DIY Instructables Handbook Answered

Or some form of open source book... Or a wikipedia style system... For 'ibles members only...

I've thought about that, but I don't know how people could format it correctly, like Getting each page size the correct size, I'll look into it. For example, you want the book to be able to fit in you pocket, not be the size of a normal sheet of paper.

I think killerjackalope meant follow your idea as a website instead of a printed book. I know I did.

I didn't realise you meant a pocket-reference - I thought you meant a grand catch-all of all data on the subject.

Make already produce a pocket-sized ready-reference - has anybody seen a copy? Is it as good as they claim?

I have a Pocket PCRef, but it is still a bit big for some of my pockets.

Does anyone actually put these things in their pockets?? It's far more important to me that it be able to lie open flat on the table - which would mean a spiral or ring binding, which would interfere with pocketability...

most of them are too big and stiff to fit in a pocket, I'm striving for something about the size of a deck of cards (but thinner) and is printed on normal paper just stapeled together.

Why not a pack of cards?!

Robot on the back, suit and number small in the corner, main part of the card covered in data.

Hearts could be woodworking data, spades could be tool-related, clubs could be taken to could be PC-related, diamonds could be electronics and ICs.

Or it could be the Instructables CCG - a card for each member, collect the set...

(I'll swap you my Noahw for your Fungus Amungus... - LOL)

The cards idea is great, im thinking about making some robot playing cards

Ooh... actual Instructables playing cards would be a *much* better idea than an Instructables handbook! :-)

You could have the robot on the back, and use 'ibles crew avatars or pictures as face cards. Let's see... you need 4 kings (Eric, Ed, Noah, ...), 4 queens (Christy, Rachel, ...), 4 jacks (interns?), and maybe a joker or two (Tim Anderson?) :-D

There's a bunch of companies that will make custom playing cards as promotional materials - usually just a custom image on the back, but I'm sure we can find a few that do face cards as well.

Or maybe design them in thin plastic and get Ponoko to manufacture them...

I don't think Ponoko offers double-sided processing though. Plus a professional printing service is bound to give you much nicer results than the somewhat limited laser engraving.

Can't you just turn the pieces over? Actually, forget about plastic, laser-engrave them on stainless steel!

forget that, grind it into concrete!

...and then try shuffling them...

I lay Kiteman's Law on you!!! Mwahahaaa

_{Ahem, who started this whole thread off?}

Hmm, I carry a calender in my pocket (where my Pocket protector once resided :-) but this year's version is a bit tall for convenience of tote-ability

. That is just Glover's "PocketRef" with Make's name added on the front cover. I have it (sans Make) and highly recommend it.

I have on (except it says Jimbals Gorumet Jelly Beans on the front cause my friend got like 5 for free at a candy convention and he gave me one) and it does have a lot of good info. In fact, just looking at it, the electronics section is uncannily familiar to the one I'm making, would it be illegal to scan and upload some pages of the book?

If you do just one or two pages, as part of a review of the book, no. If you're doing it specifically to use the information, then yes. Try emailing the publisher for permission to use specific pages (explain why, and drop in facts like the site gets over 2 million new hits a month, wouldn't it be a great way to advertise the book if you let me post a whole chapter ...? etc)

well, there's 29 pages in the electronic chapter, and the only way to get a good scan is to cut the book, which I don't really want to do. Still think I should ask him?

well, here's a list of the people who work at the place (Thomas J Glover being the President)

http://www.sequoiapublishing.com/nav_contactus.htm

who should I email to and what should I say?

also, I'm going to a book fair wear there's a ton of super cheap books, I'm going to get some, usually they're pretty old, if I get a reference book (and it's old), would I need permission to upload it, the average book there is 10-50 years old.

The answer to all those questions is YES. If you are going to include *any* material directly in another book - even if it's just a single figure - you need to get permission from the original copyright holder.

And if you're making a product - even a free one - that competes with theirs (i.e. a pocket reference of some kind), there's little reason why they should agree.

even if it's 56 year old (I got a book called the engineers compaion which is similar to pocket ref for $1)?

Literary copyright (in the UK) expires 70 years after the death of the work's creator. If the creator is unknown, copyright expires 70 years after the work first becomes available to the general public. You can freely re-publish your 56 year old book in 2022.

Oops, forgot the reference.

so, it;s not like a patent where it expires after like 10 years?

Nope. You don't have to register anything anywhere, although it's usual to sign and date stuff if you're bothered about being recognised as the creator.

though a user of the stuff in question based site ould be good, as in a know all site where content is designed by 'ibes users who have experience in such matters...

As opposed to a direct Ebook style work...

Out of your lists, if I were you I'd do: Photoshop Byclce repair or something and other stuff where it's specific info where you could could consult a book, stuff like relationships you can't really look at a book for an answer.

Yeah though the aftermath of mess ups is where I'm golden boy, mainly because it never goes simply... Argh... I don't know, eh I can fix bike but there are people much better than me at doing so.. Photoshop I could maybe do... Trying to think of anything else....

photo shop would be good, i could help if u need some tips or something coz im pretty nifty with photoshop

I'm good in photoshop but couldn't really write a book of techniques and stuff, I'm beter at showing the use of various techniques through an explanation on a specific...

Lamps!

yes, but it has only important information, only information that a person would actually use, cause half of theose books have useless info that just makes the book look more impressive.

Plus thise would be free for everybody to download and print out.

> half of theose books have useless info that just makes the book look more impressive
. I don't understand how you can call the "extra" info worthless. You may not need the info, but others might. My job as an Instrument Tech did not require me to worry about 3-phase power very often, so I would forget most of what I had learned about it. Ugly's, et al, were very valuable "cheat sheets." Same for bending conduit.
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. My original comment was not meant to discourage you from doing the project, but I suppose it came out that way. I like the idea and would be willing to help. I can do a decent job of proof-reading and have access to a EE for error-checking.

I guess your right, but for the specific topic it'd be rarely used (some of the info)

eh, more I look into it I guess you could use some of the info, just... not often but I guess it's good it's there. well this would be open source, yay for opensource!

If you're still after a pocketbook, why not make it a small filofax-style format, and you just buy the inserts that are relevant to your interest?

If different people are working on different pages, all you have to do is make sure they are working to the same dimensions, and allow for the punched holes.

Instructafax?

Infactables?

Ooh - I do like Infactables! :-)

. I have the Pocket Ref and Pocket PCRef - both excellent choices. My PCRef is terribly out-of-date, but still useful.

but those are like 40 bucks (at B&n), and yes, it has a lot of info, but you don't need most of it, making it harder to locate more important info.

. I relied on mine for more than 15 years at work and still use it occasionally. I've never had a problem locating what I needed.
. They are only $15 US + $4 S&H at the link I gave earlier. Well worth every penny, IMNSHO. Barnes & Noble (is that the right B&n?) are out of stock and don't list a price, but I'll bet it's not $40.
. I'll never use most of what's in the CRC Handbook of Chem&Phys, PDR, DSM, unabridged dictionary, &c, &c, &c, either, but I still value my copies. ;)