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So one time, i was practising throwing cards. i lay on the floor tossing cards at the ceiling. One stuck there, embedded in the popcorn texture. Stayed there for weeks. High ceiling.   Any other examples of a  long shot?

I was fiddling with a penny when I noticed this. How come pennies and nickels have smooth edges unlike all the other U.S. coins?

This website could use an RSS feed.  I'm unlikely to visit often, I'll junk-mail an e-mail newsletter, but an RSS feed always catches my attention.

I was given this old wooden 'bowl' and told that it was a cream skimmer, which seems unlikely. It's around 24" long and 18" and made from one piece of timber. Any ideas please?

After finishing one last week and deleting one I'm finally at 1:1. Are you an unpublished packrat, collecting ideas, or do you (unlike me) finish everything you start?

I have the EZ-B (controller) and am attempting to recreate the distance sensor tutorial however, unlike the sensor in the tutorial, my ping sensor only has three pins, ground, 5v and SIG how do i use it with the ez-b?

Where do i get photodarlington transistors or equivilent? anyone know? to be clear it basically looks like a black led with a + and - unlike most transistors that have 3 prongs this only has two. when light hits it, it allows current to flow.

Hello, I know that this sounds unlikely but if I re-orientate a photograph in Preview on my Mac and then put it in an Instructable, it reverts to the original orientation. This has only been the case on my current Instructable. Has anyone else found this to be so ? Also I still cannot reply to comments left on my current Instructable. Thank you.

this is a fake(not really,but really) formal rally to protest sending our troops and to substitute them with robots( doesn't have to be terminator style but needs to be affective, swift and... disposable unlike the LIVES OF OUR MEN!!! i mean most of them probable have families) so......... any thoughts?

I was thinking about buying an itouch. I already have a 4gb zen but unlike the itouch, it cant hold apps or alot of videos. I was thinking of not spending over $200 (U.S.) because i only have about $100 now and money is pretty hard for me to come by. Well, is it worth buying?

I just had the hiccups ten minutes ago and used this cure, it works for once!(unlike most cures ;-) ) Take a deep breath into your lower lungs and hold it there, not in your mouth. Then, still holding your breath, clench all your stomach muscles and hold for a few seconds. Finlly, let out your breath, and your hiccups are gone! Do you have good cures?

Just to discuss all things related to steampunk weaponry (actually I am after some design insight) I'm building a steampunk longgun(micro-sniper) and It will shoot stuff, unlike all the other steampunk guns I can find here. It will be a functional piece, except not utilizing gunpowder ammunition. Anything relating to homebrew loading mechanisms, coils, design, etc would be awesome.

The PVC soil pipe under our bathroom has developed a slow leak. This pipe is inaccessible as it runs under a platform that lifts the bathroom above the concrete floor of our enclosed garage. It may be a crack in the pipe (unlikely) or a connection between the tub and the main pipe (more likely). Is there a liquid sealant that I can pour into the tub drain that will seal this obviously small opening?

Nearly all Knex guns fire rods or connectors that are only 1 wide and 1 height  the length varies, but why not fire rods which are 4 pieces taped together so they have more force behind them and you can tell if you've been hit unlike some single rod guns where they have great range but little force. Would anyone make a gun like this ?

My family has wheat in our food storage and a wheat grinder and we've been trying to bake stuff with flour ground ourselves and we have made stuff that is editble but the stuff that we make could also be used as door stops in English I'm saying everything i make with self ground wheat comes out flat and hard unlike what i make with store bought flour so what can be made with this stuff!?!

I know there are some people still doing it (myself included). Much like potato cannons, k’nex guns have lost popularity over time. It’s really a shame that it’s lost so much popularity. Maybe someone could make a website dedicated to K’nex’ing as a kind of KI mark 2. I really hope that it starts up again (without all the block triggers!) sometime but it seems unlikely.

I'm using a couple of Lipo batteries to power a speaker on a trailer, I bought 2 low voltage alarms that plug into the balance cables but upon testing I found it to be unlikely that I'll hear them over the speaker. So would it be possible to modify the alarms so that they activate some kind of cut off device attached to the power cable instead? Each battery is 4s 10000mah.

Rolling down a hill in a tire just got a tech upgrade. The buzzball, described as a "hamster ball for humans" is the new creation from Evento, a New Zealand company that creates, well, interesting forms of kinetic entertainment. The Buzzball recreates the feeling of being on an upside-down roller coaster in all its nausea-inducing glory. However, unlike the other products from Evento, the Buzzball does not come in the shape of a bathroom item.via Geekdad

I have been trying to figure out how to put an independent suspension on a Huge scale RC.  What I have noticed on large cars is that unlike small RC cars the rod going from the dif to the wheels is solid and can't extend/shrink.  Why doesn't this bind up? I have also noticed that for some reason they don't line the suspension up to move exactly up and down. The wheel's pitch is actually set up to change as the suspension depresses.

Here's the goal: to have a wired, outdoor, motion sensing flood light that includes a 120V AC siren that will also sound whenever the light is triggered.  The proposed setup would start with some sort of switch or hidden switched outlet (possibly WeMo so only I can control it and I can also tie in some IFTTT recipes) that the whole system would run through.  Power would then run to an off-the-shelf motion sensing flood light not unlike this one.  From there, one of the light fixtures would be rewired to run power to a 110V AC horn/siren not unlike this industrial unit.  Is there any glaring reason that this would not work, and what considerations should be made vis-à-vis the fixtures wattage rating and the rating of the siren?  The final product should be something that when switched off is just that...off, and when switched on would trigger a light and a very audible siren.  Finally, any ideas on where to look for a siren/horn like the one described?  The industrial unit in the link might be a bit too big. fdsafdsa   fdsaf(not un From

Pretzel rolls are dense and chewy -- not unlike Philly soft pretzels. Not overly salty tho. I've come across pretzel rolls on a few occaisons -- most recently, here in the NE (CT) at a Blimpie's; Previously, I picked up some lucious rolls at a supermarket in NJ outside Philly. Oh, and, if at all possible, I'd like to make the rolls from Whole Wheat flour (for the added fiber). Thanks

According to a news report in Physics Today, scientists at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have confirmed the creation of element 114 first reported by Dubna physicists in 1999. As true afficionados may recall from the original Star Fleet Technical Manual (pictured), element 114 is dilithium, used to regulate the matter-antimatter reaction for warp propulsion. Unfortunately, with a lifetime of just a few hundred milliseconds, it's unlikely that crystals of element 114 will be produced any time soon.

There's a cute little article (blog entry) in New Scientist, about a collaboration between a Buddhist monastery in India and San Francisco's Exploratorium. Buddhism, especially under the 14th Panchen Dalai Lama, has had a very favorable and welcoming attitude toward science. Traditional Buddhist practice toward enlightment stresses observation, experiment, and reproducibility (all classic hallmarks of "scientific" investigation), and elevates personal questioning above outside authority (unlike traditional Judeo-Christian-Islamist "revelation").

I'm working on a K'nex automatic machine gun. Unlike most K'nex mg's, this one fires from a hopper and does not have a barrel for every round. Unfortunately, it doesn't work because the motor can't pull back the rubber band. I have one of those clear motors with a red battery pack. I was thinking to hack it so it would take a 9-volt, but i'm not sure if that would work. If anyone can give me some advice, that would be good. Thanks.

Heya! I have a bunch of spray paint sitting at home from former crafts I used to do. I haven't used it in a year, and it is unlikely that I'll be moving back to the states anytime soon to use it. The first question is: how long does it take for spray paint to dry out? The second question is: do you know of anywhere I could donate it (if it is still good)? Preferably in the Bay Area?

 OK Go has always been keen on including some well thought out visuals in its videos. Their latest is no different. The whole thing is one long Rube Goldberg device. Unlike most videos like this where the camera patiently tracks all the action, the sequence is pretty hectic so pay attention. Or watch it more than once. I'm sure the band won't mind.

Why does it say "Submit"?  It should say "Build" or "Build and Submit". or "Build then Submit" or "Build Instructable then Submit" Why would I click on something that's going to send before it's built? Look at the interface for this form.  Step1: Edit  Step 2: Preview  Step 3: Publish.   (While I'm at it those" step" buttons should either work as buttons or be made to look like something different) Makes infinite sense, unlike the "Submit" at the top right. Improve these issues, please. Thank you for your time, Marcintosh

Out of the many samples I recieved last week, the freescale MC908JL8MPE is one of the few that I like the look of. Its a beefy PDIP with 28 pins, unlike the many TQFNs I've recieved I could actually solder this (well no need as it fits in a breadboard). But my problem is, there doesn't seem to be many easy-to-follow tutorials for programming these microcontrollers. The only simple solution seems to be to buy £100 programmers.. which I'm not too keen on. Is there a simple way to program them via parallel/serial or maybe using my usbtiny to program an atmel chip to program the freescale chip? Thanks.

I have one more piece of info to get yet, before I wipe and restore my OS. Wish me luck, I have never done this before....I don't know what might be involved, and what might hinder my getting back to the place I was before; and, hopefully unlike a stay at Hotel California, I will be able to return to the place I was before (I would also like to get some projects out this weekend....what are the chances, do you think? LOL).

                One of my friends recently talked to me.  The first thing he said was, "Energy to matter."  He said it in the way he talks when we're planning on building something dangerous, unlikely to work, and quite possibly FBI watchlist-worthy. Though I know it's been looked into before, this got me thinking:  does anyone have any ideas on practical applications of the equivalency between energy and matter?  (aside from the atomic bomb--e.g.  Fabricators that carry hundreds of products' worth of materials in a small, energy-dense source, like a battery?)

The head of my electric toothbrush broke and replacement heads cost almost as much as I bought the toothbrush for, so I'm not going to buy a new one. I now have a headless electric toothbrush and wondered what make with it since it seems too nice to just throw away. Unlike most electric toothbrushes, this one doesn't rotate back and forth but instead reciprocates forwards and backwards about 2-3mm. Anyone think of something useful I could make of it? I tried to use it as a metal etcher, but it doesn't move fast enough for that unfortunately.

Hello. I've heard that teeth were able to absorb some substances/molecules thanks to the porosity of the enamel. Unlike bones, as they are not self-regenerating from the outside, I was wondering what substances may be usefull to offset the erosion of the enamel (remineralization ?). Is there something that could be concidered as a "food" for teeth ? Also, about dental caries, as they are mainly caused by bacteria eating "fermentable carbohydrates" who generate acidity, here is a question that may sound stupid, but that is serious : - to make the work of those bacteria harder, is it better to sleep with the mouth wide opened (oxygened mouth) or with the mouth closed (anaerobic conditions) ?

Under the rewards it says: "Autodesk Sustainability Prize, Total retail value: $ USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER) ASFS Prize, Total retail value: $ USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER) The total estimated retail value of all prizes to be awarded in the Contest is: $ USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER)" With nothing marked before/ Unlike "Grand Prize, Total retail value: 7123 USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER) First Prize, Total retail value: 1499 USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER) Second Prize, Total retail value: 648 USD. (CURRENCY CONVERTER)" which is marked before.

I have seen commercial machines that use compressed air to shoot a stream of dry ice (CO2) pellets or shavings at a dirty, oily machine to clean its surfaces. Unlike sandblasting, the CO2 sublimates (goes from solid to gas without passing through 'liquid') and leaves no residue other than the crud it blasted off. It can even be used on machines or electrical panels that are powered up! But these machines cost multiple $1000s. Anyone have a plan or experience with a DIY version? Thanks.

Greetings all,   I have an interest in cutting patterns in the smooth tops of tin candy & mint containers but am a complete noob to this sort of fabricating, would appreciate any helpful offboard links or posted Instructables here. What I'm wanting to achieve is a 'finished' item that looks plasma-cut but since the item itself is quite fragile as well as small in general size I have no clue other than the very time-consuming process of 'routing' out such with a mini-Dremel.     Fairly tight budget here too so a dedicated C-N-C setup is a bit unlikely but no impossible. Thanks in advance !

While we're having our own LED contest with the Get the LED Out! Contest there's another one happening across the ocean over in Germany that's being put on by OSRAM, called LED - Emotionalize Your Light. Top prize is 3,000 Euro.Unlike our contest you don't need to actually make anything for this one. Create an account and submit an idea along with a drawing or a render of what you have in mind and then it's off to the races. It's a multi-stage affair with voting and judging and opportunities to expand on your idea, but all you need to begin with is an idea. LED - Emotionalize Your Light

This isn't even yet available in teh US, but it's pretty amazing looking i think.i'm thinking of how it can be made... cheap metal tubes for each led with 2 thin leads? or thin rods with a little insulated wire wraped around leading to the LED?i think this can be done smartly, cheaply and efficiently -- totally unlike how it will be sold in the us.who has experience with these materials and wants to mock one up?http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/13/kenzan-tsutakawa-chinn-constellation-lamp/

At the top of my screen, I have this:  You Inbox (1) Shortcuts Logout Answers Contests Forums Submit Indicating I have a message in my PM Inbox.   When I go  there, I can find NO message that I have not opened, no matter how far I look down the list. nor how far I page down. I DID find the following however,  a PM that I can not access as it has no title or description (see the TOP one on the list in the image; unlike the others, it has nothing to click on, to open it)

A lot of you know my Sr-v1 it used only 89 yellow connectors well here is my Sr-v2 it has a different body from killerk's and a modded mech but it is is the same mech. unlike my other this uses 212 yellow connectors(not the most part friendly) and is so much more powerful I will post if any one wants but i need to ask killerk first. info it is one inch short of 5 feet uses 3 # 64 rbs Range: 200 feet(with bad fins) ammo: killerk's Sr-v2 bolt and now a bunch of random pic of it sorry about the bad pic

I posted a very similar topic a couple minutes ago but I'm pretty sure noone can see it, so I'm copying and pasting the body. I just want to check this before I blow up my mosfet (I've never used mosfets before) Is it correct that you don't have a resistor from the voltage source to the gate (unlike bipolar transistors) Should or shouldn't you have a 1M ohm from gate to ground? Let's say I'm driving a mosfet from a 555, should I have a resistor from the output pin to gate? I think the schematic I'm reading just through a mosfet in where a bipolar use to be without changing that resistor.

I recently created several Instructables from some of my youtube tutorials, and was surprised to find that they didn't hit the "recent" list.  After some investigation I noticed that nearly all of them had a publish date of several days earlier than I actually published them which is causing them to show up so far down the recent list that they are unlikely to ever be seen.  Seems like they are all two days early.  Everyone of my published instructables listed as Nov 19, 2014 was actually published today Nov 21, 2014.  Infact the 19th even pre-dates the creation of some of the video content.

It is silver, no rust and it will not be scratched by anything. It is magnetic, it's about as round as a quarter, and maybe an inch thick. It weighs 150 grams, or 5.37 oz. It randomly appeared on my back porch one day. The top looks like a bundt cake design, the bottom is flat with a perfect circle in the middle. I found it in Southern Missouri. I have asked multiple people and no one has any clue as to what this could be. I would say its a meteorite, but the shape of it is unlike any meteorite I've ever seen.  Any referrals or thoughts about what this could be would be gratefully appreciated!!! 

I want to make the Create a navigational robot. It can already navigate pretty well, but it is not very intelligent. I want to add Sharp GP2D120 IR sensors so that the robot can recognize an obstacle before it bumps into it. Then it will turn and look for a clearance before it will move ahead. This means it is very unlikely to get stuck. Currently I'm working on a CMUcam, so that when integrated onto the Create, it can follow a white line around, and might come in handy for other purposes as well. I am also toying with the idea of using GPS navigation as I have the receiver and antenna that was used for another project. If GPS is integrated, the Create will be able to move from one waypoint to the other while avoiding obstacles on its path.

I want to make the Create a navigational robot. It can already navigate pretty well, but it is not very intelligent. I want to add Sharp GP2D120 IR sensors so that the robot can recognize an obstacle before it bumps into it. Then it will turn and look for a clearance before it will move ahead. This means it is very unlikely to get stuck. Currently I'm working on a CMUcam, so that when integrated onto the Create, it can follow a white line around, and might come in handy for other purposes as well. I am also toying with the idea of using GPS navigation as I have the receiver and antenna that was used for another project. If GPS is integrated, the Create will be able to move from one waypoint to the other while avoiding obstacles on its path.

So what are you going to be for Halloween (as in what costume are you wearing.) Also what are you going to do for Halloween, are you going to stay at you house and give out candy, scare little kids, or go trick or treat with your friends?I am going to go trick or treating with my friendsI have also come up with a costume design which is a transformer costume that actually transforms! Unlike the costly imitation costumes at the store. Here are some pictures of it but it is not quite done yet.Also i was wondering if anyone would like to see an instructable on how to make this kind of costume?Its kind of like this but not as good: Please comment!!!

Whilst it is unlikely that anyone can achieve perfect spelling and grammar, you are showing off your ingenuity for all the world to see, so you surely want to show how good you are? Also make sure your images are clear enough to illustrate whatever the point is.  I've just read two articles this morning, the first about "Metal-dipping" seed pods has crystal-clear images, but the other from American Pistol Crossbow Association offered under-exposed pictures in black-and-brown, captioned like this  "... thwe safty catch is behind the rear sight."  Their spelling, not mine. Come on Folks, let's all aim for a standard of presentation to be proud to show the grandchildren. Geoff

It is with a VERY sad heart that I am passing along that our most beloved, and outgoing and adventurous cavy (guinea pig), Snuggles, had what appears to be a stroke, last night.   She passed this morning on the way to the vet, in my wife, Ellen's arms. She was unlike ANY piggie we've ever taken care of,  BLUE eyes (rather then the normal ruby red) and a personality that could win over the grouchiest person. Friendly, outgoing, and curiuos, she will always be remembered.  She was a bit over 5 years old and so was very old, but was very active for one so old also. We are very glad she did not suffer long howevver.

I am in the process of renovating a bathroom that hasn't been used since before i was born, which currently lacks a water heater. Being poor, it is very unlikely that i will be able to buy an on-demand heater for this bathroom, and i know how inefficient normal water heaters are, so i am looking into solar water heaters. I live in a sub desert climate, so catching sun is not a particularly big issue, but i am looking to find out what type of heater is most efficient, both as far as heating water, and cost. would i be better off with a passive, or active system, and what other recommendations do you have for solar water heating?

Today, I noticed that I now have an avatar that resembles the instructables cards that gmjhowe and jayefuu have been advertising.  I personally like this, as it has self-updating stats, unlike the printed cards. Keep up the good work. EDIT- noticed that members now have a bar below their avatars in comments announcing the number of ibles they have, and their stats show up when you hover over that bar.  Personally, I find this rather distracting and unnecessary.  Double edit- Can someone explain the color coding system that I've seen?  I have a red bar, while some other have blue or green bars.  Is this based on the number of instructables you have?

I just noticed that the title gif for AndyGadget's Piecax the poltergeist has lost quality when resized by Robot. The large and medium ones which haven't been resized appear fine but the small and thumb ones have been degraded. I wonder if this is an issue for all gifs? I wouldn't know where to look for others, this one in my CD ible doesn't seem affected but it's just black and white unlike Andy's image which is more complicated. But then... I uploaded this one and it and it has the same problem. Where robot hasn't had to reduce the size it's fine, but when it resizes (small and thumb) some errors are introduced. (reported from test account so as not to spam subscribers)