I have plenty of old tech in my life and am constantly making repairs. Keeping old cameras and darkroom equipment running is super expensive (if you can even find the parts you need). When I re-discovered 3d printing, my life changed. I could produce plastic parts for pennies that used might cost $50+ each. I was missing many key parts […]
3D Printing Saves the Day
My Side Hustle
I have a passion for 8 and 16 bit devices that goes beyond nostalgia. I can understand what is happening at the hardware level and can fix almost every issue that emerges. As a hobby, I repair and improve old video game systems and computers. Over the last decade, new Game Boy enhancements have rapidly emerged. Wearing my product manager […]
Film Photography
I attended art school during the twilight decade of commercial film photography. Digital cameras were common, but available pro digital cameras like the Nikon D1 could not compete with 35mm film for quality and were used mainly for press images or documentation. Photo classes focused on the traditional darkroom. I might have not been the best photographer in school, but […]
Transforming a 15 Foot Sailboat Into a Comfortable Cruiser
I’ve been hard at work upgrading my Montgomery 15 sailboat to enable comfortable inland cruising year round. I never liked the look of the stainless (passive) mushroom vent the previous owner installed on the cabin. If the boat capsized, this hole could be a big problem. I decided to remove this vent and patch the hole. The finished repair is […]
Wheels
I’ve been upgrading this Bianchi cyclocross bike for well over a decade. I’ve added: A wheel hub that can generate electricity as you ride; A powerful LED Light connected to this hub; A battery-powered rear LED light; Hand stitched leather handle wraps; A leather seat; Upgraded shifters and components; A heavy duty rear rack; A Velo Orange handlebar bag (great […]
Adding Backup Heating for the Winter
Our house is primarily heated by a temperamental oil furnace. I’ve gotten pretty good at keeping it running (at least I have a better record than the grumpy service tech we used to call). For example, I greatly reduced clogging by adding a canister filter after the primary filter and learned how to quickly service the main components when they […]
Improving Our Home Workspace
When I was working from home after our offices shut down, I was frustrated by my workspace in the dim basement. I wanted my wife to have a more comfortable space, and promised to help her improve her setup in our guest bedroom. We decided a larger desk was in order. We limited this project to a single Sunday so […]
A Better Child Boat Seat
While the weather is still warm, we want to spend as much time on the water as possible. Neither of my boats are particularly toddler-friendly. Our Hobie Tandem Island is close though. It is simple to set up and launch (especially when using the kayak part alone). I can even avoid using a boat ramp by using a plug-in set […]
Sailing with the Family
Sailing is a favorite pastime of mine. Also, if you want a constant supply of projects (as I do), consider buying a boat. If you want to finish these projects, buy a small boat.
A Better Baby Gate
The humble baby gate will be part of your life for many years… much longer than most baby items. It is not an item you will want to cut corners with, especially if it protects a high traffic area. I built this example over 2 years ago and it has stood up to daily use. If I recall, this was […]