Engineering is just helping people

March 5, 2015

I was reading an article by Dr Lesley Paterson in the IET magazine that looked into the debate that Engineering should be taken out of STEM because Engineering is different in that its about using those Science, Technology and Mathematics

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Posted in: Uncategorised Tags: charity, disabilities

Bench modification

March 2, 2015

Thanks to some good friends I now have a large ex-BBC filing cabinet. This has 4 large drawers and is 1m wide by 1.2m tall. There’s a couple of concrete blocks in the bottom to stop it falling over when

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Posted in: Woodworking, Workshop Furniture Tags: dowel

A new exhibition of amazing machines

February 25, 2015

Novelty Automation is an experience to delight, bewilder and surprise. It is a cross between a penny arcade, art installation and Heath Robinson sketchbook.

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Posted in: Exhibition, Inspiration Tags: Automata, invention

Crossness Pumping Station Visit

Guest Post by Martin Evans

February 18, 2015

Back in September 2011 Martin visited the Crossness Pumping Station, built by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and officially opened by the Prince of Wales in April 1865. Martin Evans: This was the Victorian’s solution to London’s sewage problem. The basic idea

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Posted in: Inspiration Tags: bazalgette, Sewage

Solar powered workshop

February 12, 2015

I’ve got a big cable connecting my shed to the mains supply but for many people the distance or terrain make it difficult to install power. So I’ve asked Kevin from The Solar Shed to explain a bit about the

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Posted in: Electrics Tags: offgrid, solar

Bench hook – Mini Woodworking Project

February 9, 2015

A bench hook is a simple project that teaches many woodworking skills and helps you when sawing. There were no free plans with instructions so I wrote some.

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Posted in: Beginners, Woodworking Tags: handworking, Tools