Awesome Making

Is there anything The Q can’t make? The mysterious YouTube builder shows us how to make a set of nasty claws like Wolverine’s – without using any adamantium. These ones are made from popsicle sticks, toothpicks, rubber bands, paper, and a bit of Krazy Glue.

For Inventables’ fidget spinner challenge, Giaco Whatever decided to see if he could make one that could float in mid air. After a bunch of experimentation, he was able to get it to work by placing it between two opposing magnetic fields, and spinning it for stabilization.

One of the most necessary tools in any woodworker’s toolbox is the drawknife. Watch as blacksmith Torbjörn Åhman walks us through every step of the process to turn a hunk of steel into a useful tool. We love how one of the tools he uses in his craft is a log. (Thanks Victor!)

You’ll need to take 29 minutes out of your busy life to watch the entire video, but you should at least check out the first minute as artist Shaun Hughes shows off one of his most awesome creations, a 1973 Lincoln Penny that he’s re-engraved with a skull and intricate scrollwork.

We’ve seen how jawbreakers can be crushed and melted, now watch how they they’re made. Each bone-crunching candy starts out as a tiny compressed sugar pellet, and gradually grows through a ridiculously loud process of tumbling in sugar, flavorings, and food coloring.

Backyard engineer Peter Sripol turned a NERF rifle into a souped-up airsoft gun with a fairly large barrel. Then he loaded the gun with all sorts of improvised projectiles, such as AA batteries, 6″ nails, and fireworks. This guy’s going to be just fine in the apocalypse.

The Q shows us how to build a structurally-sound miniature house entirely out of wooden matchsticks, without any glue, then proceeds to burn it to the ground. Build one for yourself, and you’ll feel like a god as you control the fate of your tiny architectural creation.

…and not just a ring, THE ring. Student of the world Mike Boyd took a big risk by deciding to make his girlfriend’s engagement ring with his own two hands. Don’t worry, it ends well. Excellent job Mike, and congratulations!

The Northmen Guild (fka John Neeman Tools) made this short film showing engineer and wood craftsman Rihards Vidzickis making one of his specialties: a dugout canoe. The process took place over a few months. We just want that paddle.

Remember that time in school where you said you don’t need to know geometry? Builder John Heisz shows us how wrong we were with the precise diagramming needed to create an awesome throwing star that doubles as a fidget spinner. He also made one out of wood.

A CNC knitting machine. Kniterate (knit + iterate) lets you create apparel and accessories (or at least their prototypes) out of digital templates. You’ll be able to design templates using Kniterate’s web app or import previously made designs.

Designer Paul Braddock of the Mold3D Channel demonstrates how to use objects made with a 3D printer to create silicone molds for casting items from a mix of metal powder and resin, giving them a sturdy and substantial part with a weathered metallic look with actual rust.

Carbide3D shows us how to use one of their cool desktop CNC machines to carve upgraded wood and metal parts for a cheap Milwaukee Fastback knife. It’s a great demonstration of how desktop fabrication tools can make quick work of otherwise difficult tasks.

The Q shows us how with just cardboard, a knife, a ruler, and some glue, you can make a simple sorter for coins of any denomination. To make one for your country’s coins, you just need to tweak the widths of the openings.

I Like To Make Stuff built his own scoreboard using an Arduino 101, LEDs, MDF and a ton of 3D-printed bulbs. For such a simple device, it took an extraordinary amount of work to make. No wonder these things are expensive. We’ll stick to apps and monitors.

ApolloCrowe from Carbide 3D uses one of their Nomad desktop CNC machines to slice up soda cans, and transforms them into parts for a pair of robot sculptures. There’s a lot of handwork involved after the aluminum is cut, but it’s still cool to watch the machine work its magic.