Engineers are really sought-after professionals nowadays. Whether they do home or auto repairs, electricity, architecture, or civil engineering, there were over 62 million engineers working in the U.S. in 2022, with the industry projected to continue growing significantly up to 2033.
But, just as not all heroes wear capes, not all engineers are professionals. Some just like to dabble in redneck engineering and share their creations on the dedicated subreddit. Who else if not Redneck Engineers would make a guitar out of a road sign or a Cybertruck out of metal siding? Scroll down to see these and more inventions folks have shared in the "Redneck Engineering" group!
More info: Reddit
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Maybe Not Pretty, But
A friend of mine became frustrated with the complicated process of acquiring a permit to build an attached deck. His town, apparently, made you jump through silly hoops. After a bit of research, he built his deck so that it was not attached to the house in any way. The town tried fining him, but he had broken no laws.
Uncle did the same thing for the same reason, except he used an old trailer
W Parents
Two Lock Authentication
My dad did that with our roller gate. Instead of putting a chain or lock on it, he just drilled a hole behind the top roller (gate was only 5 foot high) and put a padlock on it. So years after he died, I hear scrabbling noises by the gate. (I'm home alone with just my tiny dog.) Can't see anything so decide to just wait until morning. The next morning I see the chicken wire at the bottom (to prevent dog from running out) has been torn open. Person obviously looking to fiddle with a gate motor. Except there was none, and the padlock could not be seen unless you knew where it was. Person must have given up and left. Stymied by a man who'd been dead for years. Thank you, Dad.
Pedantic time: This is not Two Lock Authentication. Two Lock Authentication means two people have to be there to unlock the space. This setup allows either one of the key-holders access without the other being present.
I agree and don't even think you're being pedantic.
Load More Replies..."redneck," engineering has shown me some of the most brilliant ideas ever!
But this is just one lock authentication? If you take the bottom lock off, you can slide the horseshoe out. So why not just put that single lock on it without the horseshoe?
ETA: Ooh. It’s so two people with different keys can get in with their own padlock key. Still, it’s not a double authentication situation. They’re using that phrase in the wrong context.
Load More Replies...There's a big demand for professional engineers in the U.S. at the moment. According to the Boston Consulting Group, one in three new roles in the engineering sector remain unfilled each year. And America isn't the only country experiencing a shortage of engineering talent.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy has reportedly predicted that there will be a shortage of 3,000 professional engineers by 2030. Similarly, Germany has shared that it has a deficit of 320,000 STEM specialists as of April 2022. Truly, the world needs more engineers, just perhaps not the kind you'll see on this list.
For Rainy Season
Lol, might teach this to the walthamstow traders after witnessing an incident that put us in hysterics when one decided to just use a broom to clear the "roof" of the accumulated water, not seeing the kid going past at the time. I'm still LMAO about his absolute shock. Thankfully he also saw the funny side.
It DOES work well! We used to be vendors at festivals, this saved us many time! THIS IS NOT RED-NECK....ITS' GENIUS!!
My “Custom” Prescription Goggles For Snowboarding
I Screwed A Mesh Screen To A Cap To Use While Weedwacking
Sweat and slip down nose. Fog up if it's humid out. Weeds/grass stick to them. This looks cooler?
Load More Replies...This protects your whole face, not just your eyes.
Load More Replies...We might not realize it, but many of us used to engage in engineering when we were kids. Whether it's building Legos, making paper airplanes, or assembling ramps, there's probably that engineer's streak in most of us. Experts claim that building and designing such simple constructions helps children's cognitive abilities.
These are the benefits they point out most often:
- that's how kids learn to problem-solve;
- it fosters creativity;
- it enhances motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination;
- it teaches kids critical thinking;
- it helps them practice communication;
- and it prepares them for possible future careers.
Installing A Hanging Shelf For The First Time And Here's My Scaffolding To Hold It Because I'm Not Confident I'll Hold It Straight
Siding Truck
While I question how intentional it was, the misspelling works in his favor to avoid infringement.
I give the owner the benefit of the doubt and assume it was to avoid enfringement claims. Musk and his pals can be overly litigious.
Load More Replies...Nothing but hate in these comments. Normal. Go outside. It's summer. Weirdos.
And just like the original the panels my fly off when driving down the road 🤣
Nothing Says Hospitality...
Agree about the cushions . Also drill some holes so water doesn't collect
Load More Replies...Kinda cute, just really hope they sanded and sealed the edges. The cut edges of even a thin layer of porcelain will slice the heck out of you
The breakfast biscuits are ready. Want me to go get a tub of butter?
But even when we grow up, engineering can be fun. And we don't even have to become professionals to engage in some DIY engineering. Blogger Siddharth Kothari, although an educated professional engineer now, started off by watching tutorials online. In a blog post, he recounts how engineering for him began as a hobby, building guitar effect pedals.
The Chipper
Yes but when he comes out he's still kinda funny lookin.
Load More Replies...I'm all in if that's the cheapest option for my cadaver. No point in wasting money on anything fancy.
6 People Have Their Own Lock And Each Person Can Open The Gate With Their Own
So six different people can access it, but if any one of them leaves the company, loses a key or whatever they can change one lock without the other five needing to do anything.
Load More Replies...This is frequently used on leased hunting land with single road access.
Sure. But as Ace pointed out, should one person leave or lose a key, you replace one cheap padlock, and the other five people keep on, uninterrupted, no need to distribute new keys. Unconventional, I'll grant you, but very efficient and effective.
Load More Replies...How does unlocking lock18 open this ? The square plate prevents you from sliding the bar out of the slot in the pin.
USPS Snowbird
Between things like this, and the 'Galloping Goose' designs (single, independently powered rail boxcar to carry mail when running a full train was not cost effective), the Mail Must Get Through! Galloping-...51fc79.jpg
The last 5 words were true until DeJoy was given control.
Load More Replies...For the vehicle pictured, just like any bulldozer or crawler tractor. Differential clutch/brake systems for each track. You have two steering levers in front of the operator. Pull back on the left one, and the left track is declutched and stops driving. With the right track still under power, the vehicle turns gently to the left. Pull that level back harder, and the left track brake is applied, stopping that track entirely. Then the vehicle turns more sharply to the left. Reverse that with the other steering level for a right turn. For a rail-mounted 'Galloping Goose', they steered like any other train - follow the tracks and use rail switches to change directions.
Load More Replies...With the help of YouTube, Facebook groups, and salvaging broken electronics from his dad's office and the local electronics store, Kothari soon put together his first "dark sensor" circuit at 15. Later, he would make guitar amplifiers from any drillable boxes he could find at home—even a Sprite can. This just goes to show that where there's a will, there's a way!
Made This Guitar A Few Weeks Ago For A Friend's Birthday
And when he's getting bored, he can switch to After Forever's song Yield To Temptation. Or to playing Pearl Jam's entire album Yield.
Load More Replies...Probably for the best. A real one would be way too thin for a guitar body. This one looks sick and could actually sound good
Load More Replies...Kid Wanted A Kiss Doll, All We Could Afford Was A Sharpie
While not exact KISS it's more KISS than KD 133288_0_m...6b66b8.jpg
My Dad Hurt His Shoulder. Made This
Looks like maybe a golf club bag system, but that's just a guess on my part.
Load More Replies...My exact question. Maybe OP meant that they made it for their dad, in which case it would have just been easier to weed whack for dad.
Load More Replies...When we think of DIY as a hobby, crafting often comes to mind. But DIY engineering is just as legitimate and as real a hobby as knitting or painting. Some people build bicycles. If you're a real gearhead, this might be just the thing for you. A custom-built bicycle will have a saddle that fits you right away, cranks that are the right length, and bars of the perfect shape and width.
Multi Use
Not sure I'd want that in the case of an accident, could end up smashing into someone.
Reminds me of the myth busters episode where they test what free-floating objects in your car could k**l you..
I was thinking the exact same thing!! 🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies...Sorta looks like one of the old full size vans to me. I could be wrong tho
Load More Replies...Nasa’s Apollo 17 Astronauts Used Spare Maps, Clamps, And Strips Of "Duct Tape" To Repair One Of Their Lunar Rover's Fenders In December 1972
Why go to college when you can watch episodes of Red Green show to get ideas like this
Canoeing
It's just another day in paradise and you can't hurry love, but I can feel it coming in the air tonight, so take me home.
Load More Replies...You would expect to see a mullet on the guy using a pitchfork-license plate combo as an oar
Toy building is another type of DIY engineering. This can even include original board games! There are even people who DIY their kids' toy cars. All they need is a 3D printer, metal axles, and toy wheels. If making a fancier toy car, others add recordable sound chips, LEDs, and sound boxes. With a little help from the Internet, you can make almost anything!
Perfect
Came to find a Christine comment and was not disappointed.
Load More Replies...NSW? New South Wales? Look I know Australia is a harsh environment but... Also that is a UK Ford Prefect, HHGTTG fans will click.
I'm So Tired Of My Husband's DIY
I actually like these. But they have to get super hot during the summer. And leave black marks on you.
Only bad thing is they'll leave black marks on your clothes, but the design is cool.
Needs cushions to protect your clothes from getting stained, but looks to be solid as a rock.
Improvise, Adapt, Overcome!
Could have turned it into a duel disk, but no, you just HAD to do things like a normal person.
Talking of LEDs, there are some cool projects that people can DIY with LED strips. If you only get creative enough, you can customize your room, office, or gaming set-up, make an LED projector box, install motion-activated lights in your closet or cabinets, or even accessorize a motorcycle.
Son's Bed Rungs Were Slippery In Socks
Had some spare water pipe insulation, silicone (so it doesn't spin) and zip ties.
Ladder to get to the top bunk - rungs slippery if wearing socks. No longer slippery due to fix
Load More Replies...I have never encountered a bunk bed latter that didn't hurt while climbing up or down.Might just be my over sensitive body, but I could've used something like that, too =)
Perfume
I've met people whose cologne/perfume enters the room before they do. Yuck.
I don't see how this would work. The bottle is a non - screw type with a smaller opening than the screw type sprayer pictured here
For these types of sprayers with the tube, the only thing it really needs is for the tube to have the end in liquid. it'll work no matter the connection, and unless you're swinging the perfume around it should be fine.
Load More Replies...20 Pound War Hammer Made From Stuff I Found While Magnet Fishing
If Tiny Tim could lift it, he wouldn't need it. lol
Load More Replies...Magnet fishing anywhere that's seen heavy bombing in the WWII or something comes with some extra tension, btw.
This one might require more knowledge than other engineering hobbies, but robotics can be a cool way to spend your free time if you're passionate. Who hasn't thought that making robots is cool after watching Robot Wars as a kid? Today, you can even get beginner kits online to try it out! Probably safer than straight-up Redneck engineering, too.
Marketplace Never Ceases To Amaze Me
I think $60.00 sounds right for such wonderful work
Load More Replies...He's Got A Woody
It may be Redneck Engineering, but by God, it's really *high quality* Redneck Engineering!
In the U.K. a woody (Apart from the obvious) can also mean a Morris Minor estate car made with wood straight from the factory.
The moggie was made almost as a copy (in miniature) of the many American "station wagons" that also included a large amount of wood in their construction.
Load More Replies...Don’t Pay The Disposal Fee Next Time And Make Something
Why would you be disposing of a tyre that appears to have brand new tread?
Prob had a whole or slice in a spot you can't patch.
Load More Replies...In Canada you pay the disposal fee when you buy tires. You can drop old tires off to any shop for disposal.
If you're not keen on literally building things with your hands, and like virtual things, creating video games count as engineering! And you don't have to be a master coder to do so. If you're into retro games, there are retro gaming consolesthat allow you to code and develop your own games. After all, Slenderman was made using the Unity engine, so your own creativity is really the limit here!
Homemade Taco Holders
New Yacht, Having Trouble Naming Her Any Thoughts?
Backyard Bidet
That's only because you've been paying attention.
Load More Replies...Imagine looking out your kitchen window and seeing your neighbour using this.
😂😂 you wouldn't get me away from the kitchen window for the rest of, uhm, the neighbour's 'sitting'
Load More Replies...Thank gosh I live in the country, where I can take a cr@p in my front yard w/o offending any of the neighbors
But what do you think about the ingenuity of these redneck engineers, Pandas? Would you ever dare to construct something like this? Or maybe you have already? Share your thoughts with us in the comments! And if you feel like seeing more similar engineering projects, head over here, here, and here!
Ride On Recliner
I want this. And I'm putting a much more powerful motor on it.
How My BF Lifted The Washing Machine Onto The Table He Built For Our Laundry Room
He literally drilled into the ceiling just to have something to secure the ratchet straps to the washing machine as he attempted to lift it onto the table with a hydraulic jack (unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of the wooden frame he built, carefully crafted to have a “jack point”, and the wood was ratchet strapped to the bottom of the washer as he jacked it up.
After seeing the washer swinging around a bit, I brought in the paver bricks from the backyard to help with stability after the washer was swinging a bit too much to jack it any higher up.
I was so stressed out about the swinging washer that I walked away after snapping the pic (to send to a friend begging them to come over and bring their bf to help with this washing machine lifting) and came back a few minutes later to see the washer was up on the table he built.
I’m just glad he figured it out because we had no washer or dryer for almost a month after the custom table was built and put in the laundry room, but we couldn’t figure out how to get it the f**k up there!
Are you taking the pisss? My front load washer weighs 85 kilos, and is so big around my 6'3 husband can barely maneuver it, let alone deadlift.
Load More Replies...I used over the fridge cabinets and white laminate over ply wood to level the top of the cabinets. Cabinets have doors and the premade at Lowes in white probably a lot cheaper compared to that wood. But I could just pick them up no jacking needed.
I just bought a stacking washer/dryer set from a company that promised that they can work on them if need be, as long as I specify that they are stacked, as they will need 2 workers.
When Oem Parts Cost Too Much
Our property management company wanted to charge £80/hr to come and fix our bathroom door lock, plus parts. I bought two of these for £4 online and fixed it myself. Landlady was happy.
Roadside Gasket
Reminds me of when my brother and I completely rebuilt a '56 Ferguson tractor engine. The nearest store was a 50 mile round trip away, so we cut an exhaust gasket from a scrap strip of leather. It worked great and still doesn't leak 10 years later. You learn to make do.
Or the time on "Green Acres" when Oliver made a new head gasket out of Lisa's hotcake batter. (Flood the griddle with batter, cut out four hotcakes, remainder makes a new head gasket for the four-cylinder engine.)
Load More Replies...Friend of mine made me a temporary gasket for my motorcycle from a Manila file folder. Worked like a charm.
Sticks Are Always The Answer!
Increased AC Performance
It’s 100F here and the condenser cannot keep up. So I’m cooling it down.
Lower the unit temp by 30F and improved vent output by -10F.
High water bill is OK if the choice is not surviving. A couple weeks ago, our central air compressor failed, in the Northern Virginia DC suburbs, just in time for the June - July 100+ degree F heat dome. A couple weeks of curdled misery, with me caring for an 86 year old woman, a big Anatolian Shepherd (loves cold weather, hates heat), and three cats. Oh, and with contractors coming in to replace windows and doors. At least warranty covered the compressor, and it was just replaced a few days ago.
Load More Replies...Dad's Razor
I would wrap the drywall screw with plumber's epoxy putty to make a solid handle.
Function Over Beauty
Hey I'll take it! I'm so desperate for a vacation and am broke as a joke.
May not be the highest esthetic, but looks well-enough done and perfectly functional. Thumbs Up!
Jim Bob Just Gave An Osha Inspector A Stroke
They put the vehicle up on ramp stands to raise the back end up a bit higher (and give it a small tilt forward). Then placed a ladder from the roof of the vehicle up to the canopy. Looks like the ladder *might* have been *somewhat* secured via the vehicle's roof rack, but that is not certain. The perpetrator appears to have recognized that this is risky and at least made a nod in the direction of reducing the risk, but no inspector would approve this.
Load More Replies...When Everything Is Covered In Ice And Your Boots Have No Grip, But You Need To Go Outside
Yes, but you do have to go out to get them. If you did not prepare in time, and you are already snowed in, you improvise or break a hip. (Like my friend who told me she needed to get salt to make her driveway less of a death trap in winter. But she had to dare the icy driveway so she could get to a store.)
Load More Replies...Here's A Backyard Gate Indicator Light I Set Up In 10 Minutes With Parts I Had Laying Around
t's hard to make sure the gate is closed before letting the dogs outside, especially when it's dark, so I made this. It's powered by a 5V adapter connected to an outlet on the back of my house, conveniently located between the back door and the gate.
Cybershed
Imagine the looks you and your date get as you pull up to that fancy steak restaurant
Mobile Yard Clean Up And Burn Bucket
I built a garden incinerator out of a washing machine drum years ago, it's still going, lasted longer than any of the previous ones I purchased.
Nice Execution
It actually goes perfectly with the pallet couch and entertainment center. A nice, unified decorative theme.
When you're broke and either can't afford to buy or replace stuff you do what you have to do. Years ago, when one of my best friends FINALLY was able to leave her crazy a*s husband, going through a nightmare of a divorce, she basically had to start from nothing. On top of that she had 3 babies to take care, no car and I was the ONLY friend that had stuck around through her marriage. Both of us were broke as fūck, so we were hitting garage sales, flea markets and dumpster diving to scavenge what we could. She had basically her Mom, Grandparents, Uncle (her mom's side) me and my Mom and that was it to help her. We spent many nights on the front stoop of her apartment or my back patio sanding, painting, staining, taping, building stuff from spare parts and pieces of wood we found and a ton of sewing. It's a LONG and complicated story on how she and the kids ended up in that situation, but she's an awesome Mom to her kids and would do ANYTHING to protect them.
Anyways, with the exception of the baby cribs that we all chipped in, EVERYTHING in that first apartment was all DIY. Sometimes you have to learn how to make do with what you have, can build or find. I'm the youngest of 13 kids with a widowed Mom and we were always poor as hell, especially after Dad was killed when I was still a little kid. Money was ALWAYS tight when I was growing up and Mom taught us how to be self sufficient and make a penny scream. Those lessons that Mom taught us kids and our friends is what has allowed us to survive when things are bad. With my current situation, I'm so damned thankful that I learned how to adapt or I would be struggling much harder then I already am.
Load More Replies...Bottles Melted Onto Fence Pole Ends For Protection
rain , normally people just put a little plank or a piece of tin on top
Load More Replies...This is an old, inexpensive way to keep insects out of poles and moisture out of wood stakes so they wouldn't rot.
Thoroughly Impressed With This One
I get the idea, but the e*******n is flawed: keep a distance from open flame to a propane tank
So many things wrong with this not so ingenious set up. Beyond the obvious, burning paint gives off noxious fumes. That's just prior to the noxious metal fumes. Yummy, yummy.
Ran Out Of Aa Batteries
Yeah, will last you maybe an hour or two. About half the capacity (or less) of the AA ones.
That's an hour or two more than if they didn't do it 🤷♀️ also, your normal AA batteries last way longer than 2-4 hours, so one half of your statement is wrong.
Load More Replies...I Got Tired Of Emptying The Water Every Half An Hour
House Boots Made Of Glue To Catch Fleas
Just... Just call a d**n exterminator. Preferably BEFORE it gets to the point that you need special flea boots.
Perhaps they already did but the exterminator hasn't come yet. We lived with termites for 6 weeks waiting for treatment.
Load More Replies...Rig up a low wattage bulb, use foil to shine it down near floor over glue boards.Lleave on over night. Works best near couch or chairs where fleas hide.
Sounds like the voice of experience. Blessings to you for passing along your wisdom.
Load More Replies...Temp solution at best. Have to vacuum 2-3x a day for a month or 2 to catch all of them. They lay eggs, hatch etc. bravecto topical on the fur babies really helped, but then they go after the humans
Load More Replies...Deeecent
Thoughts??
Kinda clever, if you move the handles 90° you can grab things in tight spaces.
Would be even better if you had some locking nuts to vary the angle and spacing of the handles, although without knowing what exactly he made it for, I guess the movement might have been part of the design.
Load More Replies...Coffee Maker Broke
Hey, the lab glassware should'a told you this was a Mad Scientist's kitchen!
Load More Replies...You will never have a brewed beverage as good as laboratory-grade brewed beverages. I used my heating mantle/plate with a built-in stirrer (you drop a little magnetic stone, and the plate spins a magnet inside of it to spin the stone and stir your liquid) and a temperature probe to maintain the perfect temperature while making hot chocolate. Best. Drink. Ever. (The stirring stone, probe, and flask were all new and sterile, for the record)
Make It Fit!
Must Ride Like A Dream
With the outrageous cost of pickup trucks these days, this is a smart mod to do!
My 5 Year Old “Shelf” Surprisingly Hasn’t Broke
A 19-Year-Old From Poland Created This Wonder From A Shopping Cart On His Own Because He Was Banned From Driving By The Court
Yeah, so now as well as driving while disqualified he'll be charged with no registration, no number plates, no insurance, etc. etc.
Load More Replies...I thought "Why was he banned from driving in front of the courthouse?"🤪
“See - I Made It Fit!”
Any Guesses What Jimbo Had In Mind?
You're Not Allowed To Die
Till the wheels fall off..... but then again will probably duct tape them back on
Tremble In Fear
They were smoking something long before they started this project.
Load More Replies...My New Radiator!
stuffy fact: radiators made of steel not because steel (or other metals) is strong, but because it can collect and emit collected heat or cold (more ribs - bigger area - more heat). In this case energy conversion efficiency is low as it can be
Thermal conductivity is rooted in a material's physical properties. Cast iron has a high thermal mass, meaning it can absorb and store a significant amount of heat energy. Once heated, cast iron radiators release this stored heat gradually over time, helping to maintain the warmth of a room. This is due to the dense and heavy nature of cast iron, which takes longer to cool down than lighter materials like steel and aluminium. In contrast, steel and aluminium radiators have a much lower thermal mass, allowing them to heat up and cool down quickly. While this rapid response can be useful for short bursts of heat, it also means that these radiators lose warmth more quickly, requiring more frequent heating cycles to maintain a consistent temperature.
Load More Replies...Gonna Void My Warranty To Get Through That Hard Clay
Mow 'Em Down
So what? If you took the cover off the back bumper of my buddy's '76 Thunderbird, this is what you would have found. He got rear-ended once by a guy in a flashy new Mercedes. The Merc's front end was mashed, and he had a small scratch in the chrome cover over his bumper. The other driver was 'How...'. He told him to bend down and look under the bumper cover at the I-beam inside.
Hi. What Do You Think About This?
My step father did something like that but with only one and of course not a sturdy one .. well it doesn't cut anything BUT it makes the grass dancing
So This Guy Just Nailed A Plank To The Column For Steering
... I hope to God there's no functioning air bag. (You'd think there couldn't be, but with projects like this, you never really know...)
I Built My Own Monitor Holder So I Can Game In Bed
My Dad Was Quoted $1200 To Fix The AC. This Is His “No Cost” Solution
I Got Call For Maintenance For Blocked Drainage And I Found This
I'm Just Gonna Leave This Here
Sure Thing Boss We Could Do That, Inverted Trusses
Are... Are the force arrows for stress on a roof truss *invertable*?
Just Got Cooked On The Drywall Sub For My Homemade 24” Knife
Perfect Pallets
I Made This A Little While Back
Father In Law Made It Decades Ago. Works
A terrifying multi-socket on an extension lead.
Load More Replies...I Call It: Ice Breaker 5000
What am I looking at here? Is that a car engine fastened to the plow blade to supply weight?
Yay Or Nay?
Cell Phone Chargers: TSA Addition
I Found This In The Elevator At The Hotel I’m Staying At
What Do Ya’ll Think?
How Long Before It Blows?
The extra adapters don't make it any more likely to "blow". I guess the cord just wasn't long enough.
Take A Look At This Unit
I Built A Dust Resistant Computer Into The Ceiling Of My Workshop Because Why Not?
Went To Visit My Cousin And Was Very Amused
Semi Truck Used A Train
A True All Terrain Vehicle
The Car Door Booby Trap Reminded Me Of This Thing I Built Years Ago To Shoot Ultra Fine Glitter All Over A Guy's Desk When He Pulled His Keyboard Tray Out. I Hid It Behind His Monitor
What Is This?
Which costs 50 times more than a new power tool!
Load More Replies...Made A Gun A While Back
It Would Be Inappropriate Not To Share This
Not all that redneck. And it appears to be an official *something* for Pennsylvania.
Fixed
Needed A Bigger Antenna Fo The Garage Esp32
My Beer Kept Getting Knocked Over By Strong Winds
Weed Whacker Attachment For Zero-Turn Mower
There are some equally genius things too though.
Load More Replies...There are some equally genius things too though.
Load More Replies...
