Hot Hacks, Mods & Circuitry Posts
How To: Circuit bend a plastic toy
In this how-to video, you will learn how to perform basic circuit bending. You will need a screw driver, alligator clips, solder, a soldering iron, wires, a wire stripper, a button or switch, and a drill. Open up the device you want to circuit bend. Once the side of the board with the solder points is exposed, take your alligator clips and find two solder points that make an interesting noise. Be careful of areas where the battery is connected, as you might shock your self or destroy the devi...
How To: Make a small pocket sized light from household items
There are some days when you and your loved ones could be eating dinner and the power suddenly shuts off. The next best thing to do would be to find a flashlight or candle to help make things a bit more clearer in the dark. If you have a flashlight, but need a bit more light, then this video may be for you. This tutorial will show you how to make a small pocket sized light using easy to find household items. Enjoy!
HowTo: Shrink Your Nintendo 64 into Mini Handheld Portable
Modder Bacteria presents his iNto64, a mini portable handheld of the classic Nintendo console. The iNto64 features:
How To: Install trailer lights
This video demonstrates how to install trailer lights on your boat's trailer. In order to determine what size replacement kit you will need, you must figure out the width of the trailier at the widest point. First, remove the old lights. Use a large slotted screwdriver to remove the cover. Don't forget to wear eye protection. Next, use vice grips and a wrench to remove the exposed stud. Using a wire brush, remove the salt and loose corrossion. Then grease the threads of the studs. You are now...
How To: Build and use a tinyCylon kit
In this Electronics video tutorial you will learn how to build and use a tinyCylon kit. The kit contains a battery pack, a PCB, LEDs, resistor, a momentary switch and a screw. The long end of the LEDs will go into the square shaped contacts. Don’t push the LEDs right up to the board. Instead, use some poster putty to hold the LEDs standing upright so that they can be bent later on. Fix all the LEDs in this manner and solder them on the other side. Then solder the leads of the battery pack. ...
How To: Hook up your exercise bike to Google Maps
Tinkernut demonstrates how to hook up your exercise bike to Google Maps. Using a stationary bike can be good for your health but it can also be boring. You can spice up your exercise regiment by using Google Maps. You will need a USB keypad with arrow keys, a magnetic contact alarm with wires, soldering equipment, an exercise bike and a laptop computer. Connect the contact alarm to the up arrow key on the keypad by opening up the keypad and connecting the wires to the up arrow key by solderin...
How To: Circuit bend a Yamaha PSS 140 synthesizer
In this video the man describes of the circuit bending of Yamaha pss 140 synthesizer. This is a good model it's a FM synthesizers. It got many songs , many cool rhythms,nice trumpets and it is working real nice.Here he states that it is important for power supply or else we don't need batteries.First thing we have to do is open the case and we can see the wires related to battery supply but he doesn't need batteries. Keep the case aside so that you can get free space. Remove the screws so tha...
How To: Solder wires when circuit bending
In this video, we learn how to solder bend points on wires. Before you apply the wire, you will want to solder the end point lightly, then take your wire and strip it slightly on the end. Then, add solder to the actual wire, now it will stick easily to your next bend point. When you do this, you can get a lot of wires next to each other without shorting them out. This is the easiest way to do it, just make sure you coat the wire so it sticks on easier. Be careful while doing this and use tool...
How To: Make a 3D scanner with free software
Scanners have been around for a while. They allow us scan photos and documents into digital versions that are a lot less susceptible to damage over time. But what if you want to digitize the memories of something that isn't 2D? With this hacker's how-to, you'll learn a method for making a 3D scanner. To follow along, you'll need a computer, a printer, a web cam, white foam board and a laser pointer.
How To: Properly coil a cable
With cables as with human hair, tangles are a drag. With the proper coiling method, however, they can be avoided. And this free video guide will walk you, step-by-step through the entire process. For more information, and to get started coiling your own cables the right way, watch this useful how-to.
How To: Wire a car amplifier and subwoofer inside your house
This easy to follow silent and accurate video will guide you quickly and easily through what you'll need, (like a Power Supply, a sound system that has a Subwoofer Pre-output and a High Input adapter, which may already come with your amp.) First learn what colored wires should be connected to simulate your PC starting. Then connect the amp to the power supply to simulate the car Head-Unit starting. Once the power issues are handled, the video assists you with connecting your audio input. It i...
How To: Fix a broken XLR cable & make a sub mic from a speaker
If you have an extra speaker cabinet, a broken XLR cable and a little bit of soldering knowledge, you can create a functional kick drum microphone in just a few minutes' time. This audio engineer's guide will walk you through the entire process. For detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started building your own sub mic for extra low-end, watch this hacker's how-to.
News: Mmmm, I Wish My Bicycle Made Cotton Candy
In the far away land of China, cotton candy is made with bicycles. According to Make, the sugar is heated with propane, and the cotton candy is spun using the bike pedals. I've gotta get myself one of these (or next best thing, travel to China so I can sample it myself). Previously, Chinese Dropout Builds Submarine.
How To: Build a pinhole panoramic camera
Weekend Project: Pinhole Panoramic Camera
How To: Use an XLR mic with a camcorder
How to Make Anything demonstrates how to use a three prong XLR mic with your camcorder. The XLR plug on the mic is not going to fit into the 1/8 inch plug on your camcorder so you will need an adapter. You can find an XLR to 1/8 inch adapter for about 10 dollars. Try to get an adapter with as short of a cord as possible to reduce noise and radio interference. You can also get an XLR box which is an interface which goes between your camera and the microphone. The XLR box will be about 180 doll...
How To: Wire your entire house for VoIP
Vonage is a very cool and inexpensive way to have a home phone, but unfortunately it requires a little box to be near your phone at all times. In this two part tutorial, learn exactly how to hack your Vonage phone and route it to your central telephone box to distribute your VoIP line throughout the entire house. The days of being stuck near the phone box are behind you once you follow these steps to a simple hack.
How To: Make a fake & funny virus
Karn demonstrates how to make a fake and funny harmless virus that will shut down only your computer. First, go to your desktop and right click to access the right click menu. Then, choose new from the menu options and select the shortcut option. A window should open. In it type -s -t. The -t will represent the number of seconds you want the virus to activate. Also type -c. Create a message like, "This is a virus, your system is being shutdown." Name the shortcut anything that you'd like. The...
How To: Make an emergency microphone from a pair of headphones
In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to make a microphone with a pair of headphones. Headphones have properties and construction similarities that are similar to a microphone. Instead of plugging the headphones into the headphone jack, plug it into the microphone jack. Then you just simply hold your headphones up to your mouth and speak into it. The sound quality produced from the headphones is not very good and it should only be used if you don't have a microphone. This video will benef...
How To: Lock and prevent an extension cord from unplugging
This video tutorial is in the electronics category and it is going to show you how to lock and prevent an extension cord from unplugging. When you plug in an extension cord, there is always a chance it getting undone accidentally. There is also the possibility of the pins getting slightly bent. So, you need to lock the extension cord. There is a real simple way to do this. All you got to do is just tie a simple knot before plugging in the cord. Now even if someone pulls at both the ends of th...
HowTo: Build a Self Balancing Segway-Skateboard
Instructables user XenonJon has posted detailed instructions for his skateboard/segway style balancing platform he showcased at Makerfaire in Newcastle, this past March. Not an easy/beginner build, but the process is extremely well documented. Video below.
How To: Make a mute plug for your computer or stereo
Learn how to make a mute plug for your computer by following the steps outlined in this tutorial. This plug can be used for anything, including computers, stereos, mp3 players, or anything else with speakers that has audio. A mute plug is useful to get back at someone that constantly plays their stereo too loud because you are essentially cutting off their audio with this plug. The plug is place into where the headphone equipment would normally go. What you need are some old headphones. Take ...
How To: Achieve good soldering joints
Learn how to solder wires with this video. Clean the area to be soldered, scraping the wire down to bare metal and then wiping it clean with alcohol or acetone. Use rosin-core solder for electronic applications. This solder normally comes in coils. Tin (coat with solder) the soldering tip first: Wrap one or two inches of solder around the tip while the iron is cold; set the iron to the solder's temperature range; and allow the solder to melt. Clean the tip with a sponge. Set the soldering too...
News: Got an Itch? Let Your Chair Do the Scratching
The itch chair, designed by Dana Gordon and Alejandro Zamudio Sánchez, is a futuristic chair that scratches the back of the sitter.
How To: Hack a Vending Machine in 3 Easy Steps
How to get a vending machine to pay you for its goodies, instead of you paying for them. First off, find a older vending machine, and insert your dollar bill as you normally would. Once you have entered it, you can select which ever item you want. Then quickly, before the item dispenses, hold up on the gate to prevent the item from falling. When it falls, it should rest on the back of the gate you're holding up—don't let go yet. After a long wait, the vending machine will think nothing dispen...
How To: Solder piezo
This tutorial demonstrates the correct way to solder wires to a piezoelectric sensor. First, the stripped wires are tinned (coated with a thin layer of solder). Then the piezoelectric sensor, held in a small adjustable clip, is heated briefly, and two drops of solder placed where the wires are to be attached. Finally, the tinned ends of the wires are placed in contact with the soldered areas of the piezoelectric sensor, and the solder heated to fix the wires in place.
News: Easy! Cell Phone Camera Macro Mod (5X Zoom)
Hack N Mod offers an incredibly simple cell phone camera mod that delivers striking results. All you need is a lens from an old DVD player and you can magnify your zoom by five times.
How To: Solder wires
Soldering properly is a skill every electronics and computer hobbyist needs. Proper soldering appears deceptively simple, but it requires practice. One has to do the steps below to solder the wires which is as follows, First Clean the area you wish to solder and scrape the wire down to the metal and then wiping it clean with alcohol or acetone. Then you want to use a rosin-core solder for electronic applications, which comes normally with coils. Tin the tip of the first Wrap one or two inches...
How To: Solder magnet wires
Do you have magnet wires that you need to solder together to get your device working again? This video can help you immensely! Soldering is when you put two wires together using a soldering iron so that even cut wires can be made useful again. Great care and time is taken into soldering these wires properly. Watch the video to learn the proper techniques of soldering magnet wires. The wires shown in this video are extremely thin and are used for small, ready-to-fly airplanes.
How To: Build a spy clock
HouseholdHacker teaches you how to make a spy clock. You will need a cheap walkie talkie set and a battery powered clock. Fully disconnect the circuit board and cut the battery off from the walkie talkie. Also clip the microphone. You will want to glue the on/off button so it will always be on. Next, open up the clock and rewire the battery with the walkie talkie circuit board. Wire the walkie talkie into the speaker, inside the clock. The clock should look unopened. You're ready to go.
How To: Build a remote-controlled camera mount
Kip Kay, from Make Magazine, shows you how to take your radio controlled vehicle and turn it into a spy car, by mounting a camera onto it. Follow Kip, as he shows you how to remove the body from your radio controlled car, mount the camera inside the chassis using the triPod mounting screw hole on your video camera, and put it all back together. In just few short steps you, too, can have your very own radio controlled spy car.
How To: Solder a wire
This video describes how to solder a wire. The first thing you have to remember is that the wires should be cleaned, shiny, and bright. Then trim about 1/2-inch of the insulation of the wires and then make a secure mechanical connection. Next, put some soldering pencil clean and shiny 60/40 rosin core solder. Do not use 50/50 core solder. Start by making sure that the soldering iron is tint. Put the soldering iron underneath the joint. Heat tends to rise and then touch the solder to the joint...
How To: Make a light bulb glow with an electrical circuit
One of the basics of electronics is knowing how an electrical current works. For this video, you will need a 1.2V battery, a lightbulb, and 2 copper wires. First, take the wires and attach one end of each wire to opposite sides of the battery. Have a friend hold the wires there, or tape the wires down. Then, take the unattached ends of the wires. Take one wire and touch it to the upper part of the base of the lightbulb. Take the other wire, and touch it to the bottom. The lightbulb should now...
How To: Build a 19th century arc light
While it is common knowledge that Thomas Edison created the first light bulb, he was not the first to create a means of creating artificial light. That distinction goes to a man by the name of Humphrey Davy who created a means to light up a room called an arc light. The following video will give you a detailed step by step procedure for creating your own 19th century arc light using materials that can often be found right around the home.
HowTo: Make Your Own Pong Clock
Feeling ambitious in the hack department? Try taking on the DIY Pong Clock. Via Core77,
HowTo: Convert Your Old Laptop into a Projector
Wish you had $1000 to throw down for a projector? Well, if you have an old laptop lying around instead, here is a simple way to cheaply build your own digital projector. Lifehacker posts a HowTo excerpted from DIYer Randy Sarafan's 62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer: (And Other Discarded Electronics).
How To: Make an LED light brick
This video by makemagazine demonstrates a weekend project on how to make a LED light brick. The materials required for this project are listed on the link to the make magazine page in the info box or it can be orders as a kit from the make magazine store. Take the PCB (printed circuit board) and first solder the Resisters and Capacitors as shown. Next test the LEDs and separate them using a button cell batteries. Solder the LED, PIC micro-controller, DC power connector and tilt switch followi...
News: The Man Behind MacGyver
MacGyver. How can he not be a WonderHowTo hero?
HowTo: Write in Midair with LEDs
Hacked Gadgets recently featured Csaba Bleuer's LED wave display, a device that projects LED messages midair. Bleuer had also previously created a similar device that spins on a fan motor.
How To: Construct a "rumble mouse"
This video demonstrates a project taken from "Make" magazine. Viewers will learn how to modify an ordinary computer mouse with a vibration unit for use with PC games, similar to the rumble controllers sold for video-game consoles, to make gaming more fun.
How To: Make a DVD stash box
If you're looking for a creative place to stash your cash or small valuables, this how-to video walks you through the process of turning a DVD drive into stash box. Armed with a screwdriver and some time, this video gives detailed step-by-step instruction on talking apart your DVD drive and reassembling it. The video includes helpful hints to make this stash box look and function in an authentic manner. This DVD stash box video will not only help keep your stuff safe, but you may even feel a ...