10 min Hack #5

Trying to pull something apart but don't have a long enough driver bit or the driver bit body is too large to fit into the hole?

Standard on the left, modified on the right

Chuck it up in a drill, run the drill the opposite way to a running bench grinder and trim it to size. Using a bench grinder maintains the roundness of the bit. A file, or angle grinder could also be used, extra care would need to be taken to ensure bit roundness was maintained.

Lastly or firstly if the hole is large enough for the bit to drop into place, cut a slot in the top to receive a flathead screwdriver. I used a die grinder. A file, hacksaw or super thin cut off wheel in an angle grinder would also work.

Pat self on head for a job well done.

Till next time

Sous Vide MK3!

Finally finished the sous vide MK 3! Yay!

A work co worker of my partner deemed this urn not working and was going to gently place in the trash. Luckily my partner saved it from the trash fro me! I plugged the urn in and it works fine. Win!

I made a box from some previously laminated cedar and pine, might as well look pretty, much nicer them bare MDF.

Inside the box is a solid state relay (SSR) and the visible digital temp controller. My previous post on this digital temp controller didn't work. It had a relay output suitable for a mechanical relay (which are expensive and don't have a high duty cycle) So back to the shops and $15 later i've got one that outputs to SSR.

Its brilliant! It holds the temp at the exact temp set. The other one varies by about +/- 3 degrees. That is no good for eggs, the difference between  cooking them at 63 degrees and 65 is major. The SSR is capable for switching the heating element multiple times per second with explains why it hold its temp so well.

So win, should be able to fit a lot of ribs in this thing.

Vehicular transportation update.

Recently i acquired a 1996 Toyota Hilux. Basically a new car compared to my other ride, a 1966 Valiant! It would be fair to assume that in the 30 year gap between when these vehicles were made things would have changed significantly in specification and safety. So i have compiled a list of significant improvements to the Hilux that aren't found on the valiant.

• Fixed speed intermittent wipers
• FM frequency to the radio
• Power steering 

Its quite the list! One thing per decade, woah slow down toyota R&D you're moving too damn fast!

Items of interest that they share:

• Carby's
• Live rear axles
• Leaf springs
• Drum brakes
• Bench seats
• Football field turning circles
• Engines that were developed in the 1950's

So noting the clear lack of creature comforts, i'm on the case to improve that situation.  

So far i've added remote central locking and upgraded the interior light to LEDs.

Todays improvement was the addition of a permanently mounted iphone charge cable.

I modified a 1amp 12v to usb adaptor to remove the external contacts and fitted fly leads instead. Next both ends of a retractable iphone charger were reinforced with surgu. Finally i installed this under the dash and wired it in. 

The red clamp thing on is a holder for my phone. I cut a small slot in a switch blanking panel to allow the cord through. Works well, and doesn't stick out like dogs balls. Win.

Future upgrades include:

Headunit

Speakers

A Sub woofer

Air conditioning

LED lights mounted under the door to provide lighting when the door is open.