DIY Engineering Solutions

[Saint_]

I've got a few projects that I'd like to do on my list, but I seem to be having a block finding engineering solutions for them. I want to be able to make it myself or buy it dirt, and I mean dirt, cheap. No expensive solutions in the summertime!

1. Bird feeder - the birds throw the see off the feeder like crazy, attracting skunks and wasting feed. How can I catch that seed and reuse it or prevent it from being thrown in the first place?

Constraints: Solution must be semi-good looking, nothing jarring or unorganic that would ruin the landscape of my backyard. Also must be light enough for me to lift.

2. Ipad and speaker covers - I have put up a nice shelf next to the jacuzzi where I can prop my iPad and place my powered speakers so that I can stream shows while I relax with a beer (or my girl) after work. How can I prevent the iPad from getting wet and how can I keep water off the speakers so that I don't have to take them down every time?

Constraints: Must be low to no maintenance solution. I don't need more cleaning responsibilities. I was thinking along the lines of some kind of weatherproof speaker covers, say Tupperware containers? The iPad, of course, goes back inside with me.

3. Wind chimes - I want to make some wind chimes. I saw a set for $500 that had beautiful tones from very large pipes, but I think I can mimic that with exhaust piping from cars. How can I cut those pipes to length? How should I treat them with paint? I saw the correct way to string them, so that's not a problem.

Constraints: Cutting the pipes. The cut must be smooth and not jagged for good sound and waveform. No way am I capable anymore of cutting them with a hacksaw. I don't own a welding torch or cutting grinder.

Any ideas?

[Bryn Mawr]

Saint_;1431406 wrote: I've got a few projects that I'd like to do on my list, but I seem to be having a block finding engineering solutions for them. I want to be able to make it myself or buy it dirt, and I mean dirt, cheap. No expensive solutions in the summertime!

3. Wind chimes - I want to make some wind chimes. I saw a set for $500 that had beautiful tones from very large pipes, but I think I can mimic that with exhaust piping from cars. How can I cut those pipes to length? How should I treat them with paint? I saw the correct way to string them, so that's not a problem.

Constraints: Cutting the pipes. The cut must be smooth and not jagged for good sound and waveform. No way am I capable anymore of cutting them with a hacksaw. I don't own a welding torch or cutting grinder.

Any ideas?


Wouldn't exhaust piping be too large a bore and too thin in the wall to make a good sound? I'd expect to use heavier pipe to get the resonance.

As for cutting it. Using a hacksaw and cleaning the result up with a sander to chamfer both the inner and outer edges should give a reasonable finish.

[Patsy Warnick]

Saint

If you buy pipe at your hardware store they will usually cut the pipe to your desired length.

Using old reused pipe - I wouldn't paint it I'd let it weather - I love the repurpose idea.

Is there a school - recreational center - metal shop that would cut the pipes for near free?

I think it's a great idea.

Patsy

[Bruv]

I am giving this some thought.......I like a challenge.

The bird feeder ?

Is this just a table/platform with seed thrown on it, or something more sophisticated?

The iPad speaker shelf ?

Why not move the shelf out of range of your wild splashing ?

Wind chimes ?

Can't you obtain some copper pipe, its easily worked.

Or what about glass bottles, the chime caused by wooden disks strung between them.........just some ideas.