Hello: my name is...

[MikeRussell]

Hello! I'm Mike and I Make.

I've lived in West/Northwest Spokane my entire life and started breaking/making computers at age 12. I started working as an IT Intern in high school and started doing freelance design and development by age 17. After high school I earned my undergraduate degree in Computer Science at Eastern Washington University.

In my day job I engineer software for a small biotech company located in Downtown Spokane. Since we employ less than 15 people, I also end up wearing every hat imaginable. I have the most experience with .NET languages but have used too many languages and technologies to list.

Hobbies *in no particular order:

Home Brewing - this hobby has taken me down far too many roads to describe in text. I started by making hard apple cider and mead (honey wine) and adding various other fruits to make one of a kind flavors. I then moved to extract based beer kits, made my own recipes and eventually moved to all-grain brewing. The wiki article will get you started with some basics if you're curious http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homebrewing

Music - Jamming, Writing, Performing, Recording, Mixing, Producing - I've done it all and love every aspect. See http://myspace.com/yesmanyesmusic - it has been a while since my last project, heh

Art - Paint / mixed medium - see http://ransidmeat.deviantart.com/ or my living room. haha.

Programming - I have written a handfull of neat little web applications - some have died off as I lose interest and some continue such as

Woodworking - see projects below

Photography - see http://pictryp.com/author/mikerussell/ for part of my last photo project - it has been a while since I posted.

Electronics - I just started tinkering with an arduino board to use as a homebrew process controller. So far it will be used to control hot water heater elements via solid state relays and monitor temperatures with 1-wire thermometer probes. It will eventually automate pumps, fans, valves, who knows! It's a current work in progress and I don't quite have any albums to share yet.

Drafting / Modeling / Rendering - think Google SketchUp / AutoCad / Rhino / Cinema4d

Video Games - I've still got the gaming itch from being a professional gamer. It sounds sillier as I age. Oh well.


Example projects in somewhat chronological order *memory plays tricks on me sometimes:

Apple Grinder and Cider Press - see http://appllog.blogspot.com

20' x 10' Pergola - simple outdoor sun shade and gathering area

Wet bar - about 7' of sitting space and a bar back, plumbed with water and 3 beer taps!

Shuffleboard table - custom fit to my basement to add to the bar atmosphere - see https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=...e2513740f8 for photos

Home brewery based in a 8' x 12' shed - Probably will always be a work in progress

Beer Keg to Brew Kettle, Mash Tun and Hot Liquor Tank conversions with weldless high-temperature fittings

Electric Keg conversions ( Work in Progress )

Automated Brewing controller ( Work in Progress )


I've heard about a couple different maker groups in the area and I'm always willing to lend a hand to help out! I look forward to meeting other like-minded people and checking out what the group has going on.