Category Archives: Crafts

Paper Tube Rolling Machine

Posted on October 19, 2020 by jimhannon

An important item to build black powder rocket motors is strong parallel rolled paper tubes. Paper tubes have an number of advantages for rocket motors. They are inexpensive especially if you make them yourself. They are biodegradable and if the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, DIY, Machine Shop, Pyrotechnics, Uncategorized | 7 Comments

Building A Sand Muller

Posted on May 28, 2018 by jimhannon

To do sand casting a muller is almost a necessity. It is difficult to mix up foundry sand either green sand or oil bonded sand without a muller. I have been thinking about how to build a muller for some … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, DIY, Machine Shop, Metal Working, welding | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

CoCoRaHS sign

Posted on December 24, 2017 by jimhannon

I have wanted a sign for my weather station for some time. Signs for CoCoRaHS has just become available so I ordered one. They made the sign with room at the bottom to put your station number. This article is … Continue reading →

Posted in CAD, Crafts, DIY, environmental monotoring | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CNC Laser Cutter / Engraver Build

Posted on January 10, 2017 by jimhannon

I see a number of articles on the WEB about using a blue laser around 2 watts for cutting and engraving. A lot of times the laser is attached to a 3D printer. Now I have a 3D printer but … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D printing, CAD, CNC, Crafts, DIY, Electronics, Machine Shop, Software | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

3D CAD

Posted on February 25, 2016 by jimhannon

Around about the time I got my 3D printer working I saw that the University of Iowa was offering a Senior College course “Designing and Manufacturing with Computer Modeling and 3D Printing”. That sounded useful so I signed up for … Continue reading →

Posted in 3D printing, Crafts, DIY, Software | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

3D Printer

Posted on January 2, 2016 by jimhannon

Like all of my blog posts this article is not intended to be a how to tutorial but rather just my experience and observations in building a 3D printer. A few months ago I decided that I wanted to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Crafts, DIY, Electronics, Machine Shop, Metal Working | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Soapmaking 101

Posted on December 18, 2012 by jimhannon

Several years ago we purchased half a beef from a local farm. Along with the meat the processor gave us several buckets of lard. The meat was quickly eaten by our family but the lard languished in the freezer until … Continue reading →

Posted in Chemistry, Crafts, DIY | Leave a comment