Man Made DIY

Spring is being a bit of a jerk this year, taking its sweet time to show up. In like lion, out like a slightly less cold but equally wet and windy lion. I've got a serious case of cabin fever this year - probably not worse than any other March, though it certainly seems so - and I'm spending my time planning all the stuff I'm going to do outside when the snow melts.… read more

Maker and crafter Timothy Wikander designed this awesome passive amplifying smartphone dock, and gladly shares the full how-to so you can make your own at… read more

Chicago-based artist and designer Artpentry, maker of the "Gentleman's Boombox" - a stereo/speaker combo built inside a vintage suitcase - turns his outfitting skills to another type of popular case: the… read more

A few years ago, I read a piece by designer Frank Chimero called "What Advice Would You Give a Graphic Design Student?" where he suggests, "Keep two books on your nightstand at all times: one fiction, one non-fiction." I've always been a big book guy, but I always keep Frank's advice in mind...though sometimes, one or the other is a magazine. (One of the good… read more

A cocktail is a mixed drink that contains at least one base spirit and a modifier (liqueurs, bitters, fortified wines) mixed with something to give the cocktail a little flavor, such as another spirit, fruit juice, etc.

A highball, on the other hand, is much more basic. It's a single spirit and a non-alcoholic mixer, and rather than being built in a shaker or a mixing glass, they're typically assembled in the very vessel in which you'll drink… read more

Artist and designer Josh Rhodes came up with this quick and easy project: a warm and rustic piece of furniture, made in a single afternoon for less than $30 in easy-to-find materials. Done, done, and… read more

I love hot sauce as much as anyone...except my wife, who eats it on bread. We keep plenty around, particularly since I work from home and it helps transform my mishmash of fridge leftovers and pantry staples into a flavorful, work-at-your-desk breakfast and lunch (see also: smoked salt).

But, most are a variation on a theme: chiles, vinegar, spices. Some add a bit of garlic, or smokiness, or additional sweetness but… read more

I'm a big advocate of brewing your own tasty cup of coffee at home. It saves you lots of money and possibly over the coffee shop, tastes much better than the stuff from the gas station or bodega, and allows you to have a hands-on experience of a true pleasure.… read more

I use extension cords on nearly all of my projects: powering tools in my outlet-starved basement workshops, plugging in task lights for fine handwork like cutting stencils or sewing, or snaking it through my kitchen to use outside for extra messy projects. And the rest of the time, my extension cords sit in a hopelessly bundled and tangled lump in a corner of my… read more

When I came across this awesome vintage-inspired trestle desk this week, it struck all my favorite things: warm wood tones, a modern industrial vibe, and nothing extraneous, just a nice big surface and some shelves. It was "inspired by an antique French architect's table," and it's just all kinds of industrial cool. 

Except there's one… read more

At ManMade, we're big fans of cast iron cookware, particularly the must-own skillet, which you can use from everything from cooking your breakfast bacon and eggs to cornbread to setting on your grill or an open fire for a safe, efficient way to cook outdoors. A 10" or 12" skillet is one of our ten items every man should own, and in my opinion,  one of the best $20-30 anyone can… read more

Those of you in the financial or business sector have got this covered, but for those who don't wear one to work everyday, it doesn't make sense to have a closet full of suits if you only wear one five or six times a year. So, here are some quick tips for the rest of us - the recent college grad, the artist, the programmers - on buying one suit and dressing it up and down to wear it multiple ways.… read more

The ultimate at-home method for adding a couple weeks to the life of your latest cut.

There's nothing like a fresh trim to keep you looking bright and well-kempt, but maintaining regular every-three-week appointments can get expensive and be quite tough on your free… read more

Leather opens up all kinds of creativity, but it can be an intimidating material to for beginners. It requires a different sort of tool kit than regular sewing projects, and many guys don't even know how to use a sewing machine in the first place...though ManMade does its best to remedy that.

The solution? Don't sew… read more

I'm always a sucker for unlikely materials used in surprising places, so I'm all kinds of inspired by this concrete pendant lamp project by Ben… read more