19
votes
Trying to turn a vintage wash basin into a vessel sink. How can I get rid of this standing water?
If you don't object to a transparent substance in the bottom of the basin, you can use acrylic casting resin, aiming for a product which specifically advertises itself as clear, as some of the ...
- 7,679
12
votes
Does a minimal difference in hook sizes really change the outcome of a project?
You'll probably be fine. One quarter of a millimeter isn't a huge difference, particularly considering how large the hook is.
The reality is that the hook size is just a suggestion. Different ...
- 3,516
11
votes
Accepted
Why and how do some people use circular knitting needles when working flat / not in the round?
I personally only use circular knitting needles. To work flat on circular needles, you do not need to do anything special. Just turn them around when you reach the end of your row, as you would ...
- 475
9
votes
book arts: how to make cut outs
You are using a typical tool by having an Xacto knife in hand. If your results are poor, please consider that the blade may be dull. New blades are sharp enough to result in very clean cuts, while an ...
- 7,679
9
votes
Accepted
Beginner Question: How would I cut this shape out of 6061 Aluminum?
Don't overestimate the difficulty involved in filing aluminum. One can nearly sculpt aluminum into any shape in a very short time, using a sharp file and a file card. It is even practical to use only ...
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8
votes
What kind of laser cutter is required to cut 3mm plywood
The typical hobbyist laser will either be a diode laser or a CO2 laser, when the focus is 3 mm plywood. I have both, with the diode laser having an optical output power of 5 Watts at 100% power. The ...
- 7,679
7
votes
Accepted
How to color with an even darkness?
The issue is half medium, half technique.
First, your medium. You need something with high opacity. In wet media, we're talking black ink, and probably a wet one. Examples of Black inks which can be ...
- 554
7
votes
Economical ideas for lettered t-shirts
I make shirts, decals, signs, etc for a living. The best way to go is to buy a pack of inkjet shirts transfers (if you have an inkjet printer) If you have a laser printer look for the laser transfers. ...
7
votes
How can I cut a near perfect circle out of a plastic bottle?
Kind of off the wall, but here goes:
Fill the bottle with water and put it in the freezer until the water becomes solid ice. (best not put the cap on in order to allow for expansion of ice.
Using ...
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7
votes
Which tool to use as watercolor paper press
The answer is to pre-stretch the paper before painting, and leave it stretched until dry.
To pre-stretch, wet the paper evenly, then tack down the corners to a drawing board with some slight tension....
- 3,974
7
votes
Pliers for chainmail that don't scratch the rings
In addition to your own answer:
Jewelers (and most chain mail workers that I know, including myself) use a type of pliers called "chain nose pliers." I don't really know why they have that ...
- 1,576
7
votes
Accepted
What is the best technology to 3D print sextoys?
I work for a company that doesn't make sex toys, but we do make silicone products with electronics inside, so I've seen lots of the same issues you're facing here.
The way we do it is to 3D print a ...
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7
votes
Accepted
How do you open Castin’ Craft resin cans?
Prying with a narrow screwdriver is a good start. It appears in the photo that you have a bit of a start at the near edge of the top.
This particular seal is a throw-away and you can indeed stab it. ...
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6
votes
How can I cut a near perfect circle out of a plastic bottle?
Plastic bottles are easy to cut with a sharp scissors.
Before cutting your circle, draw your cutting line onto the bottle with a marker.
Before you can cut with a scissors, you have to pierce the ...
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6
votes
Accepted
What tool is available for protecting the box cutter and the surface of the table while using box cutter?
Cutting mats are avilable in a wide range of sizes. I have A4 and A5, but even A1 (59.4 x 84.1 cm or 23.3 x 33.1 inches) aren't expensive at around £/$/€20. They provide a reasonably non-slip surface ...
- 6,959
6
votes
How to get spray paint off of concrete, wood, and metal
Forget turpentine and rubbing alcohol. Whatever you do, you will have to refinish some of the surfaces.
For everything other than the concrete you should be ok with acetone. Use steel wool soaked in ...
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6
votes
How Can I Create the Metal Comb of a Music Box?
In order for the "tines" on your comb to ring brightly, you must begin with spring steel. You may use a flat piece of steel and cut the teeth into it or use a long length of quality steel ...
6
votes
Accepted
Whats is the mm equivalent of US / old UK knitting needles?
Here's an overview of all the knitting needle sizes I know.
Metric UK US
0.5mm 24 -
0.75mm 22 -
1.0mm 20 5/0
1.25mm 18 4/0
1.5mm 17 000
...
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6
votes
Accepted
Double-sided Eyelets?
The double-sided ones are often called "grommets". Good search terms are "fabric grommets" or "fabric grommet tool". Amazon has a huge selection, including different ...
- 11.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Pros and cons of classic crochet needles and handled crochet needles
While you've labelled the top image as "handled" due to your unfamiliarity, the correct term for that style of hook is "ergonomic," with all that name implies. They are much easier ...
- 4,074
5
votes
How can I cut gemstones in half without a lapidary saw?
There are lapidary materials that can be cut without using specialized saws. Small raw gemstones are not good candidates, however.
Prior to modern lapidary equipment, cutting small gemstones relied ...
- 476
5
votes
At a minimum what would I need to repair a fracture in a gold pendant?
In my jewelry making course way back in 2000, heating metal for soldering required actual flame... a torch. You wouldn't want to do this with the equipment you have at all. It's a totally different ...
- 3,516
5
votes
Accepted
How can I cover a large posterboard with glitter?
If you want the poster to be solid glitter, not simply speckled, I would use a spray adhesive, which is best with large surfaces. It also will not add additional weight or bow the the poster like a ...
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5
votes
How to keep scratch art paper clean and free of pencil and eraser marks?
I'd suggest to draw your sketch on a different sheet of paper, something rather thin and inexpensive.
Then you can use carbon paper to transfer your drawing to the scratchboard paper. Carbon paper is ...
- 2,009
5
votes
Accepted
How to keep scratch art paper clean and free of pencil and eraser marks?
I have not done any sort of serious scratch-board art, but here are some suggestions, to answer your two part question:
Use black colored pencil instead of regular pencil.— it isn't as reflective as ...
- 515
5
votes
Accepted
What specs should I look for in a hobby milling machine?
Most hobby machine tools are made by a couple of Chinese manufacturers (notably Seig) and branded by the importer. However, while the basic machines are pretty similar the detailed specifications do ...
- 1,989
5
votes
What is the best way to create a stencil for a large spray paint image?
The best first step is to convert your image into a vector format from the current raster image. Vector format images are composed of "descriptions" that could be considered as a road map of the image....
- 7,679
5
votes
Economical ideas for lettered t-shirts
I'd go for fusible web (sometimes also called fusible interfacing). Choose the type with paper backing.
Think of it as the fabric equivalent of double-sided tape:
You iron it to the back of the ...
- 1,206
5
votes
How can I cut a near perfect circle out of a plastic bottle?
Because the plastic is quite thin, it will not hold up well to a rotary cutter such as a hole saw or similar cutter. A trammel type cutter would likely be much worse. The only way I can think to make ...
- 7,679
5
votes
Accepted
Tool for sealing paper ends
There is... do a search for "stapleless staplers."
Pretty sure they work by interleaving little tabs of each sheet or side of the fold through the other sheet/side.
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