Dan Racusin

     We went camping up in Big Sur this Thanksgiving with a friend of ours. While we were planning our trip someone suggested, stocking up on drawing charcoal for our Monday life drawing sessions. Then someone else suggested making our own charcoal while we were camping. I said, why not after all it sounded like a very efficient plan. Besides, if you have ever been to the art store to purchase a box of vine charcoal you know what I'm talking about when I say, it's @#$!'s expensive. Well, the good news is that it's actually pretty damn easy to make. It's so easy in fact, we were able to make while we slept. Here's how we did it! Tools & Materials   1.)__________________Knife 2.)____Campfire / Barbeque 3.)_______ Twigs / branches 4.)________________Tin foil 5.)_____________Hot ember _______________________________________________________________________________      First off you'll want to gather enough twigs and b...

INSPIRATION.     This is one of those projects I've always wanted to do but never had the time or space. The inspiration to actually go ahead and build the jib came from my friend Oscar Arroyo . We were talking about designing camera rigs and he suggested building something large and mechanical. We immediately started researching other DIY Jibs and sketching out our own ideas. Shortly there after we had a solid blueprint and a plan plan to move forward. SO IT BEGINS!     I knew from the very beginning that I would need to call in the help of some experts for professional guidance. The first person I called was my good friend Dave T. Offner, Master-Builder I showed him my sketches and together we gathered all the parts and began building the main structure. Here are the materials we used to get started: Tools & Materials: 1''x1''x16' aluminum square rod (1/4'' thickness) 3/4''x3/4''x3' aluminum square...