frantone

Thanks New Patrons!

Okay... I have already thanked all of you personally, but again let me say that I am very pleased with the response to my announcement of the 2018 100% funding goal, which has gotten FranLab up to 68% from 51% in the first two weeks!  So thanks again to everyone who has recently become a new Patron of FranLab, and double thanks to all the loyal FranLab Patrons who have graciously upped their existing pledges (some of you very generously).   I am much more optimistic of reaching th...

Viewer Mail #7

So chuck-full of goodness you'll want to save room for seconds!  Thanks everyone for sharing your cool junk with us on this new amazing Viewer Mail #7!

Sneak Preview - Viewer Mail #7 Expanded Clip

Re-edited and enhanced - An expanded excerpt from Viewer Mail #7 about "Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Home Computers" with Steve Allen and Jayne Meadows from 1983.  Just has to be heard to be believed!  Who knew?

Turning Tricks: Finding Center

My first video about tricks I have learned in free machining on the lathe - This episode has me making a tool to be able to center my work in a four jaw chuck.  Enjoy!

100% Goal For 2018

You're all already Patrons - and Thank You!  ☺

Mains Pains - Two Phase Days

It's always something in Philadelphia....

Making A 50hz Digital Clock Circuit Run In The USA

My ongoing clock project has an interesting problem that called for an interesting solution.  Enjoy!

FranLab Quickies, Woodshop Therapy, and Shirts Away!

 A quickie about the new FranLab Quickies and other goings on. 

3D Printed Custom Fasteners

I'm off of social media so I thought that I'd try something new - quick little videos that show the kind of things that I had been posting on my twitter feed, like project updates and other tid-bits.  Do you like the FranLab  Quickie format?  If so, then leave a comment to that effect and if you like them then I would plan on posting these quickies more often.  

In this little video I highlight a 3D printed solution to a woodworking problem for my ongoing clock project. &nb...

The Father Of Fuzztone - Glenn Snoddy

My little tribute to the inventor of the guitar effects pedal, Glenn Snoddy. 

Making A Clock Case With The Origin CNC Router

I have been getting more adventurous with the Shaper Origin handheld CNC router.  This video shows some of my progress in a project that I've been working on for months, it's a clock of course, and I decided to make the wooden case with the Origin.   Enjoy! 

Commodore 64 Basic T-Shirt!

People have been asking me for years where the hell can they get that C-64 shirt and the answer is right here!  I'm running a special 2 week only campaign on Bonfire for my executable code shirts - White text on black only.  Why?  It's in the code, of course. 

https://www.bonfire.com/commodore-64-basic-t-shirt/

Updates

Hello All!  

Just a quick post to let you know that my video content posts have slowed these past months due to my having to put much time and energy into non-FranLab related work.  I am still putting time into several long term projects in parallel and as they get completed or worthy of an update I will edit and post those videos accordingly.  Currently I am bogged down in several ongoing construction issues at the new space which I hope to have resolved in the next couple week...

Viewer Mail #6

Gadzooks!  So much cool stuff from you guys!  Let's get right to it... 

Making A Silkcreen Jig + Vacuum Holddown for DSKY Display Project

One of many custom made tools I need to make for producing a working reproduction for the DSKY electroluminescent display.  3D printing combined with woodworking?  Yep! 

Anyone wanna snipe a NIMO auction for FranLab?

8 months ago nobody knew what these things were but now - because of some video a lady put on YouTube - people are fighting over these NIMO things.  If I had two more I could build a clock, but if I had this kinds dough I'd buy a new camera.   Well, like Blondie said - 'Dreaming Is Free'. 

3D Printed Mega Displays

My prototype for a scalable 3D printed lightbox style 7-segment display that you can make as big as your print bed with no light pipes! 

New Camera Mount Project - With Mortise Cutout

My first official build in my new wood shop space is a quick and simple one, but I do have some how-to tips on hand chiseling a mortise the old fashioned way, and doing smooth jigsaw cuts.   Enjoy!

Back to Projects

Hey everyone!  I've just about got my act together with the new work space and so I'll be getting back on track with a number of projects that have either been on hold or slowed down to a crawl since December.  Let's see...  First there was the U-Penn Laboratory haul, which took a week to move into storage - then I had to take all that stuff I moved out of the lab and move it again when I got notice that my storage was closeing in February... but oh yea, I was setting up a new wor...

The Great Hamster Wheel of Storage

Hey all!  Those who follow my twitter feed are somewhat in the know about all the moving I've been doing around town, and now I have a new storage space so all that stuff that's now cramming up my work spaces is getting moved once again to the new storage space.  This sorting and moving process should take a couple more weeks and then I will be able to get back to the regular video production and project schedules with a few new surprises underway.  Stay Tuned!   

Shaper Origin Handheld CNC Machine

Long awaited, but I finally got my Shaper Origin!  Time to try it out with a quick little project I found on the Shapertools website.  Oh yea - I'm in my new wood shop!  Still some work to do on the space, but enjoy!

Pause on Video

Hey everybody!  Those who follow on Twitter know about my recent rental issues but to update I am still in the thick of moving heavy objects from one side of town to the other for no apparently good reason.  This odd behavior will need to continue for the next couple weeks, at which time I will be faced with two work spaces in different parts of Philly that are completely filled with boxes and other stuff.  It will take some time to sort this all out.  Thanks for your patienc...

Viewer Mail #5

We've Got Mail!  Time to open up the mail box again.... 

Thanks Everyone ~

~ For bringing me (almost) half way to my goal in the first year on Patreon! I hope that I can get ends to meet by the end of 2018 through a variety of means, and with a combination of t-shirt campaigns, Patreon pledges, and other donations this goal may be possible if my content continues to inspire support as it has for all of you who already contribute to FranLab.  Thanks to you all, and here's to hoping for a more sane and stable 2018!

Fran's Retro Bench: BCD Clock Counter With Numitron

The first installment of Retro Bench -  Cool hobby style builds done in the 70's style made with vintage parts, done the old school way.  

The Apollo 13 Squawk Box

2017 Holiday Vintage Kit Build!

It's December 25th, 1977..... You've got this cool kit and just can't wait to put it together!  If you're successful, you'll have a real orange LED.... that blinks!  Can you believe it?

Viewer Mail #4

Time once again for some viewer mail! 

No more drama for 'yer mamma.

Alternative Subscription for all Patrons!

I am very upset about the sudden and unwarranted changes to the Patreon system, and I know that many patrons would prefer to leave Patreon in protest to the fees that they are being charged.  But I will gladly pay those fees for you - So, if you would rather contribute directly to FranLab through PayPal monthly subscription and incur no fees yourself, then go to my new Subscription page by following the link above.  I appreciate every single patron, and I am very happy to pay the fees ...