It’s not been looking well for a while, poor thing….. Then I spotted the underside of the leaves were covered in little black things…. to the microscope! Aphids! Bastards! Well, getting rid of them is relatively easy: blasting it in the shower removes them. I could try some isopropyl alcohol, but I’m worried it’ll harmContinue reading “What’s eating my Cotyledon Orbiculata?”
Author Archives: adq
Mini Tesla Coil kit from Ebay! (playing Bohemian Rhapsody)
I’ve been enjoying Electroboom’s Youtube channel, and was really interested in the various Tesla coil videos. I had a look at the OneTesla DIY kits: they look great, but way too expensive for an afternoon’s fun. Plus, shipping to the UK would likely be a faff. Somehow I had the idea to check on Ebay:Continue reading “Mini Tesla Coil kit from Ebay! (playing Bohemian Rhapsody)”
Writing A Speaker Horn Music Visualiser
As soon as I decided to add the 5×5 Blinkenlights matrix to the horn, it obviously needed to be turned into a music visualiser. Googling for “mopidy audio visualizer” found this post, where someone did exactly that. But it wasn’t on a Pi, ran some other software, didn’t talk to a 5×5 matrix, and –Continue reading “Writing A Speaker Horn Music Visualiser”
1920s Spotify Speaker Horn
I inherited an old “Revo” speaker horn from my dad. I have a strong suspicion he acquired it from a “job lot” in an auction somewhere. He gave it the rather fetching red/gold/black paint job. Anyway, its been in my flat looking kinda cool for ages: I wanted to make it even more cool 🙂Continue reading “1920s Spotify Speaker Horn”
New Tools!
I’ve been struggling with a pair of worn out snips for all my snipping/wire stripping needs for years. For some reason I didn’t realise that I could just.. order something better. I’ve now rectified this. From left to right: “Proster SN-28B” Dupont crimpers (and set). They’re not a brand I recognise, but seem to workContinue reading “New Tools!”
Turning an old Amazon Kindle into a eink development platform
I fancied getting an eink screen to use for future projects. I bought a wee one with a raspberry pi “hat” attached. However, I realised later that I could maybe just re-purpose an old Amazon Kindle ebook reader. I’ve messed with Kindles before, ages ago: I ported an Infocom interpreter and a Manga reader toContinue reading “Turning an old Amazon Kindle into a eink development platform”
Investigating RCA CED VideoDiscs
I’ve been watching a lot of the Technology Connections Youtube channel recently. I was particularly intrigued by the series on RCA CED VideoDiscs. There’s also some information available on Wikipedia. These are Vinyl discs, very similar in concept to a Vinyl (audio) disc, except these contained video rather than audio. Unlike LaserDiscs which… use lasers,Continue reading “Investigating RCA CED VideoDiscs”
Glass Frit/Powder Sifters
“Frit” is glass which has been broken up into pieces of varying size. You use different sized chunks for different purposes (eg large chunks could be used for mosaic style work, while glass powder could be used to fill in small holes and prevent bubbles). You generally need a way to separate it into differentContinue reading “Glass Frit/Powder Sifters”
Fused Glass/Metal Experiments
I’ve been trying combining fused glass with various powdered metals and metal compounds to see what effect it has on the glass colour. I’ve been intentionally avoiding compounds which – when heated – might decompose into harmful byproducts (eg chlorine containing compounds). I didn’t take photos of all the experiments prior to firing, but hereContinue reading “Fused Glass/Metal Experiments”
Fused Glass Attempt # 1
The first thing I tried with my new kiln was some glass fusing. Tools To cut glass I needed some new tools: Toyo Glass cutter and cutting oil (appears to be just a very low viscosity mineral oil). Metal running pliers. Glass I had bought a “student pack” of glass manufactured by Bullseye Glass Co.Continue reading “Fused Glass Attempt # 1”
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