Comments on: Solar-powered dowel-sawing machine is a perfect desktop distraction http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 19:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Gunner Miller http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1549035 Gunner Miller Thu, 04 Oct 2012 19:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1549035 If you ever make a steam powered one please share it with us. I love to see it.  That steam powered video is cool to watch the piston at work. You cannot even view the machine well due to the escaping steam...but that adds a level of bad ass'ery to it. If you ever make a steam powered one please share it with us. I love to see it. 

That steam powered video is cool to watch the piston at work. You cannot even view the machine well due to the escaping steam…but that adds a level of bad ass’ery to it.

]]> By: eldueno http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1548374 eldueno Wed, 03 Oct 2012 21:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1548374 What is now needed is a solar powered dowel-forming device, sitting next to the dowel-sawing device. A twig-plant is not nearly as clever. What is now needed is a solar powered dowel-forming device, sitting next to the dowel-sawing device. A twig-plant is not nearly as clever.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1548280 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 03 Oct 2012 20:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1548280 Why do you think we have so many double posts? Why do you think we have so many double posts?

]]> By: Matthew Petty http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1548016 Matthew Petty Wed, 03 Oct 2012 17:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1548016 The Penguin would put Batman in one, while describing his plot. Then he'd leave the room. The Penguin would put Batman in one, while describing his plot. Then he’d leave the room.

]]> By: Brian Easton http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547919 Brian Easton Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547919 Let me tell you a secret: you can set up blog posts to publish while you are away. Let me tell you a secret: you can set up blog posts to publish while you are away.

]]> By: Culturedropout http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547899 Culturedropout Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547899 BEAM bots are pretty cool.  I made one from a kit I got from Solarbotics.com a number of years ago.  Used two pager motors, a solar cell, a "supercap", and a couple of phototransistors.  It would look for the most intense source of light and drive toward it, which sounds like the opposite of what Ian described.  It also had wire "antennae" for obstacle avoidance.  It was fun to put it on the deck in the sun and watch it wander around avoiding shadows.  I think any geek would love one. BEAM bots are pretty cool.  I made one from a kit I got from Solarbotics.com a number of years ago.  Used two pager motors, a solar cell, a “supercap”, and a couple of phototransistors.  It would look for the most intense source of light and drive toward it, which sounds like the opposite of what Ian described.  It also had wire “antennae” for obstacle avoidance.  It was fun to put it on the deck in the sun and watch it wander around avoiding shadows.  I think any geek would love one.

]]> By: SamSam http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547891 SamSam Wed, 03 Oct 2012 15:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547891 That sounds great. Is there a link to how it was made? How did you make it come out at night? I could imagine creating something that moved away from the light (using two photoresistors as antennae), but I would imagine it would just end up under the couch and never both to come out again. I want to make some of these to entertain my cat... That sounds great. Is there a link to how it was made?

How did you make it come out at night? I could imagine creating something that moved away from the light (using two photoresistors as antennae), but I would imagine it would just end up under the couch and never both to come out again.

I want to make some of these to entertain my cat…

]]> By: huskerdont http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547776 huskerdont Wed, 03 Oct 2012 12:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547776  VERY slowly.  VERY slowly.

]]> By: Sean P Kelly http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547748 Sean P Kelly Wed, 03 Oct 2012 11:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547748 Having seen Cory at the St. Louis County Library last night, I think he may have actually been blogging while still AT the library.  His talk only ended like, ten minutes before this post. Having seen Cory at the St. Louis County Library last night, I think he may have actually been blogging while still AT the library.  His talk only ended like, ten minutes before this post.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547712 Lemoutan Wed, 03 Oct 2012 10:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547712 I need to get rid of the bodies faster than such would allow. I need to get rid of the bodies faster than such would allow.

]]> By: hadlockk http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547696 hadlockk Wed, 03 Oct 2012 09:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547696 A solar powered woodchipper is called a magnifying glass A solar powered woodchipper is called a magnifying glass

]]> By: A C http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547685 A C Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547685 Sir, that is badass. I am now going to make a small steam engine just to cut dowel rods on my desk. Had no idea they made such wonderous things! This is why people love steampunk- because of things like this that actually did something useful once upon a time- not hot glueing random gears to a pair of goggles. Sir, that is badass. I am now going to make a small steam engine just to cut dowel rods on my desk. Had no idea they made such wonderous things!

This is why people love steampunk- because of things like this that actually did something useful once upon a time- not hot glueing random gears to a pair of goggles.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547684 Lemoutan Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547684 How about a solar powered woodchipper?  <q>And I guess that was your accomplice ...</q> How about a solar powered woodchipper?  And I guess that was your accomplice …

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547672 Beanolini Wed, 03 Oct 2012 08:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547672 It would great to see one sawing the head off a wooden James Bond. Or a 'Roger Moore', if you prefer. It would great to see one sawing the head off a wooden James Bond. Or a ‘Roger Moore’, if you prefer.

]]> By: Gunner Miller http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547654 Gunner Miller Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547654 It is a solar powered drag saw. Here is a gasoline model http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtxBUqJ3Xw Here is the much noisier steam powered model....and there is nothing steam punk pretty about this monstrosity http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyuWg12i2A&feature=related I'm big into old skills and tech from the farm so this solar gizmo is pretty cool. A mix of high tech and old school together. It is a solar powered drag saw.

Here is a gasoline model
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtxBUqJ3Xw

Here is the much noisier steam powered model….and there is nothing steam punk pretty about this monstrosity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygyuWg12i2A&feature=related

I’m big into old skills and tech from the farm so this solar gizmo is pretty cool. A mix of high tech and old school together.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547599 nixiebunny Wed, 03 Oct 2012 05:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547599 Those solar panels are not at an optimum angle for near-uselessness.  Those solar panels are not at an optimum angle for near-uselessness. 

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547550 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 03 Oct 2012 04:17:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547550 <i>No, Mr. Dowel.  I expect you to die.</i> No, Mr. Dowel.  I expect you to die.

]]> By: Ian Wood http://boingboing.net/2012/10/02/solar-powered-dowel-sawing-mac.html#comment-1547546 Ian Wood Wed, 03 Oct 2012 04:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=184746#comment-1547546 BEAM bots! I once built a BEAM cockroach. Photophobic little circuit board on tiny wheels that hangs out under the edges of cupboards, comes out at night, and scurries back to the corners when you turn on the light. BEAM bots! I once built a BEAM cockroach. Photophobic little circuit board on tiny wheels that hangs out under the edges of cupboards, comes out at night, and scurries back to the corners when you turn on the light.

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