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Archive: Toolbox
May 16, 2008
Make a logic probe from a syringe
Just don't stick yourself!
The tip is razer sharp, easily digging far enough into a pin to hold its place. A finger's weight on the plunger keeps the probe in place; it has never once slipped to short two pins, as my multimeter's probe is wont to do.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
May 16, 2008 03:36 PM
Electronics, Toolbox |
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May 15, 2008
Mystery Box of Electronics Junk
How funl is this: A migrating mystery box o' electronics junk that may show up on YOUR doorstep. EMS Labs explains how it works:
The Great Internet Migratory Box Of Electronics Junk is a progressive lending library of electronic components. An internet meme in physical form halfway between P2P zip-archive sharing and a flea market. It arrives full of wonderful (and possibly useless) components, but you will surely find some treasures to keep. You will be inspired look through your own piles, such as they are, and find more mysterious components that clearly need to be donated to the box before it is passed on again.
The Great Internet Migratory Box Of Electronics Junk
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
May 15, 2008 12:00 PM
Toolbox |
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May 14, 2008
Tool Fence
Michael at Do Design DIY made a set of instructions for constructing this hand tool holder perfect for makers and crafters.
Posted by Becky Stern |
May 14, 2008 09:00 PM
Toolbox |
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May 13, 2008
DIY Box Handles
MAKE Section Editor Charles Platt has a series of great moving tips in Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools:
Make handles from half-inch plastic water pipe sawn into 5" lengths. My local Lowe's sold me six feet of pipe for around $3 and you can use any wood saw to cut it. You may feel this is a luxury, but if you want to protect your hands from the edges of the plastic tape, handles are nice to have.
Thread tape through handle.
Turn box upside-down and cross the tape ends.
Turn box right-side-up and thread one of the returning tape ends through the handle.
Add the buckle.
After pulling the tape tight, your box is now very easy to carry.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
May 13, 2008 02:00 PM
Toolbox |
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May 12, 2008
Unusual tool guide
Have a home improvement project with some strange tasks? Nicholas writes in with this guide to unusual tools that could save you a few day's work, and keep you safer by using the proper tool for the unusual job. I learned a few things about trench and hole digging, as well as cutting tile.
Posted by Becky Stern |
May 12, 2008 09:00 PM
Toolbox |
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DIY: Dyno
If you want to get the most out of you motorcycle, or car, you really need to have a baseline measurement of your ride. A dyno is something that a high performance shop may have, or you can usually find them at a rally like Sturgis or Daytona. I have never seen one in a home shop.
Via hack a day - Make your own dyno
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
May 12, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Toolbox, Transportation |
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May 8, 2008
Craftsman 1470 piece tool set - only $8,600
Craftsman 1470 pc. Professional Tool Set - Model H0259 @ Sears looks more like modern art than a tool collection - via DVICE.
A great collection of mechanics tools. Includes 300 pc. Base Essentials Set (33300), 198 pc. Professional Essentials Set (33198), 189 pc. Specialized Essentials Set (35189), 204 pc. Advanced Access Pro's Set (33204), 106 pc. Advanced Professional Tool Set (35106), 89 pc. Specialized Access Professional Tool Set (35086), 83 pc. Ultimate Fully-Polished Ratcheting Set (35183), 77 pc. Heavy-Duty Mechanic's Set (35079), 94pc. Auto Specialty Professional Tool Set (35098) and 130 pc. Professional Impact Set (34130). Catalog# 34131
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
May 8, 2008 09:00 AM
Toolbox |
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April 24, 2008
HOW TO - Set a grommet
Have you ever wanted to make or repair your own tarp? Or maybe make a professional-looking flag for your kids' treehouse? You're going to need grommets. Nat @ CRAFT writes:
ModHomeEcTeacher has a great DIY with her Ten Minute Grommet Workshop, showing you all the great tips for getting a grommet on right!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Apr 24, 2008 09:00 PM
Crafts, Toolbox |
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April 21, 2008
Tutorial on Bondo
Hack n Mod has a round-up of useful information and how-tos related to Bondo, the wondrous auto body filler with hundreds of other uses.
The Power of Bondo: A Comprehensive Tutorial
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 21, 2008 12:00 PM
Arts, Crafts, Toolbox |
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April 19, 2008
How to - Make a drill press
This is a nice instructable that is built from parts headed for the garbage. Unfortunately I just gave away a compact radial arm saw because it wasn't working very well, and I didn't have much use for it. If I saw this instructable, I think I would have converted it to a drill.
Learn how to make your own Drill Press
Related:
Make a $30 High-speed PCB drill press
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Apr 19, 2008 09:00 AM
DIY Projects, Instructables, Toolbox |
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April 15, 2008
Seriously screwed up
If your all-time favorite simple machine is the helical inclined plane, if words like "panhead," "countersink," and "Pozidriv" have a mysteries hold over you, if your idea of fun is looking at vintage YouTube footage of Soviet-era screw-drive vehicles (and whose isn't?), you'll want to bookmark the singular hardware high weirdness that is the Screw Asylum.
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 15, 2008 04:00 PM
Toolbox |
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April 10, 2008
Hello Kitty... power sander?
And with that, we've finally reached some sort of pod people (pod kitty?) singularity/assimilation situation in which every product in the known universe has been Hello Kitty branded.
The outrageous Hello Kitty Power Sander [via]
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 10, 2008 08:00 PM
Toolbox, Toys and Games |
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| Comments (2)
Closet workbench
From the MAKE Flickr photo pool
With seemingly no place left to work on his electronics projects, Adam turned his office closet into a stealthy concealable work area - neat idea! Now let's see a fume extractor in there, eh?
- Uncluttering with a Closet Workbench & photos
Related:
Simple workbench AND MEGA WORKBENCH ROUND UP
In the Maker store:
MAKE:it - Electronic Makers Toolkit
Posted by Collin Cunningham |
Apr 10, 2008 01:00 AM
Electronics, Toolbox |
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| Comments (7)
April 9, 2008
Our kind of catalog
Make: Books indexer extraordinaire Patti Schiendelman sent us a link to this seriously cool UK catalog of "Weird, smart, strange, bizarre, electronic, technology resources and materials." Hey, that sounds like our market demo!
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 9, 2008 12:00 PM
Science, Toolbox |
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| Comments (5)
April 8, 2008
Sheets o' Duct Tape
Mister Jalopy writes on D+R:
Quite awesome! Using these 8 1/2" x 11" duct tape sheets is like having a roll of duct tape almost a foot wide. I may have to start using these sheets as stationery for special correspondence - read the letter, patch your lifeboat!DuctSheetz - Pack of 10 sheets $6.99
Intertape Polymer Group 10-Pk. of DuctSheetz
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 8, 2008 02:00 PM
Toolbox |
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| Comments (3)
April 4, 2008
Repairing paperbacks
By way of Mister Jalopy and Dinosaurs + Robots comes this interesting tip on repairing paperback book covers by reheated and reseating the cover to the spine. I'm definitely going to try this (first on an expendable title, as suggested).
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 4, 2008 02:00 PM
Crafts, Retro, Toolbox |
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| Comments (1)
April 2, 2008
Kip's video tips
Kipkay has some decent video tips in his Video Tips & Tricks Volume 2.
Kipkay's Video Tips & Tricks 2
Related:
Posted by Gareth Branwyn |
Apr 2, 2008 03:00 PM
Imaging, Toolbox |
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How to: Candy tin fume extractor
A fume extractor uses an activated carbon filter and fan to remove the smoke, and noxious fumes, created from soldering. The average price of a small hobby version is about $100, this one will run you about $10. This fume extractor will not be as effective as a larger one, but it is better than nothing, and extremely portable. Remember, always work in a well-ventilated area.
Parts you need:
(1) 7812 - Voltage regulator
(1) Candy tin
(1) Switch
(1) 40 mm case fan
(2) 9-Volt batteries
(2) "Cheap" 9V battery connectors (see step 2 & 3)
(2) Pieces of screen
(1) Piece of activated carbon filter
Some heat shrink tubing
A few inches of Wire
Rosin core solder
Miscellaneous screws and washers
Paint (optional)
Tools you need:
Soldering iron
Dremel with cutoff wheel
Drill & small drill-bits
Fine tip marker
Various Screwdrivers
Wire cutters
Safety glasses
Step 1 : Build the circuit
I decided that that a quick mock-up might be a good idea. I am glad I did. At first, I thought that running the case fan off of just (1) 9-Volt would provide adequate power. In the end I decided that 12 volts "sucked" better, and in this case it's a good thing.
The final circuit uses a simple switch, (2) 9 volt batteries, a 40mm case fan, and a 7812 voltage regulator. The 7812 takes voltage from the (2) 9-Volts that are wired in series and steps the voltage down from 18-Volts to 12-Volts, which is what the fan requires.
Step 2 : Solder components
Notice the battery connectors; they are the flexible vinyl version, not the hard plastic type. This allows them to easily fit in the case.
This is a very simple circuit. Solder it according to the diagram, making sure to attach the component leads to the 7812 properly. Don't forget to use heat shrink tubing on the connections, this is in a metal box.....metal conducts electricity!
Step 3 : Make sure it all fits
Everything can be stuffed into the tin, but make sure you use the cheap kind of 9 volt connectors. The cheap ones are the kind made of vinyl, not rigid plastic. The difference in thickness is minimal, but it is enough to stop you from putting both 9 volts in the case.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Apr 2, 2008 03:00 AM
Altoids and tin cases, DIY Projects, Electronics, Something I want to learn to do..., Toolbox |
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March 30, 2008
DIY Lathe chip guard
Nick made a chip guard for his Cummins mini-lathe. Anyone who has worked on a metal lathe knows what a mess the chips make. They can also do a lot of damage if they get into the gears and/or lead screws. This is a nice modification that really should be an OEM part. DIY Lathe chip guard
From the MAKE Flickr photo pool
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Mar 30, 2008 03:00 AM
DIY Projects, Toolbox |
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March 25, 2008
HOW TO - Altoids Tin Watercolors
Jean-Pierre Martineau made an instructable for making a pocket-sized watercolor set from an Altoids tin and some Fimo clay. Portable and practical!
Posted by Becky Stern |
Mar 25, 2008 04:00 PM
Altoids and tin cases, Arts, Crafts, DIY Projects, Instructables, Toolbox |
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