10 Times Regular People Built Unbelievable Things at Home

We should never underestimate the power of a single determined person working alone in a locked room. When people have a dream and a vision to build something that they clearly envision in their mind, they will forgo sleep, think about it, and continuously work on the project each day until it’s done. What a single person can achieve with drive and commitment can be extremely inspiring.

In this list, we’ll look at ten individuals who built something alone, at home, that most people would never have the will, patience, time, or determination to make.

Related: 10 Inventions That Thrived in Ways Their Creators Never Expected

10 Building a DIY Barrel Train to Entertain Kids at Home

No one knows exactly when the first barrel train was built, but they became popular attractions at local fairs, pumpkin patches, and holiday festivals during the mid-to-late 20th century. In recent years, homemade barrel trains have become a low-budget alternative to expensive amusement parks, offering families an affordable way to create lasting memories at home.

In October 2020, the Nater Tater YouTube channel posted a video with step-by-step instructions for building a do-it-yourself (DIY) barrel train. Interestingly, this barrel train was constructed during the COVID-19 pandemic when many children were stuck at home due to lockdowns. In the video, Nate, a dedicated father of two small children, built a multi-colored barrel train using 55-gallon (200-liter) drums for his four-year-old daughter’s upcoming birthday party.

He did all of the work in his garage workshop using his own tools and his own ingenuity. As a good father concerned about the safety of his children, he made sure that he purchased food-grade drums free of any harmful or toxic chemicals/substances. One thing that makes a barrel train build easy is that you can use items that you already have in your home as power sources to move the train: a lawn mower, an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), or even a small garden tractor will work.

Building a barrel train at home is affordable, and most of the required materials can be found at hardware stores or repurposed from items you already own. With a little creativity and some basic tools, anyone can craft their own backyard train and bring joy to kids (and big kids at heart) for many years to come.^[1]

9 Building a Simple DIY Vinyl Record Player

The first version of the record player actually recorded sound to cylinders. It was called the phonograph, invented by Thomas Edison in 1877. Edison’s first phonograph had a rotating cylinder wrapped in a thin sheet of tin foil. The gramophone, invented in 1887, improved Edison’s design using 78 RPM flat shellac records. The modern vinyl LP was not invented until 1948. Peter Carl Goldmark, an employee of Columbia Records, led the team that designed the modern vinyl LP.

In the last few years, vinyl records have made a huge comeback. For example, in 2021, vinyl record sales increased by 68%, reaching $1 billion for the first time since 1985. However, while compact disc players are still relatively cheap, high-end turntables can be very pricey. For example, as of early 2025, you can buy a CD player on Amazon for as little as $20, but the cheapest vinyl turntable that I was able to find costs about $144.

One should never underestimate the ingenuity, determination, and creativity of the Do It Yourself community. One particularly inventive DIYer built their own record player from scratch using simple, everyday materials. With a sewing needle, a piece of paper, cardboard, an electric motor, a battery, a DC motor speed controller, a rubber band, and a bit of plywood, they crafted a functioning turntable capable of playing vinyl records. The sound quality wasn’t perfect, but it proved the point: you don’t need high-end equipment to play vinyl records.

Another DIYer built a working vinyl record player for just $20 using plywood, a motor, batteries, wire, a small amplifier, speakers, wooden rods, magnets, a potentiometer, a phono cartridge (needle), and a 3D-printed turntable platter. They assembled the components into a custom wooden box, with the motor spinning the platter and the tonearm stabilized by magnets. The needle’s signal was amplified and played through small speakers. While it took some skill to build, the end result was a low-cost, fully functional turntable.^[2]

8 Building a DIY AM Radio

Unfortunately, most people in the world don’t fully understand how the technology around them works. For example, millions of people listen to the radio every day, but only a small percentage could actually explain how it works. Radios have been a part of everyday life for over one hundred years. Yet most people don’t know the inner workings of how they capture signals from the air and convert them into sound. Complexity and convenience are a double-edged sword: Convenience allows people to use advanced technology effortlessly, but it also means they never have to learn how the devices around them truly function.

A website called Circuit Basics published a guide that explains how to build an AM radio at three different levels of complexity. The first design is a simple crystal radio that requires no external power and uses radio waves alone to produce sound. The second version includes a transistor amplifier, boosting the signal strength and improving audio quality. The third and most advanced design incorporates an LM386 audio amplifier, allowing the radio to drive a speaker for louder sound output.

The YouTube channel inventor KR has almost half a million subscribers, and the channel published a detailed video demonstrating how to build a simple AM radio. Viewers found the video both educational and entertaining: as of early 2025, it has nearly 3 million views. Interestingly, the presenter does not speak at all during the video. Instead, they carefully demonstrate the step-by-step process of placing each circuit component onto a small circuit board. At the exciting culmination of the video, the presenter tunes the radio to pick up different stations broadcasting on the AM band.

Hopefully, Circuit Basics and inventor KR will inspire young, middle-aged, and elderly people to continue to learn, experiment, tinker, and invent.^[3]

7 Building a Drill-Powered Electric Bike

An electric drill is far more powerful than most people realize. A typical corded drill draws between 500 to 800 watts, with some heavy-duty models exceeding 1,000 watts. High-end cordless drills from brands like Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Makita can briefly match or exceed these outputs, making them surprisingly capable motors. For comparison, the E-Cells 600-Watt Hardtail E-Bike can reach speeds of 20 mph (32 km/h). This power potential inspired one DIYer, YouTuber JoshBuilds, to construct an off-road drill-powered bike using PVC pipe and a few simple components.

Instructables user jackjackboom produced an easy-to-follow guide for using a cordless power drill to create a DIY electric bike. His version uses a friction drive system, where the drill’s spinning chuck presses directly against the bicycle’s tire. [4a] The drill is secured to the frame using zip ties, and a wooden block supports the battery. A brake handle and bicycle cable are repurposed to serve as a throttle, allowing the rider to control the drill trigger from the handlebars. Though rough around the edges, this setup propels the bike forward effectively—though it sacrifices the ability to coast.

The electric bicycle project is attractive to many because it is relatively easy, relatively cheap, and does not take much time to see good results. A basic cordless drill, some zip ties, and a little creativity can turn an ordinary bicycle into a low-cost electric ride within a few hours.

JoshBuilds’s project, alongside guides like jackjackboom’s, sparked interest among DIY enthusiasts around the world. JoshBuilds’s “How to Make a Drill Powered Electric Bike – Simple and Cheap” YouTube video was posted on September 20, 2017, and as of early 2025, it is approaching three million views.^[4]

6 Building a Burning Laser for Cheap

Lasers are high-technology tools typically used in industrial applications, laboratories, and futuristic weaponry. For example, the United States Navy recently tested a drone-destroying laser weapon known as the HELIOS system (High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance) onboard the USS Preble. The HELIOS system is extremely advanced: There’s no way that a single individual could build it in his or her garage. However, there are much simpler laser systems that a single person can build. In fact, one can build a laser at home with relatively cheap components such as AA batteries, diodes, resistors, and a laser module.

One extremely popular DIY laser guide was created by Instructables user joeismydad, who documented how to make a cheap yet powerful laser. In his guide, joeismydad guides the reader step-by-step through constructing a red laser that outputs about 400 milliwatts. The laser is strong enough to burn electrical tape, light matches, and melt thin plastic. The core component is a laser diode salvaged from an old DVD burner, which can be extracted with basic tools and repurposed to emit a highly focused beam of light.

In joeismydad’s own words, he initially underestimated the dangers of laser technology. He suffered an eye injury when a beam accidentally reflected back at him. He later updated his tutorial to emphasize the necessity of laser safety goggles, which he now strongly recommends as a mandatory precaution. His guide has since been widely shared, and it has inspired many hobbyists to experiment with DIY optics. However, safety cannot be emphasized enough if you decide to do a project like this yourself. Eye protection is an absolute must.

For those who approach this kind of DIY project with caution and respect, building a burning laser can be both an exciting technical challenge that builds knowledge and confidence.^[5]

5 Building a 3D-Printed Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike

The bicycle has been around for over two centuries, evolving from simple wooden frames to modern high-tech speed machines. It started in 1817 with the Laufmaschine, a pedal-less contraption that riders pushed with their feet. By the 1860s, pedals arrived, bringing the infamous “boneshaker,” named for its rough and uncomfortable ride.

Then came the penny-farthing, with its massive front wheel and dangerous falls. Finally, in the 1880s, the safety bicycle gave us the familiar design we use today. While the bicycle’s core design hasn’t changed much in over a hundred years, modern technology, like electric motors and 3D printing, is leading to some bold new innovations. One of the wildest? A bike that rolls on giant spheres instead of wheels.

With his latest creation, James Bruton, a former toy designer turned YouTube engineer, took bicycle design in a completely new direction. In early 2025, he released a video showing off his self-built ball-wheeled bicycle, a bright red machine that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie. Instead of regular wheels, it balances on two massive plastic spheres powered by five high-performance brushless motors from ODrive Robotics. These motors are designed for precision applications and provide the power needed to keep the bike balanced and responsive.

To bring this idea to life, Bruton printed most of the bike’s parts at home using selective laser sintering (SLS), a high-precision 3D printing method. He also worked with PCB Way to fabricate custom aluminum components, adding extra strength where needed. The bike’s movement system is built around three omni-wheels positioned around each sphere. These wheels spin at different speeds to control direction, allowing the bike to glide forward, backward, and even sideways.

The bike is fully functional and includes handlebars for steering. The riding experience is unlike anything else—it’s smooth, responsive, and feels more like hovering than rolling. It may not be built for city streets, but as a creative engineering project, it stands out as something truly unique.^[6]

4 Two Self-Taught Engineers Built Fully Functional Computers at Home

Building a computer from scratch seems like something that requires a team of engineers, a clean room, and advanced manufacturing facilities, but two self-taught tech enthusiasts, Ben Eater and 3DSage, built fully functional computers at home using only simple electronics, logic gates, and patience.

Ben Eater’s approach was methodical and educational. He assembled an 8-bit computer entirely on breadboards, wiring every component by hand and explaining each step in a detailed YouTube series. His system runs machine code, performs calculations, and executes basic programs while providing an open-source blueprint for others to follow. His project has become a learning tool for aspiring engineers, showing how computers process information at the most fundamental level.

Meanwhile, YouTuber 3DSage took on an even more ambitious challenge, designing and building a computer completely from scratch, soldering every component onto a custom circuit board. The process was so difficult that he nearly quit multiple times, but in the end, he succeeded. His home-built system has a functioning display, keyboard input, and custom-programmed logic, making it one of the most advanced DIY computer projects ever attempted.

Both computers work, running real programs on hardware built by hand.^[7]

3 A Fully Functional Paintball Tank

Most kids dream of having the coolest toy on the block, but one lucky child got something beyond imagination—a fully functional, drivable paintball tank. Built by a dedicated father in his home garage, this tracked vehicle was designed for all-out paintball warfare.

Instead of designing everything from the ground up, the father behind this project repurposed an old quad bike and a broken scooter to form the base of the vehicle. He borrowed an engine, installed a comfortable seat, and mounted wheels and working tracks to give the tank real off-road capability. To complete the build, he added a fully enclosed hatch and a paintball gun system, complete with an internal screen that allows the driver to aim and fire without exposing himself to enemy fire. The Quantum Tech HD video showcases the incredible results, capturing the tank in action as it rolls across rough terrain and fires with impressive precision.

The build was featured on Quantum Tech HD, a YouTube channel with 16 million subscribers. The video has been viewed more than three million times. While it may look like a high-end paintball toy, this is more of an engineering project than a simple backyard upgrade. Creating a functional tracked vehicle required balancing weight distribution, integrating a steering system, and modifying the drivetrain to work with the new tank-like structure.

While most people settle for basic paintball markers, this father built something far more advanced, giving his son an unforgettable way to play.^[8]

2 A Model Rocket That Lands Like a SpaceX Falcon 9

On a Sunday evening in 1969, at precisely 8:17 p.m. UTC, an event unfolded that forever changed how people, especially young people, viewed outer space. No single moment in human history has captivated the world’s imagination about space travel more than this one. On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 mission successfully landed on the Moon. Since that day, countless people around the world have been fascinated by rockets and space exploration.

Fast forward 56 years, and SpaceX has revolutionized rocketry with its reusable Falcon 9 boosters, which make controlled landings instead of burning up in the atmosphere. Precision landings like these seem like the kind of achievement only an elite team of aerospace professionals could pull off, but an exceptionally creative amateur rocketeer built a working scale model in his backyard.

YouTuber Joe Barnard of BPS.space spent years developing a model rocket that could replicate the Falcon 9’s controlled descent. Unlike typical hobby rockets, which rely on parachutes, Barnard’s rocket steers itself mid-air using thrust vector control, adjusting its own engine to stay on course. Pulling this off required custom software, finely tuned sensors, and relentless trial and error.

After countless failures, Barnard finally succeeded. His rocket launched, hovered, and then slowly descended, landing upright on a tiny pad, just like a Falcon 9 booster. No other hobbyist has accomplished such a feat so far. His success will hopefully inspire others, both young and old, to safely replicate or even improve upon what they see professionals achieve with far greater budgets and resources.^[9]

1 The Unbelievable Thing that a Teenager Built in His Backyard

What is one thing that seems impossible for a single teenager to build alone? A nuclear reactor, perhaps? While no teenager has ever built a fully functional nuclear reactor, David Hahn came dangerously close.

Building a treehouse or a go-kart is one thing, but building a nuclear reactor is on another level entirely. In the mid-1990s, a Michigan teenager named David Hahn attempted to make a breeder reactor in his mother’s backyard shed. Instead, he created a dangerously radioactive setup that led to an EPA cleanup.

Initially, Hahn was working toward his Atomic Energy merit badge, but his project quickly escalated beyond a simple scout experiment. Using household items and scrap materials, he managed to extract radioactive isotopes from common products, such as lantern mantles containing thorium and old clocks with radium-coated dials. Over time, he collected enough radioactive material to attempt a breeder reactor, a device capable of generating nuclear reactions.

His “reactor” never reached critical mass, but it became dangerously radioactive. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was eventually called in after authorities detected radiation levels 1,000 times higher than normal in his backyard. His experiment triggered an emergency cleanup, and his shed was declared a hazardous materials site.

Though his nuclear ambitions were dangerously misguided, Hahn’s ingenuity and persistence were undeniable. He taught himself nuclear physics from outdated textbooks, sourcing materials in ways that even surprised professionals. While his experiment ended with an EPA intervention rather than scientific glory, it remains one of the most shocking homemade projects ever attempted.^[10]