Category Archives: DIY

How-To: Build a ‘Guitar Hero’ foot pedal controller

Thursday, December 11th, 2008
Posted by Benjamin Heckendorn from Engadget.

Benjamin J. Heckendorn returns from a vision quest of Xbox 360 laptop-building and Jasper-hunting to share a new how-to project with Engadget readers. In this episode, he’ll describe how to build one of his Guitar Hero foot pedal controllers, which allows those with physical limitations to play their favorite guitar rhythm games using a foot pedal! Read on for the complete how-to.

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How-To: Build a ‘Guitar Hero’ foot pedal controller originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed in BenHeck, BenjaminHeckendorn, Computers, DIY, FootPedal, Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero Foot Pedal Controller, GuitarHero, GuitarHeroFootPedalController, PhysicalLimitations, ben heck, benjamin Heckendorn, features, foot pedal, hack, mod, physical limitations | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Tackle Projects One Quick Simple Problem at a Time [Problem Solving]

Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Posted by Gina Trapani from Lifehacker.

Do-it-yourselfer Chris Connors says that one of the best ways to finish a complex project is to solve the first quick, simple problem—then move onto the next one. While his piece focuses on hardware projects, the concept is applicable to any undertaking. Connors writes:

Quick Simple Problems may seem too easy, and may seem like they don’t get you to your destination. What they will do, however is to get you moving. If the problems are truly quick and simple, you will have rapid successes on your project. You won’t be sitting there wondering if it will work, you will know whether it works or not, and what the conditions that cause success are.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Creativity, DIY, Goals, How To, Mind Hacks, Motivation, Problem Solving, Projects | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

VFD from VCR generates 40 VDC to power DIY amp


Posted by Laura June from Engadget.

So, this is a pretty ingenious use of spare time. With a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) from a VCR used as the amplifier, a crafty DIY-er was able to power a pair of headphones. We’ll be honest, the wiring specifics are totally irrelevant to our interests, but this sure does look awesome and we might buy one if it was commercially available. The amplified power is, in the maker’s own words, “limited,” but that’s not really the point, and we have a feeling that Thomas Dolby sounded just as scientific (and awesome) as he would through the greatest headphones ever made.

Click here to read more.

Filed in 5volt, Amplifier, Computers, DIY, Homebrew, VCR, amp, headphones, sound, vfd | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Cuckoo clock loudspeaker kicks out the jams, you out of bed


Posted by Darren Murph from Engadget.

And you thought The Shining cuckoo clock was terrifying — imagine waking up to this. Designed by French artist Stephane Vigny, the loudspeaker clock does exactly what you’d expect it to. When the time comes, the doors flip open, the bottom woofer extends out and a cacophonic emission of sound is heard as you angrily wake from your slumber. We can’t imagine that outstretched woofer surviving too many mornings of you waking on the wrong side of the bed.

[Via MAKE]

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Cuckoo clock loudspeaker kicks out the jams, you out of bed originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:43:00 EST.

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Filed in AlarmClock, Art, Computers, CuckooClock, DIY, Design, France, Stephane Vigny, StephaneVigny, alarm clock, clock, cuckoo, cuckoo clock, french, loudspeaker, loudspeakers, mod, speaker, speakers, timepiece | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Xbox 360 modder adds 7-inch LCD to chassis for reasons unknown

Monday, December 8th, 2008
Posted by Darren Murph from Engadget.

One could argue that adding an LCD monitor into the casing of an Xbox 360 would certainly make it a more viable gaming solution on-the-go, but given just how many cables are still connected here, we’re wondering if it’s not worth the extra effort to lug around a decent sized LCD. ‘Course, we certainly commend the effort here — though it’s not entirely original or anything — and we can’t deny that it took some serious blood, sweat and lost Halo 3 time to fix it up. To that end, we present to you an emphatic golf clap and a recommendation to hit up the read link for a short demonstration vid.

[Via NowhereElse]

Continue reading Xbox 360 modder adds 7-inch LCD to chassis for reasons unknown

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Xbox 360 modder adds 7-inch LCD to chassis for reasons unknown originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed in Computers, DIY, Halo 3, Halo3, LCD, Microsoft, Video, XBox 360, Xbox, Xbox360, case mod, casemod, hack, mod, monitor | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

DIY Sliding Pants Rack Puts Hangers to Shame [Weekend Project]

Sunday, December 7th, 2008
Posted by Jason Fitzpatrick from Lifehacker.


Faced with shelling out hundreds of extra dollars for a higher priced clothing wardrobe at IKEA, just to get the sliding pants rack he wanted, Instructables user Phantazn set about crafting his own. If you’ve ever looked at the wasted space beneath the hanging clothes in a wardrobe and thought that it might be better spent than as a shoebox graveyard, this project is for you. By purchasing some cheap pine dowels and wood, along with a $5 set of drawer sliders, he was able to put together a perfectly serviceable sliding pants rack even nicer than the wire model in the more expensive wardrobe.

Click here to read more.

Filed in Clothes, Clothing, DIY, How To, Organization, Weekend project | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

DIY “James Bond” laser gun won’t make you anything like James Bond


Posted by Laura June from Engadget.

Well this is a nice little project for a lazy Sunday. The folks over at Instructables have given us the step-by-step how-to on making a James Bond style “laser weapon” — though it’s not actually a gun for killing people (thankfully), and it’s not really very much like 007’s weapon, either. Using a CO2 pistol, a laser guide, an Xbox 360 HD DVD drive, a housing for the laser and a circuit board, you too can build a blue laser gun that’ll do things like light matches and pop balloons. Like we said, it’s not going to help you achieve your goal of taking out all those who’ve wronged you, and it probably won’t get you a date with Strawberry Fields, but you might impress your friend(s).

Click here to read more.

Filed in 007, Computers, DIY, James Bond, JamesBond, co2, gun, weapon | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Turn a Craft Store “Antique” Box into a Posh Charging Station [Weekend Project]


Posted by Jason Fitzpatrick from Lifehacker.

If you’d like to tame your cable clutter with a charging station but you’re not too keen on shelling out $50 for a pleather and particle board model at your local big box store and the plastic and glowing switches motif of many stations doesn’t appeal to you, the Weekly Geek has a posh alternative for you. By repurposing a $10 “antique” box from a craft store and fitting with with a peg board false bottom they created a living room friendly charging station. For other cord management ideas check out our top 10 DIY office projects and top 10 ways to get cords under control.

DIY Charging Station [via Make]


Filed in Clutter, DIY, How To, Organization, Weekend project | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

Turn a Photograph Into a Stencil [Weekend Project]

Saturday, December 6th, 2008
Posted by Jason Fitzpatrick from Lifehacker.


We’ve already shown you how make a single layer stencil using Photoshop. After following the stencil tutorial at DIYer blog Instructables you’ll take your stencil making to a whole new level. By using the cutout filter in Photoshop on each layer of color and/or highlights you want to include you can build a series of templates for your multi-layer stencil masterpiece. Perfect for those times when a simple one color stencil won’t cut it. Want to show off your stencil making chops without having to run from the police? Use your new found talent to stencil your own t-shirt.

Photograph to Stencil [Instructables]


Filed in Craft, DIY, Design, How To, Photography, Photography Tip, Photoshop, Weekend project, graphics | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off

iPhone barf bag mod is air sick

Friday, December 5th, 2008
Posted by Thomas Ricker from Engadget.

Sure, it’s foolish and low-tech as hell. But in the 8-hours you were cooped up on that transatlantic flight, did you ever once think about using the barf bag as an adjustable mount for your media player? No, you just held your iPod touch in your hand, occasionally dozing off until awakened by a jerk of the earbuds from your fallen iPod. Who’s the fool now?

[Via Random Good Stuff]

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iPhone barf bag mod is air sick originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed in Computers, DIY, IpodTouch, hack, iPhone, ipod touch, mod | | Link inside C.I.A.G. | Comments Off