frantone

Franting About Asbestos

My old pal asbestos.   I have a lot of history with the fluffy toxic stuff, and thought that I'd do a little video about it.  Enjoy!  Well, not too much....

2019-01-09 01:36:15 +0000 UTC View Post

Rare 1973 Heathkit BUILD! Pt.5

Final assembly!  Will it work?  It's a Heathkit - anything could happen!  Enjoy!

FranLab Winter Shirts!

Finally the winter shirt campaign is here and for the first time I'm offering these 100% preshrunk cotton long sleeve FranLab shirts!  Returning is the popular "Kit" style logo and I have also...

Rare 1973 Heathkit BUILD! Pt.4

In part four of my idanno how many parts series of the nostalgia Heathkit IT-12 build I set out to get the rest of the sub assemblies done and find that I have to come up with some of my own soluti...

Magic Eye Tubes

In this short excerpt from the 4th part of my nostalgia Heathkit IT-12 build I briefly explain the structure and function of the magic eye display tube.  Enjoy!

Rare 1973 Heathkit BUILD! Pt.3

Okay- we're up to part three of the nostalgia Heathkit build and in this episode I go all-in with wiring and soldering the chassis.  A few difficulties, not to mention a great deal of editing ...

Rare 1973 Heathkit BUILD! Pt.2

Part Two!  This time I set out to assemble the main chassis, with some surprises along the way.  It seems that this will be at least a 4-part series, but I'm not complaining.  I want...

Rare 1973 Heathkit BUILD! Pt.1

Okay - First off... I ate a lot of pie today.  All the same, Enjoy! 

Where's Fran?

Xmas eve, Jon Solomon marathon on the radio, and Chinese take-out dinner in the wood shop.  All is right with the world. 

2018-12-24 23:45:33 +0000 UTC View Post

Holiday Snaps

 50 years ago today, the perspective of our species changed forever when vacationing human and Apollo 8 Lunar Module Pilot William Anders snapped this photo of a pretty little blue ball hangin...

New Lease For FranLab!

Thanks everybody for keeping FranLab alive! 

Fran Fixes The Movies

If your local multiplex seems to be projecting their movies super dim, then you might want to try what I did and get your money's worth!  Enjoy! 

Ghost In The Dream Garden

While a ghost plays the piano (what other possible explanation could there be?) we find The Dream Garden.  Designed by Maxfield Parrish and constructed by Tiffany Studios the mosaic took over a y...

Without the radios....

... A house is not a home.  Yes, the radios are off the walls and packed up in crates so officially this is not my home anymore.  Sad times.  The cruelty of the situation is quite vivid...

Disaster Area

Since I had to get all  the stuff off the walls over the weekend for the daily assault on FranLab the shop is a wreck.  I have been expelled from the lab on weekdays due to the noise and dus...

Soothing Time: 1900's Schoolhouse Clock

Take a break.  Sit down and relax to the soothing sound of my turn-of-the-century Seth Thomas 8-Day Schoolhouse wall clock.  I'll tell you a little bit about it too.  Enjoy!  

Sciencing The Shit Outa This

When you have fill gaps to kill drafts in places you can't possibly reach, then it's time to make a tool.  Behold!  The 8 Foot Foamer Gun!  It sits on the shoulder for two- handed overh...

Rude Awakening

I've been kicked out of FranLab during the daytime this week due to the demolition crews knocking down the walls next door  - but perhaps the worst will be over before the end of the month.  ...

Two-Shot 3D Printing To Get A Grip

This is my first try at doing a two shot printing process with my 3D printer and the results are very satisfying.  I see a lot of potential for this technique.   Enjoy!

FranbLab: YouTube Algorithms Cracked!

Who do you love?  Proof positive that crap is king.  Enjoy!  

More Pencils & Pens

Time to slow it down, relax, and scribble a bit.  Enjoy! 

Custom Made Decorative Bolts

I spend some time in the fabrication shop catching up on an old project that should have been done many months ago - but I could not be happier with the results.  Enjoy!  

FranbLab - From Demolitions To Annotations

Time for me to Frant!   Frant!  Get it?  Okay... enjoy! 

DIY Handheld Voice Recorder With Cartridges!!!

Oh, so satisfying!  I take a look into the process I went through converting my prototype audio recorder into a real ergonomic handheld device.  And it works!  Was there ever any doubt?...

Super Cute DIY Mini Audio Cartridges!

Like Candy!  But don't try to eat them!  I side track a project I'm working on to highlight a component that no one would see otherwise - my own tiny removable programmable mini audio cartri...

What Is FranLab to YouTube??

I look at the data to try to ascertain what is in the mind of YouTube and why it promotes my videos so unevenly.  Is it all about an upset voice coming out of a human face?  You be the judge...

1983 Zaxxon Mini Arcade Teardown

A wonder of the early 80's gets a fresh look inside and out in 2018.  How can I be jaded about these mini arcades?  They're impossible to play, but just so undeniably cool.  Enjoy!

Zaxxon Needs Help!

In search of refurbished monitors...

New Camera!

Clear as crystal - do I still look like I'm 35?  Oh, you're just saying that.  Also, updates on apartment hunting and other stuff and in this one....

From Freddie to FranLab on a Friday

Got back from the movies, and made my final decision about FranLab.