We all love geeky stuff. But only Hardcore Geeks venture out to build geeky stuff. Today it is easier than ever to build your own gadgets at home! With tech parts & tools cheaper than ever (cheaper than a tank of gas at least by comparison lol) and tutorials a plenty out there – almost anyone can build cool stuff from home! Today we want to help you out and point you in the right direction with some of our favorite geeky DIY gadget projects we have seen so far.
What Is DIY?
DIY Stands for “Do It Yourself” if you didn’t know, here is what the wiki says about that
Do it yourself (DIY) is building, modifying, or repairing something without the aid of experts or professionals. The phrase “do it yourself” came into common usage in the 1950s in reference to home improvement projects that people might choose to complete independently.
In recent years, the term DIY has taken on a broader meaning that covers a wide range of skill sets. DIY is associated with the international alternative rock, punk rock, and indie rock music scenes; indymedia networks, pirate radio stations, and the zine community. In this context, DIY is related to the Arts and Crafts movement, in that it offers an alternative to modern consumer culture’s emphasis on relying on others to satisfy needs. The abbreviation DIY is also widely used in the military as a way to teach commanders or other types of units to take responsibility, so that they’d be able to do things themselves just as a preparation for their own future.
So are you ready to get your hands dirty and build some cool stuff? GOOD. Today we have everything from turning your old broken VHS into a toaster, all the way up to creating a real life talking Potato GLaDOS. Pretty insane eh? All of these things you can do yourself (with the right tools) and pretty much all of these have really good instructions on how you can obtain these tools and assemble them together to create these awesome things! NOTE: Be careful, some of them look fairly dangerous to attempt, be sure to read the disclaimers in the tutorials and follow the directions carefully – don’t want any infinigeeks out there losing their fingers :D. Also some of these are very kid friendly, so do them with your kids and teach them how to be a true geek!
Enjoy!
Tools for the Job!
Before you get started, you might want to make sure you’ve got some maker tools to get you through your project after you get all of these great ideas! Be sure to check for the best deals!
Creating a Custom Crawler
Have you ever wanted to build your own RC Car from scratch? Of course you have! This one may be a little advanced, but you can do it! This post will show you how to make a custom Rock Crawler from start to finish. These things are pretty fun and if you have ever bought RC crawlers before you know they can get pretty expensive.
Make A DIY Steampunk Flashlight
Because regular flashlights are for newbs! Man up and build yourself a Steampunk Flashlight with these awesome instructions! You will never have hoped harder that the power would go out anywhere you are so you can use it all the time. *power goes out* “Oh nice flashlight, you must be some kind of a badass” 😀
Build a DIY Tesla Coil In 9 Easy Steps!
As you know, Nikola Tesla was a BAMF. You can be a BAMF too by replicating a home made version of his Coil to impress your dog! When Nikola Tesla built his Coil, it was in an effort to provide the world with “Free wireless electricity.” He spent a fortune constructing Wardenclyffe Tower, a huge Tesla Coil in New York. His plan was to channel the electrical discharge emitted, to the earth. Through this approach, he believed he could electrify the Earth. With the Earth electrified, people around the world would be able to channel electricity by simply pounding some sort of metal rod into their yard. Wardenclyffe Tower was never fully operational, and was demolished in 1917. Many modern scientists are skeptical that this idea would’ve worked. But he was still badass, and inspired generations of Scientists after him. So yeah give this little DIY Project a try, but be careful!! You never know when your project will inspire someone else, or even make a good living for it’s creator – many diy projects end up becoming profitable businesses. Give it a try, you might make some money!
Build a Light up and Talking PotatOS from Portal 2
This is probably one of my favorite DIY Gadgets! So EPIC! As many of you do, I also loved the portal games, Portal 1 and 2 – this would be the perfect toy to have on your desk, just so awesome (and GLaDOS is hilarious.) This one actually lights up AND TALKS!! SO COOL.
DIY Kids Mega Man Costume
Ok this isn’t *really* a gadget, BUT, its geeky, awesome and adorable so deal with it! plus it does involve some LEDs haha 😀 I actually have a little guy about that size that would love this costume for halloween! If you are a geek with geeky-centric kids then perhaps consider making this for them this year! (or something similar) Looks awesome!! Can’t beat retro, classic Mega Man!
How to make a DIY VHS video toaster
This is just awesome. I know you all have a VHS player laying around somewhere collecting dust (I used to watch maybe 1 VHS a year until YouTube pretty much replaced my need haha). Now you can breathe new life into your old abandoned VHS tech. Make it a Toaster! Toast it up! (coincidentally enough I Have “The Brave Little Toaster” on VHS haha – remember that movie? It was great.) Even if you don’t have a spare toaster laying around run to your local thrift store and you’ll find plenty of them, and you don’t have to win a jackpot to afford one, although if you are lucky it doesn’t hurt to fund your DIY projects with a side hustle making and selling your DIY projects!
Build An Earthquake Detector
This is really awesome if you are interested in earthquakes, or live in an earthquake prone area (such as California, as the girl who created this mentions in her video) if nothing else its a neat little project to do with the kids or on your own for some geek DIY experience (street cred? haha)
How To Build A R/C Steam Turbine Tank
Speaking of awesome. THIS. is awesome. Part geeky, part artsy, and full on WIN – this thing really does run on STEAM, and yes, it is a TURBINE. At this point you are drooling, so check out the video on this one and if you feel so inspired as to build your own, you can! Go do it! Have fun!
How To Build A Retro Futuristic Nixie Tube Geiger Counter
Not sure where this would come in handy, but it looks AWESOME. I just want to build this bad boy, and take a trip to Chernobyl and let the good Geigers roll lol. If nothing else it would make an excellent conversation piece!
DIY PVC Pipe Clock
Awesome! I love minimal designs on pretty much anything, and the way this PVC Pipe Clock is made is really simple and minimal, and I love that. This is a rather simple tutorial compared to some of the other DIY Gadget projects with massive instructions or required tool lists.
DIY LED Matrix Glasses
Wow, these glasses are the hotness. Be the coolest geek in the club with these LED Glasses – check out the video for some of the slick animations it can do! Looks like a pretty complicated process according to the directions but is definitely a do-able weekend project!
Lobsterbot – a simple LM386 based robot
Probably the closest you will find to a DIY for a zoidberg robot haha – but if you are super geeky, then do this DIY gadget tutorial and then… Why Not Zoidberg!? Go make it!
NES Computer
If you have a broken NES laying around (it must be broken! destroying a working NES is sacrilege! lol) then this is the perfect project for you! Turn that giant broken brick into an awesome retro geek nostalgia inducing computer!
NINJA TURTLE OOZE!
Ehhh again, not really a gadget, but this was too cool not to mention. cuz TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES!! thats why. Really epic DIY on how you can make your own ooze! its non toxic too, so kids can be around it 😀
Build Your Own Speaker From Scratch
This is really cool if you are interested in how speakers work (i’ve always been fascinated by them myself). Get your hands dirty and build one from scratch! I can already think of a ton of scenarios that you could use this as foundational knowledge to build something bigger, and more awesome than just a speaker!
Create An Arduino Powered “ButtonHero” Game
This is pretty cool if you are into DIY Electronic & Arduino stuff. Basically this D-I-Y gadget involves the use of buttons, LEDs, wires, and resistors. In this game, you have to hit the corresponding button to the light that is randomly selected before the light changes. You start with 5 lives and missing or being too slow subtracts one life. The high score at the moment is apparently 56. haha
How To Build A Steampunk Keyboard
Another one of my favorite DIY projects – especially of the steampunk variety. So Cool. I would like to have this as my keyboard, this timeless design would never get old! It looks like it would be fun to type on as well with all those curvaceous circle buttons! If you are a steampunk geek into tech and other gadgets, this is a must do DIY project!
The Ultimate Nerf Vulcan Mod
Oh man this one is awesome, I’ve actually been wanting to do this one for a while myself, its a little old (its from 2008, so old by internet standards haha) but still worth mentioning as I believe they still sell the gun in stores (last time I checked), as its one of my favorite nerf gun modifications EVER. Ever since I saw this thing in action in a youtube video (seen below) I was having a hard time controlling my saliva glands.
Portal 2 “Pillar Button”
This is another awesome portal related DIY Gadget. I could see this being an awesome lamp or some other type of light source for around the house, maybe next to the TV 😀 Love it!
How to make a Portal Gun
Ohhhh sweet mother of god. Really nice Portal Gun replica tutorial! Would make a really great cosplay accessory or go with a costume for Halloween!
The Word Clock – Arduino version
I am a big fan of word clocks like this – if you are too, then you can build your own! I love the minimal and functional design – this would make a really great addition to any room! Do it for yourself or do it for a gift for someone! Geektastic!
PandoraBar – Pandora Radio Client
This is a really neat project, basically a custom wifi radio that can run Pandora, with all the features of the browser client. They are writing up instructions on how to make your own! So check em out!
Mechanical Donkey Kong V1
This is just a really cool project – who would not want this thing hanging on their wall, it works! check out the video! So cool! Gamer Nostalgia Galore!
DIY Steampunk Lightsaber!
This is just cool. We all have old flashlights laying around – this is way cooler. haha. Check out how it was done and make your own!
Retrofit an NES “duck hunt” Zapper With A Ridiculously Powerful Laser.
So many nostalgic NES DIY projects I have to do now haha – THIS one is awesome (but dangerous, be careful). PEW PEW!
How to Launch a Camera Into Space
Another “not a gadget” but would make an awesome geek DIY project (or mixed with a gadget project!)!
How To Make A Night Bike!
This is awesome if you ride your bike at night – or do anything at night! MAKE IT GLOW!
DIY Solar Powered Cockroach Toy – Perfect Kids’ Project
This is fantastic! I love these little solar powered cockroaches – awesome project to do with the kids. Not only do kids love the way they look and what they do – its cool to learn that solar power can actually do some pretty cool things! Plant the seed in those kids, they will be the ones to fix future energy issues! haha
$3 Emergency Solar-Powered Radio Made With an Altoids Tin
If you only make one of these DIY gadgets by following the tutorials – make it this one! Not only is this one cool looking, and useful, the whole thing should only cost around $3!! that is WINNING.
Make A Cheap & Easy Solar USB Charger With An Altoids Tin
Another crafty creation from solar power and an Altoids tin! Not as cheap as the other one, but just as useful, if not more!
How To Build A Nintendo Controller Light Switch
Wow, we really made use of EVERY piece of the original Nintendo NES didn’t we? thats amazing haha.
DIY Diamond Block Wall Lamp From Minecraft!
Any minecraft geek would LOVE to have a Diamond Block on their wall lighting things up! If you love minecraft, or know someone who does – break out your tools and get to work on one of these for yourself or for a gift!
Are you hooked now? Need more Geeky DIY Gadgets to Build? Ok we thought you might… check these out.
Top 10 Ways to Turn Your Retired Gadgetry into the Technology of the Future
Top 10 DIY Projects That Cost Less Than $3
What was your favorite? Got any DIY Projects going on yourself? Let us know about them in the comments below! Or start a discussion on the forums! Thanks for Reading!
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