DIY Ring Flash

Just started building my ring flash which I believe will work great for macro and portraiture. It's not something that I need, but more of something that I'd like to make just to see what the results will be.

I'm following instructions from Craig White and Roy Niswanger and making modifications of my own based on locally available supplies.

The first thing that I had to change was the main reflector. Both the instructions call for a 11 inch clamp reflector shop light. Couldn't find this anywhere, so I subbed it with a 12 in stainless salad bowl from the dollar store. I had picked up the duct reducer some time before and I made the hole in the bowl to mate the two together. I've only just started cutting out the hole where the flash will fire through. Will post those pics as the project commences.

As I already have the off camera flash and the TTL sync cord, I expect that the entire build will come under CAD 15.00. Compare that to some of the professionally available flashes which start at USD 100.00.

 Salad Bowl - No Frills Dollar Store section. CAD 2.00

Don Park 4"-5" HVAC Duct Reducer CAD 9.50. I thought this pricey

Reducer on Bowl action - Templating in Nerdspeak

Cutting the opening for the reducer to fit

Methinks this is a neat cut

Test fit

Basement Build - Schlepping Drywall

For the past couple of weeks I've been busy building a basement for a customer in Brampton. The layout was done in conjunction with the homeowners. The framing has been done, wiring complete, insulation done and vapor barrier installed. Time for drywall - EXCEPT - with a 36" wide stairwell with a 180 degree turn, the drywall just would not go down in it's existing state. Cutting it in half would double up the butt joints as well as the cost of the mudding and taping which is to be subcontracted.

I decided after perusing many forums, to lift the carpet, remove a section of the sub-floor between the joists and pass the drywall down into the basements. It worked like a charm, but it's not a job that I'd like to undertake anytime soon. This operation was only possible as the floor was carpeted. Were it to be hardwood or tile, I would be forced to cut the drywall in half and go the route of the costlier mud and tape.

My cousins helped me do this and without them I would have been well and truly stuck. Thanks guys. You know who you are.

Getting started - This will be the TV wall. Have to work around the plumbing stack. Planning to convert an obstacle into a feature 

Probably the only straightforward wall in the entire room

Awkward ducting and another plumbing stack to work around

West wall insulated and complete

There's a lot of stuff in this picture, but I turned that plumbing stack into a feature. I bumped  out the wall on the opposite side thereby creating an alcove for the TV and Media Cabinet

This wall was pending final connections to the octagonal boxes that will hold the wall sconces 

Hated the way that this came out, but I had no other option. The ducting could not be reworked on account of the way the load bearing beam and the way the floor joists ran

Finally - the hole in the floor

A different vantage - and me. That's Dan the Man to the side (wondering what he got himself into this time) - It's official - I have the greatest cousins in the world.

Confessions of a Leg Man

I'm desperate for a piece of furniture for our entryway. A counter height chest of drawers that will hold our ever growing collection of gloves, scarves, toques, et cetera. In summer, it will be helmets and the additional protection that comes from introducing the offspring to cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading.... It would have legs that would accommodate our winter boots in winter and roller blades in summer.

In an attempt to amalgamate my Champagne taste with our Tap Water budget - and the oddly sized (over 3 feet but not quite 4) space that is our entryway, I am left with the only option available. Do It Yourself.

As if I needed a reason!!!

So inspired by the Edland series at IKEA, I set about gathering my supplies. Only to find out that Queen Anne legs cost upwards of CAD 25.00 per foot. I know you're a Queen, but really, Anne!!!!!!!

So it was off to the various Thrift stores to find some poor piece of furniture to cannibalize. First stop, Goodwill. Ooooh there's a 50% sale on as well... This just gets better. Long story short. Found a table for CAD 10.00. Paid 5.00 at the till. Took it home and took it apart.

Got myself a set of four Queen Anne legs at CAD 1.25 per leg. Add to the fact that they're Oak.

The IKEA Edland Nightstand that is my jumping off point

 My Goodwill find - She (if tables are feminine) has no idea what her future is to be

Dextered