Steampunking Nerf guns by painting them is a pretty common practice among Steampunks, but unfortunately, the really amazing-looking ones involve literally taking the gun apart, painting it, and then screwing it all back together. Well, I'm glad that some people can do that, b ...more
Start with a regular plastic toy gun, like a squirt gun or NERF gun. Then, spray paint it a matte black. Once it dries, take several different colors of rub'n'buff and apply with your fingers. Now, you have your own steampunk style ray gun! Or, High Velocity Electrochemical Pr ...more
Tim Carter demonstrates how to get professional painting results by caulking all cracks between woodwork and walls before painting. What are the most important tools when painting an interior wall? The paint brush or the paint roller? No, it is the caulk gun. The caulk gun is ...more
Kylo Ren, conflicted villain of the new Star Wars trilogy, will surely be a major presence again this Halloween, with The Last Jedi fast approaching. His costume, all black and layered, complete with dark-side helmet and crossguard lightsaber, seems quite perfect for Oct. 31 — ...more
No Batman Halloween costume is complete without a grappling gun and hook. Parker put together this video to teach how to make this easy prop. You will need a fake plastic gun, two mini DVDs, cardboard, scissors, miscellaneous hardware, two checkers, duct tape, spray paint, and ...more
This instructional painting video demonstrates how to paint a bronze effect on ceramics. You can use this technique on just about any surface, such as wood, canvas, metal, plastic, or paper. Apply gold metallic paint, Bitumen, cadmium yellow paint and primary blue paint. Dry t ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to make a Deadpool sword. To do this, you will need: a marker, scissors, hard plastic, cardboard, silver spray paint, duct tape, saw, electrical tape, sandpaper, and hot glue gun. First, cut the plastic into three thin knife shapes. Then, use san ...more
You know Moana's a rock-solid pick for Halloween this year. The question is, how far will you go to become Moana? Are you going to just slap on a cream skirt and a red bandeau? Or do you want to go all out and end up with the finished product like YouTuber Gladzy Kei did? Alre ...more
For the first part, make chroma key blood: Ingredients: glue, flour, mix with water like papier mache, three drops of green and two drops of yellow food color. This combination gives more of a fluorescent chroma key look. Then to make the desert eagle gun: Materials needed: ...more
Unfortunately, no one seems to have, or willing to share, the science of making a real teleportation chamber. That doesn't mean you can't make a prop one though. Parker put together this video to show us how. You will need foam core poster board, a hot glue gun, duct tape, a p ...more
Digsart demonstrates how to make a wallet from a pair of blue jeans. First, with a pair of scissors he cuts out the back pocket of the jeans. You can paint the pocket with acrylic paint to give it a more sturdy feel. Once they are painted, he dries them out by placing them on ...more
Feel like getting crafty? In this 8-part video tutorial, learn how to create the perfect pair of mini fairy wings, approximately 6 inches wide. Also included within these videos is how to make realistic-looking bat and dragon wings. To complete this project, you will need cell ...more
We see Steampunk props all the time and wonder where the maker found all their pieces. In fact, for some people it's almost like a game to examine each prop and see if they can name all of the original parts. However, for a newcomer (or a novice at prop-making), it may be rea ...more
There's still about eight months before the final chapter in the Mass Effect series comes out, but some trigger happy fans are already building replica costumes and prop weapons to celebrate the upcoming release. BioWare themselves recently commissioned some of these projects, ...more
In this video tutorial, I am going to demonstrate how to clean a spray gun by hand with a few simple steps. Video: . Step 1: Safety First Before cleaning the spray gun, be certain you have the correct PPE. You will need gloves, safety glasses, and respirator to protect your s ...more
Portal has been one of the most critically acclaimed and universally loved games of the last few years, and there's plenty of fan art to prove it. From building a Portal gun, to a gravity defying Companion Cube, and even installing Portal onto a graphing calculator, fans have ...more
Video: . How to caulk. How to apply caulk. Caulking., An Uncle Knackers Exclusive!. No longer does caulk / silicone need to end up all over you or over your mum's new carpet. This technique can be used for things like caulking bathroom tub or shower caulking etc.What you will ...more
In this article, I'll show you how to make a glowing orb. The orb is a fun, round flashlight useful for lighting your path in a magical way. Consisting simply of LEDs, a tennis ball, a battery and a switch, it's a great simple project for beginners with electronics. Here's a v ...more
If you're anything like me, you probably rinse your mouth out after you brush your teeth. I know technically you're supposed to not rinse your mouth out after brushing, but I just can't stand the feel of the excess toothpaste in my mouth. It's a surefire way to dry it out. To ...more
You can bet Thor costumes will be prominent among the superheroes seen this Oct. 31. Since the summer, there has been no shortage of coverage for Thor: Ragnarok, and the timing of its November release couldn't be better as a tie-in with the cosplaying holiday known as Hallowee ...more
You may or may not have heard the term "greebles" or "kit-bashing" before, but if not, they may sound like nonsense. Particularly 'greebles', which sounds more like the name of a small, gremlin-like creature. However, I assure you that they are very important in prop-making, a ...more
Say whatever you want, but Steampunk is primarily a maker culture. Consider that Steampunk has existed since the 1960s and yet more or less languished in obscurity until approximately 2005, which is when it made the leap to costuming. That costuming was what provided the leap ...more
Kipkay from Make Magazine shows us how to create a photographic illusion, making things look smaller than they really are with tilt-shift photography. Materials needed include rubber plunger, an oversized lens, a plastic body cap, a single lens (or digital single lens) camera, ...more
It's time for Halloween, maybe it's time for your ultimate independent horror movie you've been dying to make, whatever the case may be, you're going to need some blood, you're going to need some weapons... you're going to need a bloody knife wound. Kip Kay and Make Magazine ...more
Liven up your parties by making your own fog machine, using items that you can find around the house. You Will Need * An iron * Two aluminum roasting pans, about 5 inches deep or deeper * Scissors * Aluminum foil * A hot-glue gun * 7 lbs. pebbles or gravel * A 20-oz. plastic b ...more
Warning: this video does not demonstrate the actual instructions for making this spooky Halloween LED light up pumpkin that blasts a truck horn. Check out http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/10/howto_tuesday_scariest_pu.html for more information and a complete build process. ...more
Watch this fine art video tutorial to learn how to glaze oil paint over colored pencils. "What you are seeing is a short time lapse of me layering color with illustration markers (prismacolor) and color pencils. I have discovered that using markers and color pencils is a much ...more
If you've just finished your paint job on your vehicle, then you're not done yet— you still have to clean up, and making sure the paint gun you used is properly cleaned is the key to successful future spray painting. This video shows you how use clean the spray gun with a pain ...more
This video by KlairedelysArt demonstrates to us how to create a Hello Kitty nail paint design. She does this design by first painting it on plastic using any household plastic bag. She clearly explains all of the supplies needed and the demonstration on how to paint the actual ...more
This video demonstrates how to caulk windows. For this project, you will need the following: a tube caulk, a putty knife, scraper, a knife or scissors, paper towels, a long hanger or a nail, a caulk gun, a small plastic spoon or a popsicle stick. Begin by loading the caulk gun ...more
Not sure what to be next Halloween? A princess is a classic choice. Whether you’re making a costume for your little girl, or want to feel like royalty yourself, a princess costume is always in style. You Will Need: • A party dress • Craft or fabric glue • Rhinestones and c ...more
In this tutorial, you'll find instructions for increasing the signal strength on most any USB wireless card using cardboard, scissors, a glue gun, thumbtacks, and a plastic cup. If that sounds like your kind of thing, take a look at this how-to.
What a unique bow. Your gifts will be beautiful under the Christmas tree. Materials you will need are: plastic wrap, hot glue, LEDs, scissors, pliers duct tape, glue gun and glue, toothpicks and 3 volt batteries. First you take the plastic wrap and cut it about 5 times the siz ...more
Here's a fun little hack you can try at home with your kids. The purpose of this tutorial is to teach you how to make this fun toy gun. It's a very simple and economical project. Tools and Materials: You will need the following: 1 glue gun (you can purchase these at your loc ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to build spinning tops with everyday objects. You will need: round recyclable plastic lids, skewers, hot glue gun, and washers or pennies. First, take your plastic lid and weight it with a penny, then poke a skewer through the middle of it. After ...more
In this tutorial, we learn how to understand artist tools for painting. The first tool is plastic, which can be use for great textures on the painting. Cheap brushes are great for painting in big spaces and fan brushes are great for painting wider widths. A badger hair brush w ...more
Make a beautiful box for your child to keep their jewelry or precious possessions in. You'll need a small plastic or metal container, strands of thread with small beads on them, plastic gems or rhinestones, a hot glue gun and a kid-friendly pair of scissors.
WonderHowTo is made up of niche communities called Worlds. If you've yet to join one (or create your own), get a taste below of what's going on in the community. Check in every Wednesday for a roundup of new activities and projects. Thanks to all of our active moderators and ...more
K'NEX is the world's most famous constructive toy, which means you can build just about anything. You can take the K'NEX plastic pieces and build all kinds of contraptions, everything from boats to airplanes to robots to weapons. Watch this video tutorial to see how to build ...more
K'NEX is the world's most famous constructive toy, which means you can build just about anything. You can take the K'NEX plastic pieces and build all kinds of contraptions, everything from boats to airplanes to robots to weapons. Watch this two-part video tutorial to see how ...more
K'NEX is the world's most famous constructive toy, which means you can build just about anything. You can take the K'NEX plastic pieces and build all kinds of contraptions, everything from boats to airplanes to robots to weapons. Watch this video tutorial to see how to build ...more
The video deals with a clear step by step process of making a plastic airplane. He asked us to select the model of the airplane we are going to make first. He has selected the North American F86A SABRE model in this demo. For assembling the airplane, he asked us to prepare a ...more
Tired of the same old flower corsages? Check out this video on how to make a one of a kind candy corsage for your next outing! These make a great gift for prom, holidays, even birthdays for that special little girl in your life. You Will Need • Assorted 3-inch lengths of ribb ...more
The beauty of home crafting projects is in transforming old junk into something you can use. Host Heather's how-to video shows how to make quick and easy napkin rings to add a little bit of flair to the table. You will need plastic shower curtain rings, clippers, ribbon, rhine ...more
In this how-to video from projectink we are shown how to make a lamp out of a tequila bottle. There's no need to spend 100 bucks on a lamp when making your own is cheap and easy and fun. These are the supplies you'll need: A bottle (we're using a Jose Cuervo tequila bottle), a ...more
K'NEX is the world's most famous constructive toy, which means you can build just about anything. You can take the K'NEX plastic pieces and build all kinds of contraptions, everything from boats to airplanes to robots to weapons. Watch this two-part video tutorial to see how ...more
This video provides a handy tutorial on how to make your riding mower stand up to the harsh effects of winter. Materials list: Funnel or plastic tube, depending on where the oil drain plug is situated Oil Pan to put used oil in Air Compressor or bicycle pump WD-40 Fuel Stabil ...more
I love this project. It involves fire, projectiles, electricity, and is easy to put together from commonly available parts. This mini cannon fires airsoft pellets, is fueled by alcohol, and is made almost entirely from parts found in a standard BBQ lighter. The total cost is u ...more
Another example of outstanding resourcefulness and ingenuity in the medical community (see earlier this week: Blood Sucking Plunger Could Heal Millions). Rice undergraduate students Lila Kerr and Lauren Theis use a salad spinner, plastic lids, cut-up combs, yogurt containers, ...more
Ever worked on a painting project and had the paint spill everywhere? This quick and easy pot made from a plastic soda bottle and tape will not spill, even when it tips over. Learn how to make this pot that does not spill(for paint, glue, machine oil, etc.) by watching this vi ...more
Do you have a picnic coming up. Bre Pettis shows you how to make spheres out of paper cups, paper plates, or plastic sheeting. These spheres make great outdoor props, and are very exciting. A glue gun and understanding of geometry necessary.
To prepare a bedroom for walls to be painted, remove as much furniture and objects from the room. You can leave the larger furniture in the center of the room, covered. Fill in any holes or cracks in the wall with a patch. Also, remove any hardware or outlet plates from the wa ...more
A video on what to look for when buying an airbrush gun. Basic technical info is covered in this vid. Save your money and buy the nicer ones, the plastic ones are not as pricey but not durable.
Giveaway Tuesdays has officially ended! But don't sweat it, WonderHowTo has another World that's taken its place. Every Tuesday, Phone Snap! invites you to show off your cell phone photography skills. Submit your best shot to our weekly competition for a chance to win an awes ...more
Backyard FX is back just in time for Halloween with this video tutorial. This how-to video shows you how to replace your an arm with a motorized gatling gun! Make a cool movie or the best Halloween costume in town! All for less then $35 dollars. You will need six cardboard shi ...more
Well here it is, this is an older pic but it still works, the only change from this pic and the current cannon is that I have put some duct tape around the PVC bonds and am planing on spray painting it. The compression chamber is over a foot and a half long at 2" diameter PVC ...more
Tesla coils are totally insane, yet undeniably captivating. And they can be used for many things, from electric painting to dueling musical battles. But one trigger happy fellow has a different use for Tesla's lightning shooting coil. A weapon. After being inspired by the ste ...more
Turn a 'toy' radar gun into the real thing! Cops don't even have one like this! While this is a completely new and different design, the inspiration for this video is from an article by Ken Delahoussaye in MAKE Magazine. Just watch this video tutorial on how to hack a toy rada ...more
In this how to video, you will learn how to replace the glass digitizer on your iPhone 3G. First, remove the two screws at the bottom and the SIM card at the top. Once these are removed, use the safe pry tool and run it at the bottom between the bezel and back cover. Slowly re ...more
A great way to save money and be more independent is to do your own repairs. Having a well-rounded tool kit is the best way to be prepared for those unexpected problems. A good base kit will last for many years and is a sound investment. Get a fix on that leaky faucet and the ...more