Souped Up

November 1, 2013

Another extraction from DIY website Instructables.com, this quirky collection of projects is comprised of ideas for crazy food, decor, furnishings, science, toys, and more. The book makes up for its lack of an index with a detailed table of contents. Some of the projects are on the technical or electrical side, but there is plenty of variety. The chapter on food innovation features bacon Jello and liquor-infused Gummi bears. Readers will find a clever skateboard coffee table/lazy Susan in the section on woodworking, while the science-related projects boast a working solar death ray and magnetic Silly Putty. The bike modifications and accessories are not as exciting, and the chapter on toys includes the unfortunate use of a condom to fix a GI Joe action figure. VERDICT Instructions and picture quality are decidedly mixed. The better projects make use of technology or recycled/repurposed materials. The target audience for this compendium is college students or teens.

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