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Check out this video where I make a large air popcorn popper and do some tests on popcorn to find the temperature at which it pops. Here it is! Popcorn Machine
First off, I did a quick video on how a Chain Hoist works, check that out!
Secondly, I wanted to give you an update on the next project: Giant Popcorn Popper. There has been one delay after another (as always), but I ran a preliminary test-run (got it on camera) which was a great success - phew! So I’m am looking forward to popping swimming pools full of popcorn soon (tomorrow?) :-).
Lastly, I want to thank you for checking out the site as none of this is possible without your support. Please check out the new reference section, linked to from the left, which houses the how it works videos and includes some other stuff, which will be expanded greatly upon in the weeks to come. This site is for you, so if you have any comments or questions you can hit me up in the forum or at bavetta@crazybuilders.com. Let me know what you’d like to see, and thanks for watching!
You use it all the time, but have you ever thought about how a drill chuck it works? You might be surprised! Here I take one apart and show a couple of other designs.
This time, let’s take apart a fog machine to see how it works!
It looks the machine vaporizes the fog fluid, then as the vapor exits into the cooler room-temperature air it condenses to form a cloud. Check out the details in the article.
For the first in a series of taking things apart episodes I take apart a coffee pot to see how it works!
I’m going to try to release one of these type of shows frequently (about every day or so) - they’re easy for me to make and I think it may help to keep the site active when I’m working on a project which takes a couple of weeks. If you like it, please let me know in the comments area.
Here’s a video describing the components of a radio control system, an bit about how servos work, and a quick demo. I also wrote a good sized article on the various transmission types on the market, among other things. Check it out!
Also, if you have experience with RC gear you’d like to share, would like to let us know about your favorite system, or have an idea for something I missed, let me know by leaving a comment in the comments section.
I have a couple of other things in the works that I’m really excited about, so be sure to come back soon to check them out.
I took the propeller powered skateboard out for a spin a few of the days last week: tons of fun. Check out the video I put together here!
Up next week: Related Science, with a primer in R/C gear usage and science, how propellers work, and how to size them to the engine/motor. Right now, I’m off to AZ for a few days - so I have to cut the verbage and hit the airport! I’ll be filling in the details and flushing out the articles next week!
Having a blast with the propeller skateboard project. I posted the construction video here to keep you guys up to date: Construction Vid
Otherwise, tested the board out on Fri and Today. Great results! Will have the test footage online in a few days!
I have posted the videos of the air cannon online to get feedback. There is still some work to be done, but I plan on finishing the updates by next week.
As this is the first project, there are some kinks to be worked out: what video sizes are reasonable for people to download, etc. I’m excited to get things going and have started filming the next project which should be tons of fun as well. I’m thinking of posting short video updates might be a good idea to keep everyone up to date with what I’m presently working on to fill the gaps between projects.
Let me know what you’d like to see, or if you find any problems with the site. Thanks!
I’ve been dropping weights on pressurized PVC pipes to test their impact strength. PVC seems to be very strong at room temperature - I could not destroy the pipe with my 1.5 kg [3.3 lb] weight from 3.5 m [~12 feet]. But…. the material gets much more brittle (lower fracture toughness) at lower temperatures. The pipe which came fresh out of the freezer easily exploded into many tiny high speed pieces of plastic. Check out the rest of the results from the blast box here: Blast Box.
