DIY Life

I'll admit it... I've gone under the needle more than once. In fact, I'm considering getting yet another tattoo (though I want to get a new tattoo to cover up another one, so maybe it doesn't really count).

While they didn't hurt that much, I wouldn't say it's exactly pleasant having needles zip in and out of your skin. But these laser tattoo videos on Instructables are a whole new world of pain.

According to Instructables, the sight of getting one's flesh burned by a laser cutter isn't too bad. But the subtle smell of burning flesh isn't exactly enticing. (Gee... I wonder why.) And as for the pain involved, well, let's just say it hurts.

Laser cutters serve their purpose -- for cutting wood, plastic, and the like. Not skin. So, to whoever first thought of this idea, I give you points for creativity. But I think this is a lesson in "Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should."

If you're itching to get inked, go the traditional route or, for an even less invasive method, check out Anna's post on temporary tattoos.

After you learn how to clean out the inside of a burned out light bulb, you'll be ready to embark on a number of unusual projects. For instance, you can make an oil lamp. Never would have thought of this one, but all you need is the light bulb, a shoe lace, a bottle cap, two magnets, and a washer. Of course you'll need the oil, some sand, and a few tools to put it all together, but it is a simple project that seems like it would be fun. There is even another way to make it.

If that project isn't inspiring you to save your burned out light bulbs, maybe you'd like to make an aquarium for your fighting fish or a laser nightlight.

Check in with HackNMod for all of the projects, but feel good in knowing that you'll give a whole new meaning to 'reuse' if you create one of these old light bulb projects.

Although the above video is not really the best intro into making your own laser cutter, it does make sense -- right? Take apart a few household PC scanners with stepper motors intact, modify them as shown in these documented steps and see if you can turn those parts into a custom laser cutter with some computer code know-how for specific directions to send to the motors that control the lasers.

If you're a classic Star Trek fan, you'll love this. If you feel like tearing apart that expensive Blu-ray player, you too can retrofit the blue LED into -- are you ready -- a 1969 phaser mock-up from the likes of William Shatner (sans the aging plastic jumpsuit).

I'm no trekkie, but some of you probably are. So, if you're really wanting to geek out at the next Star Trek party or even, gasp, a convention, try this hack out. In addition to the LED, you'll need a housing (as in, phaser prop), a 9-volt battery, a resistor from Radio Shack and one of those cheaper Dremel tools.

Once you have those, the universe is yours. Well, the sci-fi fantasy universe, but you get the idea. Enjoy!

If you've got an idea that needs some advanced manufacturing techniques, Ponoko might be just what you've been looking for. This wine rack is a nice sample of what they can do. Each piece is cut by a powerful laser, and shipped flat. On arrival, you assemble it - just like one of those wooden dinosaur models.

For now, they're offering custom laser cutting for your product. If you want to get started, grab their download their making guide. To create your design, you'll need some vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator. You'll need to create a login, but then you'll have to wait a while - the site is getting so much traffic that the login page reports that it's too busy to me in... yet.

As a kid my parents took me to see 'Moonraker,' and I remember how cool it was to see those semi-realistic lasers flashing and burning whatever they were pointed at. Later in life I bought a book that showed me how to build my own ruby rod laser, complete with battery backpack. And finally I got my hands on an Information Unlimited catalog, which has some literally hair-raising kits. Be warned: this is NOT a toy! It is a real class IV laser gun, packing 500 joules of pulsing energy that truly will burn holes in stuff. Hard stuff, not just plastic cups. Also, the cost of materials isn't cheap-- the xenon lamp costs $400 alone. But if you're really set on your own laser gun, you probably don't care about the cost, right? Hugo Drax didn't care about cost, that's for sure.

No DIY espionage kit is complete without a long-distance listening device, and no DIY long-distance listening device is complete unless it uses a sweet laser in some form or fashion. If you agree with that statement, then you're in luck, because the following project will show how you can use a laser pointer to hear noises from hundreds of feet away (the distance will be relative to the strength of the laser).

As with any tutorial or project that has the potential to be used illegally, we should warn you only to use this new-found knowledge for good, not bad. We won't be held responsible if you get caught eavesdropping on your crazy old neighbor, and wind up being incarcerated for the rest of your life. There's a fine line between good spying (i.e. bird watching, neighborhood watch, etc.) and bad spying (*cough* patriot act *cough*), so please err on the side of caution here.

If you're a pyro, were a pyro, or are a closet pyro, you'll love this.

Turn a Mag-lite into a burning laser? To boost the geek factor, you will be able to tell all your friends that this is a laser made from a DVD-burner, how ubergeeky is that? Alright, stop drooling so I can finish this post.

How and why someone thought of doing this is not the point, doing it is the fun part. I'm not sure what you would do with a burning laser, but I'm sure you'll think of something, or many things. Just be careful and whatever you do don't burn people or point that killer laser at anyone's eyes. Can't see the video? Here is the link. The detailed instructions for how to do this are at Instructables.

[ via Kipkay.com ]