Adric

About Adric

Local, Geek Of All Trades. Serious Supporter of Quelab and hacking/making things. Boardmember at Quelab and all around scrounger!

2018 Fireless Fourth (4th) of July Links!

 in Ideas / Links / Newsletter / Projects / Random  tagged Fireless / Fireworks / fourth of july by

Fire Danger High

Wow, is it almost July 4th again? And New Mexico is still in a horrible Drought. So we continue to bring you the 2018 list of Quelab’s Fireless Fourth Ideas.

Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links

Exploding Watermelons! Who says you need fire to explode watermelon everywhere? Just some rubber bands! How many did it take if you do this?
https://youtu.be/B__lvz7zQCE

Lightning? in your kitchen?
http://www.learnplayimagine.com/2013/04/how-to-make-lightning.html?m=1

Paint and explore Rainbows
https://thepinterestedparent.com/2017/02/make-explore-paint-rainbows/How about Oilslick Rainbows, are the the same colors as storm rainbows? Did you know that the colors are due to the thickness of the layer amplifying some colors and interfering with others?

More colors more rainbows.
https://www.sciencekiddo.com/rainbow-paper-kid-color-science/

Cheap Solo Cup Ribbons or wind twirlers.
https://www.icanteachmychild.com/plastic-cup-twirlers/

Rocket launched battery operated led lights.
https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Fireless-Fireworks/

Old School Oil and water light show..
https://www.instructables.com/id/Old-School-Psychedelic-Light-Show/
Superglue explosions in hot borax water?

Shaving cream Dye? For Color Explosions., fun marbling technique.
https://youtu.be/r_vv_ymduYo

Fake/EZ Sharpie Tiedye

Wireless power? Did this with friends back in Highschool. Florescent light bulbs (even burned out ones) will glow under some high voltage power lines.

Poprocks in foam. Make poprock goop.
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/pop-rock-goop.html
If you know about Adric, you know he’s been on a styrofoam recycling kick. But here is a way to get some use out of it yourself. For making prints.
https://youtu.be/O32K3BnzqT8Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links

Pocket Catapult? Fun with those little paper wrapped poppers.

PVC, shock cord, and Pool Noodle Rocket Launcher.

Link here to 2017’s Fireless Fourth links which also has links back to previous years!

Quelab visits AFRL Maker Hub on KAFB

 in Hackerspace News / Links / Projects  tagged AFRL / Base / Maker Hub / Makerspace / visit by

Quelab was approached last month to open some outreach talks with a representative of the local Air Force Research Laboratory(AFRL) and their Maker Hub, (A Makerspace on Kirtland Air Force Base). After talks and a tour of our space, we arranged for a small group tour to be escorted onto the base and see some of the AFRL’s space tech lab space, and then through the Maker Hub, which is a very nicely outfitted small Makerspace right in Western KAFB, which turns out to be open and free for people with base access. (details in a link below)

Opening just last year (2017) they already have an impressive start. The Maker Hub is in a small nondescript brown building on the west end of the base near the tarmac/runways. Inside are nearly a dozen 3d printers, a combination fiber and CO2 Epilog laser cutter, a small CNC, small machine shop, work benches, electronics lab, 2d large format printing, and even a fancy 2 armed red robot torso. So If you are on base much, please give them a look. I know they are looking to expand into a bigger space, which I think will be good for them, as it feels a bit cramped. But at this point I think its utilized low enough (much like we were for the first few years) that the size is not too constraining yet. (not until you have a half dozen people working on big projects)
If you see them tell them we sent you 🙂

Photos from our tour of the AFRL Maker Hub

For information and access

Quelab since its beginning we have always been interested in meeting with,  collaborations and exchanges with other local and world, Makerspaces and  Makers and those who don’t know yet they can be makers!

City on the Edge Podcast, 2017 Albuquerque mini Maker Faire Edition

 in Projects by

I had the honor to be on a podcast panel during Albuquerque mini MakerFaire 2017,   Myself, and Mini Maker Faire organizer Wendi Flybutter, Bernalillo County Seed Librarian Brita Sauer, Talking to the City on the Edge podcast crew,  all about making, makering, planting new seeds, and about many more things including Quelab  (even if they got the tags a bit wrong).

Enjoy!
City On The Edge Podcast

Quelab’s 2017 Fireless Fourth Link List!

 in Ideas / Links / Random  tagged 4th of July / Fireless / firelessfourth / Fireworks / links / list by

The fourth of July is nearly upon us!  So in preparation I bring you my collection of fireless ideas  for entertaining kids and adults alike on this holiday!  At the end will be links to the 2013-2016.   If you celebrate with fireworks or without, some of these may help you out!  pass the time and have fun, and if you celebrate with fireworks, please do it responsibly,  keep a hose handy,  a bucket of water to quench the deads,  and common sense.

 

 

 

 

Well here is this years list!

 

500 drones with lights?? Substitute for skyblooms?

Here are a bunch(15) of things to try out!
http://lemonlimeadventures.com/15-science-experiments-pop-fizz-crackle/ http://lemonlimeadventures.com/15-science-experiments-pop-fizz-crackle/

5 minute cheap and mostly color related science experiments safe for kids and adults (bunches of ideas here!!!)

5 Minute Science Experiments for Kids

I think there has been basically this idea in every one of my Fireless Fourth, posts since 2011 or so, but each year i find slightly better versions, painted firework blooms

Firework Salt Painting

Stained glass picture frames, (make still life window fireworks)

Stained Glass Art

Easy Starburst Wall Art.

Easy DIY Star Burst Wall Art

Hotdog firecrackers.
http://www.popsugar.com/food/Firecracker-Hot-Dog-Recipe-37777925

Crackling Goop!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/06/pop-rock-goop.html

Blacklight Fun!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/09/glowing-oil-water-experiment.htmlhttp://www.lilmoocreations.com/science-for-kids-overnight-crystal-garden/

Here is a simple toy, to amuse, says toddlers, i’m pretty sure i know enough adults who would play too….
http://frugalfun4boys.com/2013/07/03/preschool-play-with-magnets-and-pipe-cleaners/

Overnight crystal garden. Red White and Blue!
http://www.lilmoocreations.com/science-for-kids-overnight-crystal-garden/

Not sky blooms, but it gives you the option to make colorful blooms!

Colour Changing Flowers Experiment

Exploding Sidewalk chalk!
http://www.growingajeweledrose.com/2013/05/play-recipe-sidewalk-chalk.html

Rainbow bubble snake maker!

Rainbow Bubble Snakes

Train your kids to be ninja superheros.
http://www.brassyapple.com/2013/05/diy-laser-maze-kids-activity.html

A quick selection of fireless amusements from Steve Spangler

So simple a photo can explain it.
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ba/b8/d3/bab8d3047e33cb17bc8e9900b86ec709.jpg

Another single photo idea (well it’s a composite, but who’s counting?!?)
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/5d/df/1d/5ddf1d1a4c27fea9fdbc13f29ed86716.jpg

 

Quelab past fireless fourth links.

2016

2015

2014

2013

All links and ideas are rights of the perspective creators,  i just collected most of these not responsible for misuse or damage or danger caused by any of these.

FYI Mailserver issues

 in Projects by

Quelab is having some upstream mailserver problems right now, so if you just got home from the Albuquerque Maker Faire, and are sending us an email. it might bounce or fail please try again in a few days or hit us up on facebook! Or Drop by for open hacknight Tuesday 7pm-10pm

6 Glorious Years and Counting!

 in Projects by

Last month we celebrated our 6 year opening day — Just last week we celebrated our 6 years since our official Grand opening! It’s hard not to feel like a proud parent watching it grow and get better all the time!

2010Quelab 1.0 DSC_7943                            2013680 Haines Location!

Take a stroll with us through the good times.

Iconic moments from Quelab’s last 3+ years (slideshow)

Some older iconic moments at Quelab. (slideshow)

In our our early days we had less than 1,400 square feet of space, we are now pushing 10,000 square feet with a huge selection of tools and equipment we never dreamed we would get to acquire. But it is not the tools or the space that is what makes Quelab so special — it’s the members, the supportive friends, and the whole Maker Movement that is what makes the magic happen!

2016 Fireless Fourth Ideas From Quelab

 in Ideas / Links / Projects  tagged 4th of July / craft / Fireless / firelessfourth / links by

FireBadThis 4th of July, many of us near Albuquerque are living with the fresh memory of the Dog Head Fire — 17 thousand acres just went poof! — a few miles out of town, it’s now considered 95% contained, but as hot and fierce as it burned, it’s important to continue looking for fireless ways for people to celebrate. Since 2012 I (Adric) have collected ideas for sending out to friends, and Quelab friends.

I know my mother, who supported the responsible use of fireworks to entertain us kids, hated anything that went boom or whistled. (and if it flew in the air, it was pretty much forbidden by our county firework laws) This naturally made me love and lust for anything that whistled, boomed, or flew in the air. But her lessons on knowing where to safely set up fireworks, how to set up buckets and hoses and all to make sure we could contain anything that did start to burn, and other general safety ideas did stick with me. I’m not in favor of banning personal fireworks, but i do plead that everyone who uses them please be careful and responsible!

On with the Fireless Stuff!
Some of these can be combined as entertainment before and after the fireworks (no matter if it’s a big stadium display or your own small home one).

All ages ideas:

A bazooka that does not explode — and despite the fact it sucks, it throws a pingpong ball or paper ball pretty far!
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Vacuum-cleaner-Bazooka/

Smoke ring cannon, with dry ice fog
http://www.instructables.com/id/Dry-Ice-Smoke-Ring-Cannon-No-fog-machine-necessa/

Salt paint fireworks, (might be fun to setup some blowgun targets with paintballs and see if salt will stick to the “paint”) …
http://busymommymedia.com/firework-salt-painting/

Fourth of July slime
http://www.pleasantestthing.com/4th-july-activity-make-slime

Dish brush painted fireworks
http://www.craftymorning.com/kids-fireworks-craft-using-dish-brush/

Wind twirls
http://happyhooligans.ca/patriotic-wind-twirlers-paper-towel-rolls/

Make pretty giant stars out of nothing but paperbags and glue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAYLq1k264I

Bubblewrap machine gun
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76usvBPZbSk

On the food front we have:

Alton Brown’s Favorite 4th recipes
http://altonbrown.com/alton-browns-july-4th-recipes/

Stained Glass Jello
http://www.instructables.com/id/Stained-Glass-Jello/

Red White and Blue Layered Drinks for kids.
http://artsymomma.com/2013/07/red-white-blue-layered-kids-drink-4th-of-july.html

And Red White and Blue Drinks for adults.
http://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g2465/boozy-4th-of-july-drinks/

Pizza Box Solar Smores!
http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/solar-oven/

#Danger# Section:

Exploding water bottle bb/blowgun/pellet targets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rDRFFSUrPI

Liquid nitrogen can be pretty hard to get, and surely needs a little more safety, but here is a build for liquid nitrogen and water rocket launcher.
https://youtu.be/jrRmID81wrc

This one is for home made caps/exploding targets, it’s not entirely fireless, the compound does explode but there is no sustained flame.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctX3juq9Okw

#needs work section:

Glowing fountain (blacklight), this one was a bit of a failure, but i suspect the addition of some yellow highlighter marker ink, and a brighter blacklight could probably make this work. But its good to know others are also on the hunt.
https://tutorialsformyparents.com/how-to-create-the-fireless-firework-a-humbling-scientific-exploration-and-thoughtful-relfection-on-the-michelson-morley-experiment/

Link to 2015’s Fireless Fourth, which also links back 2014, 2012, 2011!
https://quelab.net/19047/quelabs-annual-fireless-4th-collection-of-links/

Quelab’s Annual Fireless 4th Craft and Science (Links)

 in Ideas / Links / Projects / Random  tagged 4th / crafts / Fireless / Fireworks / July / links / SCIENCE! by

Hi there, Im Adric. I love fireworks, Big, Small Loud/Smok!! But this year like several in the past, I have very much enjoyed collecting ideas and links for Kids and adults to do in places where fireworks are either not legal, not safe or not advisable. Some of these ideas can be used to entertain away the long hours it takes to get dark for the big shows, Or your own fireworks.

As always I don’t claim the rights to any of these ideas, (unless otherwise noted). But I do encourage people to share this post Share it on your social media, share it to your clubs and school groups. Its all a fun part of learning to DIY!

-This one is a fun color changing drink: starts off with a purple(blue) liquid, and mix in a clear (white) and you get a pink(red) right in front of your eyes.
http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Color-Changing-Sports-Drink-Mocktail/

-Red, White and Blue Patriotic Parfaits
http://www.ehow.com/info_12340443_red-white-blue-patriotic-parfaits.html

-OOPS, this is a repeat from last year! sorry, but its still fun! Not technically a firework, but still cool, and I think some skybloom fireworks look like jellyfish, make a pseudo jellyfish!

-Or How about DIY Origami Fireworks:
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Origami-Fireworks/

Steve spangler show’s both the yeast, and the potassium iodide version of Elephant Toothpaste (in a Red White and blue motif):

-Funfetti or sprinkles to paint teeny firework paintings?
http://www.readingconfetti.com/2012/06/sprinkle-fireworks.html

-Glowsticks in old refilled water bottles, then pick your favorite ball. and night time bowling!

-15 second paper screamer.
http://www.instructables.com/id/15-Second-Paper-Screamer/

-This one requires liquid nitrogen, and there is a danger frostburn or bottle fragmentation, but i think the risk is pretty low.

-Smoke ring launcher (on the subject of cold stuff, this can be done with dry ice)
http://www.instructables.com/id/Dry-Ice-Smoke-Ring-Cannon-No-fog-machine-necessa/

-Diy stomp rockets, 2l soda bottle, and an old innertube,
http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Stomp-Rockets/

-Past years collections
Quelabs 2014 Fireless 4th links
Quelabs 2013 Fireless 4th links
Quelabs 2011 Fireless forth ideas

As always if if you do play with traditional fireworks keep a garden hose handy, and one or 2 buckets of water. and if your doing fountains, you might consider launching them from a ladder or other stand to get them up off the ground. It makes the fountains look more impressive, and more of the sparks are out before they can reach dry grasses or other combustibles.

Have ideas that have not been covered? send me a note and I will add them! Or collect them for next years post! adric at quelab.net

Solar Tetroon (ST3) Launch Makes Some News

 in Hackerspace News / Projects  tagged flight / hackerspace news / solar balloon / tetroon by

On Sunday morning in January 2015, a member’s project finally took flight from Quelab, and caused a bit of a stir. Gonner was test-flying his solar balloon, and it managed to get away from him. The tetrahedral contraption (known as a Tetroon) broke free and floated free in the skies above Albuquerque, prompting local residents and a news-team to call the United States Air Force and the Federal Aviation Administration. KOAT-7 (ABC) came by to interview the creator, and put the story on the 5pm and 10pm news on 18 January. Click here for the News coverage (apparently, the 10pm coverage included a leader about UFOs in Albuquerque over the years).


Click through for photos, videos, and more history about the Tetroon projects!
(more…)