make. break. in no particular order.

My name is Andy and I make lots of random stuff. Read more about me on the About page.

What's New, You Ask?

WELCOME to the 2026 Edition of StuffAndyMakes.com!

I've gone back to my roots and actually coded this site and now host it on the cloud. No CMS, no platform, just pure TypeScript, JSX, HTML, CSS, and cloud stuffs.

If you'd like to celebrate yourself, click the icon in the upper-right of the page up there.

I am using the super-cool Input font for this site. If you write code and you want to use it for your code editor, grab it here: https://input.djr.com/

If you find bugs or typos and you have time, drop me a contact form visit and let me know. Much of this website data have now gone through four or more migrations, so I'm pretty sure I missed something in this latest move.

Latest Blog Articles

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock
📆 Dec 30. 2025
📁 Computer Stuff

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

My thoughts on the CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 dock

The Shed Beast: A 12x16 Wood Frame Storage Shed
📆 Mar 23. 2020
📁 Uncategorized

The Shed Beast: A 12x16 Wood Frame Storage Shed

Designing and building a massive 192 sq ft workshop shed.

Fitness Tracker Tester (& Pokemon Incubator?)
📆 Oct 12. 2016
📁 Uncategorized

Fitness Tracker Tester (& Pokemon Incubator?)

A generic device for... testing fitness trackers. Yeah, testing.

Photo Parade!

Office Chair Land Speed Record?
Solenoid-Powered 6 Brass Bell
Objective-C/iOS/iPhone: UIColor from NSString
Sharp Clock (Saw Blade Recycling)
RoboStocking - AVR, Servo, Motor, IR Sensor, and BOOM!!! Merry Christmas!
Update: LED Reading Lamp Materializing
Making Mad Props for meltmedia's Interactive Superhero Marketing Launch: Techno HAMMER
Bourbon Bottle Chandelier - Bluetooth, Dimmable, Hand-crafted
Tony Stark for Halloween 2010: The Arc Reactor (RT Mark II)
2012 Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Foam Core Backdrop Support Frame
AVR Serial Communications Using XBee RF Modules
Introducing: The Office Chairiot Mark II - Labor In Motion Again
Adjustable Workbench Cigar Holder
Turn a Servo Into an Inexpensive Geared Motor
Dartboard Backstop from Office Corkboard
What makes a Maker tick?
June 18, 2014 is the National Day of Making
Domo Wobbly Balancing Robot Thing
Swanky Chinese Lamp
Designing a New Man Cave and Workshop
Ventilation Upgrade
DIY Workshop Stereo Boombox Kinda Thing
Save Buckyballs Rare Earth Magnet Desk Toys!
Touch Screens: Some Interesting History and Info
Rescue a Little Critter from Sticky Board Trap
Cigar Coolidor (Wine Cooler + Humidor = Coolidor)
How To Compete in Your Company's FitBit Walk Competition While Injured
FitBit Contest at meltmedia - No Cheat-O-Matic
Electronics Workbench LED Upgrade
Office Chair Land Speed Record?
Solenoid-Powered 6 Brass Bell
Objective-C/iOS/iPhone: UIColor from NSString
Sharp Clock (Saw Blade Recycling)
RoboStocking - AVR, Servo, Motor, IR Sensor, and BOOM!!! Merry Christmas!
Update: LED Reading Lamp Materializing
Making Mad Props for meltmedia's Interactive Superhero Marketing Launch: Techno HAMMER
Bourbon Bottle Chandelier - Bluetooth, Dimmable, Hand-crafted
Tony Stark for Halloween 2010: The Arc Reactor (RT Mark II)
2012 Kentucky Bourbon Festival
Foam Core Backdrop Support Frame
AVR Serial Communications Using XBee RF Modules
Introducing: The Office Chairiot Mark II - Labor In Motion Again
Adjustable Workbench Cigar Holder
Turn a Servo Into an Inexpensive Geared Motor
Dartboard Backstop from Office Corkboard
What makes a Maker tick?
June 18, 2014 is the National Day of Making
Domo Wobbly Balancing Robot Thing
Swanky Chinese Lamp
Designing a New Man Cave and Workshop
Ventilation Upgrade
DIY Workshop Stereo Boombox Kinda Thing
Save Buckyballs Rare Earth Magnet Desk Toys!
Touch Screens: Some Interesting History and Info
Rescue a Little Critter from Sticky Board Trap
Cigar Coolidor (Wine Cooler + Humidor = Coolidor)
How To Compete in Your Company's FitBit Walk Competition While Injured
FitBit Contest at meltmedia - No Cheat-O-Matic
Electronics Workbench LED Upgrade

Maker Resources

A radnom sampling of tools and resources I find useful. View all resources →

Learning Platforms
FreeCodeCamp

A non-profit organization that consists of an interactive learning web platform, an online community forum, chat rooms, online publications and local organizations.

Visit Resource →

Resources for STEM

Find stuff for learning Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. View STEM

STEM Stuff
Tinkercad

“Tinkercad is a free web app for 3D design, electronics, and coding. We’re the ideal introduction to Autodesk, a global leader in design and make technology.” “Tinkercad is proud to be KidSAFE COPPA certified. Our lesson plans adhere to Common Core and NGSS standards for the classroom.“ —Tinkercad Home page

Visit Resource →
STEM Stuff
Science Journal for Kids (& Teens)

“Science Journal for Kids aims to make scientific research discoveries more accessible to the general audience and particularly to children. We do that by digitally publishing kid-friendly adaptations of scientific papers. In addition, Science Journal for Kids prepares and offers teacher’s aids and resources to enable integration of the scientific literature in a classroom curriculum.“ —ScienceJournalForKids.org About page

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STEM Stuff
Science Friday

(Shouldn’t every single day be Science Friday? Science Friday Monday, Science Friday Tuesday, etc.) “Science Friday is an award-winning producer of high quality, fact-checked, and trustworthy science news and educational programming. For 30 years, we’ve introduced top scientists to public radio listeners, and reminded them how much fun it is to learn something new. But we’re more than just a radio show. We produce a sweeping array of educational and entertaining science experiences through videos, podcasts, digital media, live events, citizen science, K-12 education and professional development, and at-home learning activities for families that directly serve hundreds of thousands of educators, parents, citizen scientists, and lifelong learners every year.” —ScienceFriday.com About page

Visit Resource →

Resources for STEM & Women/Girls in Tech

Technology is super cool and it shouldn't care who makes it that way. Women/Girls in Tech.

Women & Girls in Tech
Women Who Code

Global non-profit dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers. From their home page: "Since 2011, Women Who Code has been where women in tech find their people, the mentors who push them forward, the peers who get it, and the network that opens doors."

Visit Resource →
Women & Girls in Tech
Bridging the Gender Divide: Guide to Overcoming Broadband Access to be a Woman Leader in STEM

I was sent a link to this article on Reviews.com. It has some great content on the subject of girls in STEM, which you can jump to by clicking this link to the article. Down in the article is a pretty hefty list of links to things like scholarships, projects that encourage young girls to get into STEM, in-college programs that promote women in tech, and even a list of degrees in STEM. Check it out!

Visit Resource →
Women & Girls in Tech
50 Women in the Tech Industry Every Man Should Know

(From the article intro) “The tech industry is a sector dominated by men. You’ve probably heard about well-known tech giants like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Mark Zuckerberg, but you might not know about the equally impressive female tech gurus. Research shows that almost 80% of students cannot name a single famous woman working in tech. To solve this problem, we’ve got a list of the top 50 women in the tech industry you should know about!” (Thank you, Eva!)

Visit Resource →