By Shawn Handyside
Columnist

Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Do you ever get the urge to build something practical or maybe ... not so practical?

Thanks to a relatively new site called “Instructables” (instructables.com), we now have access to a wide range of typical and not-so-typical how-to guides submitted online by other project hounds.

Sort of like a “YouTube” community for creative crafters and amateur engineers, visitors to the site can find lots of helpful step-by-step guides. Plus, pros can share their expertise and creative ideas by submitting their own tutorials, creating a useful network for teaching and sharing information.

So far, it seems to be working; there is no shortage of neat projects currently accessible at this still budding site.

While there are many straightforward guides online, such as how to build bookshelves or how to change the oil in your car, here are a few of the more interesting examples I came across.

Floppy Disk Bag

Now that 3.5-inch floppies are practically obsolete, why not recycle them? If you’ve got enough lying around, you can turn your unused floppies into a shoulder bag with this handy guide. Apparently, the creator just did this as a test run for his next project ­ a suit of armor made of 3.5-inch floppies.

PVC Kayak

Make your own sea-worthy kayak using materials from your local Home Depot. All you need is some PVC piping, two rolls of duct tape, an 11-by-15 foot tarp and four tarp clamps.

Average cost: about $60. However, I wouldn’t recommend taking one of these bad-boys down any white-water rapids.

Projection Bombing

Possibly a new form of art, “projection bombing” is when you setup large digital projections outdoors in urban environments (on the sides of buildings, monuments, etc.). Kind of like a live performance form of graffiti. This guide gives you all the info you need to set up your own mobile projector for such an exhibition.

How to Cut a Mango

Some seriously artsy food preparation. Even includes tips for turning your sliced mango into a bug-like creature to entertain the kids. Be sure to look up stuff like this for your next fancy dinner party.

Marshmallow Gun

Kind of like a Nerf gun, but with tastier bullets! Made from PVC pipe, these guns seem to be the most entertaining when you modify and create your own design. This is a great one for kids as well ­ a safe toy with delicious ammo.

This is just a sample of some of the creative stuff you’ll find on Instructables. With a few thousand instructional guides posted online, you’re sure to find a do-it-yourself project that’s right for you.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go make an iPod Boombox out of Tupperware and styrofoam...

­ E-mail Shawn Handyside in his digital fortress of solitude at shawn@icommageek.com.