Awesome Diy

LCD screens struggle with contrast because their crystals have to selectively block out a backlight. DIY Perks wanted to see if layering a second LCD panel could improve contrast. He combined parts from two identical displays, depolarized their screens, and upgraded their backlight. It’s a cool hack, but an OLED is still better.

Arcade machines are lots of fun, but they aren’t typically living room friendly. Bob from I Like to Make Stuff shows off a piece of furniture that combines a storage unit with a Raspberry Pi arcade, and four sets of arcade controls in a hidden, slide-out shelf. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can buy the plans to build your own.

As we’ve seen before, inventor Nicolas Bras loves to make unique musical instruments. His latest instrument is one of the sillier ones we’ve seen. He created an improvised bagpipe by attaching his PVC pipe clarinets and a kid-sized duck pool float. It doesn’t sound much like the traditional Scottish instrument, nor does it quack like a duck.

In this video from The Q, he shows us how he made a hand-cranked machine for displaying animations using cardboard, rubber bands, and a few pieces of hardware. The zoetrope-like device has a series of 25 animation frames on each of its tiers, creating the illusion of movement when it spins.

The ByteBoi is a great way to learn about electronics and have fun doing it. The kit includes all the parts needed to build your own handheld gaming console and works with Make Code Arcade to create and load games. It’s also available with a complete tool kit for assembly.

Amr MCI shows off another neat cardboard weapon build. This one-handed launcher doesn’t fire actual grenades, but it does produce satisfying explosions as it bursts skinny balloons filled with baby powder. Now we want a revolver version that can pop multiple balloons.

We have a thing for multi-purpose furniture. HomeMadeModern shows off a design for a contemporary piece of furniture that functions as a small couch and a desk. It has a smaller footprint than two standalone pieces, and it just looks cool. It also has built-in side tables. Best of all, it can be built with basic power tools.

Wood Season shows us how they created a chess board that looks like its playing surface is floating on water. The trick was encasing oak wood blocks in a thick bath of clear resin, then backlighting them with LEDs. A pearlescent resin backing and floating pine cones add to the effect. The set is available for sale on Etsy.

A hovercraft might sound like a complicated piece of equipment to build from scratch, but Project Air shows us how it’s possible to build one at home using wood, foam board, a plastic tarp, and duct tape. The key to the build is the powerful lift motors. He also had some help from his dad and fellow maker Matt from DIY Perks.

What do Kenny G and bagpipes have in common? Well if you watch this video by science and nature vlogger Charlie Engleman, you’ll find out. Along the way, you’ll also learn how to make your own bagpipes from a latex glove, two straws, and some appropriately Scotch tape.

The Rival Khaos is one of the coolest toys that NERF has ever made. The $200 shooter has a 40-round magazine and a quick-firing motorized mechanism. YouTuber Amr MCI shows off a fully-functional replica of the toy gun that he made mostly from cardboard, fiberboard, and glue, along with motors and springs to make it fire.

Raphaël from Epic Cardboard Props shows off another awe-inspiring build – a replica of a Predator’s head made almost entirely from Amazon boxes, craft paper, and toilet paper. You can purchase the template to make your own Predator mask from his website, and you could be donning those dreadlocks in time for Halloween.

Totally Handy walks us through the process of building a custom electric bicycle from scratch. In addition to its low-rider style, it has an extra-fat car tire on its rear wheel for added stability. The second part of the video shows off a totally different build – a custom made branding iron made from a melted-down engine.

Carpenter John Heisz of I Build It typically makes things out of wood. But given the ridiculously high price of lumber these days, he decided to use cardboard boxes for his latest build. We appreciate the attention to detail he put into crafting this multi-drawer parts storage unit.

This kit from Teenage Engineering and designer/musician Yuri Suzuki lets you create your own low-fi vinyl records. Once assembled, connect an audio source to its 3.5mm jack, place a 5″ vinyl blank on the turntable, and start it spinning to record monophonic sounds. Records 4 minutes a side @ 33 RPM or 3 minutes @ 45 RPM.

If you’re looking for tips and techniques for shooting great photos, look no further than COOPH. Their YouTube channel is packed with great tutorials like this one which shows how to shoot a photo of a miniature Ford Mustang launched off a ramp. This shot required multiple exposures to layer in the sparks, smoke, and dust.

Brad from Fix This Build That shows how he fabricated a coffee table that’s great parties. He built the table from cedar and MDF, and it packs a beer cooler, Bluetooth speakers, and recessed LED lights that animate to the beat of the music. He had a few challenges along the way, but the end result looks great.

Backyard engineer Geng Ge loves to make things out of parts he finds in the trash. Using a mix of junk and new parts, he built himself a bubble-shaped electric car that can maneuver in tight places. It features a curvy, stainless steel shell, wheels that can turn in any direction, a backup camera, and a 32″ TV for navigation.

V. Idea shows off a fun and creative project they built using PVC pipe. The tabletop fountain pumps water over a spinning wheel which drive a couple of little plastic guys on the sides to make it look like they’re cranking its mechanism.

HomeMadeModern shows us how to create an eye-catching curved pool lounge chair from plywood and PVC pipe. The main trick was cutting notches for the pipes using a hole saw drill bit, then slicing through their centers with a jigsaw. After screwing all the PVC into place, he spray-painted it in a beachy green Krylon Fusion paint.

There’s a whole community dedicated to hacking IKEA products to make them look better or more useful. In this video from Woodboy, he shows us how he turned a cheap IKEA desk lamp into something that looks like it came from a high-end lighting store. All that remains from the original is the LED light bar and wiring though.

Minimaus Crafts is an expert at making sculptures from soda cans. Watch as he takes 15 cans, some popsicle sticks, straws, and a few other household items to make a miniature replica of the Batmobile from Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman. His soda can Back to the Future DeLorean is pretty impressive too.

People who keep fish as pets can go overboard with their aquariums. Not one to ever be subtle, The Q got to work building a custom aquarium that looks like an actual house. The two-story home has art on the walls, glass tanks with a connecting tube, and a garage with a tiny BMW in case any fish learn how to drive.