All posts tagged: DIY

How to Build a DIY Steam Machine in 2026

How to Build a DIY Steam Machine in 2026

Published by skeptic

The idea of building your own Steam Machine has gained momentum as gamers look for alternatives to Valve’s indefinitely delayed official release. Retro Game Corps explores how to recreate this compact, living room-friendly gaming setup using a combination of pre-built PCs, small form factor devices and Linux-based operating systems. For instance, a Mini PC like the GMK Nookbox K12 offers an affordable entry point for 1080p gaming, though it may struggle with graphically intense AAA titles. This approach allows for a tailored experience that balances performance, size and budget while replicating the core concept of the Steam Machine. Dive into this guide to explore the key decisions involved in crafting your own gaming system. You’ll gain insight into selecting between hardware options like small form factor PCs with mobile GPUs for 1440p gaming or boutique setups with desktop GPUs for 4K performance. Learn how to install a Linux-based OS, such as Basite, to achieve a console-like interface optimized for living room use. Whether you’re prioritizing affordability or high-end customization, this breakdown offers practical steps to …

These Are the 3 Power Tools You Need (2026)

These Are the 3 Power Tools You Need (2026)

Published by skeptic

If you do go for a circular saw, you have to decide: corded or cordless. If all things were equal, that’d be easy. No one loves a cord. The problem is that corded saws are more powerful. I own both, but if I could only keep one it’d be the corded saw. That said, I probably use my cordless more for the simplicity of being able to take it anywhere. If you do go cordless, change your blade often. It takes much more power to cut with a dull blade, and a cordless circular saw doesn’t have the power to spare. Making sure you have a sharp blade will not only make cutting easier, but will make your battery last longer. It’s always better to buy a cheap saw and a high-quality blade than the opposite. If you do go cordless, the next decision you’ll face is brushless vs. brushed motors. A saw with a brushless motor is better in almost every way. The performance is better, it’s more efficient, and it’s more durable. A …

The best cordless drills for DIY jobs

The best cordless drills for DIY jobs

Published by Sam Flores

All of the drills were tested at a workshop, where each one was handled and judged by a group of twelve construction students (both men and women, aged 20 to 60) to give a balanced assessment of their drilling and screwdriving performance. I also used the drills at home for tasks such as hanging wall shelves, uninstalling old screws and hanging cabinet doors.  I rated each drill on its ease of use, considering if it is easy to charge, how it feels in the hand, and if you can use it comfortably for extended periods. I also assessed the tools’ versatility across modes including drilling, screwdriving and hammer-drilling (as applicable). For battery runtime, I timed it by using the same drill bit and keeping each drill’s trigger pressed down with a cable tie, and I judged their speed and effectiveness when screwdriving or drilling through wood, metal and plastic. Finally, price, quality and any standout individual features were taken into consideration. The scores from each of the criteria were then averaged to give us an …

Vermicomposting: How a DIY worm farm can compost food scraps, paper or a whole kangaroo

Vermicomposting: How a DIY worm farm can compost food scraps, paper or a whole kangaroo

Published by skeptic

Compost worms can make quick work of food scraps and other waste Rob Walls/Alamy Worms. I’ve got a few. I split my time between a small inner-city apartment in Sydney, Australia, and a wild property that was once a farm, before it was abandoned in the 1970s, four hours to the south. They are opposites in almost every way – one thrums with the incessant noise of a big city, while the other moves to the beat of the wilderness: kookaburra choruses, deafening cicadas and, at night, powerful owl hoots and the gurgling, zombie-like calls of brushtail possums. But the one thing both properties have in common is that they each boast a cranking worm farm. The one on the farm is huge and deals with the organic waste of an entire household, while the one in the city is small enough to fit on a porch and easy to set up – suitable for anyone. On the farm, I’ve continued to let nature take its course on the land and use it as a …

Your Art Can Go in This San Francisco Alley

Your Art Can Go in This San Francisco Alley

Published by skeptic

Last year, a couple in San Francisco accidentally paid way too much money for a dirt road. On an auction bid starting at $1, they put down $25,000, thinking they were getting a screaming deal on a parcel of developable land right next to their house. They won their bid, but quickly learned that what they bought was just actually just a narrow 82-foot long easement alongside the house that nothing could be built upon. They had paid all that money for a dirt path. “I couldn’t insure it,” says JJ Hollingsworth, the alley’s then-reluctant owner. “It was just a big liability hanging over my head and it caused me a lot of concern and stress, oh my gosh.” After reading about Hollingsworth’s story in the San Francisco Standard, three local “tech pranksters” offered to buy the alley from Hollingsworth. The trio includes software engineers Patrick Hultquist and Theo Bleier, along with Riley Walz, a recent OpenAI employee who helped create Jmail, a repository of all the emails in the Jeffery Epstein files formatted as …

15 Design-Forward DIY Tools Worth Upgrading to This Year

15 Design-Forward DIY Tools Worth Upgrading to This Year

Published by skeptic

Something has shifted in the workshop. After years of DIY being sold as a weekend hobby for the mildly bored, home improvement has quietly become a serious cultural force. The global DIY market is forecast to hit nearly a trillion dollars this year. And while a third of you are apparently planning on starting a new DIY project in the next three months, the primary motivator for DIYers is, you guessed it, saving money. Not a bad thing right now, considering how the Iran war is spiking prices. The tape measure and the drill you inherited from your folks will only take you so far. Fortunately, the tools driving this boom have never been smarter, and better hardware should mean, hopefully, better results. Whether you’re building furniture, finishing a deck, or just finally hanging that TV straight, the tools available right now are genuinely more precise than anything a generation ago could have imagined. From a miniaturized soldering station to a kid-safe desktop cardboard router, these are WIRED’s 15 picks worth making room for in …

11 Ways Frugal People Upgrade Their Homes Without Spending As Much As You’d Think

11 Ways Frugal People Upgrade Their Homes Without Spending As Much As You’d Think

Published by Jenni Sidey

Upgrading a home is often framed as requiring a big budget. That’s one reason so many people put it off, assuming they need to wait until they can afford to do everything at once. In reality, many of the most noticeable home improvements come from smaller, more intentional changes that don’t require you to spend nearly as much as you would think. People who are naturally frugal tend to look for ways to improve how a space feels and functions without replacing everything in it. Instead of chasing expensive upgrades, they focus on smart adjustments that quietly elevate the entire environment over time. Here are 11 ways frugal people upgrade their homes without spending as much as you’d think 1. They refresh what they already own before buying anything new Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock Before replacing furniture or décor, they look at what can be cleaned, repaired, painted, or reworked. A piece that feels outdated can often look completely different with a small update, like new hardware or a fresh finish. This approach saves money while …

‘Flat-pack’ coffins, DIY flowers and unpaid bills: Inside Robert Bush’s ‘nightmare’ funeral home in Hull | UK News

‘Flat-pack’ coffins, DIY flowers and unpaid bills: Inside Robert Bush’s ‘nightmare’ funeral home in Hull | UK News

Published by Sam Flores

To grieving families and colleagues, Hull funeral director Robert Bush seemed a “nice guy”. But behind closed doors, he was cutting corners financially, providing sub-standard coffins and DIY flowers to the bereaved, and funeral staff were refusing to work with him over unpaid bills. Sky News has spoken to a celebrant who worked closely with Bush, 48, for several years. On Thursday, the funeral director pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial. The woman, who we are calling Sarah, was contracted by him to lead funeral services. Image: Robert Bush has pleaded guilty to 30 counts of preventing a lawful burial She’s agreed to speak anonymously – she still works in the funeral sector in Hull and says there are “repercussions” for any association with Bush. During an hour-long interview, Sarah described Bush as “a bit of a cheeky chappy”. “We got on well,” she says, describing the funeral director as “very polite, well-spoken, very empathetic and generally a nice guy”. “I think that’s what makes everything that’s happened since so disgusting.” …

You can now buy a DIY quantum computer

You can now buy a DIY quantum computer

Published by skeptic

Two engineers work on one of Qilimanjaro’s quantum computers Qilimanjaro Quantum computers once seemed like fanciful machines of the future. Now, a DIY kit means that anyone with enough money and engineering skills can have one of their own. Barcelona-based quantum computing company Qilimanjaro created EduQit by taking a “flatpack furniture” approach – gathering all the parts and giving customers the job of putting them together. EduQit includes a chip made from tiny superconducting circuits, which is the heart of the quantum computer. There is also a special refrigerator that the chip is installed and wired into, along with a set of electronic devices that use radio waves and microwaves for controlling the chip and reading the results of its computations. All of this is combined with a smattering of racks, power cables and other devices that help complete the quantum computer. Putting it all together isn’t a trivial task, but EduQit does come with instructions. Marta Estarellas at Qilimanjaro says the team offers training from its researchers and support throughout the building process. The …

The best pressure washers in the UK for cleaning garden furniture and patios – tested | DIY

The best pressure washers in the UK for cleaning garden furniture and patios – tested | DIY

Published by Sam Flores

The trouble with the great outdoors is that it gets a bit untidy. Your garden tools might do a good job of keeping your plot in check, but keeping your patio, decking and outdoor furniture spick and span can take hours, especially if you rely on a bucket of soapy water and a scrubbing brush. The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. That’s where the pressure washer comes in. These handy tools connect to your hose pipe and squirt water at any cleaning problem. Stubborn and unpleasant stains, from bird dirt to years of neglect, can be lifted from your garden’s hard-wearing surfaces in seconds. With the right attachments, you can also use your pressure washer to hose down cars, bikes and boats. At a glance £119.90 at Amazon £75 at Argos £224 at Just Lawnmowers £115 at Amazon Why you should trust me I’ve been testing all sorts of cleaning gadgets for years. I’ve tested vacuum cleaners, mops, hard-floor cleaners, carpet cleaners, …