Mike won the first FYYCDT challenge with his PVC bow due to its originality and functionality; outdoing Rios' more traditional branch bow. Rios did compete, he just didn't post yet (look I know the rule of the internet is "pics or it didn't happen," but this happened, ok?)

The winner of FYYCDT gets a prize to be determined and created by the challenge issuer and to fit the theme of martial prowess I decided to make a shield with a house sigil for the winner.

Materials
Wood (3: 1x5x6 and 1: 2x4x6)
Screws
Button Plugs
Belt
String
Miter saw
Jigsaw
Screwdriver
Paints
Primer
Painter's Tape
Router

Bisect those 3(1x5x6) to give you 6(1x5x3) MATHS!

Line them up lengthwise and clamp em in place. Find the center point, measure about 14" of string and swing an arc, drawing the circumference of the layout

Add your halved 2x4 onto the board and get them situated real nice like

Square those 2x4s off so you know you have a right angle and then trace the board as your reference

I gridded out each individual plank with countersunk holes to prevent the wood from splitting, and then drilled the 2x4 into place

Cellar door project complete

Flip it over and look at the front at your (poorly) lines and get your jig handy

Jig, jig like the wind! I really struggled to make good cuts, but I was able to sand it later to my liking.

Here's the back all sanded and wiped down ready for some stain.

I went with a dark walnut stain and did my first coat, let it set 5 minutes and then wiped down the excess with a rag.

OH SHIT LOOK AT THE DEAL FOR THAT PALM POLISHER

They kinda look like little muffins

I wanted to make the button plugs look like metal, but I was honestly really disappointed with the sheen this type offered, it didn't create any of the texture from the can top

See? It's all shiny and non-textured, I sanded off the sheen with some fine grain sand paper.

Now to prime, make sure to tape off the edges of your stain. I used spray primer so cover everything to prevent dusting.

Primed with two coats

I bought a little color paint sample because I needed a small amount and kinda dug the color.

Two coats of paint

I freehand drew a bear paw on the shield and then added the painter's tape, cutting out the design to make a stencil.

Notice how I didn't cover everything, don't be lazy like me, put some newspaper on that thing, prevent any stray spray paint.... Straypaint?

Peel away. Peeling anything is so satisfying, glue on your hands, saran wrap, scabs, painter's tape is no exception.

Check out the back, we need to grip this thing. So pick a belt to ruin and get to ruining it.

OH NO, MY PANTS

To keep the belts in place I used some left over wood to create brackets that I routed a belt sized groove in to pinch the belt while not cracking the wood.

Stain those blocks, what are you some sort of savage?

Screw those blocks in place, and keep a little bend in those belts or else you won't get your hands and wrist in there.

Pop those button plugs into place with some wood glue and bammo, you're done.

Welcome to a new segment for the Labs! This is our first issue of Fuck You, You Can't Do That in which our leading scientists attempt to do things outside their ability just to prove how incompetent they are.

The rules are simple: the issuer invents a challenge for the other members of the lab, giving them instructions and time limits and at the end of the allotted time there is a judgment rendered to see who was just marginally less disappointing.

To kick us off I'm issuing the challenge to Rios and Mike: I want you to make a bow and three arrows out of any material you wish. The bows and craftsmen will be judged based off of an archery contest that is to be held the weekend of June 15th and the results will be posted to these very labs.

Gentlemen, I expect you to document your attempts for content that will be posted at the end of the competition to make sure you don't copy each other and we have more content other than the inevitable emergency room posts.



Good luck, bad labs.

After that I started making a head and just sort of forming the body so it looked less box like and more..well it sort of looks like a bird.It stays looking like a bird for a while, but i just kept trying to make it look more like an animal and less like a box.

Whenever a friend of mine tells me they're getting a Pebble or one of those smart watches I think they overestimate their importance. Then again, I hate everyone, especially my friends.

Today I got a tablet. I made a comic. This is it.
It's harder than it looks.