Colin O'Flynn
@oflynn.com
Colin is a huge nerd. Hardware hacking, open-source hardware, electronics design, academic stuff, dog stuff in some order. Assistant Prof @ Dalhousie Uni, advisor/co-founder NewAE Technology Inc.
I plan on doing a video comparing expensive (Miller) welder vs cheaper (Arc captain & no name).. the quick summary is the cheaper ones are very good, so gear costs are low. If doing TIG/MIG getting welding gas is the major annoyance really, which isn't even too bad
December 22, 2025 at 6:56 PM
I plan on doing a video comparing expensive (Miller) welder vs cheaper (Arc captain & no name).. the quick summary is the cheaper ones are very good, so gear costs are low. If doing TIG/MIG getting welding gas is the major annoyance really, which isn't even too bad
No, just YouTube mostly! I started with TIG welding which is more difficult but very clean (no real spatter), so easier to do in a smaller space. I later took a course to try MIG & stick, which was nice as also could get more professional feedback (and then had more area now so can use them)
December 22, 2025 at 6:55 PM
No, just YouTube mostly! I started with TIG welding which is more difficult but very clean (no real spatter), so easier to do in a smaller space. I later took a course to try MIG & stick, which was nice as also could get more professional feedback (and then had more area now so can use them)
Some useful projects include this hook, which rather than spending $1 to buy cost me only several thousand dollars in tools.
December 22, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Some useful projects include this hook, which rather than spending $1 to buy cost me only several thousand dollars in tools.
My fav I've used is CnC Tech 610230 - but is in a large reel (2km!!) so you'll have several lifetimes worth of it, or give lots away etc. It explicitly mentions the solderability of the wire. Several of the smaller reels from e.g., adafruit/sparkfun seem to also work OK though.
December 10, 2025 at 3:29 AM
My fav I've used is CnC Tech 610230 - but is in a large reel (2km!!) so you'll have several lifetimes worth of it, or give lots away etc. It explicitly mentions the solderability of the wire. Several of the smaller reels from e.g., adafruit/sparkfun seem to also work OK though.
Thankfully I had this random 5V power brick I refused to throw out! Needed 5V at >2A, this worked and system is back online!
December 2, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Thankfully I had this random 5V power brick I refused to throw out! Needed 5V at >2A, this worked and system is back online!
Seemed happy enough to mount it back up! I'm not even going to bother putting the cover on probably, as well get better cooling, and this is hidden in a closet anyway.
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Seemed happy enough to mount it back up! I'm not even going to bother putting the cover on probably, as well get better cooling, and this is hidden in a closet anyway.
Oops typo city... Music smoke = magic, raised = realized. But continuing... Conveniently those go to pads on top side, so can convert my AP to wall plug instead of POE, and be back online.
December 2, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Oops typo city... Music smoke = magic, raised = realized. But continuing... Conveniently those go to pads on top side, so can convert my AP to wall plug instead of POE, and be back online.
From the datasheet of the controller, raised I could probably feed 5V into where it comes, and AP seemed to boot!
December 2, 2025 at 2:25 AM
From the datasheet of the controller, raised I could probably feed 5V into where it comes, and AP seemed to boot!
Also I never thought about it, but for some reason I find it funny the inside of the cans just looks like a "normal" (e.g., E core) transformer just in a can.
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Also I never thought about it, but for some reason I find it funny the inside of the cans just looks like a "normal" (e.g., E core) transformer just in a can.
And I did check, despite it's 1969 date code the small amonut of remaining oil (it was pumped out at some point) is *not* PCB based. Not sure if another was used or it was just filled more recently (this was being disposed of by university as used to show students, so it may not be original oil)
November 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
And I did check, despite it's 1969 date code the small amonut of remaining oil (it was pumped out at some point) is *not* PCB based. Not sure if another was used or it was just filled more recently (this was being disposed of by university as used to show students, so it may not be original oil)
The major ingredients in the sauce are crushed tomato & cream (not even butter). My entire understanding of cream sauces was a lie.
November 20, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The major ingredients in the sauce are crushed tomato & cream (not even butter). My entire understanding of cream sauces was a lie.