Instructables

Stuck for something to do? Or stuck on how to do it?

This site is *brilliant* - tens of thousands of projects (30,000? 40,000?) for all skill levels, all pockets, all hobbies.

There is DIY, electronics, software, gaming, PC hardware, cookery, sewing, kids' projects, jokes, pranks, photography, seasonal stuff (go search for Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day...)...

There is an "Answers" section, where anybody (members or not) can ask technical or general questions about... anything. There is a really friendly community on the forums.

You can read all the projects, and ask for Answers, for free, but you have to register to post comments on projects or in the forums. You also need to register to post your own projects. Registration is FREE, or there's a "pro" option with a load of extra features for around $2 a month.

Definitely worth spending some time browsing the site (this site only allows for four stars, but I'd give it five!),

After working with Instructables.com for 5 years I've determined that the vast majority of projects posted and featured on the site a complete junk with respect to the technology category. The site has mostly been overrun with authors that are promoting PCB manufacturers, or authors that are publishing articles of junk science (aka free crystal energy). The editors can't distinguish the difference between good science and bad. I've worked with the community leader and he admits that editorial oversight isn't what it used to be but doesn't offer any solutions. Instructables.com is basically dead as far as I'm concerned. Review the articles at my site www.netzener.net and compare them to any of the technology articles on Instructables.com and you will see what I mean. Over 90% of the articles published on Instructables are basically "look what I made" vanity posts that do not include enough information for anyone to replicate the work. And even when they do, it's obvious the author has not a single clue how the project they present actually works. Instructables is crap, and they know it.

I found Instructables.com after searching for a solution to a problem I was trying to solve. After a search online, I found a solution that was reasonably close to what I was trying to achieve and believed it would work. The potential solution even had a link to eBay with a part that I knew I would need. And then I noticed the link to a pdf, that I could download. Cool! I clicked the link and was notified I'd have to upgrade to a premium membership - up until then, I hadn't even noticed I was on Instructables site. The least costly price to upgrade is $15 for 3 months... Errr... But, Ok - I paid the fee. Then downloaded the pdf. Well, the pdf had zero actual instructions - it consisted of step 1, and step 2, with a bunch of poorly taken pictures, with no instruction what-so-ever. And the part that was linked - isn't even used. It was a complete waste of $15 bucks. The only possible redemption might be if a find another 'instructable' with actual instruction - but searching the site has proven to be somewhat of a pain in the azz. So, word of caution - just because the site promotes instructions to various projects, the quality of the instructions you receive is solely dependent on the "teacher," who could be clueless.