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Posts with tag screen

Window screen replacement

While re-screening your window screens isn't brain surgery or rocket science, it does call for a keen eye for detail and a somewhat steady hand. Spring is here or getting here, depending on where you call home. One of the upsides of that are those glory days where we don't have to run the air conditioner or the heater. Money in the bank!

So, good window screens are called for to keep the pesky insects at bay. A trip to a repair shop will convince you to tackle re-screening yourself. Older screening material was metal, and frankly, a royal pain in the butt to work with. Today's is more along the lines of a nylon, fiberglass, or other composite. Quite user friendly.

The process is straightforward; remove all the old screen and splines and replace. The only real trick is getting the proper stretch. I've found it best to use a north-south, then east-west approach. A bit of practice and you'll be the envy of your neighbors in no time flat.

Before you go to the store for tools and supplies, take a sample of the existing spline (a round rubber strip that retains the screen material in the slot). Several sizes are available; you'll need the same size spline and spline tool.

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Home theater insanity: a $6.8 million obsession

speaker
Taking the concept of home theater to extremes: the gentleman who spent a jaw-dropping $6.8 million on construction of a home theater. Not just any home theater. The ultimate home theater. I mean, this thing has everything. Owner, Jeremy Kipnis, says his creation is "the greatest show on earth."

The theater is a large room, eight feet high at the entrance and sloping up to sixteen feet high. The centerpiece is a massive eighteen foot laboratory grade screen. Equally impressive (or tasteless, depending on your view): a super-powerful audio system with sixteen eighteen-inch subs arrayed around the seating area for totally realistic surround sound.

Naturally, the whole thing can play "ungodly loud," according to Steve from Audio Video Interiors. Yes, it's basically like having your own personal IMAX theater to hang out in.

For more home theater fun and games, check out my earlier post on home theaters, and Jessi's home theater-planning post. Also handy: Anna's post on DIY projection screens.
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Speedball Ultimate Screen Printing Kit review


Speedball Ultimate Screen Printing Kit
Street Price: around $100-150

If you're looking to get into screen printing, this is actually a pretty good kit. There are, however, a few items missing and a couple of caveats. First, don't count on making fabric prints out of this box alone. The description says it is possible (which it is), but the inks included are NOT designed for fabric use, they are for printing on wood, cardboard, etc. Also, and I realize I'm being picky, but you'll want to invest in a storage container. There was a time when Speedball boxes were sturdy enough to hold everything, but the box is way too flimsy. That and you're gonna need to buy a few extra items before you get started.

What you do get is a complete introduction to the primary three methods for screen printing: stencil printing, resist printing and photo emulsion printing. The box comes with a DVD for instruction, although it is a mediocre dub from a VHS (complete with tracking issues at the start). Grab a notebook and come coffee while you take notes on the process. You won't be doing half the stuff you see in the video at first, but it is a great overview for what you can do in screen printing.

Now, onto the actual printing process and how I was able to make t-shirts with a little extra ink.

Gallery: Speedball Ultimate Screen Printing Kit Review

Speedball Ultimate Screen Printing Kit reviewwhat's inside the boxback in the boxthe dvdbackboard

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DIY lightning globe

Lightning globe by Instructables user NK5.If you have an old monitor sitting around (and come on: I know you do), and if you only kinda value your life, you should immediately go make this Lightning Globe, created by Instructables user NK5. It uses a light bulb, metal screening, a plain plastic plant pot... and a high-voltage power supply.

I say, "only kinda value your life," because in order to complete this project, you'll have to get the high-voltage power supply out of an old monitor, and you'll have to discharge the high voltage on your own. I'm not keen on the idea of our readers winning Darwin Awards, but this project is too cool to not post about it.

Keep in mind that this is not a plasma globe. The lightning will not flow to your fingertips if you place them on the globe. Your hair may or may not stand on end, but if it does, that's probably not a good thing: some of the other Instructables users report getting a shock after their globes were up and running. (This is one of those cases where the reader comments are particularly interesting and instructive.) If you do this project, please be extremely careful.

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Low-tech solution to doors that don't stay closed



I live in a house with five other people. Folks are always coming and going, and they aren't always conscientious about closing the doors behind them, whether to keep air conditioning inside, to keep pets out of some rooms, or just for privacy. Beyond that, some doors just don't stay shut.

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Simplest vehicle sunscreen ever

hot temperature signAre you tired of getting into a 150 degree vehicle after a long day at work? Are you sick of grabbing your sun glasses off your vehicle console only to have them melt into your nose when you put them on? Have those vinyl burns on the backs of your thighs healed up yet? There's a simple solution to vehicle interior overheat that will take you about 10 minutes to make and the chances are that you already have what you need to make it right at your finger tips. It's simple, cheap and easy to store when not in use.

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How to safely clean your LCD screen


Special care must be taken when handling an LCD screen, especially when touching or cleaning it. First and foremost ... avoid touching the screen. No really, don't touch the screen. Ever!

Evidentially I haven't repeated that enough in my house. Right now, I'm looking through the glare of a number of tiny fingerprints (again.)

Apple's website, recommends cleaning LCD's by turning off the computer (or display) and wiping the screen with a damp, clean, soft, lint-free cloth. Paper with water only. This works ... but only if you've never touched your screen. Basically this method gets the dust off, and that's about it.

For getting fingerprints (or worse) off, try a simple 50/50 mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol (Apple does not recommend this) and distilled water. Mix the liquids in an empty spray bottle. Next, turn off your screen, dampen a microfiber cloth with your 50/50 mixture and begin wiping the display–gently–from top to bottom. This should do the trick.
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Weekend Project: MAKE's screenprint your own t-shirts vidcast

If you are any kind of serious DIYer, you will have heard of, and possibly park your browser on either MAKE's or Instructables' websites. Both sites can be excellent sources of DIY fun, and also some not-so-great execution of ideas. Sometimes projects must be taken with a grain of salt. Especially if you're making food that ends up tasting like cardboard. In one of the more nifty vidcasts in the DIY world, Bre Pettis at MAKE and Matt Stinchcomb at Etsy.com have put together this fun to watch video on how to make your own screen-printed t-shirts, complete with recorded howl and LED lights. You can visit the read link below if the video above doesn't appear for some reason.

If you don't have anything to do this weekend, give this a shot, and see what you come up with. Feel free to post a link to your finished product in the comments. Good luck!
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Do Life! DIY Life highlights the best in "do-it-yourself" projects.

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