diy

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How to Mount a Balcony Awning (2025)
2 months ago
- Inspired by Low-tech Magazine's article on dressing homes, built a balcony awning for about 50 Euros.
- Materials include steel cable, turnbuckle, thimbles, clamps, hose, fabric, carabiners, paracord.
- Tools needed: wrench, cable cutter (or alternatives), and optional hardware store cutting.
- Steps: measure cable length (distance plus 1-1.5m), prepare cable with thimbles and clamps, assemble with turnbuckle, fasten fabric using carabiners.
- Retrospective: successful sun protection, sturdy, easy to fold; improvements include larger fabric and better bottom fastening.
- For wall/ceiling mounts, use heavy-duty hardware (at least 100kg capacity) and drilling tools.
- Safety tips: learn tool use, wear gloves, use stable stepladder, have assistance.
Does Your Home or Classroom Need an Air Purifier? Make a Corsi-Rosenthal Box
2 months ago
- Parents and teachers are concerned about classroom air quality due to the delta variant surge.
- A DIY air purifier called the Corsi-Rosenthal Box can be made from a box fan, air filters, and duct tape.
- The box costs $70–$120, lasts a school year, and can clean air at 600 cubic feet per minute.
- Many schools lack proper ventilation systems, and there are no national standards for indoor air quality.
- The pandemic has increased awareness of indoor air quality issues in schools.
It's time to wake up: An Emacs alarm clock
2 months ago
- The author has used a custom alarm clock system since 2011, relying on a numpad for input and a screen to display time, with a music server to play audio at the set time.
- The old system had reliability issues: network dependency, music server failures, and ambient music playback problems, leading to the use of an iPhone as a backup.
- The author decided to build a new self-contained alarm clock, keeping the numpad but eliminating network and external component dependencies.
- Components include a Raspberry Pi 5, a 4-inch screen, a Yoctopuce light sensor, a numpad, knobs, and a USB speaker, all housed in a custom wooden box.
- The author detailed the woodworking process: cutting laminated wood, using jigsaw blades, sanding, spackling, painting, and assembling the box with hinges and screws.
- Challenges included mis-measurements, cable compatibility issues, paint mishaps, and finding appropriate hardware for thin wood.
- The final clock works: the numpad is clicky, the interface is intuitive, and the light sensor dims the screen, though backlight control remains a limitation.
- The author declared the project a success, noting lessons learned about painting, workspace, and woodworking tools.
Dungeons and Dryers
2 months ago
- The author's broken tumble dryer initially had a grinding sound, but Past Phill deferred the problem to Future Phill.
- Two weeks later, the dryer started vibrating off its shelf, prompting action during a D&D session.
- The D&D group (mostly with ADHD) helped fix the dryer while playing, removing the back panel and diagnosing a broken impeller.
- A replacement part was found on eBay by a group member within the session and arrived later.
- The author sanded the back panel to remove friction-welded impeller pieces and replaced the part easily.
- Repairing the dryer saved around £600 compared to buying a new one.
Show HN: IKEA Complexity Index
2 months ago
- IKEA Complexity Index ranks products by assembly time based on 'complexity' (steps multiplied by total parts).
- The site includes all categories and only single-PDF products, but is not officially affiliated with IKEA.
- It describes itself as being created by a big fan of IKEA, with a friendly tone.
Camera Chase Vehicle
2 months ago
- The project involves building a cinematic chase camera rover using a large 1/5 scale RC chassis found at an industrial auction.
- Key components include a Movi M10 3-axis gimbal for stabilization, a VESC motor controller, and a Connex Amimon wireless HD video system for low-latency transmission.
- Custom parts like TPU fenders, a structural gimbal mount, and battery mounts were 3D printed or CNC machined to fit the chassis and improve durability.
- Power is supplied by two DeWalt 20V battery packs in series for the chassis and a separate ~14V DTAP battery for the gimbal and camera.
- Initial testing revealed gimbal balancing issues and mechanical failures, leading to upgrades like stiffer springs and flexible TPU parts to absorb impacts.
- The rover was successfully tested in ice racing conditions, capturing stabilized footage of vehicles like karts, and survived abuse including a tumble at speed.
- Camera upgrades from a Panasonic GH4 to a GH5s improved image quality, and remote lens control was implemented using a digi-pot and microcontroller.
- CAD files and 3D print designs for custom parts are shared for replication.
I also filed the corners off my MacBook
2 months ago
- Sharp edges on MacBook Air cause discomfort when using on lap.
- Author decided to file down edges with metal file and sandpaper.
- Used tape to mark areas and protect keyboard and trackpad.
- Sanded up to 1200 grit, focusing on tricky points.
- Aimed to treat laptop as a tool, not something to overprotect.
Two nasty surprises in Home Assistant's config
3 months ago
- Motorized rolling shutters for automated control via Home Assistant.
- Created automations for temperature-based shutter management using boolean sensors.
- Encountered timezone issues affecting automation triggers, related to daylight saving time.
- Configured timezone in YAML, which reset UI settings, requiring full reconfiguration.
- Identified two bugs in Home Assistant: time-based automation offset and UI settings loss.
Do Wavy Walls Use Fewer Bricks? I Tested It in Blender
3 months ago
- Crinkle Crankle walls are curvy brick walls that originated in ancient Egypt but are now more common in England.
- Online sources often claim these wavy walls use fewer bricks and are stronger than straight walls, but details are sparse and contradictory.
- The author built procedural serpentine and straight walls in Blender's geometry nodes to test brick usage and strength.
- At 100 meters, the serpentine wall used 55% as many bricks as a typical straight wall, confirming the brick-saving myth.
- Lateral impact tests with heavy balls showed both wall types failed, but the serpentine wall suffered less damage, potentially lowering repair material costs.
3D Printing a Brain (2021)
3 months ago
- The project involved creating a 3D-printed brain trophy from an MRI scan in 2021.
- The process included converting DICOM to a mesh, cleaning in Blender, printing halves on an SLA printer, casting silicone molds, pouring pewter, and assembling with epoxy.
- A custom base was made using a router and chamfer bits, with a 3D-printed plaque.
- Key learnings included medical file types, new manufacturing techniques, and achieving a polished final result.
Old Computer Challenge
3 months ago
- The Old Computer Challenge (OCC) is an annual event where enthusiasts use old computers or minimal setups, starting in 2021 with a 7-day task on 512MB RAM.
- Solène Rapenne founded OCC, and the community gathers on IRC (#oldcomputerchallenge on libera.chat) and a mailing list (~tekk/old-computer-challenge@lists.sr.ht).
- In 2024, Tekk took over the website management after previous organizers stepped down, and the theme is DIY (Do It Yourself), encouraging participants to create something handmade during the event.
- OCC 2024 runs from July 5th to 12th, with no strict rules but a focus on creativity, such as writing stories, making music, or publishing programs.
- Past editions had specific themes: 2023 emphasized nostalgia with old, slow computers; 2022 limited internet usage to 1 hour per day to mimic RTC modem experiences; and 2021 was the first edition with positive participant feedback.

How to Mount a Balcony Awning (2025)

Does Your Home or Classroom Need an Air Purifier? Make a Corsi-Rosenthal Box

It's time to wake up: An Emacs alarm clock

Dungeons and Dryers

Show HN: IKEA Complexity Index

Camera Chase Vehicle

I also filed the corners off my MacBook

Two nasty surprises in Home Assistant's config

Do Wavy Walls Use Fewer Bricks? I Tested It in Blender

3D Printing a Brain (2021)

Old Computer Challenge