DIY Drawing Charcol

     We went camping up in Big Sur this Thanksgiving with a friend of ours. While we were planning our trip someone suggested, stocking up on drawing charcoal for our Monday life drawing sessions. Then someone else suggested making our own charcoal while we were camping. I said, why not after all it sounded like a very efficient plan. Besides, if you have ever been to the art store to purchase a box of vine charcoal you know what I'm talking about when I say, it's @#$!'s expensive. Well, the good news is that it's actually pretty damn easy to make. It's so easy in fact, we were able to make while we slept. Here's how we did it!

Tools & Materials 

1.)__________________Knife

2.)____Campfire / Barbeque

3.)_______ Twigs / branches

4.)________________Tin foil

5.)_____________Hot ember

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     First off you'll want to gather enough twigs and branches to make your charcoal. You'll have to experiment with different types of branches to get the right hardness. We used pine branches because it was all that was available.

     Use your knife to whittle away any bark and make sure there aren't to many knots before you move on. Next, break them down to size and put them bundles of three or four. Wrap them tightly with one layer of heavy duty tin foil. It is important to make sure there are no holes in the foil and that the bundles are well sealed.

     The last step is to set them on top of the hot embers(but not in the fire)for up to five hours. We put our bundles in the fire before we called it a night. Once the fire died down we placed the bundles in the pit and hit the hey. The next morning we pulled them out of the ashes, unwrapped them and BAM! DIY drawing charcoal! It might take some playing around before you find the right balance between the wood and the heat but is worth it in the end. So, if you're anything like we are, then you're nuts and if you're nuts then the next time you decide to go camping or to have a barbaque remember. DIY vine charcoal! It's just that easy!

DIY Camera JIB Project - Building the Structure Part 1

INSPIRATION.

    This is one of those projects I've always wanted to do but never had the time or space. The inspiration to actually go ahead and build the jib came from my friend Oscar Arroyo. We were talking about designing camera rigs and he suggested building something large and mechanical. We immediately started researching other DIY Jibs and sketching out our own ideas. Shortly there after we had a solid blueprint and a plan plan to move forward.

SO IT BEGINS!

    I knew from the very beginning that I would need to call in the help of some experts for professional guidance. The first person I called was my good friend Dave T. Offner, Master-Builder I showed him my sketches and together we gathered all the parts and began building the main structure. Here are the materials we used to get started:

Tools & Materials:

1''x1''x16' aluminum square rod (1/4'' thickness)

3/4''x3/4''x3' aluminum square rod

2 gears with 16' chain (bicycle gears, ect.)

2 1''x1''x2' aluminum right angle rods

4 L-brackets

1/4''x3'' bolts with matching hex-nuts and washers

1 Lazy Susan

1/4'' woodscrews flat

2'x2'x3/4'' plywood sheet

1/4'' drill bit

Electric screwdriver

Drillpress with metal drilling bits

Wrench

Miter saw with metal cutting blade

C-clamps 

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BUILDING THE BASE!

    Cut one 1'x1'x3/4''piece and one 8''x8''x3/4'' piece from your plywood sheet(fig.1b). Center the Lazy Susan on the 8''x8'' sheet(fig.2b) and use the 1/4'' wood screws to fasten it down(fig.3b). Turn it over and place it on top of the 1'x1' sheet and screw the Lazy Susan down(fig.4b)

(fig.1b)

(fig.2b)

 
(fig.3b)
 

(fig.4b)

CONSTRUCTING THE BOOM!  

    Cut the 1'x1'x16' aluminum square pipe in half. C-clamp the two 8' pieces together side by side and drill 1/4'' holes on both ends of the rod(fig.1a). Cut the 2 1''x1''x2' aluminum right angle rods into four 1' pieces(fig.1b). Place the 1' aluminum right angle rods back to back in pairs and C-Clamp them together. Drill a 1/4'' hole 1'' from the top on both pairs and another set of holes 3'' up from the bottoms(fig.1c). Hammer the 3/4''x3/4''x3' aluminum square rod into one end of an 8' rod and bolt all of the pieces together. 

(fig.1a)

(fig.1b)

 

(fig.1c)

 

To be continued...