Cab perfectly.
3. A serious flashlight: It's one of those things you don't need until you do. And then you need a good one. We opt for a heavy-duty, water-resistant model for the nightstand or the garage, and a light-weight option for camping and your glovebox.
Recommended:
4. A stylish pair of sunglasses [that fit your face]: Long gone are the disposable, gas station sunglasses of your 20s. You'll never regret investing in a good pair that complement your face-shape. "But I'll lose or break them!" you cry. No, you won't. It's those cheap models that snap, or aren't worth keeping track of. Buy a good pair of shades, and you'll be surprised how motivated you are to take care of them. To find a quality, but relatively affordable pair, check out The ManMade Guide to Sunglasses: 5 Stylish Pairs Under $100
5. A great pocket knife: They say the best camera is the one you have on you, and the same thing applies to the pocket knife. If you need a bunch of screwdrivers and magnifying glasses, get that one. If you need a slim and simple lock-back design, that's the way to go. Just get one made of a high-carbon steel that fits nicely in your pocket or go-bag, keep it honed, and it will last for generations.
6. A cast iron skillet: They're versatile, nearly indestructible, and equally at home on a gas burner, electric stove, in the oven, on the grill, or a top a campfire. Here's my diatribe on the subject, if you're not convinced. If you are - but don't own one yet - hit the thrift store or flea market.
7. A quality briefcase, daily backpack, or messenger bag: As in most things, we say, spend a little more, invest in quality materials and craftsmanship, and go for a design with a timeless look that's appropriate to your career, and you should get at least a couple of decades out of your everyday go bag.
8. A proper cutting board: We'll get into knives below, but hear ye this: the bigger, the thicker, the better. Look for end-grain butcher-block-style boards, or edge grain blocks, at least 1.25" thick made of hard (rock) maple or cherry. Flexible plastic cutting mats are great for messy, staining ingredients and raw protein, but otherwise, avoid plastic, glass, or marble. The latter two aren't great for your knives, and plastic provides too much drag and slows down chopping and dicing tasks.
What size? Measure your longest chef's knife, and add four inches. This will be the minimum diagonal measurement of your cutting board. 20x15" or 18x24 are good places to start.
Note: Since this is ManMade, we want to be sure to note that a handmade butcher block makes a great beginning woodworking project, and you can build something that will last for decades from a $40 piece of 8/4 maple.
9. A complete socket wrench set [that stays organized]: This household essential beats the pants off adjustable wrenches, and saves your knuckles in the process. Get a good set made of the highest quality steel you can afford, in both metric and SAE sizes, with a sturdy carrying case (check the latch! look for something that won't snap off a year from now).
Then - keep them organized! They make little tools to help you with this at the hardware store. They're not super inexpensive, but boy are they worth it. Or, there are lots of DIY options out there to keep everything arranged by size. Use them.
10. A legit wool blanket: For warmth, wool is king. It also repels odors, resists dirt and stains, and, if you ask us, looks rugged and hella cool. Properly cared for, a wool blanket will last a couple lifetimes (I still have and use one my grandfather owned), so find a design you love made by heritage American and Canadian mills like Faribault, Woolrich, or Pendleton.
11. A simple way to make coffee: Dump the electric drip machine - they take up too much space anyway. Even if you don't drink coffee, your friends and guests do; and if you do drink coffee, then you probably want to make some at home.
There are several great ways to go about making a perfect cup in your own kitchen, but we recommend one of the following, all-analog methods:
12. A compass: Yes, even in the era of smartphones and GPS, you should own a compass. More importantly, you should know how to use it. They're surprisingly simple tools, which makes them affordable. Look for something with a rotating bezel ring, orienting lines, index degrees and line-of-direction (red orienting) arrow.
Oh, and if you don't know what declination means, start researching.
Recommended:Suunto M-3 Compact or Suunto MC-2 with signal mirror
13. A set of stories worth telling over and over: You know, your go-to cocktail party chatter or group event ice breakers. A story that you know is a failsafe people-pleaser and allows others to get a sense of your style/interests while also being entertained. You don't have to be a great raconteur or the life of the party - just develop a few that you know will work; and you'll always have something to say.
To develop your collection, you simply gotta read and listen to interesting things. BrainPickings.org is a good place to start, and we like the Dinner Party Download radio show and podcasts for interesting facts, history, and alternative news events. Oh, and everyone needs a good campfire story that doesn't involve hook hands or calls from inside the house.
14. A serious tool box: Regardless how you store your tools in the shop, you'll still want to invest in a serious tool box you can take anywhere. You'll need it when helping others with projects, or when carrying a collection of tools around the house or yard.
What do we mean by serious? Not plastic. Yes, they're lighter, but plastic boxes have very little structure and flex and rack easily. They take damage from sharp cutting tools poorly, and simply don't last as long.
You can buy new steel toolboxes, but we say hit the thrift store or flea market for vintage models. You can find huge ones (again, heavy) for less than a new bright yellow plastic box from the home center. Look for something that can fit your most-used tools (i.e. can it hold your drill and a backup battery? Does a quick-release clamp fit in there? How about space for random screws/washers/bolts?).
That said, Im also a huge fan of canvas and leather tool bags for carrying hand tools, and they're plenty easy to repair or patch.
Recommended: A secondhand metal toolbox or the Klein Tools 5102-18 Canvas Tool Bag, 18-Inch
15. A notebook and favorite pen/pencil: Sense a trend here (see: compass, above). Yes, even in the digital era, notebooks are essential, especially for creative guys. They can be a journal, if you're into that, but even if you don't keep a diary, notebooks serve as a record of what you were thinking, making, and dreaming up. I don't use one everyday, but when I take on a big project and have to remember measurements and parts (so I can write them up as ManMade posts) or need to plan out Thanksgiving dinner, a Google doc just won't do.
I'm a graph/gridded paper and mechanical pencil guy, but you may prefer a rolling ball and sketchpad, or a fancy Mont Blanc and college ruled. Find something that works, and use it when you need it.
Recommended: Leuchtturm Medium Notebook, Squared
16. Something Private: A man needs a place in which to store to items of great import. Get a sturdy box of some sort (storage tote, old lunch box, what have you) and put the little things you care about most in it. Hide it in the back of your closet or a dresser drawer, and don't let other people know about it. And when your kids eventually come across it, make sure they never find out what's inside ... or that it's not all that scandalous in the first place. A little mystery is a good thing.
17. A baseball glove: Please allow me to quote myself from a year and a half ago:
... for me, it's an American-made leather baseball glove. Not cause I'm good at baseball (I'm not) but because there's an ease to a game of catch: a lilt, a conversation. It's not much exercise, and that's the point. You're not gearing up for an aggressive, sweat-soaked run, or an organized team competition. It's just you and a friend or two, doing something next to each other that allows you to do more than just sit and look into each other's eyes. Plus, it's a baseball glove - it's a handmade piece of craftsmanship, it'll never go bad or need to be replaced if you care for it, and it's just something every guy should have.
Yeah. I still believe all that. Look for second-hand models at flea markets and antique shops. They can be brought back to life with a little care and oil.
18. A solid duffel bag: Cause sometimes, a guy's gotta carry stuff around. You want something that works great for a weekend away. Canvas is best here, and no special pockets. Just a place to throw some jeans, a book, a couple shirts, and a bottle of something special, and get outta town.
19. A proper shaving routine: Every one has different needs here, but the point is to find a way to turn the task of dealing with your facial hair into a ritual, not a chore.
You don't have to go the whole mug and brush route, but if you're looking to move from cans of blue gel and $2.50-a-pop cartridge blades, we recommend a safety razor, particularly the Merkur 33C. It's the archetypical chrome safety razor, and it's a pleasure to use. The blades for these guys cost around 10-12¢ each, making each shave cost pennies.
Plus - you can actually see the blade, unlike cartridge razors. So, if you're trying to clean up your neck around your beard or a few stray hairs on your cheeks, you can create a sharp, straight line without any chunks missing.
Recommended: Merkur 33C and Shark Double Edge Blades
20. A tent: Essential for weekend getaways, and, if you're a dad, backyard campouts. There are the enormous multi-person mansion tents, flyweight backpacking models, and everywhere in between. The right one for you depends on your style of camping, but whatever you get, keep it stored properly and accessibly (always air it out before packing it up), so it'll be ready when cabin fever strikes.
For picks numbers 21-30, head over to the Murphy-Goode blog (including my tips on the only knives you need to own).
This post was sponsored by Murphy-Goode Winery. Thanks for supporting the sponsors who support ManMade!
Ever noticed how our images of leading men seem to be getting more and more jacked? Ripped? Swol? Esquire explores this trend (in what is perhaps my favorite article of 2014) as men's interest their bodies becomes more about seeming athletic than ever before.
As an actor myself, I've talked with a number of young men who are hoping for bigger and better leading men's roles and this topic of the escalating arms race of men's physiques (see what I did there) is a common source of consternation. If you've ever seen the comparison below (Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 2000's X-Men vs 2014's X-Men: Days of Future Past) you'll understand what we're talking about.
The article traces this new way men's bodies are being objectified by film, noting major landmarks like 300 and Casino Royale, as the author himself undergoes a rigorous three month training regiment to explore this phenomenon from within.
I highly recommend taking a look at the article here.
There's a lot of myths and legends about construction perfect fried chicken at home: secret spice blends, brines and buttermilks, free range vs air chilled vs standard chickens, special sauces, even proper oil or fat selection. But never underestimate an essential component: the vessel in which you fry.
Fried chicken became an American icon by cooking it at home, a few pieces at a time, in a cast iron cookware with just a bit of oil. The combination of surrounding the chicken with hot oil and allowing just a bit to rest on the bottom of the hot cast iron for extra caramelization and flavorful color is what homestyle fried chicken is all about. Leave the deep fryers to the pros; at home, shallow or skillet frying is the way to go. A cast iron dutch oven works just as well, just be sure to watch the total amount of fat.
A 1/2" of oil can be magic.
For a recipe, check out Elizabeth Karmel's buttermilk brined chicken with hot pepper honey at Sweet Paul. Invest is a good thermometer and keep the oil at 325° so it doesn't brown too quickly before the meat is cooked through, and enjoy!
My Happy Dish: Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken from the Lodge Cast Iron Nation Cookbook [SweetPaulMag.com]
I recently had to move my desk at my design firm to a new space in the building and it got me thinking about how minimal—totally empty and sad—my desk space was. At the time I had a picture of my wife, a few books and a pencil holder. So, I took it on myself to update my desk space to be more inspiring and reflect my personality a bit more! Here's a great list of products, projects and ideas to spruce up your workspace.
Add a lush green landscape to your desk with a small moss garden. Even if you don't sit by a window, a moss garden will grow just fine and add some color to your cubicle.
Just when I thought mouse pads phased out with Windows 98 I found this amazing idea from Ugmonk. Add some real style with a vegetable tanned natural leather mouse pad. It starts out as a natural tan color and darkens as you use it.
If you're anything like me, you accidentally drink more coffee than water on a typical workweek. I picked up an easy to clean, easy to fill, water bottle to set by my computer. I found that I drank more water from a water bottle than a glass of ice water. I highly recommend you give it a try!
4. A Classy Letterpress Desktop Calendar
I know we all have a calendar on your phone and your computer, but it's awfully easy to quickly glance at a calendar when you need to know what date next Friday is. I love this letterpress and bamboo desktop calendar from Iskelter.
5. DIY Bluetooth Audio Speaker
Sometimes, you just gotta get those itchy headphones off your ears. Having a small speaker system at your desk might be just what you need when your ears need a break. Medium contributor @kthornbloom breaks out how to build the audio components for a sleek desktop speaker system. This is definitely the next thing on my personal DIY projects list!
6. A Vintage Electric Clock
I was gifted a sweet vintage look-alike clock a while back (not the one pictured), but I already had a bedside clock I trusted, so I brought it to my office. I get compliments on it all the time! Not to mention, I can quickly see what time it is without squinting at the clock on my desktop computer. Check out ebay or Etsy or estate sales for some seriously good vintage clock finds.
7. Desktop Figurines
Let me just say there's nothing wrong with having toys on your desk. Be it action figures, tin robots, koosh balls or a Simon Says, I think we can all use some fun on your desk. I recently purchased this figurine set from the Invisible Creature Design Studio. I mean, look at those dudes. There's plaid and mustaches and a Sasquatch. What more could I need? Check out sites like Think Geek and Archie McPhee for some great ideas.
8. A DIY Desktop Lamp and Holder
Not only does it hold a few pens and pencils within reach it has a great looking lamp too! If you decide to do this project, I might recommend a very low wattage bulb so it doesn't hurt your eyes all the time. 
9. Wood Block Multi-Photo Holder
I love this product from Artifact Uprising. Using their app, you can upload 12 of your favorite photos to be printed on high-quality card stock and mounted on a simple wood block holder. It's a great way to display some of your family pictures of instagram favorites.
Looking for a clean way to upgrade the way you handle your business cards? Thornwillow Makers have a great way to class up your calling card.In my daily life, I handle quite a few business cards. Most of mine end up dog-eared and tattered after being transported in a wallet or bag and honestly who wants to hand out one of those? Thornwillow Makers have a great upscale card that comes in matchbox sized packs of 10 that can be roughed-up, abused and still look good when it's time to be the professional.
So take a few minutes to protect that little slip of paper that conveys your ultimate professionalism. Or, take a look at this great DIY on how to make your own wooden cardholder for a more personal touch.
True personal style is all in the details, from little things like buttons and where you cut your sideburns to the texture and shape of your accessories and daily carry items. This easy leather key cover project is exactly that: a simple, DIY way to add a little personal touch to the things you use everyday.
Inspire to Make shares a simple video tutorial with steo-by-step how-to at Instructables. He includes a template, so its just about cutting it to shape, punching holes, and stitching things together.
Check out the video and tutorial at Instructables: Leather Key Cover
Here are 20 tidbits of advice Esquire believes every man ought to hear from some incredibly successful men.
I think we can all agree: a weekend spent outside is good for the soul. Whether the forest, desert, mountains, or beaches, spending a couple of days without walls restores a fellow. It can simultaneously energize and relax us. Just about everything John Muir ever said sums it up nicely. Here's a few:
And in order to make it happen safely while staying warm and dry, you need a bit of gear. Outdoor recreation enthusiasts have as serious a case of gear lust as any hobby I know of, but getting started and staying comfortable doesn't have to involve massive amounts of research or serious cash. Just focus on affordable essentials, and spend your energy using your gear, not researching it.
IndefinitelyWild, a new column on Gizmodo, shares "A Basic Guide To Cheap Outdoors Gear For Broke Adventurers." The gear here seems to be intended for a short 2-3 backpacking trip, or base camping with day hikes. They include basic suggestions for tents, sleeping bags and pads, stoves, a knife and flashlight, a base layer, and outerwear.
The idea is summed up nicely here:
Let's assemble a basic backpacking kit trying to combine high-value, lightweight items. The Boreas Buttermilks 55L (medium) pack weighs 2lbs 2oz, the Kelty Cosmic Down 20 bag (regular) weighs 2lbs 11oz, an Alps Mystique 1.0 tent weighs 3 lbs and the Nemo pad weighs 1lbs 3oz. Together, that's a total spend of $500, which sounds like a lot of money, but it nets you a combined weight of just 9 lbs. Add a 1oz cat food can, 8oz of denatured alcohol, a couple of plastic water bottles from a gas station, a first aid kit, appropriate clothes and your food situation of choice and you'll be as well equipped as anyone on the trail and be carrying nearly as light a weight as people spending big bucks on fancy ultralight stuff. You'll be equipped to go anywhere and do anything. That's good value.
To see their specific gear picks and the rationale for each, head to Gizmodo: A Basic Guide To Cheap Outdoors Gear For Broke Adventurers
I've seen my share of clever plywood edge furniture but nothing like these colorful desktops made from trashed skate decks. Looks like they're currently available in the Netherlands but that certainly can't stop you from taking the idea yourself!
This idea alone inspires me to see what I can do with staining 1/4" ply certain colors, cutting and gluing just like you see this table does. I just love how clever this is!
See more over at Core 77
Origami is one of those unique pastimes that doesn't require much to handle the basics while leaving you with a fun party trick you can always whip out. I mean, you definitely don't want to be that guy actually making origami at all the parties, but I've definitely been out somewhere with friends and instead of absent-mindedly doodling on a piece of paper, I've folded it into something I learned at one point and people have been blown away. Mainly I think because people don't often take the time to learn something that, it always seems much harder than it is, despite the fact that reproducing them once you've mastered the technique is just like riding a bike. Here are six simple origami shapes I think all men would do well to master.
The boat is nice because it's pretty simple and it's a great way to make a toy for children out of nothing.
The origami crane is perhaps the most ubiquitous origami shape, stemming back to an ancient Japanese legend that whoever folds 1,000 cranes and strings them together will be granted a single wish, eternal good luck, be healed of an illness (depending on whichever legend you entertain). Learning to fold an origami crane is a step up from the boat, but in doing so you learn the base of A LOT of origami shapes. In fact there are quite a few origami crane variations, but I've linked my favorite one. Check it out.
Okay, so this actually the easiest one out there and I'm not sure it technically counts as origami, but it's one men playing with young ones ought to remember simply because of how much kids love it. A boy by himself is just a boy, but a boy with a newspaper hat is a pirate. Mull on that.
Cause, c'mon, think of all the people you can impress by committing this one to memory.
Forgot about a special anniversary? Really poor and want to add value without spending the money you already don't have? Then making a paper rose is the perfect thing for you. Warning: I'd start with the others before attempting to master this one simply due to its complexity. The video in the link however is incredibly thorough. Your special someone will love it and what's even better, they don't wilt.
Something Special: An Eagle (in my case)
I'm pretty sure it was because a character in the late 00's show, Prison Break, had a special signature crane he would fold (or maybe it was inspired by an assassin in the Alex Rider series…) but I decided at one point that I wanted to learn a really cool-looking origami shape I could use as my personally calling card. I quickly got over the calling card idea, but I still enjoyed being able to make this whenever I want to and I like that it's something that nobody whom I know personally knows how to do. I suggest searching through some online databases like origami-instructions.com and find the one that you think is right for you.
These days, the throwback "artisanal" cocktail scene can be easy to mock, what with its arm garters and ____ + ____ names and all. those. tinctures. But, don't forget that just a very short time ago, a "mixed drink" typically meant something frozen, blended, and saturated with sugar, with colors so unnatural they rivaled 90s candy aisles, and drinks named for sex acts and bizarro body parts.
If our current cocktail culture is a throwback to the post-prohibition era of WWII and its aftermath, what exactly happened in the middle there? What was going on with those three or four decades where baby boomers ordered neon slushies at airports and shopping malls?
The Slice blog at Talking Points Memo explores this Dark Age of the American cocktail. Ken Walczak ponders,
For those three penurious decades, classic cocktails seemed lost in the mists of yesteryear, emerging only occasionally at film noir screenings or in the auction-catalog descriptions of rich dead folks’ glassware. Dessert-leaning mutations indistinguishable from milkshakes proliferated on drink menus. Artificial ingredients and flavored vodkas dominated the landscape, and amateurs of every stripe pushed misbegotten shots named after sex acts and vat-sized “-tinis” that made a mockery of that once-glorious suffix. For those who liked cocktails—that is, a balanced, high-proof libation mixed by dedicated professionals using high-quality ingredients, with attention to technique and detail—times were really tough.
It's an interesting discussion, especially for someone like me, who grew up seeing all these things on menus and in adult movies and 1) not really knowing what they were or what was inside and 2) thinking that pink or yellow slurpee was actually a daiquiri or a margarita.
Good stuff. Go check it out: History, Sugar and Sex: Why Mixed Drinks Were Terrible for 30 Years [TalkingPointsMemo.com]
Charging that phone looks a whole lot sharper when it's secured in a spiffy looking block. We make a simple cube charging station out of reclaimed pallet wood. A few weeks ago, I built a large state sign for my wall from a busted up pallet. I kept a few of the spacing blocks thinking about what could be made from this weathered wood. So, this weekend, I cleaned off my nightstand to simplify my daily landing space, and this project just seemed to be just the right fit.
Here's a few steps on what I did to make a custom charging block from reclaimed wood.
_large.jpg?1424554805 "credit: David [manmadediy.com]")
1. First, find a suitable block. Since it's going to be on the nightstand, I didn't want something too large, but a few of the bigger pieces may be made into tablet stands in the near future. One of the things I liked about the small block I picked was the light "China Treated" stamp that I traced and rubbed down with lubricant oil to make stand out a bit more. After picking the piece, give it a good sanding to smooth off the rough edges.
_large.jpg?1424554871 "credit: David [manmadediy.com]")
2. I used a small Forsner bit to drill the hole through the block. This was a pain due to the thickness, so I had to go slow and evacuate the sawdust out often for a nice clean hole. I drilled the hole to give the bottom of the slot some play as I will be sliding the phone in and out often so I don't want it too tight. *My phone has a side charging port, if yours comes in the bottom I would recommend the same drilling through, then a hole down to the bottom and a small slot from the back to the hole in the bottom for the cord.
_large.jpg?1424554932 "credit: David [manmadediy.com]")
3. Set the table saw to cut a slot to the drilled hole. The angle doesn't really matter, but mine was at about 20 degrees or so. I cut one pass, then moved the fence back a bit for the second pass which left a clean slot the length of the block.
_large.jpg?1424555035 "credit: David [manmadediy.com]")
4. Lastly, sand it up and finish as you please. I actually took a few of the rusted nails from the pallet and pounded them back into the block at this point for a bit of extra character. One coat of wipe-on poly finish and it was a complete project, ready for daily use.
_large.jpg?1424555084 "credit: David [manmadediy.com]")
Check this one out: Scott, a maker and woodworker from Vancouver Island, BC, figured out a way to hack an old, busted breadmaker into a turntable-based powered sharpening system. He says,
I had a broken breadmaker handy, and this one had some interesting parts - a beefy motor, a massive gear and a thick circular glass viewing window. I figured I could salvage it to make a rotating sandpaper disc to do the heavy work on my tools before doing some quick establishment of the final edge with some finer grade of sandpaper by hand. Basically, the breadmaker would be hacked to mimic Lee Valley Tools' $400 power sharpening system... for $0.
Scott harvested the key parts, placed them in a new wooden case, updated the wiring and added a switch, and snagged a couple of additional parts from an old hinge, a toaster oven, and even a leather briefcase, used here as a strop.
He even managed to put a nice edge on an old axe in a matter of minutes. Check out the full process at Instructables, and keep your eyes out for an old bread maker.
Sharpening System by makendo
Sometimes the traditional definition of a home just falls a bit short. These buses were converted into homes that move easily and fit in just about everywhere you want to be. I've posted about my love of tiny homes before, and I have to say I've fantasized about them on a regular basis for years. The thought of culling my massive collection of "stuff" into a manageable stash of essentials makes me smile, but then reality sinks in and I realize 400 sqft just doesn't work for me and my family of 5. Nevertheless, I still dream of a bit of freedom and so when I saw this great post on converted buses my mind went a bit haywire.
Mike Hulleman over at Hobo With A Laptop did a great post on three bus conversions that run from simple and natural to urban and upscale. with my general love of wood, I'm partial to the "bus" project, but each has it's own exceptional character. Take a look and leave a comment on your favorite. If you've seen one I haven't, I'd love to hear about it!
Laura and Craig from The Makerista take these Billy bookshelves that we've all seen before and transform them into what looks like an entire built-in wall unit. This really is the most impressive DIY IKEA renovation I've seen yet.
They knew they didn't want to remove any of the hundred year old crown molding and they knew that almost nothing in their house was level, so this entire unit has been built around it all for relatively easy removal.
Additionally, the entire unit was secured to 2x4's against the wall with shims to make everything level.
And voila! In particular I'm a super fan of the sliding ladder, which immediately ups the impression of the entire room.
