Category Archives: Gadgets

The Smyth book sewing machine is an extraordinary device

Posted on March 4, 2025 by Brian Lawler

For over five years I have been working to restore a 1935 Smyth book sewing machine. You can read several posts on that topic here, mostly related to the mechanics of getting the machine running after a long dormancy, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bookbinding, Building things, Gadgets, Printing and Printing Processes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Linotype and Intertype catalogs

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Brian Lawler

In the previous post I described how I published these out-of-print booklets. These are links to the PDF versions of those publications. Please feel free to download them.

Posted in Gadgets, History, Printing and Printing Processes, Restoring antique printing machines, Technology, Typography | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Rack one up to success!

Posted on April 29, 2024 by Brian Lawler

This is the third of a three-part post. To read the first part, please click here. To read the second part, please click here. I finished the bike rack clamps yesterday. I drilled and tapped the holes that needed threading, … Continue reading →

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A small, but fatal error in part positioning

Posted on April 24, 2024 by Brian Lawler

In my last post I discussed making parts to hold a rack on the back of my Superstrata carbon-fiber bicycle. To read Part 3 of these posts, click here. I have been machining those parts, and it has been a … Continue reading →

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Turning my new lathe into a really nice lathe

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Brian Lawler

My plan was to write about some graphic arts subjects. I attended two terrific events related to printing recently, and I will write about my experiences – soon. But instead, I want to write about my new lathe. I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventures, Building things, Gadgets, Technology, Woodworking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A tale of trailer wiring

Posted on August 13, 2023 by Brian Lawler

This is Part 3 of a multi-part story about making a trailer for carrying a generator to Burning Man. To read the previous episode, please click here. The trailer is ready for licensing, so I have gathered the necessary paperwork, … Continue reading →

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Trailering the generator

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Brian Lawler

I left my detailed plans for the generator trailer with my friend Hank Van Gaale, who is the best welder in the universe. Then I flew to France, and went on to Switzerland and Germany for four weeks. While I … Continue reading →

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Designing and building a trailer for Burning Man

Posted on June 24, 2023 by Brian Lawler

I will be attending Burning Man again this year, my fifth. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021, and I was in Germany in 2022, so I have missed three years. I will be going out onto the Black … Continue reading →

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Dancing in the laser light fantastic

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Brian Lawler

This is part 2 of my article about building a fixed positioning laser on the CNC machine. To read the first part, click here. I had decided to make the final fixed laser with a bracket made of aluminum. In … Continue reading →

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Affixing a laser to the CNC machine

Posted on February 15, 2023 by Brian Lawler

My friend Bryn and I own a CNC router. We have had it for years, and it has undergone a couple of upgrades. It started life as a CNC Machine with a DeWalt router motor mounted on it, providing adequate, … Continue reading →

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