The Best of Instructables Volume I

The Best of Instructables Volume I

by The editors at MAKE magazine and Instructables.com
Released October 2008
Publisher(s): Make: Community
ISBN: 9780596519520

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Book description

In just three years, Instructables.com has become one of the hottest destinations for makers and DIY enthusiasts of all stripes. Known as "the world's biggest show & tell," makers from around the globe post how-to articles on a staggering variety of topics -- from collecting rainwater for lawn care to hacking toy robots to extracting squid ink. Now, with more than 10,000 articles, the Instructables staff and editors of MAKE: magazine -- with help from the Instructables community -- have put together a collection of solid, time- and user-tested technology and craft projects from the site. The Best of Instructables Volume 1 includes plenty of clear, full-color photographs, complete step-by-step instructions, as well as tips, tricks, and new build techniques you won't find anywhere else -- even material never seen before on Instructables. Some of the more popular how-to articles include:

  • The LED Throwie -- magnetized electronic graffiti that's become a phenomenon

  • How to craft beautiful Japanese bento box lunches

  • Innovative gaming hacks, such as how to add LED lights and custom-molded buttons to a video game controller

  • New twists on personal items, such as the Keyboard Wallet, the Electric Umbrella, and stuffed animal headphones

While the book focuses on technology, it also includes such projects as creating cool furniture from cheap components, ways of making your own toys, and killer sci-fi and fantasy costumes and props. Anything but a reference book, The Best of Instructables Volume I embodies the inspirational fun, creativity, and sense of community that has attracted more than 200,000 registered members in just three years. Many of the articles include sidebars that show how other builders have realized or improved upon the same project.

Making things is cool again: everyone wants to be a creator, not just a consumer. This is the spirit of the "new handy heyday", fostered by Instructables.com, MAKE: magazine, and others, and celebrated by this incredible book -- The Best of Instructables Volume 1.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Title page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Preface
  6. Welcome
  7. Chapter 1: Home & Garden
    1. IKEA Hacks
    2. Magnetic Refrigerator Lights
    3. Mad Scientist’s Light
    4. Ten-Green Modular Shelving
    5. Invisible Bookshelf
    6. Geometric Cut Paper Table Lamp
    7. Plank Chair
    8. Stool Made from Bike Parts and Crutches
    9. Wireless Home Router with Analog Utilization Meter
    10. Universal Lamp Shade Polygon Building Kit
    11. Pipe Dream Bed
    12. Beanbag Sofa/Bed
    13. Concrete Light Bulb Wall Hook
  8. Chapter 2: Food
    1. Crafting a Bento
    2. “1UP Mushroom” Mushroom Burger!
    3. How to Make Carbonated Fruit
    4. How to Build a Pit Oven
    5. Hobo Stove from Tin Can
    6. How to Eat a Banana Like a Monkey
    7. Food Hacks
  9. Chapter 3: Photography
    1. String Tripod
    2. Super Simple Light Tent
    3. LED Light Drawing Pens
  10. Chapter 4: Science
    1. Light Bulb Greenhouse
    2. Grow Your Own Bioluminescent Algae
    3. 3D Magnetic Field Viewer
    4. Measure the Speed of Light with Chocolate!
  11. Chapter 5: Computers
    1. Nintendo NES PC
    2. Lego USB Stick
    3. Milkscanner
    4. 30-Minute USB Microscope
    5. Easy, Cheap, Animated Cartoon in 10 Minutes
    6. 3D Laser Scanner
  12. Chapter 6: Electronics
    1. LED Throwies
    2. Programmable LED
    3. Ghetto AVR Programmer
    4. Arduino Charlieplexed Heart
    5. Ultra TV-B-Gone
    6. Dance Messenger
  13. Chapter 7: Robotics
    1. How to Build Your First Robot
    2. How to Make an OAWR (Obstacle Avoiding Walking Robot)
    3. Balancing Robot
    4. Give the Gift of Robot Invasion
    5. Mousebot Revisited
  14. Chapter 8: Ride
    1. Turn Signal Biking Jacket
    2. Visor-Cleaning Wiper Glove
    3. Atomic Zombie’s ChopWork Orange Chopper Bicycle
    4. Drainage Luge
    5. Solar-Powered Trike
    6. How to Get a Free Yacht
  15. Chapter 9: Craft
    1. Altoids Tin Projects
    2. The Blow Brush
    3. Electric Umbrella
    4. Etching Brass Plates
    5. Screen Printing: Cheap, Dirty, and at Home
    6. Controlled Bleaching with Discharge Paste
    7. Paracord Bracelet with a Side-Release Buckle
    8. A Dozen Red Origami Roses
    9. Blank Books from Office Paper
    10. How to Make Your Own Plastic Vacuum Former
    11. Computer Keyboard Wallet
    12. Duct Tape Rose
  16. Chapter 10: Entertainment
    1. Stuffed-Animal Headphones
    2. Earbud Cord Wrapper
    3. Make an iPod Speaker from a Hallmark Music Card
    4. Munny Speakers
    5. Start a Guerrilla Drive-in (aka MobMov)
  17. Chapter 11: Fun & Games
    1. The Marshmallow Shooter
    2. Realistic Werewolf Costume
    3. Guitar Hero Hack: Key Molding
    4. The Office Supplies Trebuchet
    5. Fix the Red Ring of Death! (without towels!)
    6. Make Your Own Star Wars-Style Sword
    7. Blinkybug, Maker Faire Version
    8. Build a Water Mortar
    9. An Iron Man-Style Arc Reactor
    10. Make an Awesome Magic Wand
    11. Post Office Drawings
    12. Jar of Fireflies
  18. Chapter 12: Tools
    1. Third Hand++
    2. Guide to Field Soldering
    3. Flashlight Business Card
    4. Dot Matrix Business Card
    5. Notebook Mods
    6. Top Tool Tips
    7. Easy to Build Desktop 3-Axis CNC Milling Machine
    8. Tim’s Tool Tricks
  19. Community Contest Winners
  20. Contributors
  21. Index

Product information

  • Title: The Best of Instructables Volume I
  • Author(s): The editors at MAKE magazine and Instructables.com
  • Release date: October 2008
  • Publisher(s): Make: Community
  • ISBN: 9780596519520