I've started working on some own projects, inspired quite a bit from watching Adam Savage's Tested YouTube channel.
This area is just to give a brief summary of my completed, current, and planned projects.
Because making isn't just about a physical thing. It can be programming, configuring groups of applications, music. If something exists now, physical or otherwise, that didn't exist before, then you have made it. It doesn't matter if other people have made similar things, or even exactly the same thing.
So this is an Ubuntu based headless server. Mainly to see what I can make it do:
Custom SSH port, webmin, and teamviewer for remote access and control.
Docker based applications used where possible for media management. This also makes reinstalling or transferring application settings much easier. Nginx has been set up (dockerised) to create a reverse-proxy for the web-UIs of the various programs, allowing access without having to open up network ports. The Nginx setup has SSL certs set up so all web-UIs are also via validated https connections.
MiniDLNA server on top for easy access to media via Oculus Quest. Plex (via docker) used for all other media access as it has far better metadata information control.
Virtual file system to allow a single mount point for multiple drives (MergerFS, manually editing the fstab file to configure the source points and file creation management). This has been done instead of RAID as the drives are all of different sizes. A Cron-Job has been set up to perform SMART tests on the drives, a quick daily test and a weekly full test.
Polar clock idea based on the Canvas graphics package, using arc objects.
Samurai style display, however commercial versions are too wide to accommodate a standard sized hilt.
Foam board back-pane to keep focus on the hilts rather than what's behind them. This to be patterned to give a space effect backdrop or contain Star Wars themed stencil patterns.
Rack needs to be coloured and weathered to create a Star Wars aesthetic rather than a wooden stand.
A black undercoat, with mix of silver, rust and gold patterning
Aluminium tape to give additional texture and effect to the foam back board.
Considered using EL-Wire to provide additional effects, but as this is just a personal display piece I feel that is unnecessary.
Vertical wine bottle rack - a tower with each level having circular openings on each side for the bottle and open front and back
Back needs to be covered
Use fine grade fishing wire at each side to create a levitating effect. The combination of a thin wire and it being placed right next to the tower sides should hide it very well.
Clear Command decoration clips can support the fishing wire, with brass tacks on the new back to allow adjustment (fishing wire to be tied off around the tacks)
https://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-Function-Walking-Stick-Converts-into-a-Cha/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-Function-Walking-Stick-II-Storage-Compart/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-function-Walking-Stick-III-Torch-Bearer/
https://www.instructables.com/id/Multi-Function-Walking-Stick-IV-Grip-Strap/
The issue with this project is that the instructions are a) old, and b) American. This makes finding the recommended copper plumbing parts extremely hard, especially with the UK having gone metric for most parts (but still imperial when ordering dowels), and having pretty much completely moved away from threaded connectors in favour of push-fit connectors, which won't provide the structural support required.
What I would like to do, once I've got a source for the hard-to-get materials, is create various options for the top section of the staff, along with a few modifications. The only modification I've considered and rejected is to build a compass onto the staff, as I can't figure a way to make it useful (the staff would be too tall to place it on top and still be visible).
The options and modifications to the instructions noted above are:
Modifications:
Swap some of the the threading ends so that the bottom and top pieces can be connected together to create a shorter staff if needed
Have a brass or copper strip running up the bottom section, marked out in both metric and imperial (this can continue into the mid and top sections as well, though maybe as bands around the staff instead of a vertical strip)
Add braising wire to the foot to improve wear-and-tear resistance.
Have a walking stick foot for the mid section when it is in the seat configuration. Need to find a place to attach this while it's in the staff configuration.
A clip-on attachment for an adjustable angle wide beam torch
Peep holes drilled in
Ring compass? If one exists.
Alternate top sections:
El-Wire topper (using the compartment version to store the battery pack)
El-wire tape option, and a winding wire pattern option
Hook top - though this could be done with a second cap for the storage options which would make the chair config easier
Lantern top (LED strip in a perspex tube with a reflector at the top maybe?). This would probably be set up for the lower half of the top section only, as have to consider holding it and the heat generated by the LEDs.
Same but with 'one way mirror' foil inside - maybe just one vertical strip at that point.
Maybe a mid-section option for both of these?
Bluetooth speaker top - providing a suitably sized and shaped speaker can be found.
Drink container
Partial (similar to the Torch Bearer setup)
Full - water bladder inside a perspex or copper tube?
Built in USB sockets (battery pack inside a compartment, grommet over the port(s) - there are small cylindrical battery packs by Anker that don't require a button press to activate).
Bug repellent diffuser - venting holes down a tube for the ember-burning bug repellent?
Steel cap (hammer option)
LED Compass - use Arduino board or similar (https://maker.pro/arduino/projects/the-3-steps-for-you-to-build-your-compass-with-arduino)
Night Hike staff topper - Red LEDs (a few ground-ward facing in a ring near the lower connector, and one 'lamp' near the top)
NEW PROJECT (July 2020)
There is a park in the housing estate I currently live on that borders a local motorway service station. The fence separating the two has been broken multiple times by people (allegedly) using it as a quick way to get drugs to local distributors. One of their preferred distribution places is (allegedly) the just outside the fire exit of the local Scout Hut, regardless of whether it is in use or not. This has led to an increase in broken bottles, sharps, foul language that can often be heard inside, at least one attempt to set a fire outside of the main entrance while a Cubs session was going on, and at least one attempt to kick in the fire exit doors while a Cubs session was going on (police have been called for the last two, but with the suspects disappearing before the police arrive there was not much that could be done).
The local council has attempted many repairs of the park fence to prevent the (alleged) drops, only to find new holes in the fence shortly thereafter. Their latest 'fix' has included prison grade fencing on the park side of the fence which will hopefully last longer.
Alongside the fence is a densely populated tree/shrub-line, initially there to take some of the fence eye-sore away and a little extra sound reduction.
So coupled with the new fencing, the council has asked for volunteers to help remove the bushes and raise the tree canopy to the height of the main fence. This is in part to make it harder to hide the breakthroughs as they happen with the increased visibility.
In addition, once the fence area is cleared of bushes and the treeline thinned out, the bushes around the Scout Hut will be addressed, as they currently also help hide people who (allegedly) abuse the area.
I have currently helped on five sessions of clearing the tree-line, with much appreciation from the parish council members (who are doing the work personally to save money)
NEW PROJECT (July 2020)
While helping the local parish council clear out undergrowth and raise a tree-line canopy a number of holly bushes were cut down (see above) - a few of these had surprisingly straight trunks which I intend to smooth down and treat, making them into walking staffs.
As these trunks are not of uniform thickness I'm not going to use them for the multi-function staff above. I'll reserve that for dowels where the diameter is going to be consistent along the whole length of all pieces.
I will be adding a cap to the foot of these staffs, and may add something around the top as well.