Author Archives: Mike And Lauren

DIY Powder Coating is CHEAP, FUN, and EASY! (Yeti Cup with Harbor Freight System)

Want a powder coated Yeti cup, but don’t want to pay $65 dollars? Get a Harbor Freight powder coating gun, a couple Ozark stainless steel cups and do it yourself instead!

We got the powder coating system on sale for $50 and bought a few cups from Wal-mart. The results were impressive. With absolutely no experience we created something that I wouldn’t hesitate to sell on Etsy. With a little practice you could become very proficient at this. Because the paint is so forgiving it’s a very good beginner DIY project too.

The powder coat gun we used (amazon affiliate):
https://amzn.to/2o8eoLH

The Laser Thermometer Gun I Used:
https://amzn.to/2pWlYWa

Model a WORKING Spring in Fusion 360! (ADVANCED TIP)

I wanted to model a working spring in Fusion 360 that you can compress and expand, but I couldn’t find any solutions online. I found a workaround that I haven’t seen anywhere else.

Basically you split the spring in half, then apply revolute joints to each of the parts. Next constrain the spring into a slider joint so it can only move up and down. Finally add motion links to each joint so they all move more naturally.

Was this over your head? Try our beginner Fusion 360 Course for Hobbyists and Woodworkers.
https://mikeandlauren.com/learnfusion360

It’s Finally Ready! Fusion 360 For Hobbyists and Woodworkers Course

If you’re a complete beginner and you want to learn Autodesk Fusion 360, this is the course for you! I’ve designed these tutorials the way I learn best- with start to finish example projects.

In “Fusion 360 For Hobbyists and Woodworkers” we model five different projects using only the tools necessary for that model. Each project gets progressively more difficult as you build on your newly acquired skills.

Thanks for checking it out!

https://www.learnfusion360.com

EARLY BIRD COUPON “50OFF”:
50% Discount – https://goo.gl/IINQSh

Rough Framing the Cargo Trailer Camper Conversion

We’re converting an enclosed cargo trailer so that the front half is an RV and the back half is a mobile workshop We’re going to travel the country when it’s finished helping subscribers with their DIY projects!

This week I finished framing the dividing wall and ran the rough electrical/plumbing. I ripped 2×6’s to create 1.5″ x 1.75″ studs that are thinner and lighter. I’ll be covering the walls in 1/8″ ply and the floor and ceiling in hardwood.

LEARN TO 3D MODEL WITH FUSION 360 – For Hobbyist and Woodworkers:
$30 Off Coupon –
https://www.learnfusion360.com/courses/fusion-360-for-hobbyist-and-woodworkers?coupon=30OFF

Thank you, Lark United for the trailer!
https://www.larkunited.com

Power Locks on Base Model Truck for $25

Our new Dodge 3500 Dually was a great deal, but it didn’t come with power locks or windows. Getting Hudson in and out of a car without power locks is a chore so I decided to buy some universal power door actuators and install them myself. Total cost was under $30 dollars and now our truck has remote entry!

Here’s the kit I used (amazon affiliate link):
https://amzn.to/2nF2jw7

The switch I connected to the brown and white wires:
https://amzn.to/2mIJqsV

A couple of notes if you’re installing a similar system on your own Dodge truck:

I had to reverse the wires for the front doors because the motors were “pushing” to lock. Just swap blue and green. The parking light wires were hidden under the fuse box in the engine compartment on the driver side. Attach your purple wires to the “white and yellow” and “white and gray” wires that come out of the blue connector (there’s 4 different white and yellow wires).

Our New Truck(s)

We sold our RV, so it was time to find a truck to pull our 24′ cargo trailer camper conversion. We weren’t married to any particular make or model, only a good deal and I think we found it!

Our new truck is a 2005 Dodge 3500 Dually with only 133k miles on a 5.9 cummins diesel. We bought it for $10,000. The plan is to finish converting our 24′ trailer into a living space AND mobile workshop so we can travel the country and make DIY videos with you!

For those out of the loop:
We had an idea to travel the country in an RV and mobile workshop helping our viewers with their DIY projects called “Makers on the Move.” We left for a month in November 2016 and found the 40′ RV and 24′ trailer way too long. We sold the RV and are converting our trailer to include a living space AND mobile workshop. We needed a truck to pull the 10,000 lb trailer and this is it!

The RV and Mobile Workshop Vlogs:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLC0ux1ndnxRj0ozjBUb9vZfVeGM-OBTae

The Trailer Conversion Plan:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkYoo16MpTc

Our Plan Explained:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82SD3Ts0u9M&list=PLC0ux1ndnxRj0ozjBUb9vZfVeGM-OBTae&index=14

3D Printed Car Belt | Will It Run?

I don’t know why the thought occurred to me, but I had to know if my car engine would run on a 3D printed serpentine belt. I modeled my serpentine belt in Fusion 360 and then printed it out on it’s side with flexible filament.

The end result was surprisingly strong but not very pretty. I think all of the inaccuracies in the print led to it jumping around on the pulley. This belt was used to drive the alternator and water pump, so even if it fails it won’t be catastrophic for the engine…hopefully.

Fusion 360 For Hobbyist and Woodworkers Video Course:
https://mikeandlauren.com/Fusion360Masterclass

Now, Everyone Can Afford 3D Printing (Monoprice Select Mini Review)

I’m a little late to the 3D printing game, but I finally get it. For $200 , the Monoprice Mini Select is a no brainier for anyone who’s curious about 3D printing. It’s an extremely capable machine with a small footprint. Best of all it comes pre-assembled ready to print, right out of the box.

No this video was not sponsored in any way. I just really like this printer 🙂

Fusion 360 For Hobbyist and Woodworkers Video Course:
https://mikeandlauren.com/Fusion360Masterclass