This is a follow up to Collin's Original Video. I'm using a 2mm drafting lead holder, which can be found in most art/craft stores, or anywhere that carry drafting supplies. They should cost somewhere around 10 bucks. This particular one is the Koh-I-Noor 5616, my favorite pencil!
Compared to the Pogo Stylus:
One of the best do it yourself videos I have seen. Nice job explaining without overdoing it and good camera work. It is clear and to the point.
ReplyDeleteGreat video!
ReplyDeleteWill have to purchase the foam since I can't seem to find any. Should I be looking for low or high density foam? Any buying recommendations?
Thanks, and sorry.... I just had a few types of foam to play with here, and the medium density one is what worked the best. However, that doesn't mean that there are only 3 types to choose from, or if my medium can be classified as high or low density. If you can get a bunch of different types, it's worth trying, the tips are very easy to make :)
ReplyDeleteTry Scotch Brite sponges - both yellow and blue versions work. Separate from the scrubby layer and save that to do dishes!
ReplyDeleteps the sponge is quite soft, so I have stuffed it INSIDE hollow metal barrel utility brushes - 6/$2 at most craft stores - and trim the protruding tip
ReplyDeleteScotch Brite sponge was brilliant - thanks!!
ReplyDeleteIf the metal ferrule on your pencil is not long enough, wrap bare copper wire up the pencil shaft. I am working up a post for Benjamin Rabe's blog www.fingerpainted.it
ReplyDeleteWhat app are you using on the ipad in the video? And how thin of a line can you get? I want to try to use the iPad to take notes on. Thanks! Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI was using sketchbook, but brushes is great too. You can go very small on the line thickness, less than a pixel :) for taking notes, you probably want bigger than that, but it works great for hand writing, provided you can keep your palm out of the surface.
ReplyDeleteI use an app called Take Notes. You can handwrite notes in different colors or type. You can import PDF files and then highlight and annotate them. There are several other handwriting note apps, but I started with this one and it only keeps getting better.
ReplyDeleteI just made 2 of these and it works AWESOME. Found the foam in an IC shipping box just laying around work in a trash pile (score!). They work really well. Still need to perfect the shape of the ends but the setup works great. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi - what am I doing wrong? I got hold of sheet of 6mm conductive foam (high density). I checked that it worked, which is does as long as I use an edge and press hard but if I cut it or the foam gets squashed it no longer works. Any advice? cheers
ReplyDeleteTry a bit bigger piece of foam, and make sure metal is touching both the foam and you.
ReplyDeleteHi @crabfu,
ReplyDeleteI’ve been looking for a stylus for the iPad and was wondering if the solution you mentioned and/or the Pogo stylus would allow me to replace paper and pen? I’m looking to be able to take quick notes and drawings like one would on paper.
Do the stylus’s allow one to rest their hands on the screen and write finely i.e. I don’t want the page filling up fast because the tip/text is very thick.
I’d love to hear your feedback.
Thanks.
PB
I was able to use the barrel of a zacto knife & a dollar store sponge. Unscrew the part that holds the blade (and mine has a rough barrel that just falls off at that point which is fine, I don't like it anyway). I inserted a strip of sponge bigger than the barrel, and crammed & screwed it in. When it wouldn't go any further, I trimmed the end. Works great. I'd love to get hold of the conductive foam because the sponge doesn't trim very neatly, but it does work. I used a multimeter and found out the sponge was conductive then found this post -- so test them sponges!
ReplyDelete@PB
ReplyDeleteStylus will not allow you to rest your hand on the screen, it will register that as 2 points of contact and think you want to zoom in or out etc. However, given the size of the ipad, it's not too bad, just take a bit to get used to. It's harder when using the pogo stylus or pogo sketch, since it's so small and skinny, making you want to rest your hand on the screen for leverage..... that's why I made this stylus, so that it's more comfortable and useful.
About line size and filling up fast.... you can choose a single pixel line (depending on the app) and have a big virtual paper, so that the lines are super fine. You can zoom in and out to draw/write, as you see in the beginning of this video. The lines are fairly thin in my drawing, and I use a lot of zooming to see it in detail. Here is the drawing, so you can see how fine the lines are: http://crabfuartworks.blogspot.com/2010_04_01_archive.html
It does take a while to get used to it, it's not a pencil and paper, and you have to commit to spend a bit of time to get used to it. Obviously I love the ipad, enough to share what I've hacked together to improve the tool. I find it to be a perfect content receiving device, but also can be pretty good on some content creation :)
-Crabfu
Does anyone know anything about the one at brvsh.com?
ReplyDeleteHi there! What's the difference between ipad and what's this igo? I have never encountered the latter gadget,. Is that even out now in the market? Please advise. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAn iPad stylus made from highly conductive fabric works also amazingly great. This approach is used in the Stylus Socks from Etsy:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/58834213/stylus-socks
Has using a DIY stylus ever caused any damage or irritation to your screen? I've been looking into them but I'd like to hear from someone who has actually tried it before suggesting them.
ReplyDeleteCrabfu I was looking at trossen robotics for your Video of Bioloid Overview.on 21st Aug 2008.
ReplyDeletePlease can you send me the videos or photos which are not on trossen forums I am planning to buy Premium kit in Jan 2011.
mohitjindal_niit@yahoo.co.in
Thanks in Advance
I tried with Scotch Bright (Yellow) and it worked! Now I want to try with a good conductive foam and lead holder and make it neater!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips! I tried it here --> http://wp.me/pWlo6-12x
Even better when you use a chopstick; I like more using my fingers for touching. Another suggestion would be using a pencil :D
ReplyDeletei bought a Griffin stylus that has a squishy, hollow, rounded head made of rubber (i think), but i found that it was to grippy on my anti-glare screen protector. i covered the tip with a layer of matte black gaffer's tape, and it works like a charm, without compromising the conductivity. i wonder whether it would work to smoothe the tip of a foam-based stylus. i cut a square of tape and made several slashes in it from the edge toward the centre, leaving a centre area just a little bigger that a pencil eraser. i smoothed it over the stylus tip, then wrapped another piece around the stylus to secure it. easy-peasy!
ReplyDeleteeasy stylus: i bought a SctchBrite sponge cloth (green, although it might come in other colours), cut a 1 inch square, then cut shallow angles in the sides until i had a 4-pointed star. i brought the points together with the *back* of the sponge facing out (it's smoother), gave the points a bit of a twist, then inserted the twisted end into the business-end of my old Koh-I-Noor 5649 lead holder (it's a chunky one and takes leads that are 3 or 4mm in diameter). works like a charm. it gives me a ballpoint that's about the same diameter as a pencil eraser. it's a little bit grippy on my screen protector, so my next experiment will be the addition of a layer of gaffer's tape.
ReplyDeletei did every step what your show in the video,but i made 3 times at last. It's not easy as the video shows anyway thanks !
ReplyDeleteIs someone stupid if try think that it is easier to draw with a Gaming mouse than a iPad with a stylus?
ReplyDeletegood accessories, but I still don't need it.
ReplyDeleteHere is our version only that it is an iPad brush:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rainydaymagazine.com/RDM2011/Home/March/Week2/RDMHomeMar0911.htm#DIY_iPadBrush
We are currently looking for better fibers, but the concept is sound.
Sincerely,
RainyDayInterns
Where can i find a free ipad converter to convert various videos to my ipad?
ReplyDeleteDiscount the advice yo use a scrub pad. It does work, but leaves an oily residue on the screen.
ReplyDeletewell I couldn't find conductive foam and purchasing isn't that cheap either ($5+ for a 1" foam). And I don't like the rubbery tips of the cheap stylii
ReplyDeleteSo anyway, I was having my after meal dessert in the form of EXtra Dessert Delights chewing gum and looked at the silver wrapper. I wrapped and pasted it onto a tail end of a permanent marker. It works pretty well and once this wrapper wears out, I will just paste a new one. I chew a lot of gum anyway and feeling good with recycling just a tiny bit of paper.
Yay
I really appreciate your effort just to provide the best information. I love your video & photos. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletejust the qtip moistened a little works too as water is conductive
ReplyDeleteAwesome post thanks for the info on how to build a home made stylus. Hopefully I can get it to work!
ReplyDelete..hi... i used a television coaxial arial, as the stylus body (holder), and cotton bud tip as the stylus tip... to my surprise, its work well... but the only issue is i have to keep the tip wet, otherwise it wont detect.. for me this is by far, the best and most simplest solutions to this DIY.. plus the holder@body can be extended.. hahaha
ReplyDelete