It’s Just Cool: Airtrax Sidewinder

post from Toolmonger: The Week In Tools on 19 April 2010 12:03:00 PM. © Toolmonger: The Week In Tools

You may have seen one of these neat forklifts on Mythbusters — the Airtrax Sidewinder ATX-3000, now being built and marketed by Vetex, uses Mecanum wheels to give omni-directional mobility in a lift truck. The Mecanum wheels, invented by Bengt Ilon when he was an engineer working for Mecanum AB, have a series of tilted elliptical rollers around the circumference. This allows normal forward and backward motion like a conventional wheel, but also provides sideways motion (by rotating the wheels on the front and rear axles in opposite directions).

On the Sidewinder, each wheel is a steel hub with 12 polyurethane-coated rollers. The operator controls forward, backward, sideways, and rotational movements using a traction joystick. All the lift, tilt, and auxiliary hydraulic movements are controlled by a second joystick. The electric Sidewinder has a load capacity of 3000 lbs. I was not able to find out what a new Sidewinder costs, though an expired online listing for a used one had a price of $15,000.

SIDEWINDER Lift Truck [Manufacturer's Site]

Read The Full Article:
http://toolmonger.com/2010/04/19/its-just-cool-airtrax-sidewinder/

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Skip the Store: Make Your Own Corn Nuts

post from Daily DIY on 19 April 2010 12:00:30 PM. © Daily DIY

I only experienced the sublime salty crunchiness of corn nuts for the first time about a year ago, but since then I’ve been aware of their power?and slightly cautious about the stuff that’s in the packaged varieties. Which is why this post[...]

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http://dailydiy.com/2010/04/19/skip-the-store-make-your-own-corn-nuts/

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Love and Lavander Lovelies

post from i do it yourself? on 19 April 2010 11:52:39 AM. © i do it yourself?

Amazing just how much generosity there is around blogland, no? Take a look at these lovely freebies from Love and Lavander, a new-to-me blog. From Garden rose to Tandem bike, from Paris to Pears, you can download these printable invitation suites (include response cards and table numbers) for personal use. Sorry, did I mention they’re [...]

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/iDiY/~3/SCgPXPt7Uyo/

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Homemade Levitron

post from Metacafe - Do It Yourself Videos by Metacafe on 19 April 2010 11:20:13 AM. © Metacafe - Do It Yourself Videos by Metacafe

With 7 magnet you can make this realy cool antigravity toy.Forget the LEVITRON. This one you can make yourself for about 5 $.More strong the magnet more cool the effect.It's like having UFO at Home .
Ranked 4.80 / 5 | 175563 views | 24 comments

Click here to watch the video (02:00)
Submitted By: loup226
Tags: Antigravity Toys Magnets Levitation Gadgets DIY Project Illsusion Magic Levitron Amazing Cool
Categories: How To Science & Tech

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http://www.metacafe.com/watch/829929/homemade_levitron/

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Flexible Flare Nut Wrenches

post from Toolmonger: The Week In Tools on 19 April 2010 11:06:00 AM. © Toolmonger: The Week In Tools

Last week we looked at some split box ratcheting wrenches for tightening and removing flare nuts quickly. Today we’ll look at a set of wrenches that helps you get at flare nuts in hard-to-reach locations.

Astro Pneumatic’s double offset flexible flare nut wrenches will bend up to 190°. Here’s a list of the six double ended wrenches sold in the fractional set:

6-point 1/4″ and 5/16″
6-point 3/8″ and 7/16″
6-point 1/2″ and 9/16″
12-point 5/8″ and 11/16″
12-point 3/4″ and 13/16″
12-point 7/8″ and 15/16″

Yeah, from the picture it sure looks like the last three are 6-point, but every site selling this set claims they are 12-point. Unfortunately Astro Pneumatic doesn’t list these wrenches on their website to settle the confusion.

This wrench set can be shipped to your door for as little as $73. You can also purchase a metric set of these flexible flare wrenches.

Flare Nut Wrenches [Northern Tool]
Street Pricing [Google Products]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

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http://toolmonger.com/2010/04/19/flexible-flare-nut-wrenches/

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Creative Container Gardening: Tips & Ideas

post from TipNut.com on 19 April 2010 10:40:35 AM. © TipNut.com

Lots of goodies today! If you’d like to get creative with your yard display this year, I’ve put together a list to help tweak some creative container ideas for you (this is also a great way to repurpose household items that would otherwise be junked).Next you’ll find four videos: two provide tips for container gardening [...]

Also See These Tips:
How To Pot A Plant: Gardening Tips
Baking Gifts: Creative Container & Filler Ideas
How To Sterilize Soil At Home

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http://tipnut.com/creative-container-gardening-tips-ideas/

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Pop-up Paper Ikea House

post from ikea hacker on 19 April 2010 10:20:15 AM. © ikea hacker

Materials: Images of IKEA products

Description: A while ago I designed a pop-up paper house using exclusively Ikea products: all the furniture, obviously, but also all the accessories, sheets, framed artwork, towels, lights, even the floor treatment came from their store. My idea, of course, was to become rich and famous. I would show Ikea my work, they would hail me as a brilliant designer and give me lots of money to design a new house each year, to match their yearly catalogue. It seemed like the perfect idea for them: if mass produced this could be a very inexpensive toy, it is completely wholesome even though it blatantly promotes their products, it folds flat for storage not just in the store but also for the end user (and we all know how obsessed Ikea is with flat storage), plus they could come out with a new house every year and tap into kids' natural tendency to hoard and collect!

Sadly, my dreams did not come true. I just got an unsigned form letter informing me they weren't interested in whatever it was I had sent them. When I wrote back asking if I could use their images to sell the house on my own they didn't even bother reply, so I went back to the drawing board and stripped my house of everything which is recognizably Ikea.

So here is the Ikea hack which isn't. If you'd like to build the house you can (by following the links you can get templates with precise instructions), but the book or PDF download no longer contains Ikea stuff. But you know what? It's much nicer now! (these photos are of the old Ikea version)

~ Katherine Belsey

See more of Katherine's pop-up paper Ikea house

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Ikeahacker/~3/JgYFyBPMA-M/pop-up-paper-ikea-house.
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HDYGTFAJ: Tasia Malakasis of Belle Chevre

post from Daily DIY on 19 April 2010 09:03:29 AM. © Daily DIY

Mondays suck. Especially if you hate your job. But the day doesn?t have to be a total waste. You can look forward to reading about ReadyMakers who have worked their way into f*&%ing awesome jobs?and maybe find a little inspiration to jumpstart your[...]

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http://dailydiy.com/2010/04/19/hdygtfaj-tasia-malakasis-of-belle-chevre/

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The Best Tools for Streaming Media to Your
Gadgets [Streaming Media]

post from Daily DIY on 19 April 2010 09:00:00 AM. © Daily DIY

Digital media isn't as young as it once was, and your media collection has likely grown well beyond what most portable devices can handle. With the right tools, you can stream anything from your spacious hard[...]

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http://dailydiy.com/2010/04/19/the-best-tools-for-streaming-media-to-your-gadgets
-streaming-media/

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Mystery Crochet, Crafty Blogger Links, Two
(actually a lot) for tea, and Book Winner

I have been crocheting like a mad woman! When am I not doing something like a mad woman?

I can't show you just yet, but I got this idea from my fellow crafty blogger, The Crochet Dude; he posts extreme close-ups of his project before he can show the final big project. So here is my close-up of my crochet project. I promise to share when I can!

Next up:

The winner for last week is Melanie K. and she is getting a free copy of

The Complete Photo Guide to Paper Crafts
Over 700 Photos - Cutting - Folding - Weaving - Quilling - Punching - Collage - Casting - Journals - More

By Trice Boerens

And we have 2 sets of crafty blogger links! They include the variety I share with you each week and what my fellow Sizzix designers did with their teacup die cuts. Read and click on!

Mixed Media Artist
There's a lot to be learned about texture when you work with a monochromatic palette!

Stefanie Girard's Sweater Surgery
See how to make recycled thigh high socks inspired by the book Color Knitting The Easy Way.

The Artful Crafter
Do companies offer free craft products to the general public for testing?

About Family Crafts
Not knowing much about iris folding, Sherri rolled up her sleeves, gave it a try, and shares her step-by-step adventure and free templates with you.

About.com Cross Stitch
Connie's sharing a free pattern that was inspired by a piece of artwork she saw in an episode of Monk. You never know what the source of inspiration will be.

Aileen's Musings
Are you in need of a royal crown? Aileen has an oldie but goodie tutorial she's sharing with you.

Cathie Filian
Cathie is doing back flips over the release of her new book, 101 Snappy Fashions!

Crafty Princess Diaries
While doing some spring cleaning, Tammy made some interesting jewelry discoveries. You just never know what you might find when you try to get organzied.

Farm Girl Roots, City Girl Style
The organization continues, but the craft room is very close to finished.

Margot Potter The Impatient Crafter
Mother's Day is coming soon and Madge has you covered. Check out her mom friendly card project, recipe and jewelry design!

Tea time!

Place your vote for your fave at Eileen's blog!

ScoreBoard Teacup
Eileen Hull

And if you missed my design, check it out here:

Craftside-A behind-the-scenes peek at a crafty world
See how to change the colors in a free download of pretty cherry blossom print to meet the color challenge in this cute teacup project.

Sizzix ScoreBoard Blog Hop Tea Cup
Ann Butler

Sizzix blog hop
Einat Kessler - Don't forget to take a break

Sizzix blog hop - Teacup
Don't forget to take a break

Tea Cup Party Favors
Laura Bray

Tea Cup Pin Cushion
Michelle Cummings

Tea Cup Vase
Veronica (Ronnie) Goff

Tea for Two in Blue
Roann Mathias

Tea for Two, Two for Tea...
Turn the teacup upside down!

The Perfect Blend
Melony Bradley

Tiny Teapot Mouse!

Blog Hop: Sparkle's Tea Cup
Sparkle's Tea Cup Post

Bonnie Bruns Scoreboard Blog Hop Tea Cup