Other Hobbies

Making a mold of a small object enables you to recreate the object and let your imagination loose. Start with simple, whole objects without holes or multiple pieces. Clay or metal figures, hands,...

Adjusting an airsoft gun's velocity is a great way to hit targets at a longer distance. This is done by upgrading the spring, motor, barrel and gearbox. Exchanging the stock barrel for a longer or...

A briar tobacco pipe (the kind made with a briarwood bowl) makes a delightful smoke, but you must break it in; this is called seasoning, which prepares the wooden bowl for continuous use....

Optimizing an airsoft gun is the best way to increase your odds of hitting your target. The best way to do this is to upgrade the barrel, spring, motor and gearbox. Upgrading the barrel to a...

Tree steps are steel L-shaped bars that screw into a tree trunk as narrow steps to help a hunter reach his or her tree stand. The tree stand a wooden platform installed high in a tree to obscure a...

In time, a faithful briar pipe will develop a sour, used-up flavor. This is caused by the oils in the tobacco, which can go rancid; by tar deposits; and by the various flavors of tobacco mixing....

Quill pens are one of the most ancient forms of writing. The naturally hollow design of quills allows ink to be wicked up into the body of the pen, and a carefully crafted tip applies the ink...

Velocity is the rate of change of position in a traveling object. Scouts who want to know how fast their Pine Wood Derby cars are can do some simple math to find the velocity, or speed, of their...

A bandsaw blade can be hard to handle, and wrapping the blade back up can be frustrating. If you own a bandsaw, you have probably thought,"How do I wrap the bandsaw blade back into the neat little...

When Sir Walter Raleigh brought tobacco to England from the new world, he smoked a clay pipe. Elizabethan portraits showed gentlemen (never ladies) hoisting long-stemmed, small-bowled white pipes....

Legacy and Family Tree Maker are both software programs that are used to store, track and preserve ancestral information. Both programs use proprietary file formats that are not compatible with...

Gelcoat is a polyurethane material most often used as an outer coating on boats, which provides a colored, glossy surface. One of the advantages to gelcoating is its resistance to sunlight....

Tinting the windows of a model car can make it look more realistic. Tinting the windows is a simple process that can be completed using a window-tint spray paint specially designed for models. By...

A paint booth is a structure specifically designed to optimize painting procedures. Paint booths can be customized to handle any number of projects, from something as small as fine porcelain to...

MIG-welding aluminum takes some practice, but is the same general process as any other welding. Welding aluminum requires a lot of amperage, so be sure your machine is up to the task. A 140-amp...

Taking your pontoon boat out on a nice sunny day can be very relaxing. However, when you get into dock and trailer the boat, you may find that mildew has developed on your pontoons. If you don't...

MIG welding body panels can be tricky because they are so thin. Thinner metals require lower welder settings and some technique. With some practice, however, welding auto body panels becomes much...

Bows and arrows, as well as other archery equipment , can be safely stored in cases made for them. Many manufacturers sell cases that hold both the bow itself and a few dozen arrows. There are a...

A band saw blade can be hard to handle. If you own a Craftsman band saw, you have probably cut yourself a time or two while adjusting the blade. With a little practice and a few simple steps, you...

Shuffleboard is a fun activity, often found in a bar or game room, that entails players pushing metal pucks from one side of a wooden table to the other. The players earn points by making the...

Cast iron can be very difficult to weld, especially if done improperly. It has a very high carbon content, up to ten times that of regular steel, which contributes to its brittleness.

If you own a band saw, you have probably cut yourself a time or two while replacing the blade. Replacing a band saw blade can be difficult and dangerous. However, with a little practice, some easy...

When it comes to fishing, the common and most important element between hobby and necessity is the pole. Elaborate fishing gear is often expensive, so constructing a homemade version is an...

Woodturning is more than just the process of turning wood stock into furniture, accessories or toys. It is a refuge from stress and the daily grind of life, an art form that yields beautiful and...

Private boats and planes often fly flags of many different types, but there are correct and incorrect ways to fly them. Before you raise the flag on your boat, learn the correct etiquette for...

Tobacco pipes can be quite expensive. Why spend money on a fancy tobacco pipe when you can create a very inexpensive pipe from the comfort of your own home? Chances are, the materials needed are...

To increase muscle in your gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, you need a regular and varied workout routine that consists of stretching, cardiovascular endurance and weightlifting.

Football stadiums are truly an architectural art form. Many famous football fields, and the teams associated with them, can be identified simply by the construction of the stadium. Creating models...

Casting makes up only one part of a process known as molding and casting, in which you mold an object before you can reproduce it. Using the correct mold plays a vital role in producing good...

Optimizing the use of your camera can result in wonderful things. Hand-held camera shots can provide many angles and various on-the-move shots, but sometimes you need a tripod or camera mount to...

A humidor should be well-made, attractive and sealed well from the elements. A typical cigar aficionado takes great pride in his collection, and a humidor will ensure the tobacco retains the best...

Smoking from a slider pipe provides a convenient and quick experience, as the pipe can bend and fold to fit in a pocket or purse. While the bowl that holds the tobacco is slightly smaller than...

Berkley Fireline is an incomparably tough fishing line that gives zero stretch and offers maximum control to the serious angler. Because it's constructed from uniquely strong Micro Dyneema,...

Most people are familiar with numerology as a predictive tool similar to astrology but using numbers instead of stars and planets. The Chaldean system is an obscure but older method of evaluating...

Changing the barrel on an Airsoft rifle to make it longer or tighter will improve accuracy. Poor quality BBs will jam in a tight barrel, however. Most automatic electric guns (AEG) come with a...

A table saw allows you to make straight, accurate cuts every time, as long as the tool is properly maintained. Lubricating the table saw makes it much easier to adjust.

Besides being able to collect and organize your ancestor data, the Family Tree Maker software from http://www.Ancestry.com allows you to print a variety of family tree charts. You can print a...

Ancestry.com is one of the premier places to do genealogy research online but after a two-week free trial period, accessing its records incurs a monthly fee. Fortunately, you can continue your...

Many people look for simple inexpensive ways to brighten a room. Beaded candle holders are eye-catching decorations which can bring light to any room. You can create a decorative beaded candle...

Taking portraits outdoors is one of the easiest ways to get a professional-looking, flattering photo everyone will love. Sometimes the pictures just seem to come out wonderfully without any...

While it's possible to make a boat out of a variety of substances, one of the last choices is any paper product. Cardboard, for example, can absorb water and become flimsy when wet. A paper boat...

Dry powdered graphite is a common wheel lubricant used for Pine Wood Derby cars. In fact, in many Scout Councils it is the only legal lubricant that can be used for a Pine Wood Derby race. There...

Although it's not your typical entrée, venison, or deer meat, is gaining popularity because of its exotic, full-bodied taste. In addition to being low in fat, venison provides an excellent...

Dutch oven cooking is a traditional cooking method that connects modern campers to the Wild West. A Dutch oven can be used for cooking by placing it directly on top of hot coals or on top of a...

Football and other sports are often handicapped by gamblers in terms of a point spread. The point spread is a means to allow gambling on a sporting event when one team is more likely to win. In...

If you enjoy saltwater fishing, you may know that lures painted to look like mackerel are an effective means of catching many predatory fish. Many fishermen enjoy making their own lures by...

When taking pictures, controlling depth of field can lead to captivating images. Depth of field is defined as the range of the photo that is in sharp or acceptable focus. It's determined by the...

Knowing how to properly store tobacco is essential for an avid smoker who likes to roll his own cigarettes or smoke from a pipe. If stored improperly, tobacco will go stale, affecting its flavor...

While sailboats and rowboats are propelled through the water using wind and manpower, respectively, motorboats require fuel, a propeller, and most importantly, a battery. Without the battery, not...

A band-saw blade can be hard to handle, and rolling the looped, flexible blade back up for storage can be frustrating. With practice, however, you can master this task--without cutting yourself on...