Hot Hobbies & Toys How-Tos
How To: Make the perfect balloon animal swan
Watch this video to learn how to make a swan balloon animal the quick and simple way. Before starting, you need to remember that the key to making the swan correctly is how you construct the neck and the beak. 1. Leave a three or four finger length area of the balloon deflated. 2. With one hand, grab the balloon at the nozzle, and with the other hand, grab the balloon at the base of the swan's neck. 3. When twisting the body, try to make the two bubbles equal in size and place the nozzle in t...
How To: Make a self-moving tractor from a spool of thread
Learn how to make a ‘Spool Tractor’ using common household items, as demonstrated in this video. You would need the following items to make it:
How To: Build a "pop-pop" or "putt-putt" steam engine boat
This extensive video series is all about making your own simple steam engine and boat, which is known variously as the "putt-putt" or "pop-pop" boat. Science Toy Maker gives the full details on making your own homemade steam engine model boat, which is similar to the one seen in the move "Ponyo".
How To: Take apart a laser pointer
Have you ever had a combination of extreme boredom and an unrelenting curiosity? If so one thing you may have attempted to do is to take apart or "de-engineer" a common office laser pointer. In this online video we are shown how to take apart a cheap laser pointer. It should be noted if you are going to attempt to do this you should only try it on a laser pointer that is inexpensive so your loss will not be great if you should make an error.
How To: Make a steamboat with copper, a candle, & a bottle
First, cut a plastic bottle down the middle the long way. Next, put a little candle in one of the halves.
How To: Make model railroad tunnels
Tunnels can help make your model railroad set-up come alive. But professionally made tunnels can be expensive, and they lack character. In this tutorial you'll learn how to make your own, customized tunnels.
How To: Blow the biggest, best bubble-gum bubble
Think you can beat the bubble-gum bubble record? Follow these steps and learn how to blow the biggest bubble ever!
How To: Make a nut and bolt keychain
Project 4 of the Popular Science 5 Minute Projects with Craftsmen Tools is a Nut-and-Bolt Keychain. Downsize your pocket cargo with a custom-fit keychain. Editor Sean Captain ditches the ring and uses more tool than necessary to trim a small bolt to just the right size for his set of keys. (For a slightly different take on the project, see the site that inspired us: carlitoscontraptions.blogspot.com).
How To: Recycle an Old Light Bulb into a Ship in a Bottle
Learn how to make a ship in the bulb (aka a ship in a bottle). This cool diy hack demonstrates how to recycle an old lightbulb into a "ship in a bottle". Like the traditional ship in the bottle, the ship is first assembled outside of the bottle, then placed inside. Follow this fun how to hack video to learn how to make your own.
How To: Bind to return an unresponsive yo-yo
Everybody had a yo-yo at one point in their life; some when they were just little children, some when they were bored teenagers, some when they found the kid inside of them they never knew of, and even some when they felt retirement was just not very fun. It just goes to show that the yo-yo is not going anywhere anytime soon. Who could ever believe that a toy consisting of two equal disks made of plastic, maybe even wood or metal, with an axle and string could be so damn pleasing, so much dar...
How To: Make a sling shot with a stick and soccer ball
This video demonstrates how to construct a sling shot out of a soccer ball. You will need an old soccer ball or tire tube, a "Y" shaped stick, and a pair of scissors. Slice the soccer ball open to remove the rubber lining. Next, cut two thin strips of the rubber lining. Cut out one hexagon shaped piece of leather from the deflated soccer ball. You can use this for the sling shot pouch. These visual guidelines depict how to use these materials to construct a sturdy slingshot in a matter of min...
How To: Inflate a Ball Without a Pump
Got a flat ball that can't be inflated because your pump is broken? This video tutorial shows a simple technique for how to make your own pump. It's fun and easy to do, and it's a great time- and money-saver. All you need is a pump needle, a balloon, scissors, and a rubber band.
How To: Assemble a store bought diamond kite
Here is a instructional how to video walk through for assembling a kite. This demonstrations is quite useful if you store bought kite did not come with instructions or if you lost them.
How To: Build a mousebot robot from make magazine
Herbie the Mousebot is a very quick, easy-to-build, light-chasing robot kit, perfect for beginners. This little robot is so quick, you have to run to keep up with him! This is from make magazine.
How To: Do the "Eiffel Tower" yo-yo string trick
Check out this video to learn how to do the "Eiffel Tower" yo-yo string trick, a classic.
How To: Make a simple Knex gun with trigger
These are assembly instructions for a simple Knex gun with trigger
How To: Build a model train village
In this series of hobby videos, you will learn how to create your own model trail village. Our expert will help you to create a styrofoam base for your landscape, then suggest how to add buildings, cars, even sidewalks and roads to your model train layout. Watch this series to learn how to plan tracks and route your trains to create a fantastic world of your own.
How To: Start a Thunder Tiger Ducati TT Nitro RC Bike
These little bikes can be rather fiddly to start, but are fantastic when they are going. This is one way of getting them going. (Of course the bike was playing up for the camera and decided to make life difficult for me, but I still got it going). Now all I have to do is learn how to pilot it. I used 25% nitro fuel (which is a little too "hot" for this bike), but for the next lot of fuel I'll buy will be 16%.
How To: Customize a Monster High Mermaid Doll - Sirena Von Boo
This tutorial will show you how to customize a Monster High doll using a My Little Pony Equestria Girls Mini. Watch this video to see how it is done. When you are done painting your custom doll, add a thin layer of Mod podge to seal the paint.
How To: Build a '60s Mack F Series Cabover Conversion Model Truck
A series on how to build a Mack F series cabover conversion model truck at 1/25 scale. Part 1
How To: Make Doll Tables
How to make simple doll tables using cardboard and craft sticks. Easy and cheap to make.
How To: Make a Simple Pop Pop Boat
This video tutorial shows you how to make a simple pop pop boat (putt putt boat) out of house hold items. Very simple and easy to do.
Meet Tanky: The Super Smart DIY Tank Robot That Can Map Its Own Surroundings
There are plenty of tank robots out there, but how many of them can recognize 3D objects and map their environment? Tanky, the tracked mobile robot, can do all that and more while rolling around on his bicycle chain treads. Created as a Master's thesis project, Tanky is made almost entirely of parts you can find at your local hardware store. It was built in two "layers" with the motors, electronics, and batteries on bottom and the processing unit, a laptop, on top. The motors came from cordle...
How To: Sculpt Your Spare Change into a Badass Miniature Jet Fighter Plane
What are you going to do with all of those Euro coins you still have from that trip to Barcelona with Grandma Margie? Instead of keeping them in a drawer and counting down the number of days until you can afford another trip, try something creative—take on this awesome miniature plane build.
RoboDoc: A Kid-Friendly DIY Robot That Makes Doctor Visits a Little Less Scary
Remember going to the doctor when you were a kid? If the word 'traumatizing' comes to mind, you'll love the RoboDoc by MarkusB, a robotic doctor that makes checkups a little less scary (and a lot more fun) for kids. It all started when Markus took his 14-month-old daughter for a checkup. The finger clip that the doctor used to check her pulse terrified her, so Markus decided to build a heartbeat monitor just for kids that's much more likely to make them laugh than cry.
How To: The Dark Knight's Bat and Tumbler Vehicles Come to Life with LEGOs
If you've finished building your Curiosity rover and are wondering, now what? Perhaps it's time to move onto something a bit more... mobile?
How To: NASA Engineer Shows You How to Build a Mini Curiosity Mars Rover Out of LEGOs
You might have seen our post on this last week: It's a working reproduction of the Mars Curiosity Rover made with LEGOs, but it's a bit complicated for anyone without a decent amount of robotics knowledge. Plus, you need to have some Mindstorms NXT and TECHNIC parts lying around. If you want something a little simpler than programming a working LEGO rover, you could always build a scaled model of the MSL out of regular LEGOs. Not only is this easy to build and looks great, but the step-by-ste...
How To: Convert 2D Photos Into 3D Models
The video below demonstrates how you can convert you 2D Photos into 3D Models using 3Defy. You will need to follow these steps:
How To: Make a catapult out of office supplies
Looking for something fun to do with all those office supplies you've been stealing from work? Or maybe you just want to goof around in your cubicle? It's possible that you are an honest, dedicated, hard worker, but whatever the case may be- no judgement, just a video guide to making an office supply catapult.
How To: Make your own slingshot from easy to find materials
Can you feel your inner Dennis the Menace trying to get out? Trying to recreate the early 90s bad boy Bart Simpson look? Watch these videos to learn how to make yourself a slingshot. This slingshot is made from materials that are probably laying around your house, but you will need some power tools.
How To: Make a decorative balloon arch for parties and events
Maybe you are looking for a fun, festive, decoration for your next party or gathering, or maybe you've got a room full of balloons and you don't know what to do with them. Well, this video has answers. This video will show you how to make a balloon arch.
How To: Make a homemade stirling engine
Are you looking to build a cool home science experiement? Why not try out a Stirling engine? Wait, what IS a stirling engine? Well... a Stirling engine is a heat engine operating by cyclic compression and expansion of air or other gas, the working fluid, at different temperature levels such that there is a net conversion of heat energy to mechanical work. This project was made from parts around the house and you should be able to do the same. This is a great project to explain how gears work,...
How To: Build a cool cardboard RC airplane
Model airplanes are cool and all, but making them out of your typical 8 1/2 X 11 printer paper isn't going to cut it for long, especially if any sort of rain or misplaced foot is involved. Make your awesome model airplanes even more awesome by crafting them out of sturdy cardboard instead.
How To: Create a custom checkered gun stock
Want to add a personalized touch to your favorite gun? Looking for some ways to dress up the stock on a new rifle? Checkering a gun stock is a way to add a little unique twist to your favorite rifle or gun. It is not an exceptionally hard technique to master, and you only need a few basic tools to do it. This tutorial from Midway USA shows you how to create a custom checkered gunstock for any wooden stock.
How To: Make a flying helicopter out of office supplies
Bored in your cubicle all day? It's time for helicopter wars! This video shows you how to make a fun and simple helicopter out of some basic office supplies. The materials you will need are: a big paper clip, a smaller paper clip, a large aluminum can (such as from Rockstar or Monster energy drinks), a ruler, Scotch tape, a rubber band, a pair of pliers (if you have a Leatherman multitool, those will work just fine), a pen you can take apart for the long tube, a pair of scissors, and some pla...
How To: Make a Fun, Kid-Friendly Toy Gun from a Hot Glue Gun
Here's a fun little hack you can try at home with your kids. The purpose of this tutorial is to teach you how to make this fun toy gun. It's a very simple and economical project. Tools and Materials:
How To: Make fuse paper to light a rocket motor
Do you like drinking coffee? It may seem like this question has nothing to do with homemade rockets or fuse paper, but indeed coffee filters - which you should have in ample supply if you enjoy making your own cup of Joe - are the key ingredient in a kick ass construction of fuse paper.
How To: Turn 2 Disposable Lighters into a Lightercycle (English Instructions)
Here's the English language How-To for constructing a Lightercycle using 2 cigarette lighters. Original article courtesy of WonderHowTo user rmansur.
How To: Make a silicone mold in your kitchen with common household items
You can easily make an inexpensive silicone mold in your kitchen for cheap! This is a great project to do with your kids, or just for fun! You can also use this method to easily make theatrical props and prosthetics.