How I Made a Yard Dice Game

On a recent camping trip we met some new friends that had a set of large wooden dice.  After playing with these while out camping I just had to make a set of my own.  I decided I would make a set of 5 dice so we could play games like Yatzee.

I thought I had a 4 x 4 laying around at home but alas I did not.  The only place I could find a 4 x 4 that was not treated was my local Menards.  It was about $8 for a 8’ piece of white wood.  

A 4 x 4 actually measures about 3.5 x 3.5 so I cut off 3.5 inch blocks from the end of the timber.  

After cutting the blocks I took them over to the router to round the straight cut edges

Now it’s time to start drilling the holes on the die faces.  

To locate the holes I modeled and 3d printed a drilling template to help save some time.  This was not necessary, it was mostly just to give my 3d printer some work and to practice modeling in Fusion 360.  The model for the template is available by clicking here and it is also available on thingiverse (https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2474953). 

First I marked how many holes to drill in the open box of the template.  I matched the holes from an existing die.  I later learned that the sum of a side and the opposite side should equal 7 for every side of the die…. Interesting.

With the numbers marked I was able to just flip the die and know how many holes to drill without having to check the other sides every time.

Now to add some contrast I took a permanent marker and filled in all the holes. This could also be paint, but permanent marker sounded easiest.

Now I sanded the each side of the die to make sure there would not be any slivers and rough edges.  Sanding also allowed me to clean up some of the black marker accidents that did not stain the wood too badly.

The last step is optional, I ended up making a few sets and experimented with applying some finish to one set of dice.  I used this polycrylic spray I had left over from another project.   I think it adds a little to the looks of the dice and probably helps keep the surface of the wood protected.

Now that the dice are complete a round of yard dice was in order.  My family just with Yatzee rules, my daughter also wants to try using a sixth die and attempting to play Farkle.  

If you know of any other games that are fun to play leave a suggestion below in the comment section. 

 

How I Make Scroll Saw Name Puzzle Patterns

I made a few scroll saw name puzzles recently and I thought I would show you how I make them.

(link to video on youtube https://youtu.be/s8K6HgG7Iv4)

 

First I create a new word document.  I then type in the name I want to cut and change the page orientation to landscape.  I then highlight the text set it to 250 pt, right click on it and select font.  Under the advanced menu I select condensed, and 30 pt.  You will have to adjust the amount you condense the font based upon the size and type of font used.

I right click on the word again and select font.  This time I click “Text Effects” and choose no fill.

I thin chose a solid black outline.

I print the name out and draw in the puzzle bubbles by hand.

I spray adhesive on the back of the pattern and let it dry about 5 minutes till it’s tacky.

I then press the pattern on a scrap of wood.

I use my scroll saw to cut out the letters.

I sand the letters by hand till I am happy with the finish.

My Hydroponic Experiments- Kratky Method

I grew up on a farm and have always been interested in technologies to grow more of safer crops.  One technology that has always intrigued me is hydroponics, or growing plants in water.  In an effort to effort to learn more about hydroponics I started by reading many books and watching allot of youtube videos. I also talked to people I knew that had experience with hydroponics, one friend in particular was very helpful and even gave me allot of supplies to use for my first experiments.

• earthmom’s Guide to EASY, CHEAP and FUN Home Hydroponics 5 projects you can make NOW to get started growing your own food! by Linda Jones; Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1BGLeEL

• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Aquaponic Gardening (Idiot’s Guides) by Meg Stout; Amazon Link- http://amzn.to/1K6RAQn

• Aquaponic Gardening: A Step-By-Step Guide to Raising Vegetables and Fish Together by  Sylvia Bernstein; Amazon link- http://amzn.to/1I9AdfY

• Hydroponic Food Production: A Definitive Guidebook for the Advanced Home Gardener and the Commercial Hydroponic Grower, Seventh Edition by Howard M. Resh; Amazon link- http://amzn.to/1I9Awrh

 

Notice a couple of these books are on auaponics.  Aquaponics uses only fish waste as the feed for the plants.  I eventually hope to set up an aquaponic system, but I live in a location with a cold winter and do not currently have a space indoors to keep the fish alive during the winter months.

 

Kratkey Method

My first experiments are with the stagnant water or Kratkey method.  I first heard about this method on the MHP Gardner Youtube channel.

This is the absolute simplest hydroponic method and thus where I started.  To grow plants with this method I started out by filling a coffee can with water and a mix of nutrients.  I drilled a 2 inch hole in the coffee can lid using a 2 inch Forster bit.  I placed a 2 inch netcup into the hole and placed a pea plant inside the netcup.  I previously started some alpine strawberry seeds in paper towels and lettuce seeds in rockwool.

• Jacks – 1 tablespoon for each gallon
• Potassium – 2/3 tablespoon for each gallon
• Epsom Salt – 1/2 teaspoon for each gallon
• 2″ Forstner Bit; link to Amazon- http://amzn.to/1H8Ok6w
• 2″ netcup; link to Amazon- http://amzn.to/1Gi5CIs
• Food safe plastic container- I used a Folgers Coffee container and I also  tried 3  holes in the lid of a 3 gallon pail

 

Solder Snaps onto an Arduino Lillypad

I have been researching the best way to make some interesting costumes for my kids.   The most popular microcontroller for wearables currently is the Arduino Lillypad.  I picked one up to start experimenting with, most people sew the Lillypad to the project, but I noticed others were using snaps.  I had an Arduino Lillypad I had ordered earlier and I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and picked up a pack of snaps to see how hard it was to solder a snap to the Lillypad.

Arduino Lillypad- Link to buy at Amazon

Drtitz Snaps- Link to buy at Jo-Ann Fabrics,   Link to buy at Amazon

 

PVC Flagpole- The New Version

A few years ago I did a post on how to build a small, slanted flagpole like those seen in many RV parks, you can find links to that four part series here.

Old version- Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4

Now, I have done a video and some slight changes/improvements to the design.  The biggest changes are using 1″ instead of 3/4″ PVC pipe and adding a solar spotlight to the back of the flagpole to keep the flag lit at night.  Thanks to Chris Spencer for the idea of adding a solar light to the flag pole.

 

Tools 

• PVC Cutter
• Drill with 1/4″ Brad point Bit
• Tape Measure

Super Glue

 

 

 

Parts

• 10 foot long piece of PVC pipe
• 2- Tee fittings
• 2 45 degree fittings
• 1 End cap
• Solar Spot Light
• Stake (piece of rebar or other)
• Hooks (clips, ties, shower curtain rings, ect.)
• Short piece of 1/2″ PVC pipe (about 6″ to 1 foot long)

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