The Geiger counter kitset arrived about a week ago, but I’ve been really busy and unable to find the time to assemble it.

Things in Japan have quietened down (at least in the news), but I’m sure it would still be a good idea to monitor radiation.

The PCB looks tidy, but without a solder screen, may require a bit more heat to solder everything on.

(more…)

The Geiger counter kitset arrived about a week ago, but I've been really busy and unable to find the time to assemble it. Things in Japan have quietened down (at least in the news), but I'm sure it would still be a good idea to monitor radiation. The PCB looks tidy, but without a solder screen, ...

In my last post, I promised photos of the completed sign, once the cocktail party had been.

I’m happy to report that Neville liked the sign, as did all the party guests.

Here’s a photo of the sign lit up just before I wrapped it up.

(more…)

In my last post, I promised photos of the completed sign, once the cocktail party had been. I'm happy to report that Neville liked the sign, as did all the party guests. Here's a photo of the sign lit up just before I wrapped it up. Here's the original design - I'm guessing it's a good thing ...

I’ve wanted a working Geiger counter for a while. It seems like it would be rather handy to have one as a random number generator, and another to install inside a weather station to monitor local radiation levels.

With what’s been going on in Fukushima, I decided it was time to start the project.

Spark Fun have been out of Geiger counter kits for a while and I wasn’t quite ready to just buy a Geiger Müller Tube on ebay and design my own power supply, so I placed an order with Electronic Goldmine a few weeks back.

The courier company has attempted to deliver it, so hopefully I’ll be able to write more soon. In the mean time I’ll spend some more time researching exactly how these things work.

I've wanted a working Geiger counter for a while. It seems like it would be rather handy to have one as a random number generator, and another to install inside a weather station to monitor local radiation levels. With what's been going on in Fukushima, I decided it was time to start the project. Spark ...

The sign is finished and wrapped up ready to go.

You’ll have to wait until after the party for me to reveal the completed photos.

I’m very happy with the result.

Here’s a teaser…

The sign is finished and wrapped up ready to go. You'll have to wait until after the party for me to reveal the completed photos. I'm very happy with the result. Here's a teaser...

It’s been very slow going attaching the EL Wire to the sign. The sign needs to be finished for the 16th April, so I need to pick up the pace.

I’ve started to use a toothpick to apply the glue and having better results.

Here’s where I’m up to…
(more…)

It's been very slow going attaching the EL Wire to the sign. The sign needs to be finished for the 16th April, so I need to pick up the pace. I've started to use a toothpick to apply the glue and having better results. Here's where I'm up to... I'm a little worried about the "BAR" ...

I’ve started attaching the EL wire to the sign.

I first attached it using a Gel Superglue, but it spread terribly and left cloudy marks everywhere, so I carefully undid my work and went looking for another glue.

I settled on Selleys Multigrip, the one which dries clear.
(more…)

I've started attaching the EL wire to the sign. I first attached it using a Gel Superglue, but it spread terribly and left cloudy marks everywhere, so I carefully undid my work and went looking for another glue. I settled on Selleys Multigrip, the one which dries clear. In what I can only once again put down ...

I’ve recently started doing a lot of development for the iPhone and iPad and I wanted to be able to sketch layouts on paper.

Now it’s one thing to draw a rough iPhone layout, but it’s another to actually have them looking like an iPhone.

I started using the A4 iPhone Template from http://www.uistencils.com, but soon wanted something more photo realistic.

Behold my designs…..
(more…)

I've recently started doing a lot of development for the iPhone and iPad and I wanted to be able to sketch layouts on paper. Now it's one thing to draw a rough iPhone layout, but it's another to actually have them looking like an iPhone. I started using the A4 iPhone Template from http://www.uistencils.com, but soon ...

I’ve cut myself a piece of steel for the sign and managed to get it completed to the point where I can attach the EL wire.

I first grabbed two washers, bent them slightly and welded them to the steel. Once complete these can be used to tie of the hanging wire on the back.

I then used a grinder to remove light surface rust and to give the steel an industrial “brushed” look.
(more…)

I've cut myself a piece of steel for the sign and managed to get it completed to the point where I can attach the EL wire. I first grabbed two washers, bent them slightly and welded them to the steel. Once complete these can be used to tie of the hanging wire on the ...

I’ve done a bit of work on my bar sign project.

First of all, I’ve converted my design to black and white, resized it a bit and printed it out onto A3 paper.

This is the (rough) but workable pattern.

(more…)

I've done a bit of work on my bar sign project. First of all, I've converted my design to black and white, resized it a bit and printed it out onto A3 paper. This is the (rough) but workable pattern. I've been ringing around getting prices for a 400mm x 300mm piece of black perspex and the ...

A friend of mine is coming up to his 40th Birthday and he’s having a cocktail party to celebrate.

I’ve decided I wanted to make him a “Neon” bar sign for a gift.

Neon signs are expensive, use lots of power, generate heat and are generally not a suitable DIY project, so I’ve decided to use Electroluminescent Wire, or EL Wire for short.

I’ve been playing around with different fonts and colours and have settled on the following design.
(more…)

A friend of mine is coming up to his 40th Birthday and he's having a cocktail party to celebrate. I've decided I wanted to make him a "Neon" bar sign for a gift. Neon signs are expensive, use lots of power, generate heat and are generally not a suitable DIY project, so I've decided to use ...