I was inspired by retro nostalgic toy, control panels, and busy boards during enclosures project. For our enclosures assignment I made a physical daily mood quizlet.
After this project, I started brainstorming more of the similar idea running off inside jokes with my friends or popular culture and am inspired to make a photo series.
Lessons Learned:
Boxes are v hard
My ideas involve lots of materials - I need to scale down and plan better lol
Acrylic glue is grossly toxic
Think about SUPER HARD how motors are mounted and where/measurements
I had quite a few extra materials and bought a cork block. I decided to make some sort of planter (cork is great for plants) with the block and utilize the macrame cord to hold it up and add a secondary element.
Using the band saw was EXTREMELY easy and satisfying. The cut came out so smooth. To subtract a hole to place the plant in I first used the drill press then used the hand grinder to smooth out the details.
I bought a guitar pedal enclosure with no take on what I should do. I landed with random LEDs and potentiometers from past projects I had on the floor that day. I measured everything with a digital caliper and tested everything on 2 rounds of cardboard.
I realized with laser cutting - although it is exact - the material is much less malleable. I also realized I needed different screws and the acrylic cracked as I tightened the cover. Overall, this one was super fun and it sparked an idea to make a series.
One thing I haven't bought and something I probably do need living here in NYC is any sort of organizers for the bathroom, my school supplies, no shelves, all my mail is in my backpack, it's a mess. Initially I wanted to just make designed caddy boxes for each room but then I thought to do a matching system with a pegboard - versus nailing or screwing each component to the wall.
I bought a 24 x 48 pegboard from Home Depot and started testing out with cardboard then hoping to go to acrylic.
To start a system I wanted to make a cohesive set. I want to start out with 3 components: a shelf, a caddy (pencils/pens/toothbrush), a hook for keys.
As I started brainstorming, I came to the idea of creating a set of 'playful shapes'. I tested out on carboard first before acrylic with each. I started out with the caddy for pens. The hardest part of creating the template was creating the notches, and also having the system be even stable. I used a glue gun, which probably is not the best, but is what I had at hand. Glue guns are super messy but super quick.
I think cut 1.25 inch acrylic pegs with the band saw.
I did the same process with the shelf and hook, and practiced where the bend would be on the cardboard. However, I am still learning where and how the heat line hits on the acrylic.
Lessons Learned:
Test scrap acrylic with the heat gun
Find an acrylic glue!!
Make sure to match holes and not put anywhere on the shape
My first thought was what is 5 of something that I could probably need at home? I was thinking of a plant pot holder, phone charging docks, then as I was looking through Urban Outfitters at home furniture, I found this cute but EXPENSIVE spice rack. With being out of the city, I had to keep in mind also something that I can easily travel with.
Luckily, my boyfriend's dad (Marc) had everything and more needed for the project, including 1/8 and 1/2 scrap plywood. He also taught me best ways to cut such as using the miter saw for lateral cuts (so it doesn't get so frayed like the next pic), table saw for long cuts, and using the router to rabbit the back piece of the rack.
Spice rack process:
Cut 1/2" plywood in size for sides and bottom
Cut 1/8" plywood in size for back panel and front panel
Use router to rabbit side panels for back panel to slide in
Draw out patterns and cut out and trace onto pieces
Band saw pieces
Sanding
Screw in bottom panel to side
Wood glue and clamp front and backs
The band saw was a very trial and error experience with getting the best curves. Marc had a sander and grinder at his place but we ran out of time to come back from the band saw that night so we resorted to sanding by hand. I learned the best way to go about curves (for me at least as of currently), is to make teeth and curve it through. Without this I notice I pulled on the band saw with a curve and it took it off track, having my boyfriend (Noah) to retighten the track and fix it.
Before coming back to Brooklyn, I wanted to glue the back panel so it would not fall apart on my trip back.
Camping: I have this great lantern that is a flashlight, and when stretched out it is a lantern. I can also hook it up on the top of my tent when I'm inside. Small, versatile, affordable, and solar-powered!
Looking through small spaces: I hate using my iPhone when looking through my backpack and cabinets, so I lose a hand and I'm a very weak, clumsy person.
What I need: Something small and direct, can stand on it's own?
Possible idea: LED lantern that has a magnet switch? That you can take down and flatten out.
I wanted to create a repeatable pattern so when taken apart it can be stacked on top of each other.
Shopping for materials
Vellum + LED, affordable but can get easily ruined. Clear plastic board? Could not find ANYTHING. This is where I had to turn around my project and start with material on the floor and start thinking from there.
Prototyping
With starting this project late, I was in a rush to find ANYTHING. I got acrylic for future project's and decided to use a piece of scrap wood I found on the floor. I initially wanted to use a reed switch to have a magnetic switch but with time I resorted to a battery holder that Mai had an extra of on the floor (thanks!).
Because I was in a rush, I DID NOT think of the details of measurements and sizing of the piece as a whole. I also learned spots pop up when I laser cut, and I may need to laser cut twice to actually cut through. With the shop closing, I played with what I had.
I wanted to see which works best with the acrylic - wood glue or a hot glue gun. The wood glue was easier to flatten out but the residue did not dry as clear. However the hot glue gun dried faster and clearer, but did not dry flat and extremely quickly.
As I was working - I dropped GLUE on my flashlight bulb. I thought it would be fine but it did not work anymore. So I improvised to a simple LED bulb. After soldering my current system, as I put the wood box together, I realized my battery casing was the tiniest bit too big where it couldn't close.
Lessons Learned
Plans always fall through - have back ups - actually just do things earlier (rough start just quit my full time job today so I can finally focus on school with all attention 🙂 !)
Order things online early, I wasted a lot of time commuting around trying to find something when I could've ordered or found something else on the floor
Draw out measurements, I definitely would have thought about the measurements more if I did not rush. But I also thought I could grind things down to a 45 degree angle and it did not happen.
