Hacks, Mods & Circuitry How-Tos
How To: Make your own colored sidewalk chalk
Let your creativity out by making your own sidewalk chalk, which you can color however you want. You'll need plaster of paris, a mixing bowl, powdered tempura paint, warm water, wax paper and tubular molds. Once you mix everything and colored with the paint, set your mold, let them dry and then start drawing!
How To: Attach a digital camera to a bicycle helmet
All you really need is a drill and some hardware to build a mount for your digital camera. Drill a few holes in your helmet, and then apply the bolts and washers as explained in the video for your own helmet-mounted camera.
How To: Make and launch your own amateur rockets
Want to get started in rocketry? You can buy launch kits from a hobby store, as well as a few rocket engines and an igniter. Once you have acquired these items, this tutorial will show you how to make a rocket body and launch your creation into the sky.
How To: Make your own laser diode driver for less than three dollars
You can make a laser diode driver extremely inexpensively - the materials in this tutorial cost less than three dollars in total. Find out what to buy, and then this tutorial shows you how to assemble your purchases for a laser diode. Awesome!
How To: Broadcast your own FM pirate radio station
Become the producer of your own pirate radio show! The mind behind Free Radio Berkeley shows you how to build your own FM transmitter, which is what you need to start broadcasting. Once you have all your hardware, set it up and all you need now is programming!
How To: Set up your own low powered FM pirate radio station
Want to start your own rebellion against the hegemony of the American media? You can set up your own FM radio station and start broadcasting what you want. This tutorial shows you everything you need to know to become a pirate radio producer.
How To: Build your own burning red laser for less than thirty dollars
You can construct your own burning red laser very easily and very cheaply. All you need are a soldering iron, Phillips head screwdriver, an LPC-815 laser diode, and a RKCSTR driver. Once you have everything together, follow this video to build a burning red laser.
How To: Install a Pixel Qi screen onto your netbook computer
A Pixel Qi (pronounced 'chee') screen allows for some really amazing display options when added to your netbook. This tutorial shows you how to remove the original screen and repalce it with this amazing new screen. All you really need is a screwdriver!
How To: Build a burning laser from leftover spare computer parts
You can actually build a burning red laster by assembling a few spare parts taken from old computers! This tutorial shows you what you'll need to look out for, and then how to build it. You'll probably need a diode, but that's likely the only thing to purchase!
How To: Use perfboard prototyping for your electronics projects
Perfboard, or perforated board, is a simple board with evenly spaced holes and lined with metal which can be soldered on one side. The holes let you set up a board with circuits and wires as you need them for your own project. This tutorial shows you everything you need to know to build electronics on your own perfboard.
How To: Create a double pendulum out of polycarbonate plastic and skateboard bearings
While single pendulums can seem orderly, a double pendulum can be extremely chaotic. This tutorial shows you how to build your own double pendulum out of polycarbonate plastic, skateboard bearings and a few various pieces of hardware. Then follow the tutorial to get your own crazy chaotic double pendulum.
How To: Attach a few spin-activated LED lights to a yo-yo
Here's a fun weekend project you can use to add to a common toy. Get a yo-yo with concave sides, a few pieces of thin plastic (like from a CD case) and a few lithium-powered LEDs. Then follow this tutorial and get a yo yo that lights up when you play with it!
How To: Use Skype on your iPod Touch by modding the headphone jack
You can certainly use Skype to make free Internet phone calls through your iPod Touch, though the microphone/headphone combo headset sold by Apple is thirty dollars. Make one for a fraction of that cost using a headphone splitter and the mod process outlined in this video.
How To: Turn an old pair of headphones into a wireless reciever box
Take a pair of headphones with a broken case (though with the inner electronics still intact), and then get together the hardware listed in this video. Once you have gotten the circuit board out of the headphones, you can mod this into a wireless receiver box for your favorite pair of headphones.
How To: Build a ghost phone out of an old rotary phone and headphones
Here's a creepy weekend project! Take an old analog rotary phone (which you can easily find in an antique or vintage store). Unscrew the earpiece and then alter the parts according to the tutorial so you can start 'talking to ghosts'.
How To: Make your own backlit keyboard with electroluminescent wire
In this clip, you'll learn how to convert a standard USB keyboard into a backlit keyboard with a little bit of el wire. It's an easy process and this video presents a complete guide. For more information, including a full demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, watch this helpful home-computing how-to.
How To: Make a pair of noise-canceling headphones for twenty bucks
In this video tutorial, we learn how to build a high-quality pair of isolation headphones for just twenty dollars. For more information, including a complete demonstration and detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started making your own noise-canceling headphones, watch this how-to from the folks at CNET.
How To: Increase the power of a 5mw green laser pointer
In this tutorial, we learn how to increase the power of a 5mw green laser pointer. First, you will need to gather the parts you will need, which include a vise, the laser, a soldering iron, and a block of wood. After this, cut the block of wood in half and then put your laser pointer in the middle. Pull and twist so the module comes out, then pull the foam protector off. Don't lose any small parts that come out. Next, unscrew the silver cap and then put on your new laser module. Replace all p...
How To: Use MMS on T-Mobile or ATT iPhone using 3.1 or lower
In this tutorial, we learn how to use MMS on T-mobile or ATT iPhone using 3.1 or lower. First, you need to make sure you have iTunes down and it's not running on your computer at all. After this, go to the start menu, then click on the run. Next, type in "command" and hit enter. Then, type or copy and paste "C:/Program Files/iTunes/iTunes.exe/setPreflnt carrier-testin 1" into the command console that comes up. Then, hit enter and reboot your iPhone. When this reboots, go to the settings menu,...
How To: Build a mini fume extractor
Materials needed: Altoid mint tin, 9 volt batter and connector, switch, 7812 voltage regulator, 12 volt computer fan, carbon filter and 2 pieces of screen. Wire the battery connectors. Solder all of the following: Negative connector to the switch, wire to the switch, ground wire of the voltage regulator to the middle wire, output for the 7812 to the fan, positive lead on the 9 volt connector to the input on the 7812 and the negative from the 7812 to the negative on the fan. Test. Put all the ...
How To: Do the evil mouse prank to take control of your coworker's cursor
This isn't so much of an evil mouse prank as it is an annoying mouse prank. By following the instructions in this video you'll learn how to take control of your co-worker's mouse so that no matter where he moves it, the cursor will always slant to the side and stay there.
How To: Make a safe out of an empty can of whipped cream
Hide your valuables in plain sight! This tutorial shows you how to take an empty can of whipped cream and then add a few discreet mods. When you're done, it'll still look like a can of whippped cream, but now there will be a way to hide your valuables!
How To: Make a low cost rack to store and organize wire spools
Using just a few inexpensive pieces of hardware, you can construct your own rack designed for storing and organizing spools of wire. Bolt a dowel to a wall or another rack, then thread your spools on the dowel. You can still get the wire, and now they won't move!
How To: Make lily pad pool warmers that run on solar power
Start with just a few hula hoops, and then get some polyethylene film and a small soldering iron. Fit the film to your hoops, then gently mod your soldering iron and make a few spot welds. Be careful not to melt anything! Make a few vent bubbles, and you now have a pool warmer!
How To: Construct your own industrial hanging pendant lamp
Replicate the style of hanging lamps sold in high end boutiques! You'll need two separate gauge of wire, a few pliers, spray paint, lamp parts and a screwdriver. Cut your wire and shape according to design. Then assemble this over your lightbulb, and you have your own hanging pendant lamp!
How To: Turn a CD or DVD container into a holder for spare parts
Recycle your plastic CD or DVD cases into a holder for parts. This tutorial shows you how to make your own container. Remove the spindle, then mount to a piece of wood. Once mounted, you can use this to hold and organize small parts.
How To: Custom fit a pair of earbuds to fit your ear
Earbuds can be great for filtering out distraction, but they certainly aren't built for every ear. This tutorial shows you how to create your own pair of custom fit earbuds using just a custom earplug kit. Follow the instructions, and you'll have your own pair of noise-cancelling headphones!
How To: Build your own burning blue laser torch
This mod will run you about $130, but you'll have your own laser torch at the end of it. You'll need a high end flashlight, a Aixiz module, an AR coated lens and a blue diode. Then assemble according to the instructions, and get a laser at the end of it!
How To: Use a home computer as a wireless adapter for your Xbox 360
Get onto Xbox Live using your home computer. This tutorial shows you how to use your PC as a wireless adapter for your Xbox. All you need is a home computer with a spare ethernet plug and an ethernet cable. This tutorial shows you the rest.
How To: Charge your small electronics with a solar powered charger
Charge your cell phone, mp3 player or other USB-equipped device with the power of the Sun! All you need is a 6-volt solar panel and a female USB cable. Solder them together (this video demonstrates how), and then you have a solar powered USB charger!
How To: Turn a 9-volt battery into a small safe
Hide your money, small candies or other tiny items you want to keep hidden! Pry off the top of the battery, take out the innards and then rebuild the casing to re-camoflauge the battery. Then you're ready to hide your goodies!
How To: Make a remote control work with only one battery
Hack your remote control so you only need one battery to run it! All you need is one paper clip to let you complete the circuit between the battery and the hardware on your remote control. It'll run at a lower voltage, so you'll have to be closer to the TV, but it will still work!
How To: Make a working motor out of a magnet
You can make a very simple homopolar motor using just a basic clamp, two strong magnets, a battery and a little bit of wire. Once you've completed the circuit, you'll be able to suspend a drywall screw between the battery and the magnet. Then watch it go!
How To: Make a Gauss gun out of magnets and a steel bar
To make a Gauss gun, all you need is a piece of metal rail, two magnets and steel ball bearings that fit on the rail. Then rig it up, and you have your own magnet-powered gun that shoots ball bearings!
How To: Play computer games on your PC with a PS3 controller
Here's a quick tutorial on how to set up a connection which will let your computer talk to a PS3 controller, so you can use it as an input device to play games on! All you need is to download the software and then update the driver!
How To: Use the free hard disk space on your computer as virtual memory
Turn unused hard disk space on your computer into RAM! This will optimize the performance of your computer and give it more processing speed (useful for playing games). You can achieve this through Control Panel and settings, and this tutorial shows you how!
How To: Hack a toy EEG into a working brain-computer interface
In this clip, you'll learn how to extract serial data from the $80 Mattel Mindflex or Star Wars Force Trainer. For more information, including detailed, step-by-step instructions, and to get started creating your own working EEG/BCI, watch this very-neat hacker's how-to.
HowTo: The $5 iPhone Macro Mod
Crabfu demonstrates how to mod your iPhone with a microscope for just $5 (UPDATE: the $5 microscope from Amazon is now selling it for $12.50... read more). Incredibly simple to make! Check out the sample images taken below the video.
How To: Prevent Cydia crashes on your iPhone or iPod Touch
In order to stop Cydia from crashing on your iPhone or iPod Touch, you'll need an iPhone or iPod with firmware 3.1.1, 3.1, 3.0.1, or 3.0, SSH installed both in your computer and in your device. Now first SSH your device into your computer and navigate to /var/lib/dpkg/updates. Delete the files named as 0000, 0001, 0002 and so on. Now your Cydia should work fine. If that doesn't work, try reinstalling Cydia on your iPhone or iPod Touch, as it could be a different problem.
How To: Understand circuit bending
In this video, we learn how to understand circuit bending. Circuit bending is noodling around with circuitry to see how it sounds and get different noises out of it. When you go into a motherboard and see the circuits that are inside of it, these can make noise if you re-circuit them. This can help you be creative and turn the electronic circuit board into a canvas. This can let someone immediately create something out of this and use it as an art form. It takes trial and error to find someth...