Making a Waterfall Countertop with LED River Inlay || DIY Concrete (GFRC) || Mancave Makeover Ep. 1

New build video is up on my YouTube channel.  This video explains how to make a one-piece DIY concrete waterfall countertop with an inlaid river of flowing LEDs that cascades over the waterfall edge (using neopixel LED strips).   

This is the first of two videos for a mancave makeover at a friend's house.  Part 2 will be uploaded within the next week, and will show how to make and install a reclaimed wood feature wall with floating LED TV panel, and the installation of the cabinets.

The countertop is made from a glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) concrete mix, which is pre-cast in a melamine form.  I made the mix from scratch (recipe links are below).  I mixed 280 lbs of the dry materials (including powdered pigment) all at once, so the color would be consistent.  I used 40 lbs for the face coat, and the remaining in batches for the back coat with glass fibers.

I used an off-the-shelf LED controller that has MUSIC REACTIVE modes, chasing modes, and solid color modes, with an RF remote, to control the WS2812 LED strips.  The LEDs are covered by a smoke grey transparent acrylic sheet, which is inlaid so it sits flush with the concrete countertop.

MM-Inspired Build - Chris Gagnon's DIY Pendant Double-Ring Light

Chris Gagnon shared a video documenting the build process for a double ring light, which he indicates was inspired by Rings of Saturn light.  I think it came out pretty cool - well done Chris!

Here is what Chris said about the project: 

“I wanted to put my own twist on it by using segmentation. I have always been interested in wood segmentation and the projects that you can make with it. This project is inexpensive and requires very little tools. All your friends will be so impressed when you start making things using this new skill you are gonna learn here. One thing I want you to take away from this video is that you don’t need to spend hours building a fancy jig for your table saw to do perfect segmentation projects and I am going to show you how right now. so lets get started.”

And, in case you haven't seen it, check out the original video for my Rings of Saturn light.

How to Turn Concrete into MARBLE -- new Table Build Video is Up!

New Build video is up! In this video I show how to make a DIY concrete coffee table top look like marble.  The top is made using Fishstone’s glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) ready-made concrete mix, which is pre-cast in a melamine form.  I separated out batches of different colored concrete (from white to dark grey), mixed them together in the form, and then swirled them together by hand to get the marble-like appearance.

I also used an ancient Japanese technique called “Shou Sugi Ban” to make the base for the coffee table.  I used a modernized version of shou sugi ban, employing a propane torch to char the outside of the wood.  The charred wood is natural way of protecting the rest of the wood, and when finished with a penetrating oil, such as Danish oil, provides a durable surface.  This technique works well on any open-grained wood, such as Douglas fir, pine, and cedar.  I used inexpensive 4x4 Douglas fir lumber from my local big box store.  

CONCRETE (GFRC) PRODUCTS USED: 

• Two bags of Pre-Blended GFRC Mix: https://goo.gl/izSggQ
• 1.5 Bag of AR Glass Fibers: https://goo.gl/c9Vw9x
• Cake Fondant Tool for perfect edges: http://amzn.to/2w0JCVx
• Concrete mixer (HUGE help for GFRC): http://amzn.to/2kEnZFi
• StoneTech concrete sealer: http://amzn.to/2gSrjyp
• Another concrete sealer I like: http://amzn.to/2xW7Gth
• Black 100% Silicone Caulk: http://amzn.to/2B64iRY
• Paste Finishing Wax: http://amzn.to/2kF565e
• Concrete Pigment: http://amzn.to/2yPo51P

WOOD

 - Three (3) 8 ft. 4x4s -- Douglas Fir, Cedar, or Pine
 - 3/4" Dowels: http://amzn.to/2yTWrkl

OTHER PRODUCTS USED IN VIDEO:

- Propane Torch: http://amzn.to/2yQbtaV
- Danish Oil: http://amzn.to/2yRhlAw
- RZ dust mask: http://amzn.to/2wM8F1t
- Diamond Grinding Wheel (for grinding underside of table): http://amzn.to/2yRL6RY
- Forstner Bit Set: http://amzn.to/2yQAoej
- Tack Life Level: http://amzn.to/2yQhYuk
- Kreg Pocket Hole Jig: http://amzn.to/2kCvlsW
- Herzo Dust Shround for Angle Grinder: http://amzn.to/2yPymLr
- 

TOOLS I USE:

- Tack Life Angle Grinder: http://amzn.to/2B6fwWG
- Bosch 18V cordless circular saw: http://amzn.to/2wcDgnN
- Bosch 18V cordless Drill & Impact Driver Kit: http://amzn.to/2BCI753
- Dewalt Table Saw w/ 32” Rip Capacity: http://amzn.to/2yQd2Fy
- Japanese Flush Cut Hand Saw: http://amzn.to/2yRa1Fd
- Dewalt 12” Miter Saw: http://amzn.to/2yQRgS6

Bluetooth Speaker Build Featured on Adafruit, Arduino.cc, and Maker Update

The Bluetooth LED speaker build was a passion project for me, so I'm excited to see it getting some positive press.

Check out a great overview of the project on Maker Update's weekly maker news show, where it was the project of the week:

The speaker was also feature on Adafruit's blog and Arduino.cc

Adafruit link

Arduino.cc link 

I also uploaded a full written Instructable which has more details on the project that weren't in the video.

Instructable link

Lastly, if you haven't watched the video itself yet, what are you waiting for?  It is my favorite project yet, so I hope you like it!

NEW BUILD VIDEO -- DIY Bluetooth Speaker w/ Reactive LED Matrix

My new build video is up -- check it out!

In this video, I show how I designed and built a Bluetooth Speaker with an integrated LED matrix. The LED matrix includes a number of different visualization modes, including a fireplace mode, an abstract “moving art” mode, and several that react to the music via a microphone inside of the speaker box. I haven’t seen any other product designed for the home, which marries sight and sound in this way.

The idea for this project came about in a somewhat unorthodox way. I wanted to build something for several friends expecting newborns. I wanted a gift that would help their children develop neurologically, and a gift that they wouldn’t outgrow. Having done a number of LED projects, and having some woodworking experience, I came up with the idea to integrate an audio-reactive LED matrix in a Bluetooth speaker.

The speaker box involved a fair amount of woodworking. The outside of the box is made from rough curly maple lumber, which I milled to 3/4". The front and back panels are made from MDF. The finish of the curly maple was inspired by electric guitar finishes, like those seen on some of my favorite Paul Reed Smith guitars.

Internally, I am using a 2x15w Dayton Audio bluetooth amplifier board for the audio, and an Arduino Mega to control 16x16 LED matrix (WS2812 LEDs). A small electret microphone inside of the speaker box detects the music that is playing, and provides a signal the Arduino can use to create reactive display on the LEDs.

The design also allows for mechanical adjustment to entirely change the look of the LED matrix; from pixelated to abstract. I am particularly proud of this feature, as I haven’t seen it anywhere else before, and the effect is very cool (it is shown towards the end of the video). The LED matrix is mounted to a baffle behind the white semi-transparent acrylic diffuser, and by twisting a thumb screw on the back of the speaker, you can move the LED baffle towards or away from the diffuser. The thumb screw thus allows you to go from a pixelated display (where individual LEDs are visible), to an abstract display, where the LEDs blur together to form moving art, with an almost 3D-like effect.

MM-inspired Concrete and Live-Edge Inlay Charcuterie Board

The Cutting Bored just uploaded a video of their concrete and live-edge inlay charcuterie board.  (I'm trying to resist saying its a cutting board by the Cutting Bored :) ) The video indicates this board was inspired by my live-edge table build video, but this is really a unique twist on the design.  They used inexpensive materials and still got a great looking result.  

Generally, The Cutting Bored has a great YouTube channel going, so check out the rest of their videos as well, and show some love by subscribing.

For those that missed it, here is the original live-edge white concrete table that the Cutting Bored references in their video.

New Build Video -- DIY Cantilevered Live-Edge Table w/ White Concrete Base

I created this cantilevered coffee table from a live-edge spalted maple slab and concrete.  The angled concrete post was formed by slicing two sections from a standard 12" concrete form tube with a 15 degree angle, attaching these sections to the live edge slab, and pouring the concrete through the slab to form a solid post base extending through the table top.   To cut the 12” concrete forming tube at a 15 degree angle, I created a 12” miter box from scrap plywood.

I again used a white glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) concrete mix, and this time, poured in the face coat for the table surface.  For the backer mix, I used plasticizer to make a self-consolidating (SCC) type of GFRC. 

Pre-Blended GFRC Mix: http://www.concretecountertopsupply.com/Item/GFRC_Bag_Mix

AR Glass Fibers: http://www.buddyrhodes.com/alkali-resistant-ar-glass-fiber/

Recipes to make your own GFRC: http://www.concretecountertopsupply.com/index.php?app=cms&ns=display&ref=GFRC_Mix_from_scratch

Other Tools Used in the Build

1.5” Bottom-cleaning router bit: http://amzn.to/2wlNNeE
Cake Fondant Tool for perfect caulk lines: http://amzn.to/2w0JCVx
Diamond Polishing Pads: http://amzn.to/2gmxUkt
Concrete Forming Tube: http://amzn.to/2wlNelc
Japanese Razor Saw:  http://amzn.to/2wPHdQU
18” double edge saw: http://amzn.to/2wfnNDy
Waterlox Finish: http://amzn.to/2wlUgWY
Quality, but reasonably priced, concrete mixer: http://amzn.to/2wcC6bZ
Bosch circular saw: http://amzn.to/2wcDgnN
Dewalt Table Saw (32.5” rip capacity): http://amzn.to/2vH2pTY
Bosch drill and impact driver: http://amzn.to/2wQ2OZk
Dewalt Router: http://amzn.to/2wlFoYI

To see what I'm working on before build videos are posted, follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modustrialmaker/?hl=en

Also, check out my Modustrial Maker website and subscribe to its RSS feed.  I will be updating the website to include photos and details of past projects that were completed before I started documenting my work with video for this channel, as well as supplemental content on current and future projects.

Music: Something Elated by Broke For Free, used under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license (CC BY 3.0 US)

NEW BUILD VIDEO IS UP! DIY White Concrete (GFRC) Table with Live-Edge Maple Inlay

I just posted the build video for my white concrete table with live-edge inlay.  I really like how this project came out -- very simple and modern.  I will be updating my Modustrial Maker website with more details and plans soon.

DIY "Rings of Saturn" LED Pendant Light w/ Music Visualization Mode

I made this LED pendant light from plywood, LED strips, and flexible LED channel.  Since I designed this for my living room, the music syncing had to be incognito.  With this in mind, I used warm white / cool white / amber LED strips, instead of RGB strips.  In solid white mode, the rings give off various shades of white for a sophisticated modern look that hides the wild side when you switch the light to music visualizer mode.

The build is fairly simple.  Each of the two rings is made of a stack of three plywood rings, where the middle ring has a lesser radius to create a groove for the LEDs.  The rings are simple to cut using a circle cutting jig and router.  While I programmed an Arduino Mega to do music visualization based on input from a microphone, you can very easily buy an off-the-shelf music controller for individually controllable LEDs, which is basically plug n’ play for the LED strips.