PVC Innovation Features

News: DIY Star Trek Mailbox Made with PVC

This is definitely the work of a Trekkie.

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.

News: Do-It-Yourself Foam Dart Guns - Really Nice

This guy is serious about home made dart guns. He's got some cool ones on here.

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: The Cryptex - Combination Safe Made from PVC Pipe

This guy has figured out a really cool way to make a personal combination safe from PVC pipe. This is the ultimate stash box, and it can be scaled up or down to a variety of sizes.

News: PVC Pipe Picture Frame - Super Easy

This lady has a simple, easy to follow how-to for making cool PVC picture frames.

News: Helical Stand

This one's freakin' snappy. I'll post a how-to for at least one of these once I have the time.

News: PVC Pipe Camp Chairs For Kids

These are cool!

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: PVC Shallow Well Pump

PVC can literally be a life saver in the developing world, as well as in the wake of a disaster. This little article is a picture of innovation after a disaster in the developing world, and it is a perfect example of the simple ways we can do good for each other.

News: DIY Finderscopes For Telescopes - Very Cool

This is actually a forum page, but they're discussing making you own finder scopes and medium power telescopes. There's a lot of information here.

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: 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.

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.

The Tabletop Demonstrator: A PVC Filmmaking Contraption

This video shows how to make a camera setup for filming what you're doing on a table. It's a great video even if you don't intend to make one, but if you're trying to teach someone how to do something, this is an awesome setup. Either way, it's entertaining to watch. The creator, Paco Warabi, says:

News: Another Crazy DIY Squirt Gun

It's fun to be an adult and play with kids, but this guy is amost crazy. Almost..

News: PVC Pipe Wine Bottle Holder

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: DIY Rock Ledge for Shark Tank

This guy shows how he made a hidey hole for his sharks in a 300 gallon aquarium. Very cool.

News: PVC Pipe Trellis for Gourds

This is a vine trellis made using bent PVC Pipe.

News: Bird Art for the Garden

Today, I'm on an art kick, and sadly (happily) I'm finding things that are cooler than the things I make. I love seeing waste turned into art!

News: Overhead Camera Boom Made with PVC Pipe

Overhead camera boom made with PVC pipe, from Dino at Hack a Week:

News: Triple Helix Table

Here's a nice example of some snappy furniture that I've made with PVC.

News: Thrifty and Chic - PVC Pipe Mirror Frames

This is very similar to the PVC picture frame, but it's interesting enough to post it as well. I like circley [sic] patterns, and this little idea fits into that beautifully. This one also contains a better how-to than the picture frame article, so if you liked that concept but found her instructions a little hard to follow, this one is right up your alley.

News: Captive Tinkerer vs. PVC Pipes

These guys always make cool things, and when you give them a stack of PVC pipe, it is no exception. There's a rough how-to here that shows concepts without walking you through the actual projects they made. Very cool stuff.

News: Make a Robot Witch Stirring a Hanging Cauldron

Halloween is getting close. I'll try not to be too gratuitous with this, but I love it. This article shows how to set up an animated framework that you can drape with your own costume to make a unique lawn ornament.

News: The FLURB - An Amazing PVC Pipe Instrument

With about ten bucks and some imagination, you can make some cool stuff.

Theo Jansen: The Art of Creating Creatures (with PVC)

Theo Jansen is really cool. If you dig around in the corkboard here, you can find another video about him. He makes amazing kinetic sculptures from PVC pipe, and has a wonderful artistic point of view. I just discovered this old TEDTalks podcast via Taylor Browning's site. Fantastic stuff, check it out:

News: Animusic Pipe Dream

This is amazing. The machine may not exist now, but someone needs to do this.

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: Super Powered Water Blaster

I really like home made squirt guns, and some of these people go completely nuts in their designs. Here's another.

News: Great Discussion on Finishing PVC

This forum has a discussion about painting PVC that has some opinions from very accomplished people, including Volpin Props. They go over primers, adhesion promoters, sanding and more, and if you see these people's work, they are the go-to guys for informed ideas on this subject.

News: Billboard Earthbag Project

This project is intended to reuse PVC that makes up the images on billboards and make them into houses for disaster and poverty stricken people. While the images are definitely cg mockups, the concept is awesome. I've personally been working on disaster relief shelters, but my concepts all involve using fresh PVC pipe. These guys have taken it a step further by taking vinyl sign material that is headed for landfills and recycling it into homes.

News: Six-Foot Coat Rack

HA HA HA! Get it? Six feet! And six feet! HA HA HA HA HA!

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: Robotic Unmanned Submarine

This is what happens when grad students start playing with PVC pipe. This stuff is really cool for prototype robotics applications. This article is a how-we-did-it as opposed to a how-to, but if you've got all of the crazy instrumentation and software that they do, you can start to play on levels that a lot of us (myself included) can't even imagine.