The book inspired me to make some of my own as well as experiment with the commercial ones more.  Today I am going to make Parson’s recipe for Root Beer Bitters, Orange and House (which is like Angostura).  Plus I’m going to experiment with my own recipe for Celery.

This should be a lot of fun.  I’ll follow-up with the results.

Did some brainstorming at my favorite location (Home Depot) and manged to build this prototype.  The only part I couldn’t buy at Home Depot was the bearing. 

Going to finish up the project tonight with some paint and the flap wheel.  Think it is turning out good so far.

Total project cost $70.  Way cheaper than a professionaly made one.

Cupcake Car or War Machine?

The Mini-Maker Faire is only 3 weekends away and there is still so much to do on the Cupcake Car.  I spent nearly all day Sunday making the Steel “tin” that forms the wall around the base of the car.  This was the first time I really got to use my sheet metal brake and it worked really well.

The day was extra hot so after 7 hours I was drained.  The rear axle was another project I checked off my list along with the sprocket to connect to the motor.

After looking at my limited time left, I broke down and bought a motor controller.  The good thing is I have enough high-power parts to make a 2nd supped-up cupcake car, the bad thing is it’s more money.

I started mounting the tin and the curve is a bit off so I have to fake it a bit.  My goal is to finish that by the next weekend.

Monday I discovered some rust on the tin.  I’ll need to find some clear coat or rust-inhibitor.

New Gallery Pics

Brainstorming the Giant BristleBot

With the upcoming Mini-Maker Faire, i3 Detroit knew it was a perfect opportunity to get the message out and gain some more members.  We brainstormed a few days and came up with a giant ridable bristlebot.  We believe that no one has ever done this.  If you find a record of something online, let me know.  Even if it does exist, it’s still fricken cool.  Check out the gallery.  More building tonight (8/11).  I’ll upload pics.

I want!  Not sure I have the tools to build an Extreme Vortex Cannon but maybe that mini-one.  Very cool.  I need to find out what this British show is.  Link - Via Neatorama

We have a company summer picnic coming up in a few weeks.  Since I am known as the maker in the office, I thought it might be cool to bring in a project.  “You know…for the kids”.  After flipping through some books, I found a Soda Bottle Water Rocket project in the Best of Make Book.  It turned out basically like the book but it is a bit unstable and finicky.  I am going to do some tweaks and then it will be ready for the picnic.  Good work Make.

The Cupcake Car Frame after 1 weekend

Ever since I returned from the geek mecca known as Maker Faire, I have been jealous of Acme Art’s Electric Cupcake Cars.  The plan was to build one directly after Maker Faire 2008.  I ordered the biggest scariest DC electric motor I could find. I needed it to run off of 36 volts because that was the best motor controller plan I could find (Thanks Frank!).  The result was a pile of parts that sat unused for nearly a year.  I talked the good talk but no results. 

With the creation of the Mini-Maker Faire in Ann Arbor, MI this month, I had renewed motivation to bring a little piece of Maker California to Detroit.  I’ve accelerated my build time and have finished most of the frame in one weekend.  A new motor has been ordered since I had to build a new base plate for the scary one I found (Don’t worry, it will get incorporated in a future version) and the remaining drive-train parts have been ordered.

The car should be done by the last weekend in August and in time for the Faire but it leaves me little room for error.  Keep coming back to the site for updates.  I’ll upload pics as I finish pieces of the build.

Description: Ever since the 2008 Maker Faire, I have wanted an Electric Cupcake Car. I started planning and building it a few weeks after the event. After a number of delays and distractions, it took the Mini-Maker Faire in Ann Arbor, MI to motivate me. I’ve made some big strides in the past few weeks and plan to have it finished in the next two weekends. It should be able to go 15 mph. Can’t wait.
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