Zero Grounds

Homemade Bolt Together Recumbent Bike

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 01:36:44 -0400

Welcome Recumbenteers! This is my bolt together (aka No-Weld) fully suspended short wheel base recumbent bike. I am a figure it out kinda person, so I tried my hand at building my own version of a no weld recumbent bike. Cost for parts was around 70$ (front and rear wheels). REVIEW: I have ridden this bike for about two months. The suspension is the best part, though I keep the rear shock almost fully tight. So much weight over the small front wheel make it touchy to steer, but sitting low lets you really lean into flat curves, plus, if you're daring, you can power into a turn and cut a nice donut. Being homebuilt and bolt together, I have to tighten bolts with practically every ride (build you own bike, carry your own wrench). Being built from a mountain bike, the gearing is too low for the street, making it a less than speedy ride, but when it comes to hills you can drop back into granny gear and go up practically any incline. Its a real head turner, practically everyone I meet loves it. If anyone approaches and asks about the bike, I usually offer them a ride (I have a height and weight limit).

CZ Story Images (overflow album)

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:27:32 -0400

If a story posted on CZ has an image, and you can't find that image in the first album, it will probably be in here.

Gun Stock Camera Mount

Mon, 31 May 2010 18:48:05 -0400

Turn a gun stock into a camera mount? Easy. How about 223 lower into a camera mount? Easy.

Old Dominion University's Maglev

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:08:22 -0500

ODU, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and others hired a little two bit company out of Florida to build a maglev transport (the whole story is over at pilotonline.com). I'm not saying some one blew out a flip flop and stepped on a pop top, but the money to finish up the project does not appear to be on hand. Here you'll find a few pix of the the unfinished hangar queen as she presides over the tennis courts where she is parked. Can we say MONORAIL?

Untitled

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 17:23:43 -0500

An attempt to a digital image capture on an A-1 camera

Sat, 02 May 2009 18:37:53 -0400

Canon Remote Switch RS60 E3

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:21:49 -0400

My version of a Canon Remote Switch RS60 E3. I have added a focus hold or servo toggle. I have a pass through port for other accessories such as my Slave Flash and an old infrared remote that I made for my old Canon A1.

It's a trap!

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:15:21 -0500

For Christmas break, I built a couple of live traps. Size comparisons and details in this album.

Kandle Heeter

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:58:17 -0500

This is my version of the famous Kandle Heeter (http://heatstick.com/). I have burned 28 tea candles (two at a time) under it, for a total of about 30 hours. I have tried to situate my candles as close to the radiator bell as possible. It gets pretty sooty. I can get between 115 and 150 degrees in a typical burn. But if the paraffin candles ignite, you can get to over 180 degrees in a few minutes.

CZ Story Image Album

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 21:11:27 -0400

If a story posted on CZ has an image it will probably be in here (maybe even with a refence to the original story).

Cicada Killer Wasp

Thu, 07 Aug 2008 22:00:55 -0400

Portable Desktop

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:38:32 -0400

I used a standard desktop PC mainboard and a standard desktop 15" lcd and a Halliburton Zero style case, to build my portable. It turned out to be a useless project because it weighs 25 pounds, requires AC power and it's a far cry from being anything more than a small package desktop. The whole project was built in less than a day. All parts were donated, thanks to American Mats for the used LCD and SMA for the suitcase. The LCD and case were the most expensive parts, a value of more than 250$ each. I would also like to thank "Pich" for a brand new Toshiba Slim (laptop) CD-RW/DVD combo drive. PC specs are, 15" Compaq 1520 LCD, Halliburton Zero 103C equivalent case, A-Open MX3S mobo (includes USB on board LAN, VGA and Audio), P III 933 CPU, 512 Mb PC133 SD-Ram, 30Gb WD HD, Toshiba SD-R2612 CD-RW/DVD, and Netgear WAG311 NIC w/ 5db attached antenna (this card is capable of some real hail mary receptions, 80$ is a cheap must have). No floppy and no speakers (yet). The nice thing is the easy upgrade. If you have a Pent III laptop and want to go to Pent 4, you buy a new laptop. I'd just buy a board, CPU and Ram. I would like a bigger screen. A 17" might fit as long as the outside dimensions don't get much more than half an inch at the top.

Man-tenna

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:48:12 -0400

You know you've got it when you stick a 6' antenna on a Geo Metro.

Viewfinder for Canon SX100 IS

Sat, 24 May 2008 20:51:59 -0400

In the experiment I attempt to turn the 1/2" video monitor from an old video camera into a viewfinder for my Canon PowerShot SX100 IS. The project will remain unfinished since the setup became too large for everyday carry around. Making a viewfinder for the SX100 IS should be interpreted as a smack in the face for Canon. Wake up, damn you! Does a top notch camera like the Canon SX100 IS need a viewfinder? Heck yeah! Here is my video monitor solution (This gallery also includes a low tech variation).

Hard disk issues

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:41:00 -0500

Some hard disk platters showing common problems

Rubik's Keyboard

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:44:29 -0500

I always wanted a key cap Rubik's cube. It's incredibly easy to make, too.

January 2008

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:20:33 -0500

Mailer received January 2008. This album has the complete mailer except the back of the return envelope. St. Matthews has added a new "sealed prophecy" page this year.

October 2005

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:31:12 -0500

Mailer received around October 2005. This is the first one I received. All included items are posted here, except the return envelope.

StMatthews

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 16:29:26 -0500

The infamous St. Matthews Church of Tulsa, OK mailers.

Component Badge

Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:07:57 -0500

An artsy badge, involving a chunk of copper, a bunch of surface mount components, and too much time.

Watch band ring

Sat, 13 Oct 2007 06:34:36 -0400

A twist-o-flex watch band shortened to make a ring. It makes a great wedding ring because it is flexible like my vows.

It's a trap!

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 22:40:04 -0400

Duh, it's a figure four deadfall. Don't touch it.

IDE to USB

Thu, 17 May 2007 14:35:49 -0400

I got this USB CompactFlash reader for free. I already owned a CF reader, so I decided to turn this CF reader into a USB to IDE interface.

Slave Flash Trigger

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 11:44:15 -0400

This project was just fun. Every part salvaged from some other piece of junk. The main Canon plug was hand made using a paper mold and a glob of JB Weld.

51st Azalea Festival

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 11:54:40 -0400

04/24/2004, 22:22 - The Azalea Festival officially ends tomorrow. I already mentioned the Azalea Festival once, and I seriously tried to think of a story for tonight, but this just was just to fresh to ignore. A special correspondent and me attended the crowning of the Azalea Queen (I needed my special correspondent to shoot the ceremony pictures, because I needed to cut out early). The whole thing is really just a political/NATO shmooze fest. The gathering was informal and open to the public. Still, it was fun and everyone was on very good behavior; They were down right friendly even. I'll definitely go next year.

Intellect. Ever seen those graphics of a kid - who looks a lot like Calvin - on the back of a pickup?

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:08:49 -0400