Category Archives: Building things

I’m building a new shop!

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Brian Lawler

I have had a fabulous workshop in my friend Jim’s barn for the past 18 years. It’s the best workshop on earth, and I have enjoyed making things there. It has all of my tools in it, and it has … Continue reading →

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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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Getting ready for Burning Man 2024

Posted on April 18, 2024 by Brian Lawler

This is part 1 of a 3-part post on machining aluminum parts for a bicycle. Click here to read Part 2. I have a gorgeous Superstrata electric-assist gravel bike. I bought it a couple of years ago (actually four years … 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 →

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A long visit to the DMV
and traveling to Burning Man

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Brian Lawler

This is Part 4 of a series of stories about designing and building a trailer to hold a generator for Burning Man. To read the previous story, please click here. I had the trailer, minus its load, ready to be … Continue reading →

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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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Adirondack chairs – delivered!

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Brian Lawler

You can read the previous chapter of this story here. Late last year I decided to make a couple of Adirondack chairs for our upstairs balcony. These were designed to replace two chairs that we bought at a garden store. … Continue reading →

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Chair-man of the board

Posted on April 26, 2023 by Brian Lawler

This is part 2 of a series on my new Adirondack chairs. Click here to read the first part. After a month in the kiln, I picked up my Monterey Cypress lumber at the mill in Paso Robles and drove … Continue reading →

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