Hot PVC Innovation Posts « PVC Innovation

News: Roller Slide on a Farm

This is all I can say...

News: Monster Tubulum How-To - From Start to Finish

This video shows how the maker of that Monster Tubulum actually put it together. Between this, the FAQ on his blog, and a whole lot of intelligence, you'll have all the information and insight you need to put together your own super awesome PVC instruments.

News: Beautiful PVC Structure by Hoogte Twee Architects

I stumbled across this amazing structure today, titled B(h)uis. It was built by Hoogte Twee Architects, using entirely PVC tubes. I think it's beautiful, considering the simplicity of the material and construction.

How To: Make a Self-Watering Greenhouse (In-Depth Tutorial)

I know it seems a little redundant to post this when I've already posted a video, but it is kind of hard to get more than a vague idea from the video alone. I hope this sheds a little more light on the subject. I'm sure it also seems like I'm beating this idea to death, but this one concept opens doors to further innovation. After I finish this article, I'm going to put another one up that shows a hinged, raised bed house and talk about some amazing things you can do from there.

American Speedster: The PVC Bike Car

I am completely fascinated with pedal transportation. Many of us have pedalable commutes that we end up driving just because we don't like bikes. There's a whole wave of do-it-yourself pedal vehicles, from the Hennepin Crawler down to vehicles like this one.

News: PVC 2 Person Bike

It's about the same thing as this except you can buy it and it's painted.

How To: Make Cool Sculptures with PVC Cut-Offs

PVC isn't something you want to send to the landfill. It's not going to do anything good for the ground when it's buried. It is also something you really, REALLY don't want to send to an incinerator. When burned, PVC releases some really nasty chemicals, including hydrochloric acid and dioxin.

News: How to Make a Turkish-Style War Bow from PVC Pipe

This is a build-along for making a flattened PVC pipe bow. This style of bow made with PVC is more durable than the non-flattened kind, and looks more authentic. This bow, when finished, drew about 80# at 28".

News: Time to Get the Bends, and I Don't Mean Diving Sickness

You're never going to see a project from me that involves straight pipe. You would have when I was a kid, but after too many years in the construction industry, I need to see a good finish. If the project doesn't look slick, I don't want to say I did it.

News: Tom Price's PVC Cherry Blossom Forrest

Tom Price used nothing more than PVC pipes, nylon cable ties, and a large hot plate to melt together the blossoms.

How To: Make a DIY PVC Spindle that Turns Newspaper Into Yarn

I have to admit that I am an environmentalist wacko. That may sound strange, considering my life is tied up in PVC, which is considered one of the most poisonous materials on earth... but it's true. I love this planet, and I want it to be inhabitable for as long as the sun is in this phase of its life.

News: Build Your Own Van De Graaff Generator

I know, I know, I've already posted one of these. Sorry, but this one's cooler than the last, so I had to put it up. This also has a great in-depth tutorial that shows exactly what to do and why you do it. There are photos for every step of the process, so you can actually make this one without too much head scratching.

How To: Make a 4-Element Table with PVC Pipe

Now, I know what you're thinking... "I need an extra sexy coffee table that is like no other."

News: DIY Star Trek Mailbox Made with PVC

This is definitely the work of a Trekkie.

News: PVC Pipe can Change the way we live, and here's one way.

If you haven't had a pile of pipe and fittings to play with before, it's hard to see what is so cool about a plain, plastic pipe. All it does in the house is carry the poop away. Really, who cares?

News: The Amazing PVC Pipe Music of Kent Jenkins (aka Snubby J)

There's a ton of videos on the web of musicians playing homemade PVC instruments, but I just recently stumbled upon the impressive work of PVC pipe player Kent Jenkins, aka Snubby J. His most recent video features a duet with his faux-twin, playing "Wizards in Winter" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Turns out, he's been a PVC maestro for awhile now and even auditioned for his inspiration, the Blue Man Group, at the age of seventeen. Though he wasn't picked, they saw potential in him and aske...

News: Costume Making Taken to the Extreme

This link drops into a middle page, but this guy has step by step photos of the whole process.

News: I Hope This Doesn't Catch On...

A DIY car laptop mount that uses the cup holder... You think texting and driving is bad, wait until it's true multitasking and driving. Ouch.

News: Low-Cost DIY Hydroponics Systems

Not all of these involve PVC, but the majority do, and they all have their merits.

How To: Make a Human Blockade Lockbox

I'll admit it, yes, I support protesting. It doesn't matter what my opinions are about any individual protest—overall, it is a human right and the only way to avoid tyranny. We can't deify Ghandi and demonize American protesters. That shows a silly shortsightedness that we can't afford to dabble in.

News: The Monster Tubulum

There's been a proliferation of pitched PVC xylophones in recent times, but a lot of them end up being somewhat cumbersome when it comes to actually get good sound quality. This guy has come up with the solution by making strange drum skins over the ends of the pipes. The result is a super cool sound coming out of a ridiculously cool-looking instrument.

How To: Make a Self-Watering Greenhouse

I've been hell-bent on complete self sufficiency for a long time now. There was a point where I was living in a self-sustaining community in the mountains in Colorado, and we had a very large greenhouse there. Dragging the hose around to water plants was a real pain, and that stuck in the back of my mind even after I left the place. It would have been much easier to integrate watering into the frame at construction time than doing that hose dance every day.

News: PVC Pipe Easel - Self Explanatory

There's no how-to here, but I think anyone can figure this out. Great idea. I will probably make one for myself.

News: Re-Recyclable PVC Landscape

The P.S. 1 Young Architects Program design competition is always an amazing event. Recently, an architectural firm called Bjarke Ingels Group made this showing at the P.S.1.

News: PVC Pipe Prosthetics

This is pretty cool here. They're using PVC pipe to make new legs and feet for amputees. Instead of paying thousands of dollars, an amputee can now get a new limb for $25.

News: The Toot-O-Phone - PVC Pocket Sax

This is the bastard love child of a clarinet and a saxophone. And it shows you how to make them.

News: Hey, I'm Not the Only One!

Not only am I not the only one, but I'm not the only one saying I'm not the only one!

How To: Create a Manual Camera Lens with PVC Pipe

DIY Photography has an interesting tutorial on creating a focusing mechanism/lens for around $4. Combine two PVC pipes of different radiuses with a magnifying glass. Cool project.

How To: Build a Redneck Kayak Out of PVC and Duct Tape

The thing about building your own stuff is that it's incredibly satisfying. There's just something about taking the time and dedication to construct something beautiful out of virtually nothing but the necessities.

MacGyver Would Be Proud: DIY Canoe from PVC Pipe, Duct Tape and Plastic

What would MacGyver do if he was stranded on a trash dump in the middle of the ocean? If he had the right supplies, chances are he'd come up with something very similar to this PVC and duct tape boat. C'mon, we all know MacGyver always has duct tape on him!

News: Theo Jansen Again...

I know, I know, you've probably seen entries about Theo Jansen's Strandbeests here before, but this goes straight to his url and has the smoothest video I've seen of them yet.

News: PVC Skein Winder

This goes through to a how-to on how to make a skein winder. For the uninitiated, a skein is the default unit of thread, and it's that windy log that yarn comes in as well. With this snappy tool, you can wind your own skeins as well. If you combine that with the newspaper into yarn concept, you can make your own yarn and wind your own skeins when you're done.

News: Organic Structures, PVC and Powder Printing, and Architecture

I've had a few short chances to see 3d printing in action, namely at the World Maker Faire in New York this year, and I have to say, the technology is very interesting.

Build Outdoor Monster Props: Tutorial

It's a little late for Halloween, but I'm thinking about making a creepy lawn ornament for the Holidays. Nothing says Christmas cheer like something a little weird.

News: The Eight Element Table

This is a sort of supplement to the Four-Element Table, with the additional four legs added for stability. The pipes are squished flat at the ends and riveted on, allowing this table to bear a much heavier load without compromising style.

News: PVC Pipe Pedal-Powered Porsche

Now how's that for alliteration? WOO! Anyway, this has already made the rounds, but if you haven't seen it yet, check this out. When you take a low-slung four wheel bike frame, a crap load of PVC pipe, miles of duct tape and about 1,000 hours, you, too can drive a Porsche without the high insurance payments.