Light-Pack USB Ambient Lighting System

post from Hacked Gadgets - DIY Tech Blog on 25 August 2011 11:54:46 PM. © Hacked Gadgets - DIY Tech Blog

We saw a project earlier this month that worked like an Ambilight system but this open source Light-Pack USB Ambient Lighting System seems to have much better effects. And since it’s open source you can get all of the info you need to make your own. I can’t wait till there is a system that [...]

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7 Ways to Keep Raccoons Out of Your Trash

post from How to of the Day on 25 August 2011 10:00:00 PM. © How to of the Day

Though trash is trash to us, it can be a meal or two for some curious and hungry wild animals. Notorious for making a snack of whatever you've thrown out in your trash can, raccoons will stop at very little to get their treats out of your trash. What can you do to deter these cute but curious creatures from strewing your refuse all over your lawn? Fortunately, there are several options you can choose from. Read over the suggested steps below to find a number of easy options for keeping raccoons out of your trash can.

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4G13/4G15 1.7L crank shaft stroker kit

post from Car Enthusiast: Car Modification | DIY | 2ZZGE,4AGE,4G93T,JBJL,4G13,4G15 on 25 August 2011 09:34:54 PM. © Car Enthusiast: Car Modification | DIY | 2ZZGE,4AGE,4G93T,JBJL,4G13,4G15

Dear readers and 4G13/4G15 owners, here is a great news for you all. I was browser around in mudah.my which I came across of this crank shaft that claims to able to stroke your 4G13/4G15 to 1700cc. I am not pretty sure how possible for you to get this done by just increase the stroke only to get to 1700cc. However I doubt that you still need to bore your engine block to fit in bigger pistons in order to achieve this. As what I know off, if you have a lot of stroke; your engine pistons might ending up hitting the valves. Other than that, I am not pretty sure how is the reliability and durability of your engine after installing this crank shaft.
Anyway, if you really want to max out your 4G13/4G15 without turbo-ing or supercharging it and wish to stay in NA path; this is the correct piece for you to look for. Anyway, do contact the seller here and get more information from them. If you don't mind, please share out some information and your thought with me. Last but not least, Selamat Hari Raya to all Muslims and happy holidays to all others.

Technorati Tags: Car,Autos,Motorsport,Blog,Automobile,Auto News,Turbo,Engine,Technorati

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http://www.ben9166.com/2011/08/4g134g15-17l-crank-shaft-stroker-kit.html

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Duo-Fast’s Infinitely Adjustable Flooring
Nailer

post from Toolmonger on 25 August 2011 09:34:15 PM. © Toolmonger

Flooring nailers are pretty much like other nailers/staplers, except that they add a funky head that helps you position nails quickly and easily. Of course, that means that the head has to be the right size for whatever flooring you’re going to install, or at least it has to be adjustable. That’s the Duo-Fast gun’s claim to fame: a foot that you can adjust — without tools — to accomodate any size flooring between 1/4″ and 5/8″.

Besides that, it’s also pretty light, weighing in at just over 4-1/2 pounds. It features a double-length magazine which holds up to 180 staples, too, as well as a reload indicator to let you know when it’s empty. As you can see in the picture (and Toolmongers will love, it seems) it ships in a blow-molded plastic case.

I’ve never actually installed wood flooring, but I hear that engineered wood is totally the way to go. Besides proving a lot more affordable and offering a much wider range of wood and finish options, you can also install it a whole bunch of different ways, from free-floating to nailed/stapled/glued. But having watched a friend install some similar flooring a few years ago, I can still attest that having the right tools for the job will speed it up significantly — as will a little research and experience.

How many of you have done flooring work? I’d love to know whether this gun really offers a significant advantage over others — or even over using a standard brad nailer. It sounds to me like it would, but what do you think? Is it worth $300?

SureShot 1848F [Duo-Fast]
Street Pricing [Google]

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Wedding Card

post from Cut Out + Keep on 25 August 2011 08:35:11 PM. © Cut Out + Keep

A lovely, romatic card for the sweethearts in your life.

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Knitted Circular Scarf And Crochet Hat

post from Cut Out + Keep on 25 August 2011 06:34:41 PM. © Cut Out + Keep

my new fall outfilt^^

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Homemade Event Signs

post from Toolmonger on 25 August 2011 05:34:23 PM. © Toolmonger

Shortly after moving into my current house in 2003, I looked years ahead in the calendar and saw event after event that we’d be hosting at our home. These events ranged from garage sales to graduation parties to neighborhood events to perhaps even The Father of the Bride’s worst nightmare — our daughter’s wedding. Each of those events were going to require signs directing people to our house. So instead of buying flimsy little metal wire signs that blow down with the slightest gust or relying on poster-board that disintegrates with the lightest drizzle, like any good Toolmonger I decided to construct them myself. They’ve turned out to be incredibly useful over the years, so as I was pulling them out of the garage this week for yet another event I thought I’d share them.

My signs aren’t the prettiest thing in the world. They are rather simple in design and material. Made from 2×3′s and 1/4 inch plywood screwed together with dry wood screws, they’re painted with white gloss paint for ease of artistic design. The signs can either be directly drawn on or you can staple poster-board to them. The sign frames are 2′ wide by 3′ tall with the plywood cut into 2′ by 2′ sections.

Despite their rather bulky appearance, once the lower stabilizing 2x3s are removed, the six signs I built stack up flat and neatly on a shelf in my third car garage. After each use we decide if we’ll repaint them or keep the artwork around until the next time we use them. As you can see, black sharpies require several coats of paint to completely eliminate. However, as you can also see, the signs have been the source of several household art projects for the kids — like chalk on the driveway, except they can see their handiwork months or even years later.

The sign design also allows for easy storage of the stabilizing 2×3′s as well as the screws in Ziploc baggies. When I made the signs I didn’t have a power miter saw or a table saw. The local big box cut the 2′ by 2′ plywood, and I used a power circ saw to cut the 2×3′s. Basically anyone could put together this design.

Labeling each of the stabilizing 2×3′s helps keep my sanity when I’m trying to line up the screw holes, too. The signs may be less than fancy, but they work. They also have been the focus of hours of summer fun and tools to teach our kids how to paint — whenever we decide to host a party or event, the signs become a family-focused item.

Have you used any creative signs for events? Do you have any sign suggestions for other Toolmongers? Let us know your Toolmonger sign wisdom!

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http://toolmonger.com/2011/08/25/homemade-event-signs/

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Cheap-Ass Tools: HF Labor Day

post from Toolmonger on 25 August 2011 05:34:23 PM. © Toolmonger

We’re most definitely not vouching for any of the tools specifically on sale through Labor Day weekend at Harbor Freight, but we know damn well that some of you dabble in the ‘Freightster and would like to know that they’re running some specials. Hell, we might even take a spin by to see what’s what. For example, I’ve bought more than a few jack stands at HF, like these that are $13 right now. However, I’d avoid anything paint-related — especially something like this dodgy $10 HVLP spray gun.

If nothing else, HF always makes a fun outing with any of your tool-obsessed buddies. There’s something uniquely awesome about wandering through the aisles speculating on the quality/usefulness of various items, all the while trying to spot what we around the TM offices call the “rubber frog” — you know, the item that just makes no damn sense at all, but ends up in every HF flyer. (BTW: Bonus points for anyone who finds the rubber frog and sends us a pic.)

Labor Day Sale [Harbor Freight]

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http://toolmonger.com/2011/08/25/cheap-ass-tools-hf-labor-day/

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A Try Square/Golf Pencil Holder

First and foremost, this product from M-Power looks like a pretty serious try square. We definitely appreciate its laser-etched light-on-dark measurement markers, which’ll be easy to read in full sunlight or shade, as well as its seemingly sturdy powdercoated aluminum construction. And its extended saddle appears to indeed make it easier for you to mark points over curved molding, like you see in the inset above. But we’re not so sure about the “marking gauge.” Is it really that hard to hold a golf pencil?

On the other hand, you can lock the pencil holder in place, so this square would make it easy to transfer a fixed measurement to a bunch of different workpieces. So if you’re doing that kind of thing, it might be worth a look. The lockable bevel is pretty slick, too, and it’d be handy to have tucked away all the time.

The bad news: This thing sells for a whopping $50. Considering that you can pick up a really nice try square for around $10 — or one made of rare-ass rosewood with fancy rivets for around $30, $50 is a pretty damn serious ask when it comes to a square.

Combination 3D Try Square & Marking Gauge [M-Power]
Street Pricing [Google]
Via Amazon [What’s This?]

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http://toolmonger.com/2011/08/25/a-try-squaregolf-pencil-holder/

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How to Make Marshmallow Mint Chocolate Cake Snack

This is an easy and yummy treat that is perfect anytime of the year for a heartwarming treat. It is sure to satisfy that sweet chocolate craving without too much effort.

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http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Marshmallow-Mint-Chocolate-Cake-Snack

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