Tag Archives: maker

MAKING THINGS

Boba Fett Cosplay: My First Build for Myself

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I have made props for display and costumes for others for a while. I always enjoyed going to comic cons and renaissance faires, but I had never dressed up. I planned on it many times, but something always got in the way. When I watched Season 2 of The Mandalorian, I knew what my first build would be. Boba Fett.

Not the Fett we are looking for

When we first saw Boba’s armor, it looked awesome. I was sold. The only problem, it wasn’t Boba. As we soon found out, it was Cobb Vanth. A few episodes later, Boba shows up draped in black and more vicious than ever. Where Din Djarin was the finesse fighter, Boba was the sledgehammer. Before long he had donned his armor once again and he did not disappoint. I revisited my previous plan and now had my sights set on the REAL Boba. His armor was damaged. Most of the paint had been eaten away by the acid of the Sarlacc pit and whatever events it had been through since we last saw it almost 40 years ago.

The return of Boba Fett and the reuniting of him with his armor.
https://media.comicbook.com/2020/12/star-wars-the-mandalorian-season-2-boba-fett-1248448.jpeg

Boba so fresh and so clean, clean

A few weeks later, and another episode comes out. The ramp of Slave 1 is down and we hear Bill Burr rambling as he does from time to time. Boba comes walking down the ramp, flanked by Fennec Shand. His armor is completely repainted and looking amazing. The yellow kill stripes were replaced with red ones. The original grey flak vest, now black and black robe-like garments take the place of the original flight suit. I was blown away.

Boba Fett comes down the ramp of Slave 1 and we get the first glimpse of his new repainted look.
https://www.bobafettfanclub.com/costume/images/variant-themandalorian-repaint.jpg

Each time I had seen him, I thought he looked awesome and there was no way he could look more awesome, but then time after time I was proven wrong. This was it, “Boba Fresh” was to be my first cosplay build.

Setting a goal and getting started

I spent my time doing research on the armor and how it was supposed to look. I watched YouTube videos of scenes from the Mandalorian where the Boba Fett could be seen in action, took screenshots, and hunted down every reference image I could find to help me understand how to make this all come together. My goal, be ready for Comicpalooza 2021 in Houston. Now I can’t tell you how this story ends, because we haven’t made it there yet. I did intend to do my best to document the making of this costume to aid others who want to go down this path in the future, and I still do.

https://youtu.be/l_OCHjazMs4
Not sure how many times I watched this video.

I originally intended to document my process as I did it. I forgot that it about doubles how long it takes to actually do something. With Comicpalooza fast approaching, about 3 weeks away as of the writing of this post, I knew a complete account of the process was not going to happen. I am doing my best to take some photos and make updates on my social media, but an in-depth look at the process, no way.

Turning my failures into your successes

So I have decided it will be a retrospective. I will go back and look at each part of the process and put together guides on sourcing and making each part, compile my lessons learned, and talk through the tough points. I’ll include links to the products I found to work and plan to make videos showcasing and walking through the techniques I used.

I imagine there will be more people looking to recreate this look in the near future especially with The Book of Boba Fett coming out this fall. Hopefully, my series on how I brought him to life will be of assistance to those who decide to go down this same path.

‘Til next time, stay awesome,

Pete

RESOURCES

seven rules for tools

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1.      Power tools just allow you to do something faster, not something new. .

  • They are not a requirement; they just speed up the process. There are exceptions, but this is generally true
  • The main thing here is to not let yourself be limited by tools you don’t have
  • Hand tools may not be ideal, but you can accomplish a lot with some patience and a good set of hand tools

2.      The more expensive the tool, the higher the quality, accuracy, and/or capacity.

  • Ensure you know which ones you are paying for, and it meets your needs.
  • A larger lower quality tool and a smaller higher quality tool can cost the same amount. Make sure you are spending the money where it matters to you
  • Bigger is not always better but is almost always more expensive.

3.      A tool you need once is not a tool you need to buy.

  • These will take funds away from tools you will get regular use out of and clutter your workspace. Borrow, rent, or pay someone else to do it for you
  • Space, time, and money are all limited resources for us makers. A tool you spend money on is one you have to store and make space for. Ensure it actually saves you enough time to make it worth it
  • Jointers are one of the main tools that fit this category. A lot of people buy a jointer for one project and never touch it again. If that is you, buy planed lumber or find someone to do it on those rare occasions you need it. This example applies to multiple tools

4.      When it comes to cordless, loyalty is the word.

  • Mixing and matching brands reduce efficiency and are not cost or space effectively. Sticking with one brand allows the sharing of batteries and chargers, which reduces how many you need to own. It also allows for buying “tool only” items which are generally less expensive
  • Look into the different tool brand offerings. Figure out which brand fits your needs and commit
  • In addition to not having to charge and store multiple types of batteries, you will have to carry less with you to your work. When building my closet I needed multiple tools: a drill/driver, nail gun, vacuum, multi-tool, and a reciprocating saw. I took all of those tools and two batteries. I ended up only needing one

5.      Take care of your tools and they will take care of you.

  • This sounds cliché, but it is the truth. This means performing periodic maintenance as directed by the manufacturer, storing them properly, and using them as designed
  • Familiarize yourself with what your tools need to stay in tip-top shape and keep up with it. Also, keep those items on hand.
  • This includes replacing and sharpening blades. A new blade can bring a saw back to life. It will also allow you to get more miles out of your saws

6.      Modify and customize.

  • Building stations and improvements that help tools improve can be like getting a whole new tool
  • A crosscut sled for your table saw or putting your miter saw into a station can greatly improve tool efficiency
  • There are also a ton of jigs with various purposes that can increase your capabilities and output

7.      The most important tool is you!

  • It is the absolute truth, and you should protect yourself as such
  • This means using the proper PPE. A split-second incident can be life-changing, protect yourself before you wreck yourself
  • Safety glasses, gloves, close-toed shoes, and push blocks are a good start
  • Lastly, while knowing what to wear is part of it, knowing what not to wear is just as much a part of it. While long-sleeve, loose-fitting clothing and gloves are great while putting in insulation, you would want to avoid those when working with a drill press or other rotating equipment that could suck them in

Hopefully, these 7 rules help to build and maintain your tool collection. Keep in mind that any tool you can enhance to improve production or maintain to extend its life, is one less too you have to replace. Those are dollars that can go toward new tools and projects!

Keep making and stay awesome,

Pete

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The best tool you aren’t using

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Or maybe you are. The tool I am talking about is the 3d printer. Load a file, produce an item. Well, there is more to it than that, but that is the basic idea. The 3d printer is still somewhat in its infancy and it is evolving at a crazy rate. There is a learning curve with 3d printing, I am still learning it all myself. The key is to not be intimidated and keep educating yourself as these things are not going anywhere. Soon, we could be getting files from manufacturers to print replacement parts for their products rather than waiting on them to mail a replacement out, we are not quite there yet though. 3d printing offers us the ability to design and produce items tailor-made for our applications, prototype our creations, and reproduce things with relatively little cost and effort. This isn’t intended to be an exhaustive review of 3d printing, but just a brief and simplified overview, we will get into more specifics in later posts.

As far as the printers go, there are a ton of options. You can build your own, buy a kit and assemble it yourself, or get one that is almost ready to print straight out of the box. There are other options like services that will assemble kits and install upgrades, but I am getting into the weeds. Price pretty much scales with the size each printer is capable of printing within the printer types. Currently, at the consumer level, there are two main types: FDM and Resin. Without getting too technical, FDM melts plastic filament and builds it up layer by layer. Resin printers (for which there are many different types, most commonly DLP and SLA) dip a plate into liquid resin and cure a layer with a specific method, and it repeats this for each layer. There are other types, but these are the most common and for this post, we will focus on these.

FDM printers are generally less expensive relative to the size of the build area. There are many different materials to choose from, each with its own properties, applications, and settings required to use. PLA and ABS are two common materials and they generally come in 1kg spools of various colors. Resin printers have a higher resolution and can capture greater detail. The resin comes in 1L bottles and is available in various colors and levels of transparency.

The instructions for the print are generated from models and converted to a tool path in the form of code the printers can understand. If you are capable of drawing your own models, then you are ahead of the curve. If not, then there are tons of sites and creators providing free files online. Some groups and artists sell files or can be hired to create custom files. The cost of files depends on the complexity and time invested. For getting started and learning the ropes, the free files are great.

A big part of printing is breaking up the file, or slicing, it so the tool path or code can be generated. Orientation is a big part of this and will differ based on the media used to print and the purpose of the print. For example, if the printed part will be under stress and will be printed on an FDM printer, you would want the force to be applied perpendicularly to the layer lines if possible. Think of wood and the layers being grain. Depending on the size of your print bed and the orientation of the print, your model will commonly have to be broken up into multiple pieces and print sessions to be assembled after printing. My first printer had a build area of only 9” x 6” and I have been able to print some pretty large models.

I know this has been a quick, very high-level introduction to the 3d printing process, but it was only meant to dip our toes in the water and see that it should not be intimidating. It should be looked at as just another tool in our toolbox. There is far more to 3d printing. We will explore the aspects of 3d printing and take an even deeper look at those in future posts. Until then, stay awesome and keep making!

Pete

RESOURCES

Six great tool sources for makers getting started

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I shared one of my favorite sayings in my last post, and it applies to this one as well. The source for a particular tool will depend on your priorities (good, fast, or cheap), and remember you get to pick two in most cases.  Each of these has its advantages and trade-offs. Identifying those will help guide you as to where the best place is to hunt down some new tools. For instance, I am currently on the hunt for a stand-up drill press. I currently have a benchtop drill press, so I don’t HAVE TO have it right now, as in I don’t need it fast. This allows me to focus on good and cheap. Good and cheap will lead me to used sources like pawnshops, estate sales, and craigslist. I can take my time and get the best deal on the best tool I can find. Below are six of my favorite sources I use to acquire my tools.

Family and Friends are the ones we turn to when we need help, why would it be any different with tools?

My go-to source, first and foremost, is family and friends. Most of us have more than we need.  We have stuff we bought, used once, o never used, and it went to the back of the closet.  Tools are one of the items that fall into this category, and it applies even more to specialty tols.  People get inspired, buy all the tools, and jump into a project or new hobby only to lose interest for one reason or another.  A lot of those tools go to storage and are never thought of again

I talk to my family and friends about projects I’m working on all the time.  I’ll mention that I’m looking for a specific tool or tools in general. Fairly often they volunteer information about unused tools they are aware of. They say something to the effect of, “I think I have one of those in the garage I don’t use” or “<insert husband/wife/son/daughter/friend’s> name bought one of those years ago and never uses it, you should ask them about it.” Offer to buy it. Sometimes they will give it to you and be happy just to help you out.  It also helps them because they are happy to see the item go, get rid of some clutter, and free up some space. Even if they want to sell it, it will most likely be substantially less than what you would pay for it from other sources.

Talk to other makers. Makers have the best tools!

For specialty tools, you might look to other makers. Makers are constantly buying and upgrading tools.  Upgrading tools is like an addiction!  Some of us just must have the most up to date model or newest gadget. I’m guilty of this occasionally–it happens!  Those perfectly good older models of tools or items that have been replaced end up on a shelf or in the back of a drawer, and shop space is at a premium!  When I do a deep clean of the shop, I find tools that have a small issue or were replaced, and I just don’t use any more.  I generally offer them up to my friends and family because I just don’t feel like haggling with people on Craigslist, and because it helps my friends out!

Ask other makers that you know at local shops.  Maybe they have a tool with a small issue you can fix or live with.  A quick YouTube or Google search could surprise you at how easy it is to make certain tool repairs yourself!  Makers like to help out other makers generally speaking and this can also get a good dialogue going.

Retail store sales/coupons: it is a waiting game, but it can pay off, especially around the holidays

When you need to go retail, try to wait for a sale, the big box stores(Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc,) run good combo sales around Christmas time and other holidays.  Great deals can be found on battery packs, tool kits, and combos.  I generally buy at least one multipack of batteries for the brands I use every year.  With a lot of brands going tool only, this gives more flexibility to select the tools and batteries that are more geared towards your particular uses in an “a la carte” fashion.

Another thing the big box stores do during their Christmas sale is offer combo and bonus deals: “buy this 5-tool combo and select two of these other tools free” or some variation of this.  These offers give you more customization to your purchase, so you’re able to get what really works for you.

Discount stores (like Harbor Freight) may not be known for quality, but they can be a good source when you’re priority is to save money!  I buy from discount stores when I am not particularly concerned with quality or accuracy, and I want to spare my expensive tools.  Consumables like gloves, masks, drop cloths, etc. are other items that HF is a good source for.  They run ads regularly and have coupons to even further reduce the prices.  I can’t speak for a lot of the power tools and have heard mixed reviews.  It generally seems pretty hit or miss.  I do have friends that run their HF tools until they die, return them, and repeat.  It isn’t a bad option to start with on a budget and upgrade as you grow.

Pawnshops/thrift stores: Bad reputations. Good deals.

Probably the most intimidating source for buying tools is the pawnshop. pawnshops get a bad rap, maybe some of it is warranted. I worked at pawnshops for years and learned a ton which I’m happy to share.  First thing is that there are two types of shops and they are fairly different: Corporate stores (Cash America, EZPawn, etc) and then the local, privately-owned shops. I will tackle the differences between these two in a future post and give some tips.

Craigslist/Facebook Marketplace

Just because I don’t like selling things on Craigslist doesn’t mean I don’t like buying from there.  There is a lot of junk for sale on there, but there are also deals to be had. With the internet, people are generally aware of what things are worth.  Like pawnshops, product knowledge is your friend here.  You can run into some of the same issues where people overvalue their items, but what you want to find is where the seller NEEDS to get rid of the item.  Maybe they have a bill due, are trying to clean out the garage, or the item was a gift from an ex.  It doesn’t matter to you; they are looking for a quick sale and that does matter.  Just be smart about it.

Estate sales/Auctions/Liquidations

A lot of people that shop these do so with the intent of reselling items.  They generally have more resources to buy but must leave enough room to make a return on the item.  Since you are buying the item to use, you are most likely willing to pay more than the reseller.  Again, product knowledge is key.  Some of these will list the items with pictures online before the sale.  Get an idea of what items you are interested in and do your homework.  Familiarize yourself with what types of payments are accepted and show up early!

Be creative, be resourceful

The key to all of this tool hunting is the same as designing and completing projects. It is all about using your creativity, using the resources available to you, and a little bit of luck. I will expand on a few of these in a future post to give more tips and tricks on how to get the most out of them. Until then, stay awesome!

Pete

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SHOP TALK: my approach to setting up my workspace

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Hello makers!  I want to preface this with a funny little comment I like related to production and construction, “You can do it good, fast, or cheap, and you get to pick two.” While humorous, it is very accurate when you think about it. My point here is, if you don’t have the money for an awesome space or the best tools right now, you can still produce amazing products. In that case, you choose good and cheap, but not fast. My point is to not be discouraged by what is currently unavailable.

One of the main considerations when it comes to making things is a space to work in. When I first started making, it was in my yard and on my porch. It was doable and projects got finished, but it was slow, like half the speed of smell slow. The first hour was set up and the last hour was tear down. Between losing an hour on each end of my day and runs to the hardware store, it was tough sledding.

Looking at shop setup with growth in mind

Fast forward to today and I have a shop that is well on its way to becoming a dream workspace. While I doubt it will ever be actually finished, I think that is the point of a workshop. It should be ever-evolving. As you work in it more and more, your workflows evolve, you develop new skills and techniques, and acquire new tools. Maybe your direction changes. I just bought a few tools from a guy who was moving towards small, handcrafted projects and away from the large-scale cabinets and remodeling. Either way, the point is your shop is never complete, it should continually grow with you.

Two workspaces, one goal

Back to my shop. With the above in mind, I designed my shop to be flexible and grow with me. The cabinets and stations are all modular. They can be lifted off the walls and placed in different locations with the use of French cleats. I ran all the electrical in metal conduit to give me the flexibility to add to later and have set up a system to make the other utilities easily modifiable. I have plans to put multiple tools, that I do not use regularly, on flip-up carts that can easily be stored out the way. This shop is designed to handle anything that generates dust or debris. We are currently in the process of converting our garage into a second shop which will handle everything that does not generate debris, a clean shop.

The clean shop will also use the modular approach. The same style carts will be used but will have storage below instead of tools. The carts will be able to be connected to provide different configurations of workspaces based on project needs. We have three 3d printers, a vinyl cutter, and various other machines. Leatherwork, sewing, 3d printing, etc will be housed in this space. Eventually, we hope to add a laser, but we need to get it up and running first.

The idea is the two spaces will work together to produce some really cool projects. The flexibility will give us many more options when tackling a project or problem. Having the spaces separated should also save time by greatly reducing setup and teardown time. We will document the progress on the shops here and hopefully, our ideas will help inspire you.