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The Easiest Way to Repair a Split Zipper

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It happens to the best of us. On a jacket, pair of jeans, backpack. Zippers are moving parts, and as the ManMade Fourth law of physics goes, anything with moving parts will eventually wear out or break. 

created at: 08/22/2016

But, no worries. When a zipper splits, you don't need to toss your goods. It's a simple, one-tool repair you can complete in five minutes.   

This tip comes from Danni Trestor, author of our DIY Tailor series. She's got all kinds of fixes and hacks for your clothes, so be check out all her ideas here. 

Okay, the zipper. The process goes like this:

created at: 08/22/2016

1. Use a pair of pliers to remove the stop at the top of the zipper.

2. Check the zipper pull. It's likely bent (which is why your zipper is splitting. Apply light pressure with the pliers to put it back in shape. 

3. Re-attach the pull at the bottom of the zipper. Check to make sure it slides easily. If not, use the pliers to rework the pull. If all else fails, replace the pull with a new one from the fabric/craft store.

4. Press the stop back on the top of the zipper.

5. Rejoice!

 

Is your fix a little more complicated? Check out Dani's full article for all the tips.


An Original History of the Baseball Bat

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From Roy Hobbs' “Wonderboy” in The Natural to Tom Cruise’ thinking bat in A Few Good Men, baseball bats hold a special place in the American masculine consciousness. A versatile weapon on the field, the baseball bat embodies an element of the American dream wherever it goes. The lone batter, a man himself against an entire team, hoping to hit it big.   

Here at ManMade, we’ve taken the time to examine the history of the baseball bat and to trace some of its manufacturing history over the years.  

The Early Years

As a new pastime born out of ancient games in new lands, both the game of baseball and the requisite equipment were constantly evolving. The rules shifted from region to region with players looking to exploit the continual changes as the game’s advantages vacillated between pitcher and batter.

Town Ball

Prior to 1887, batters were allowed to request a high or low pitch. But as this practice became outlawed, pitchers began experimenting with all sorts of new pitching methods to throw off the batter in the attempt to be a moment misunderstood. Curveballs, knuckleball, and even spitballs (for a time) became staples of the pitcher’s arsenal and batters responded in kind by experimenting with a variety of baseball bat shapes, sizes, and materials. At this point, nearly anything was fair game.

In fact, there were no singular baseball bat manufacturers. As a game popularized by farmers and rural Americans, the first baseball bats were fashioned out of axe handles and wagon tongues and usually carved with simple hand-tools. Every player tried his best to craft the perfect, mystical bat that would rebuff the pitcher’s misleading pitches and get a man on base.

The only restriction on baseball bats at this time wasthe result of an 1859 Professional National Association of Baseball Players Governing Committee decision that bats could be no larger that 2 ½ inches in diameter. Length restrictions (no longer than 42”) were not put in place until after the Civil War, although they are still the length restrictions to this day.  

 

Innovations and Evolution

As Ben Walker points out, it’s important to understand early batters’ strategies as they relate to the origins of the game. Developments in baseball bats significantly out-paced the adoption of baseball gloves (considered effeminate by early baseball pioneers). As a result, fielders were much more likely to make simple mistakes, and a batter’s effort was better focused on making calculated contact that would steer the ball where he wished, rather than betting it all and swinging for the fences.

created at: 10/26/2014The Mushroom Bat

A number of early batters like Ty Cobb employed a split-hand approach, which made for greater control when batting. Many of these split-hand batters used mushroom bats knowing that the added weight in the handle might also increase their control in the same way that the split-hand approach worked. The mushroom bat pictured above was made in 1905 by Spaulding and was recently auctioned off by the Sports Memorabilia Museum.

Lajoie Baseball BatThe Lajoie Bat

In a similar attempt to gain greater bat control, second baseman (and long-time Ty Cobb rival) Napoléon “Nap” Lajoie designed what quickly became known as the Lajoie bat (pictured above). The bat featured a ring of wood known as the “shoulder” around which batters were supposed to wrap their hands. This again was believed to grant greater control and many early players adopted the bat in the hope that they could emulate Lajoie’s outstanding batting stats.

Banana Bat

The “Banana” Bat

Perhaps one of the most unique bats ever fathomed was this design, first patented by Emile Kinst in June 1890. Kinst’s patent states that the objective of his bat was “to provide a ball-bat which shall produce a rotary or spinning motion of the ball in its flight 'to a higher degree than is possible with any present known form of ball-bat, and thus to make it more difficult to catch the ball, or, if caught, to hold it, and thus further to modify the conditions of the game…”Banana Bat

Kinst had plans to create and distribute as many as 400 of these “banana bats” as the design became known, however very few seem to ever have been made. The one pictured above belonged to White Sox catcher, Billy Sullivan Sr. (pictured below with the same bat) and the bat itself was traced down from obscurity by David Stalker (pun?).

Billy Sullivan Sr.By 1893 however, the Major League Rules Committee had increased the limitations on bat designs and Kinst’s model was rejected from major league play. Not long after, baseball gloves became the standard equipment of the game and batters had to again adapt their style of play.

Enter Babe Ruth. A new kind of hitter, Babe Ruth swung for the fences every chance he got. The crowds loved this style and baseball attendance grew rapidly in the wake of the First World War. And when the Sultan of Swat wanted a little extra batting power, where did he turn…?

 

The Legend of The Louisville Slugger

Unquestionably the most recognizable of all bat designs, the Louisville Slugger has a famed and storied past. The legend begins in the 1880’s with John A. “Bud” Hillerich (pictured below in the doorway with his father), a seventeen-year-old woodworker who had recently begun working in his father’s woodshop in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bud Hillerich Bud himself was an avid baseball player who slipped away from work one afternoon in 1884 to watch his favorite major league team, the Louisville Eclipse, play ball. It was during this game that the Eclipse’ star player, Pete “The Old Gladiator” Browning, broke his bat in the midst of a merciless batting slump. After the game, Bud invited Browning to his dad’s woodshop to try and craft a new bat. The two worked side-by-side late into the night, with Bud carving and Browning offering advice and taking practice swings. The next day Browning hit three for three and a legend was born.

Hillerich & BradsbyThe Hillerich shop was quickly overrun with Eclipse players seeking their own version of the “Falls City Slugger” as it was originally dubbed. In the beginning, Bud’s father didn’t see a future in the baseball bat business and even started turning players away. Eventually, he changed his mind as the flood of demand from players of opposing teams came pouring in.

Around this time a number of other independent bat-making companies arose, but none could compete with the Hillerich’s. Each “Slugger” was different, crafted to suit the specific desires of the individual players and utilizing the Hillerichs’ knowledge of baseball and materials. Their bats were constructed out of top quality wagon tongues, white ash, and hickory, although hickory was quickly abandoned due to its density and weight.

Louisville SluggerBud registered the “Louisville Slugger” with the US Patent Office in 1894 after taking over the family business, but the company continued to innovate with different bat varieties. Since bats were originally constructed on an individual basis, players had begun the practice of carving their names into their bats or giving them personalized names.

Honus Wagner Signature BatIn 1905 Hillerich & Bradsby (as the company is now known) hatched a game-changing marketing plan by signing a contract to have Hall of Famer shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates Honus Wagner’s signature burned into his Louisville Slugger. This practice has since been followed by nearly every major sports franchise to this day.

As baseball became the nation’s favorite pastime and form of entertainment in the wake of the First World War, the Louisville Slugger took off. It became the preferred bat of major hitters Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, and Lou Gehrig, and in 1923 the Louisville Slugger was the number one bat in the league. Over the years, there have been a number of competing bat manufacturers but few of these have posed a serious threat to the Slugger’s corner on the market. Recently however, Hillerich & Bradsby has admitted that the company has been slowly ceding ground to Marucci Sports, which was founded out of a backyard shed in 2002 by LSU athletic trainer Jack Marucci. Today, Hillerich & Bradsby claim that over 60% of major league bats are still Louisville Sluggers, although Marucci hotly contests this statistic.

Louisville Slugger

Did you know?

Almost every bat you purchase will have the manufacturer’s trademark engraved or printed on the bat. Following in the tradition set by Hillerich & Bradsby, the trademark is placed at a ninety-degree angle from the natural grain of the wood, which is regarded as the strongest part of a wooden bat. Therefore, you should practice your swing (since every player’s is different) and determine where you should hold the bat so that the trademark faces up at the full extant of your swing. This will ensure your bat lasts longer and it’s been believed to give you greater hitting power.

 

Modern Materials

White Ash

On the fateful night of the Louisville Slugger’s construction, Bud Hillerich chose to make his new design out of northern white ash – which has stayed the preferred material to this day. White ash is used for its combination of hardiness, strength, weight, and the general “feel” of the wood. Hillerich & Bradsby currently selects its white ash from trees over 50 years old in their specialty forests in New York and Pennsylvania. The wood is then dried to a specific moisture level for a period of six to eight months before being passed on to the crafting process. Ten percent of the best quality wood is selected out for professional bats and the rest goes on to be made for consumer markets.

Auminum 

In talking about the history of baseball bats, there has to be some mention of metal bats. Metal bats have been around since William Shroyer first filed his patent in 1924, but didn’t come into common use until the 1970’s when Worth Sports produced a one-piece aluminum bat for amateur and little league play. A couple years later, Easton came out with an improved model that greatly increased their popularity. Originally constructed for their incredible durability, it’s become apparent that they offer many aerodynamic advantages over wood. The hitting power that can come from properly using a metal bat is so high in fact that the major league has not allowed their use since a pitcher literally might not have time to duck a line drive coming his way.

Maple Bats

Like the Slugger craze that followed Pete Browning’s three for three, the 2001 MLB season saw Barry Bonds hit a record 73 home runs in a single season. When it was revealed he had used a maple bat (something no one had done in the major leagues prior to 1996), players became rabid to try some new maple. In fact, in 2010 about half of major league players were using maple bats. Maple bats tend to last longer and have been shown to increase hitting distances. Maple bats are naturally denser and bend less with the impact of a baseball, and some batters have commented that they prefer not having to compensate for the slight bend they encounter with a bat made from white ash.

 

Make Your Own

As you can see, baseball bats come in all shapes and sizes, and one player may use many bats in a single game. But even with a steep manufacturing history of endless variations, there is still plenty of room for the rogue designer.Turning a Bat

Carlbass of Instructables.com has this very informative, step-by-step guide that looks much easier than you might initially think. So get on out there and stake your claim on this great American tradition.Turning a Bat

Or if you’re too exhausted from all this reading, at least reward yourself by watching this.

 

Further Reading:

Baseball Bats

How to Improve Your Sleep Schedule: A Man's Guide to Feeling Rested

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created at: 12/07/2014 I developed pretty intense insomnia during my junior year in college. Admittedly, I was a way-too-involved workaholic at the time, but even when my life chilled out a bit more, I still had lots of trouble sleeping. Like, intense months of sleep issues. So I've spent a lot of time investigating ways to improve my sleep schedule and here are some of the top tips I've found…      

Start a nightly routine. 
This can be anything simple that you repeat each night. Put your room in order, take some time to journal, read a book, take a bath, etc. Taking a shower/bath before bed has the added benefit of cooling your body down when you get out which can help induce drowsiness. 

f.luxAvoid "blue light." 
In a pre-industrial era, bodies naturally produced melatonin as the sun went down and they light got dimmer. However, thanks to Edison and our post-industrialism work schedules, we tend to stay up much later continually bathing ourselves in light right up until we head to bed. If you can, you should start dimming the lights an hour or two before heading to bed to allow more melatonin to kick in. Most importantly, you should avoid the light of computer screens, phones, and televisions – what's known as "blue light." Thankfully since I'm going to bet that almost all of us do this anyway, there are some great (FREE) devices that can help with that. f.luxis a software that I use that syncs with your computer's clock to start slowing shifting the hue of your display to warmer tones as the sun goes down. It can look a little jarring if you're not used to it, but it makes an incredible difference. 

created at: 12/08/2014Limit caffeine intake (duh).
If you're at all like me, this might sounds like I'm telling you to try cutting breathing out of your daily routine. I'm a die-hard coffee addict, but I ended up cutting caffeine out of my diet entirely for 4 months (before I eventually caved). Here's the deal with caffeine. Your body naturally produces adenosine molecules which bond with your body's adenosine receptors throughout the day. This bonding causes drowsiness and slows down your nerve cells, which also allows more oxygen into your brain's blood vessels while you sleep. However caffeine molecules look nearly identical to adenosine; they bond to the receptors but don't cause drowsiness. In fact, caffeine increases neuron firing which stimulates your pituitary gland, and from there it's a whole adrenaline party, and good luck getting to sleep. The bummer about this is that caffeine has a half-life of up to 6 hours, which means that half of the initial caffeine intake is still happily operating in your system up to 6 hours later. All this is to say, you should try limiting your caffeine intake in the afternoon, and if you're having serious trouble sleeping, try knocking it out all together. 

Sleep ScheduleStick to a sleep schedule.
Our bodies have a natural circadian rhythm, which means that are bodies perform their processes best around certain times of the day. Going to sleep at the same time each night will foster a solid sleep-wake cycle and help your body perform at its best. However...

If you can't sleep, get up.
Lying in bed worrying about how you can't sleep, how it's going to throw of your day tomorrow, etc., is never going to help. In fact, Harvard Med and the Mayo Clinic tell you to get up and walk around. Read a book, watch something, get a snack. Your body will get drowsy again and it's better to wait it out than to stress yourself. It's also recommended that you move to a different room so as not to associate your potential sleep anxiety with your bedroom.

created at: 12/08/2014Exercise daily.
We all know exercise has its benefits so I won't list them here, but seriously it helps you sleep and you should do it anyway. Just as a general note: similar to the effects of caffeine, adrenaline from workouts tends to stay active in your body for a couple hours. However, studies still indicate that people who had trouble sleeping still saw improved sleep from working out right before bed over those who didn't work out at all.

Good. Got it? Now, go get some rest. 

 

 

 

 Edited from a post originally published on December 4, 2014.

5 Things I Learned About Money From My Dad (And A Few More I Should Have)

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Money

My dad taught me many things when I was growing up. Here are five important standards I  took from what he had to say about money, and a few I've learned on my own.    

1. You need to know how to count. - My dad could do money math in his head. Calculating interest, monthly costs, finding the total and most importantly weeding through the hype. Zero money down, no interest, low monthly payments are all great words, but what's that bottom line say? He would grill me on how much something cost on a monthly basis, or how much interest was in the end. Today, I've learned how to do it myself and it serves me well just about daily. Take the time to learn how to estimate percentages, monthly payments, and definitely bone-up on what that low-interest loan is actually costing you.

2. If you don't understand it, don't do it. - Something I see trip up people financially is doing something they don't understand. It comes down to this: If you can't explain it easily to a 3rd grader, then your shouldn't do it. Investing and buying doesn't have to be complex, and if that salesman can't get the concept across in a way you understand find someone who can. If you don't know what you're investing in, don't invest in it. Period. 

3. Never compromise your integrity. - "Everyone has a price" right? There's a concept out there that at some threshold you'll compromise your integrity for money. In the back of our mind, we all assume about 1 million is minimum right? Unfortunately, many people are willing to ditch their conscience for much less than that. Someone forget to charge you at checkout? Find a wallet with some crisp 20's inside? My dad was adamant about this. If it's not yours, it's not yours. Be the man that everyone appreciates who will go out of their way to guard their integrity, it's worth it. 

 

Fine Print

4. Everything is negotiable. - Sure, there's a price tag on it, but what's the real bottom line. My dad was always willing to ask, and paid less most of the time because of it. He had this idea that there was always an angle, and it was almost a game to figure it out. Find something shelved long enough to gather a bit of dust, a damaged box, or just come out and ask for a deal. The trick to this is ask the right person with the authority to make an adjustment, like a manager. 

5. You need to save it, but be sure to spend some. - For a long time, I was talked to about shoveling every bit of scratch away from each paycheck. It came in everyday conversation "how much you have saved now?" Or in small comments "There's always a rainy day, you're prepared for that right?". So, I did save. Everything. I saved a bit here and there, I stashed it in envelopes, I made sure it grew. But now, the message has changed: "Life's too short to live poor, if you've got it let loose a bit and have some fun." Memories don't come from cash in the bank. So, I've started to let loose a bit more and it's been a blast. 

Invest in experiences, not things. It's an overused adage, but it's crazy true.  

 

In addition to my Dad's great advice, I've learned a few things myself:

6. There are two ways to end up with more. - For a while, I was focused on growing my income. It's important, but after a few raises I realized my lifestyle grew to match. That's when the other side of my money started to become important. If you can lower your "monthly nut" (my dad called it this) then you keep more of what you make. The monthly nut is the number it takes to stay off the street, bills that you just can't skip. I started to focus on lowering some bills, and getting rid of the ones I could. I paid off my car, the credit cards, and even went solar to get rid of my electrical payment. Those bills disappearing amounted to a massive raise to myself over the course of a few years.

7. There's plenty of it out there. - I have learned the past few years that there is plenty of money out there for those that figure out how to hustle. You can find some of it with side jobs, freelance work, or making something worth selling. It was a great day when I realized that I could supplement that paycheck with a bit of side hustle.

Seedling

8. Spending is the purest indication of your priorities. - Let me see your checkbook and I can figure out your priorities pretty fast. Go take a look at it yourself. Do you invest all of your spare money in fast food, video games, or clothes? Nothing wrong with spending on things that make you happy, but just ask yourself if that's the legacy you want to build. Put your money where you want to see it go, not where it easily flows.

Be proud of where your resources go. If you're not, adjust your priorities. 

I'm sure there are a few other things I've learned along the way I didn't mention, how about you? What have you learned from others that have made the difference in how you handle money?

5 Things I Learned About Money From My Dad (Plus A Few More)

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Money

My dad taught me many things when I was growing up. Here are five important standards I  took from what he had to say about money, and a few I've learned on my own.    

1. You need to know how to count. - My dad could do money math in his head. Calculating interest, monthly costs, finding the total and most importantly weeding through the hype. Zero money down, no interest, low monthly payments are all great words, but what's that bottom line say? He would grill me on how much something cost on a monthly basis, or how much interest was in the end. Today, I've learned how to do it myself and it serves me well just about daily. Take the time to learn how to estimate percentages, monthly payments, and definitely bone-up on what that low-interest loan is actually costing you.

2. If you don't understand it, don't do it. - Something I see trip up people financially is doing something they don't understand. It comes down to this: If you can't explain it easily to a 3rd grader, then your shouldn't do it. Investing and buying doesn't have to be complex, and if that salesman can't get the concept across in a way you understand find someone who can. If you don't know what you're investing in, don't invest in it. Period. 

3. Never compromise your integrity. - "Everyone has a price" right? There's a concept out there that at some threshold you'll compromise your integrity for money. In the back of our mind, we all assume about 1 million is minimum right? Unfortunately, many people are willing to ditch their conscience for much less than that. Someone forget to charge you at checkout? Find a wallet with some crisp 20's inside? My dad was adamant about this. If it's not yours, it's not yours. Be the man that everyone appreciates who will go out of their way to guard their integrity, it's worth it. 

 

Fine Print

4. Everything is negotiable. - Sure, there's a price tag on it, but what's the real bottom line. My dad was always willing to ask, and paid less most of the time because of it. He had this idea that there was always an angle, and it was almost a game to figure it out. Find something shelved long enough to gather a bit of dust, a damaged box, or just come out and ask for a deal. The trick to this is ask the right person with the authority to make an adjustment, like a manager. 

5. You need to save it, but be sure to spend some. - For a long time, I was talked to about shoveling every bit of scratch away from each paycheck. It came in everyday conversation "how much you have saved now?" Or in small comments "There's always a rainy day, you're prepared for that right?". So, I did save. Everything. I saved a bit here and there, I stashed it in envelopes, I made sure it grew. But now, the message has changed: "Life's too short to live poor, if you've got it let loose a bit and have some fun." Memories don't come from cash in the bank. So, I've started to let loose a bit more and it's been a blast. 

Invest in experiences, not things. It's an overused adage, but it's crazy true.  

 

In addition to my Dad's great advice, I've learned a few things myself:

6. There are two ways to end up with more. - For a while, I was focused on growing my income. It's important, but after a few raises I realized my lifestyle grew to match. That's when the other side of my money started to become important. If you can lower your "monthly nut" (my dad called it this) then you keep more of what you make. The monthly nut is the number it takes to stay off the street, bills that you just can't skip. I started to focus on lowering some bills, and getting rid of the ones I could. I paid off my car, the credit cards, and even went solar to get rid of my electrical payment. Those bills disappearing amounted to a massive raise to myself over the course of a few years.

7. There's plenty of it out there. - I have learned the past few years that there is plenty of money out there for those that figure out how to hustle. You can find some of it with side jobs, freelance work, or making something worth selling. It was a great day when I realized that I could supplement that paycheck with a bit of side hustle.

Seedling

8. Spending is the purest indication of your priorities. - Let me see your checkbook and I can figure out your priorities pretty fast. Go take a look at it yourself. Do you invest all of your spare money in fast food, video games, or clothes? Nothing wrong with spending on things that make you happy, but just ask yourself if that's the legacy you want to build. Put your money where you want to see it go, not where it easily flows.

Be proud of where your resources go. If you're not, adjust your priorities. 

I'm sure there are a few other things I've learned along the way I didn't mention, how about you? What have you learned from others that have made the difference in how you handle money?

How to: Build a Set of Classic Cornhole Boards for The Backyard

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Cornhole is the perfect backyard game. It's got a leg up on other lawn games like croquette since it's you can play it one-handed with a drink in the other, without ever having to actually leave your conversation. On the other hand, it also lets you to get as competitive as you want with it (unless you're me and your brother-in-law has to limit how excitable you're allowed to get for the onlooker's sake)...   

This guide to DIY Cornhole Boards from Instructables.com is incredibly in-depth so I'd highly suggest it as a first-time woodworking project for a novice. I'd also consider applying a quality finish or painting them with class-y color combo. 

A Handy-Dandy Guide on How NOT to Be a Jerk at Restaurants

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Dining out is one of life's simple pleasures. You shouldn't do it all the time, but it's a great treat when the time is right. But it's also a dialog - between you and the restaurant; between your table and the kitchen; between your server, your tablemates, and the rest of the dining room. 

And, restaurants are one of the toughest businesses to keep afloat, and if you want to support your local independent creatives or get the full experience while traveling to a new spot...well, don't be a jerk.

Bon Appetit looks at the relationship between the diner and the restaurant. "Yes, it should be a special experience. Yes, your meal should be delicious, worth the price tag, and prepared to your liking. And, given the right location, yes, you should even expect to be pampered a little bit. But there are still a few ways you can screw up that whole “dining out” thing. We spoke with some of the industry’s biggest player... about what not to do when dining out. Whether it’s gaming the online reservation system or getting blackout drunk (duh, right?), this is the bad behavior that’ll make things awkward for everyone involved."

Yeah, maybe the customer is always right. But I'd much rather have fun than be right.

The Worst Things to Do at a Restaurant: How to Ruin Your Night (and Everybody Else's)

 

 

Skillet Skills: 7 Meals You Can Make In a Single Cast Iron Pan

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Chicken Honey Mustard Rosemary ChickenHave you been cooking with cast iron lately? A skillet is definitely worth the investment with it's durable versatility. Take a look at these 7 ways you can make a meal with yours.   Cooking in one pan makes so many things great. It's fast, easy, and makes clean-up much better. With so many great meals, this can actually be the only pan you grab all week. Here are 7 days worth of recipes for yours.
Skillet Lasagna1. Skillet Lasagna - There's something comforting about a plate of lasagna. It's warm, creamy, and the layers of flavor are just incredible. There is also the promise of a carb coma and a nap after that second helping. 

Chicken Enchilada Skillet

2. Chicken Enchilada Skillet - Ah, one of  my favorite part about enchiladas is the sauce. Cooking in a skillet holds in all the amazing flavors and bakes them right into the food. Plan on about 40 minutes from start to chowing down. 

Kale Frittata

3. Sweet Potato Kale Frittata - In only 20 minutes you can make this baked frittata. It's fast, tasty, and has enough green in there to be healthy, right?

Honey Mustard Rosemary Chicken

4. Honey Mustard Rosemary Chicken - Rosemary adds a great flavor to chicken, especially balanced out with a glazing of honey mustard. This one pan meal is definitely something worth whipping up.

Shrimp Pasta

5. One Pan Shrimp Parmesan Pasta -  I'm a sucker for shrimp. It adds such great flavor to a dish. Now, toss it in with some wide pasta and a bit of Parmesan, gosh I'm sold.

created at: 08/21/2016

6. Teriyaki Chicken and Pineapple Rice -  A bit tangy, a bit spicy, completely delicious. Make this in about 10 minutes and cook for half an hour for a meal everyone is bound to love.

 

Cheesy Bread Spaghetti

7. Warm Cheesy Bread with Baked Spaghetti - Nestling spaghetti into a bed of cheesy bread sounds like a perfect way to overload on tasty goodness in a big way. Baked spaghetti is a great way to enjoy those noodles, and that warm bread is handy for sopping up all the sauce.

Do you have a favorite one-skillet recipe? We'd love to hear about any great meals we can make with our favorite pan!

 


The Light Collector: The Man Behind 4500 Cameras

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The Light CollectorWe all have a small collection of something in our lives. It's a hobby and can be fun, but what happens when it grows into a lifelong journey? Meet a guy with 4500 cameras.   One of the things that is fascinating about collections are when they move from the somewhat ordinary to the rare and unique. That's what happened with Mr. Dheerankur Upasak when he started to gather spy cameras, vintage Leicas, and even a watch camera. Take a look:

As he said, if you bought a camera a day, you would amass this amount in about 12 years. Now that's a collection.

This is the Insanity Burger. And Here's How to Make It at Home

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There are the traditional burgers - the griddle-cooked patties and toasted buns and standard fare toppings described in Jimmy Buffet songs. And then there are the pub burgers, the thicker brother, covered in everything from coleslaw and pulled pork to onion rings , cranberry sauce, and duck confit.    And then there's the Insanity Burger, by chef Jamie Oliver, which, according to Maggie Mariolis, is the kind of recipe that turns our a "worth-a-try-even-if-you're-sick-of-burgers burger."

Thankfully, the insanity refers to the flavors (which, we presume, are insanely good) rather than the ambition of its construction and ingredients. Because, as least as we see it, the choices here are pretty standard - ground chuck, bacon, cheese, pickles, onion - just treated with a little finesse and technique that makes it worth trying at home. 

And, it doesn't look too expensive, or difficult, so if you're the type for whom that photo above make you want to get cooking, then get cooking. 

Read a review and get the full recipe at Serious Eats: Insanity Burger from 'Jamie Oliver's Comfort Food'

 

Is This the Perfect Workbench for the DIYer?

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created at: 08/25/2016

Troy spent a few weeks researching and comparing workbench designs, and he thinks he's done it. This is, as he calls it, the perfect workbench.

His argument is thus:   

  • It's strong and heavy to take a beating, but is still able to be disassembled for storage...like, in case someone wants to do something silly in the garage like park a car in it. The top can be removed and the side assemblies taken apart to store in a relatively compact package (for a workbench).
  • It's made of affordable dimensional lumber from the home center - Douglas fir 2x8s, 2x4s, and 4x4s.
  • It's mobile on one side, so it can be moved to serve as an outfeed table for a table saw, or to be moved outside to work in the open air on nice days
  • It's got traditional workbench features such as a face vise, thick top, and the legs feature rock solid joinery - wedged tenons.

And? We gotta say. We might be convinced. The doug fir will wear down faster than something like hard maple, and it might rack a bit due to it's breakdown construction, but for something that can be built in a weekend and will last you very many years as you get started in woodworking, craft projects, and general around-the-house DIYing, this one's a serious contender.

Check it out at Troy's Instructable: Perfect Workbench

 

Also! Of course, we're pretty happy with the new bench we built for the ManMade HQ. It's not a traditional woodworking/joiner's bench, but it's a great option for the garage and basement-based tinkerer. Learn more here. 

 

Make Your Own Tomahawk Survival Axe...That Also Opens Beers

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A survival axe built to cover anything the average camper might need: hacks firewood, saws most anything, and comes with a bottle opener. A weekend of mountaineering and carrying multiple tools led to its invention Bennewho passes on his wisdom in this full-on how-to...

 The list and materials needed is actually a lot more simple than you'd think. The only "metal working" tool required is a simple angle grinder, and the rest is accomplished with existing blades and other hardware store supplies. 

Click her to view the full guide and lets us know what other camping tools you'd like to see combined into one contraption.

How to: Make Your Own Shorts from a Pair of Pants...No Sewing Required

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How to make your own shorts

Quick! There are only a few weeks left of summer, and clearly, you're not going to spend money on buying a brand new pair of shorts. So today we present you a super easy, super affordable, super badass way of making your own. This project is awesome (if I do say so myself), 'cause you customize the length to your personal preference, and you don't have to know how to use (or have access to) a sewing machine.

This project will take you only a few minutes, and you can wear them for many warm weathers to come. Best of all, you don't have to visit any of those dreaded teenage-infested shopping centers. 

Let's make 'em!

How To: Make Your Own Badass Shorts

Materials:

  • A pair of old pants
  • Scissors
  • 1" fusable webbing tape (found at any fabric/craft store)
  • Iron
  • Pins (optional)

Make it:

1: Put on the pants, and determine your desired length. Add two inches (you can mark with chalk or a white penci), then cut the pants. NOTE: always leave extra room in case you want to fold them, it's better to trim any excess than end up having some 70's looking speedos. Also, angle your cut slightly (15° or so) up towards the inseam. This will make for an even seam. 

how to make your own shorts

2: Choose your style: folded or raw.

- Raw: leave the shorts as is, they'll start to frill overtime. You're done!
- Folded: there are two versions, inside and outside fold. If you don't like the "rolled-up" look, then do it from the inside and they'll look like regular shorts. Either way, glue the folds using the fusing web and a hot iron.

how to make your own shorts

That's it! You're ready to get some extra vitamin-D before your sun-deprived legs go to hibernation. Remember to play with the length!  As long as you are comfortable and look good, your shorts are good. Summer only lasts so long, so make the most out of it.

Booya!

 

This ManMade how-to was originally published on August 13, 2013.

This Weekend You Should Make: Frozen Whiskey Lemonade

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created at: 08/26/2016

We have absolutely zero reservations about hanging onto the summer season as long as possible. With temps outside the ManMade HQ topping 99° today, it seems Mother Nature is on our side, regardless of what all the back-to-school sales say.

And as far as ways to enjoy the season and keep cool, we have but three words for you: Frozen. Whiskey. Lemonade.   

The recipe comes from Fifty Licks ice cream shop on SE Clinton in Portland, OR, which is literally down the street from my own neighborhood. It works like this: combine lemons, sugar, and water to create a slushy lemonade granita, then you mix it with some bourbon or rye whiskey, a little additional lemon for a tart burst, and a dash of bitters to pull everything together. It's half dessert, half cocktail, and completely summer. 

Get the recipe at Portland Monthly: Fifty Licks’ Frozen Whiskey Lemonade

How to: Make a Simple, Rustic Folding Magazine Rack from Wood and Fabric

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This is a guest post from Mike at The Crafty Gentleman blog – a site dedicated to original DIY and craft projects. 

created at: 09/23/2015

Yeah, we're living in the digital age, but I still enjoy a magazine or newspaper with my morning coffee. To keep them tidy and at hand, I designed this minimalist magazine holder, which would fit neatly alongside any table or sofa. The raw wood and denim look gives it a rustic, rugged feel – but you could easily paint the wood or use different fabric, to customize it perfectly for your space.

created at: 09/23/2015

This DIY makes use of both simple sewing and some basic construction techniques , but you definitely don't need to be an expert in either to make it! All you really need is to know how to use a cordless drill, and how to add a simple running stitch to fabric (using a sewing machine, or by hand). If you aren't sure on either of these, this is a great place to start. 

 

Supplies:

  • 2x hardwood dowels, 5/8" thick
  • Several wood slats 
  • 2x 3/8" bolt and accompanying wing nuts
  • Wood screws
  • Large piece of fabric
  • Needle and thread or sewing machine

Editor's note: Mike lives in England, so material availability varies a bit than those in the US.

1. Cut a piece of fabric to 90 by 40 cm (this measurement includes seam allowance).

created at: 09/23/2015

2. Hem the sides by folding one edge of the fabric over onto itself by 1 cm, then again by another 1 cm. This ensures that the raw edge is hidden. Pin and sew this hemline in place, removing pins as you go, then repeat for the other three edges.

created at: 09/23/2015

3. Fold one of the shorter sides of the fabric over onto itself by 5 cm, pin and sew in place along the very edge (so you leave a loop/gap through which to insert the dowelling). Repeat for the other short edge of the fabric.

 

created at: 09/23/2015

4. Cut four identical lengths of wood to 40 cm each and sand the edges. Mark the middle of each piece of wood, then drill a hole through the centre of each. Make sure the hole is large enough to fit a bolt through – you'll need to use it later.

 

created at: 09/23/2015

5. Cut a thick piece of dowelling into two 45 cm long pieces and sand the edges. Place the flat end of one piece of dowlling onto the side of one of the wooden pieces (position it at the end of the large flat face, so the wood and dowelling form a right angle). Drill a long screw through the wood and into the dowelling, so it goes down through the centre of the dowelling (you might need to drill a small hole first to guide the screw).

created at: 09/23/2015

6. Thread one end of the fabric pouch onto the length of dowelling that you've just joined to the wood. Repeat the previous step to add another piece of wood to the other end of this piece of dowelling, in exactly the same way. You'll be left with two parallel pieces of wood, joined at the top by a length of dowelling that has one end of the fabric pouch looped onto it.

7. Repeat the previous two steps using the final two pieces of wood and the second length of dowelling. When it comes to threading on the fabric pouch, just use the loop at the other end of the fabric.

created at: 09/23/2015

8. Finally, join the two pairs of wood together by screwing a bolt through the hole you made earlier in the centre of each piece. Rotate each pair in an X shape, so the fabric drapes between them, then fasten in place with a wing nut (you should only need to make it finger tight). Repeat on the other side. 


created at: 09/23/2015

Pretty simple, right?! Even if you aren't a magazine reader, this would be a great DIY to store an iPad or books in. Or why not make one for your office, to hold your paperwork? You could even change the scale of this project and make a small letter/notes holder. So many options!

created at: 09/23/2015

See more projects like this over at The Crafty Gentleman blog now, and follow Mike on Instagram and Pinterest. 

 created at: 09/23/2015

This ManMade post was originally published in September 2014


Make This: A Metalworking Anvil from a Piece of Upcycled Train Track

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Anvil FinishedIf you're getting serious about working with metal, an anvil is an essential part of the shop. Here's how to use an old piece of train track to make your own.   There are few things that have been around without much change for the past few centuries. Modern technology has advanced us so much in the shop, but some things still remain. For instance, if you need to pound a shape out of metal you'll need an anvil. The standard anvil shape retains the curved horn front, square back, and various holes to help shape all kinds of pieces to the desired shape. Even though the shape has remained for so long, they are still expensive for such a simple piece of metal, so this project walks through the process of making your own from spare train track pieces.

Anvil Steel

Now, chances are there is a train track near you, and if you ask around enough there is a scrap pile of old track than you can dig through for free or at least cheaply. Find a piece big enough to get the job done, then come over here and figure the rest out.

Anvil Holes

While it may be easier to cough up the cash for a commercial anvil, making one can be pretty rewarding in the end. With the right tools it's a straightforward way to make a centerpiece of the shop that will stay useful for years to come. Read about the entire process here. 

What's Good for August 2016: What We're Reading, Watching and Listening to This Month

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What's Good - August 2016

We're back with some of our favorite media for you to devour as the summer draws to a close. Here's what's good:

Reading

Chris:

I'm about two-thirds of the way through A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James. It's a fictional exploration of the shooting of Bob Marley in December 1976, and the following decades of political, social, and criminal aftermath. I won't lie - it's intense. It has 50+ characters (and one of those little dramatis personae keys at the beginning, which I reference about every three pages). It feels like reading Joyce's Ulysses ... Biblical in scale, and I'm looking up some fact or reference (or rocksteady or Jamaican ska record I want to check out) constantly. At some point, there will be an annotated version of this book. But I can already tell it's probably going to crack my top ten favorite novels ever.

I'm also putting in a plug for your local alternative weekly newspaper. Your city has one. Read it, especially in summer. 

Bruno:

Funny ... I'm also reading Maron James' A Brief History of Seven Killings. James teaches at Macalester college here in St. Paul (where I live), and since Killings won the Man Booker prize last year, he's turned into a serious local hero (evidently he wrote much of the book in coffee shops around town).

I'm halfway through it and ... sorry, Chris, but it's not doing that much for me. It's obviously a work of creative genius (the writing is intense and innovative), but for some reason (probably it's just me) I'm finding it to be more of a slog. I'll stick with it till the end, though, just because so many friends have raved about it. Maybe I'll have a totally different opinion when I'm done.

David:

I've been reading (ok, fine ... listening to the book on tape of) All the Presidents' Bankers  by Nomi Prins, and it's pretty eye-opening. Also, kind of infuriating to hear about the constant struggle between financiers and the government to keep them from reaping huge profits by sinking the economy, then swooping in to save the day and reaping more profits from the chaos. My takeaway? Don't buy what you can't afford, a borrower's system is unsustainable in the long run.

Watching

Chris:

The most recent film I saw was "Hunt for the Wilderpeople" which is about as good as a movie going experience gets. It got a pretty wide release, so you can probably find in your town's arthouse theater. I didn't read the book, but apparently it's one of those films that actually improve on the novel. The story is solid, and the original score is really excellent, but the scenery is inspiring, and filmed in a scale you don't usually see in a film like this. New Zealand is quickly moving to the top of my list of places to visit.

TV-wise, I just got access to the seven part OJ documentary. I wish I had more time to watch it. I can't believe how engaging it is.

Stranger Things on Netflix

Bruno:

Stranger Things is worth watching just for the opening credits. Seriously. I'm usually the guy who fast-forwards through the title sequence just to save a little time, since the titles are usually a boring waste (looking at you, Deadwood and True Detective), but I actually found myself rewinding to watch the Stranger Things sequence again. 

Oh, and the show's good too. It's a 1980s nostalgic sci-fi/horror/thriller, full of perfect period clothing, culture, and music references. If you ever played D&D, rode a banana-seat bike, or used an electronic product with a shiny 'Realistic' brand logo on it, then you're going to like this show.

David:

Vikings (on The History Channel) has been a brutal, interesting series and I just wrapped up the 4th season. It's hard to know how violent the times really were back then, but I feel it is probably pretty close to real life in many ways. Amazing to see the peasants and followers leave for years raiding and pillaging, and the wives and kids live out life on the shore until the sails show up on the horizon again.

 

Listening

Desmond Dekker

Chris:

Jamaican music! (See above). A little reggae, but mostly the other genres of dub, dancehall, rocksteady, and ska. I like learning how all these different artists play around within the restrictions of the form and add their own voices and spins. I'm especially interested in all the production aspects of selector and sound system identities, and how you can pick up on the little quirks and signatures of the musicians. I can just swim in all those delays and spring reverb smacks.  

Bruno:

Pass. (Yeah, you can pass in this game ... so what?)

David:

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' new album This Unruly Mess I've Made. Great beats, great rhymes, a fun album to wrap up summer.

 

On MadeMade

Since summer's ending (yes, it is, deal with it), I thought I'd look back at some of the posts you guys have clicked on the most over the last three months. Here they are, by writer:

Chris:

Seriously, This is the Best $5.00 I've Spent on DIY Projects in Years

The Cocktail Every Man Should Be Drinking This Summer (It's not too late! Go make one!)

Your New Favorite Sunglasses: An Under $10 Pair that Fits Every Man, Every Time (and How to Make Them Better)

David:

Skillet Skills: 7 Meals You Can Make In a Single Cast Iron Pan

Upgrade Your Grilling Game with These 8 Amazing Homemade BBQ Sauces

Don't Waste the Summer: 25 Things to Make the Ultimate Warm Weather Bucket List (Well? Did you waste it?)

Bruno

Why We Meditate (and We Think You Should, Too)

We Thought These $12 Aviators Might Be Perfect for Summer. They're Not.

Justin

How to Improve Your Sleep Schedule: A Man's Guide to Feeling Rested

Five Poems Every Man Should Know...and Reference

9 Tips for Jumpstarting Your Morning and Improving Productivity

 

 

How to: Make a DIY Rolling Work Bench with Storage

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created at: 04/01/2013

I chat with lots of ManMakers who would love to get started with bigger, more in-depth projects, but lack a dedicated place to work on them and the storage space for all the tools they'd like to acquire. So, here's a perfect project for them: a small-footprint workbench that's sturdy enough to do real work, and includes lots of built-in storage and plenty of accessories. It starts with a rolling tool cabinet, which you can find at any home center and many hardware stores. I also see barely used ones for sale on my local Craigslist, so consider secondhand options as well. Then, they all a sturdy solid wood stop, additional magnetic tool storage, a power strip, some pegboard, and even a small vice, which I believe is essential for all kinds of creative projects. 

I really do think this would be a great option to put in a home office, a garage, or even somewhere where you could wheel it outside when you want to work. Smart stuff.

Get the full how-to from Woodsmith e-Tips: Tool Cabinet Upgrade 

 

 

This 2016 "Shed of the Year" is Made from 90% Recycled Material and It is Amazing

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So the first thing to know is that, yes, there is such a thing as the Shed of the Year. It's a (literal) giant crown of an award for the best shed in the UK given during the final episode of Channel 4's Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year. This year's finale had a record-breaking 2,825 entries and 12,292 public votes, and was described as, "nail-biting" and I can honestly understand why...   This eco-friendly shed was built over the course of 8 years by Berkshire resident Kevin Herbert and lovingly dubbed, the West Wing (incidentally and entirely unrelatedly--my favorite TV show).  Not only is this tiny shed stunning, 90% of it is made out of recycled material. Take a look...

I'm legitimately bookmarking this house for later design inspiration. Read more about the Herbert's shed at HouseBeautiful.com

How to: Make Fractal Art With High Voltage

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It's always satisfying to burn your initials or insignia (or whatever you choose as your calling card) on a newly completed woodworking project, but why not take that a step further with some high voltage to create a unique fractal design? Perfect for a coffee table, end table, or even as stand-alone art...     By applying an easy-to-mix homemade balm (baking soda and water) to a wood surface and running a high voltage current through it, you'll be able to create a river a completely unique designs with this energetic, lightening look. This process is brought to us by way of Instructables user PaulGetson, who is pleasantly re-appropriating the work of 18th century scientist, Georg Christoph Lichtenberg and his  Lichtenberg figures

Click here to view the full guide.

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