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"Cold Heat" Soldering Iron
"As Seen on TV!" When shopping for quality electronics tools, that's the logo I look for. I was both intrigued and skeptical when I saw this marker-sized gadget in an electron... Read More
Comments: 3
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: solder cold

18watt.com
18watt.com started as a Yahoo group for people interested in a rare Marshall guitar amp made in the 1960s. People shared details of the circuit and design. There are now ... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Web Site
Tags: amp community build

30 Ways to Eat a Pumpkin
Yahoo put together 30 ways to eat a pumpkin. These look pretty good: * Pumpkin Pancakes * Pumpkin Brownies * Pumpkin Cream Cheese Roll * Pumpkin Ale ... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: pumpkin eat cooking recipes

35mm Voigtländer Bessa R
Lately everyone from Pulitzer Prize winners to Grandma is switching to digital. But my favorite new camera is this 35mm Voigtländer Bessa R, an all-manual throwback to th... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply
Tags: 35mm camera

3M Dual Lock Reclosable Fasteners
Similar to hook-and-loop (velcro) but much stronger, this self-mating fastener relies on hundreds of tiny interlocking mushroom heads to form its bond. With five times the ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Art Supply, Electronics/Gadget, Household Product, Office Supply, Organizing Tool, Raw Material
Tags: hook+and+loop fastener dual+lock 3M velcro hook loop

4 in 1 screwdriver
If something has detachable pieces, I will loose them. Most of the parts from a multi bit screwdriver set will end up in the bottom of the drawer if not my pocket to then app... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: screwdriver

8-Piece Calphalon One Cookware Set
Warranties are essential for expensive purchases, and the warranty on my set of Calphalon One cookware is phenomenal. Unless you submerge the set into an acid bath or melt it ... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: cookware

9V USB Charger Kit
Aaron Dunlap made a great little kit for folks who'd like to make their own 9V USB charger. And, you guessed it, it's all inside an Altoids tin. It's pretty simple to construc... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: charger 9V altoids

A Real Flight Tracker
A few weeks ago, I was preparing to leave a dinner party to pick up my sister at the airport, when Artur Bergman suggested I check Flight Aware rather than the airline website... Read More
Comments: 3
Type(s): Tip, Web Service, Web Site
Tags: flight tracking track flight+tracking airline airport

Abrasive Cut-off Wheel
No hacker's toolbox is complete without a rotary cutter. And no rotary cutter is complete without fiberglass-reinforced abrasive cut-off wheels. The bionic cousins of the wimp... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Power Tool
Tags: fiberglass rotary+cutter

Actiontec Skype Internet Phone Wizard
The Skype Internet Phone Wizard from Actiontec lets you make long- distance phone calls using Skype on your ordinary phone. The unit itself is tiny -- smaller than a little... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Computer Hardware, Electronics/Gadget
Tags: skype phone long+distance

Adjustable Wrench
The adjustable jaw remains zero angle to the upper fixed jaw. It will grasp bolts or other things from zero to 1 3/4". This is one of a kind made by KNIPEX of GERNANY. Part NO... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags:

Adventures from the Technology Underground
To find out what happens at Teslathon, LDRS (Large Dangerous Rocket Ships), Burning Man, or the World Championship Punkin Chunkin, you wouldn't want to rely on mainstream medi... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: technology culture

Al Mar SLB Knife
If your inner geek is trapped in a suit at work, you've probably longed for a good, compact knife. Trendy tactical folders are generally too big, too heavy, or just plain scar... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Kitchen Tool
Tags: knife

Alligator Forceps
Yes it's the Alligator Forceps!! This is one of my most used tools. When you work the handles, just the tip opens up, making it the ideal tool for picking things up in small o... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: forceps alligator pickup small parts

American Science and Surplus
Years and years ago, I ordered from Jerryco newsprint surplus catalog. I looked them up on the web recently, and they are now American Science and Surplus. Not only do they h... Read More
Comments: 6
Type(s): Source or Store, Web Site
Tags: surplus supplies chicago milwaukee

Apoxy Sculpt
Most people are familiar with plumber's epoxy putty...mix two parts together, cures rock hard in 20 minutes. Unfortunately, it's usually sold in small quantities at a relativ... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Raw Material
Tags: epoxy

ART Pro USB Phono Plus
It's the eternal question: You have "Kung Fu Fighting" on vinyl, but how do you get that onto your computer to turn it into an MP3? Well, Grasshopper, there are many paths to ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Household Product, Toy
Tags: usb records mp3

Arty Electronics for Kids
I saw an early demo of these tiny computers at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, and they're amazing. The PICO Cricket is designed for fusing art and robotics using lights, ... Read More
Type(s): Kit, Toy
Tags: pico+cricket robotics

Atari Flashback 2
The first Atari Flashback retro-game unit was a disappointment. Worst of all, its processor was similar to that of -- blasphemy! -- the Nintendo Entertainment System's. Thank ... Read More
Type(s): Toy
Tags: atari game

AtariLab
When I'm explaining microcontrollers to someone who's around my age, I usually start out with a reference to 8-bit home computers: "Take something like an Atari 800, make it r... Read More
Type(s): Kit, Toy
Tags: atari kit atrarilab

Ax-Man Surplus Stores
I moved from Minneapolis a few years ago and miss this store so much. They resell industrial parts, wheels, motors, speakers, fabric, foam, biohazard suits, and just about any... Read More
Type(s): Source or Store
Tags: ax-man axman surplus surplus+store

Baby Block Kinara
Kwanzaa may be a relatively recent holiday, but its focus on culture and creativity is a beautiful thing and something all makers should be able to appreciate. Like Hanukkah, ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s):
Tags: kinara kwanzaa

Banana Hack
The banana ring hack was born out of the chaos of a new apartment. After our first grocery trip, the kitchen counter was a mess and there was nowhere to put the produce. But ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: banana hack

Bathroom Maps
As far as I'm concerned, this is what the internet was invented for (whoever it was that did it). As a frequent user of whatever public bathroom happens to be nearest, a list ... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: bathroom map

BBQ-tiful
Phil Torrone pointed me to this great listing of BBQ accessories (Father's Day, anyone?) and extras. Some are perhaps more polished than practical, but I love the BBQ wok for ... Read More
Type(s): Kitchen Tool, Tip, Web Site
Tags: bbq grill pizza vegetables wok "father's day"

Berliner Gramaphone Kit and Edison Cylinder Kit, by Gakken
These kits are part of a Japanese series of assembly-required, "adult-education" models. The functioning Edison Cylinder and Berliner Gramophone kits offer the allure of carvi... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Kit
Tags: gramophone

Bicycling Science: Third Edition
Released in April 2004, David Gordon Wilson's updated Bicycling Science fills the gap between, on the one hand, shop manuals and training guides, and on the other, contemporar... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: bicycle science

Blinded by the LED
Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: light led

Bloglines.com
As the number of online news sources grows, keeping current becomes difficult. An RSS client helps organize the mess. But if you want to read your feeds anywhere, you h... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: rss

Boblbee Megalopolis backpack
I'm hard on gear. I drag my Power-Book, iPod, and digital camera everywhere I go. So over the years I've gone through a lot of bags and packs for storing gear. The one pa... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply, Organizing Tool
Tags: bag pack protect

Bug Me Not
I found out about this great web service on Erin McKean's Dress a Day blog. It basically generates usernames and passwords to use to get into free "registration required" webs... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: registration email

Build Your Own Arcade Controls
When I decided to build my “Taxicab” jukebox/MAME machine (see MAKE Volume 02, p. 21), I found that all internet roads pointed to one definitive how-to source: the &... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: arcade

Build Your Own Digi-Comp!
Tim Walker missed the classic 3-bit Digicomp mechanical computer from the 60s, and figured out how to make his own. Now he's reissued it as a kit.... Read More
Type(s): Kit, Toy
Tags: digicomp, mechanical, classic

Build Your Own Stonehenge
For most of us, celebrating the winter solstice at Stonehenge is a bit of a hike. Paul Doherty has a solution for you: make your own. His fact-filled website has instructions... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: stonehenge solstice sunrise sunset

Cable Guy
For those of you who have ever cursed while wrestling with a mess of cables under the desk, or behind the entertainment center, or under the Christmas tree (i.e. all of us), h... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: organizing cables tip

Carnivorous Plant Kit
Edmond Scientifics has a deal on Audrey II meat eating plants. Their kit lets you create an "authentic" bog for growing various carnivorous plants from seed in a specially-des... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: carnivorous, plant, kit

CD Rack
Cut the bulb end off a scrapped chrome faucet supply pipe. The 3/8" outside diameter pipe can be bent by hand into a C-shape, and tied to a vertical support. You can store abo... Read More
Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: tip cd rack

Cellphone Address Book Timesaver
Have you ever needed a phone number quickly, but ended up scrolling through the thousands of numbers on your cell? (Hyperbole not intended) What I end up doing is choosing the... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Tip
Tags:

Chanukah? Hannukah? Hanukkah? Khanike? Hanookuh?
For me, it's always a moment of doubt: just how do you spell Hanukkah? Asking around the office, I found that a number of us were confused or at least curious at the wide vari... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: transliteration hannukah hanukkah chanukah

Charcoal Companion Amazing Bug Zapper
We don’t have screen doors on our house, but ever since I got the Bug Zapper, I no longer care. In fact, I like it when flies come in. The drone of a dumb horsefly bumpin... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: bug killer

Citra-Solv Natural Solvent
Worried about the toxicity of turpentine? I just discovered that highly distilled citrus oil (available under such brand names as Citra-Solv and Natural Solvent Spotter) takes... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: solvent, oil, grease, natural

Clamptite
Need to clamp just about anything together? Have some wire or a coat hanger lying about? This is a cool, easy-to-use tool, used to clamp, tie, or join things together. Simple... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: ClampTite, clamp, wire clamp, safety wire twister

Classic Video Table Tennis
Wow, for $20 you can make your own Pong! You just need to be able to solder and you can turn your TV into the classic table tennis video game. (Play against another geek, or c... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Kit, Toy
Tags: pong, kit, video game

Clean Your Sinuses
It's cold season! I've been using a Neti Pot for years to clear out my sinuses (my GP recommended it), but this how-to by Noah from Instructables just tickles my funny bone. I... Read More
Type(s): Household Product, Tip
Tags: salt+water sinus neti rinse cold

Clever Kitchen Counter Mod
I was at a friend's house the other day, and noticed a cool modification to her kitchen counter. A hole was cut into it, maybe 3" in diameter, directly over the trash can. Whe... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: kitchen tip

ColdHeat Cordless Glue Gun
I haven't used a glue gun in about 10 years. They were always messy and hot. I think I burned myself the last time I used one, so I've been forever scarred. I just got a new c... Read More
Type(s): Household Product, Power Tool
Tags: glue+gun cordless coldheat craft tool

Controlled Bleaching with Discharge Paste
Yes, the name is terrible and the stuff is white and gooey, which makes it even more wrong. But it's pretty damn cool, so you just accept it and move on towards greatness. ... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Raw Material
Tags: bleach stencil discharge+paste art

Cool Tools
Kevin Kelly's "Cool Tools" comes in three different forms: as a website, as a traditional book, and as a PDF digital book. A descendant of the Whole Earth Catalog, Cool To... Read More
Type(s): Book, Web Site
Tags: cool+tools tools catalog reviews kevin+kelly

CoolMax CD-311 Hard Drive Chassis
I have a fascination with versatility — the more ports and switches a device has, the better. When looking for a hard drive chassis, then, the CoolMax CD-311 was an easy ... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply
Tags: hard+drive portability

Cork Pop III
If you find yourself putting a wine bottle between your legs and tugging an old-fashioned corkscrew to pull out a cork, here's a new twist on wine openers: the Cork Pop III. T... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool, Household Product
Tags: cork

Cosmic Poppers Kit
This looks hilarious (and is a simple kit to make). Once you build it, this kit randomly creates sets of sound and light explosions when it senses the absence of light. Hallow... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Toy
Tags: popper, light, tricks, explosion

Cough Cure
Maybe it’s just an urban legend, but after receiving an email forward about getting rid of coughs by putting Vicks VapoRub on your feet (don’t forget socks, so your ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: tip cough vicks+vaporub

CountyComm Bail Out Bag
I’m a guy that thinks he might actually need a voltmeter at lunch. Backpacks are the old stand-by for such gizmo hauling, but they tend to get disorganized and are storag... Read More
Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: gadget bag

Crystal Radio Kit for the Modern Era
In today’s modern world of radio communications, it’s easy to dismiss radio kit building as a remnant of the past. However, nothing could be further from the truth. ... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Kit
Tags: crystal+radio kit

Delicious Library
Here's how this beautifully designed personal library database works: grab a book, scan the URL with your iSight or type the ISBN, and watch the book pop up on a virtual shelf... Read More
Type(s): Web Service
Tags: personal library

DeLorme Blue Logger
Not much bigger than a fun-size candy bar, this receiver doesn’t have a display, so you’ll need a Bluetooth ready laptop or PDA with mapping software to make a compl... Read More
Type(s): Toy
Tags: gps

Delphi XM MyFi
I can use the Delphi XM MyFi all through my apartment with no reception problems. The only thing I don't like so far is that it's just a little bit smarter than I like. It's v... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: xm radio

Dental Tools Kit
Three indispensable tools for any maker are dental tools (for poking around in little things), dental (i.e. inspection) mirrors for looking in difficult-to-reach places, and o... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: dental+tools picks mirror dental

Design Yourself
Finally - good design for the masses! This fabulously designed (of course) book was produced collaboratively by the self-described bastard children of the fine arts: MICA grap... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: diy design

Desktop Manager for OS X
One thing that's always bugged me about graphic user interfaces is having to move the windows around. Over the last ten years I've come to accept it as a lousy inevitability o... Read More
Type(s): Software
Tags: desktop manage

Dictionaria
MAKE Senior Editor Phil Torrone sent along this link to a talk about dictionaries by Erin McKean, editor of the New American Oxford Dictionary (which sounds a bit like an oxym... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: dictionary erin+mckean words

Digital Calipers
Whether you're gauging the width of gaps, the diameter of pegs, or the depth of holes, calipers are immeasurably more useful than rulers. It's true that the digital variety re... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: caliper

Digital Photo Frame
Well, the frame may be analog, but here's yet another take on the classic photo-in-frame holiday gift, and this one also allows for more than one photo. In fact, you can have ... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Tip, Toy
Tags: digital+photo frame picture

DIY LED Panel Kits for Artists
Send off your own animations to Bit Editions, and then assemble the kit to display your LED-ified art. The displays are 12x14 inches, and contain one LED per square inch. Driv... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Kit
Tags: art, led, diy, microcontroller

Doggle (Doggie Goggle)
My dog rode with his head out the window, but he had to squint his eyes against the 55 mph wind. I cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle to save his corneas. Cut off the ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: dog doggle goggle

Don't Forget the Duct Tape
This book should be standard issue with every new piece of camping equipment sold. It's a great collection of tips for keeping outdoor and travel gear in tip-top shape. It's f... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: tips gear outdoor

Dreidel Droids
Hanukkah is fast approaching, so you better get your dreidel on. Want to make your own, but don't have time to make one out of clay? Try out this awesome paper version (using ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Toy, Web Site
Tags: dreidel droid star+wars hanukkah

Drill Doctor
This is the ... er ... holey grail. Seriously. If you drill holes in stuff, you know the sublime joy of a fresh, unsullied drill bit boring effortlessly through your materia... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Power Tool
Tags: sharpener drillbits

Easy 40-Second Egg
Short on time? Well, you can make yourself a poached egg, if only you have a microwave and an egg (and 40 seconds). Check out Hoopajoo's great Instructable, and never skip bre... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: egg poached cooking timesaver

Easy Costume Idea: Clorox Bot
Stumped for a good costume? Dig through your recycling pile, and with some hot glue and spray paint, you won't recognize yourself. Instructable user Chaintool has a great how-... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: recycle halloween costume clorox

Easy Costume Idea: Jelly Belly
In need of a last-minute costume that's clever enough to make up for the fact that it's a last-minute costume? Don't have time for the Clorox bot? Shawn Connally, managing edi... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: jelly+bean costume halloween

Easy Inventory
You do have a digital camera, yes? Well, you can buy yourself some really important and valuable "insurance" if you simply pull out every drawer and box in your shop and pop ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: tip inventory easy

eBird Online Database
Backyard scientists have kept lists of the birds they’ve seen for centuries. These lists of have been useful to scientists who are able to correlate the observed changes ... Read More
Type(s): Travel and Outdoors, Web Service, Web Site
Tags: birding

Eklind 6-Blade Screwdriver
While it looks like something you would put in your glove box and forget, I've kept my original Eklind 6-blade Screwdriver in my pants pocket for over 15 years and have used i... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: screwdriver multitool pocket+knife

Electric Metric
I first found out about this blog from Brady Forrest's post about energy consumption. It's a compilation of energy-saving device reviews, comparisons between different devices... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: electric metric power consumption energy conservation

Elenco 300-in-One Electronic Project Lab
Working on the Elenco 300-in-One Electronic Project Lab, I had to squint through a magnifying glass to read the resistors while straining to hear the faintest radio signal thr... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: eletronics

Elmer's Wood Filler
I build a lot of models from balsa and basswood. These are grainy, porous woods that soak up paint and look awful unless filled and sanded. I've tried a lot of fillers through... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Household Product, Raw Material
Tags: wood filler elmer's

Enigma Machine
During WWII, the Germans coded their radio messages using the Enigma ciphering machine; when the Allies finally figured out how to build one, cracking the German code, they ch... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Kit
Tags: kit, enigma machine, german

Event Coordination
Gina Trapani at LifeHacker posted about a cool-sounding new collaborative event organizer. I haven't tried it yet, but it sounds like it's perfect for everything from organizi... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: organization events collaboration

Extreme Pumpkin Carving
I wrote about ExtremePumpkins.com in our Halloween issue last year, but thought that Tom Nardone's site deserved to be highlighted again. Covering topics like "fire, light... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: pumpkins carving extreme+pumpkins halloween

Extreme Pumpkin Carving, part II
These pumpkins are extreme, too, but not in the Tom Nardone sense. Ray shows you how to turn your pumpkin into a gargoyle worthy of Notre Dame. His tips are designed to bring ... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: pumpkin+carving

EyeHome
Elgato's EyeHome is my favorite new toy. It's fundamentally an iLife-to-audio-and-video converter: plug an ethernet cable into the "input" side of it, and then connect the A/V... Read More
Type(s): Computer Hardware, Electronics/Gadget, Household Product
Tags: video audio ilife home+theater

Figure 9 Rope Tightener
This product eliminates the need for knots. I know, it is a good idea to learn how to tie knots, but this makes a lot of things much easier: tie down loads, hang a tarp, secur... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: rope, knots, handy, tight, travel,

Finding Vintage Hand Tools
If you're looking for a well-loved tool, eBay or Craigslist are probably the places to hit first, but there are a lot of websites dedicated to selling you the perfect vintage ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool, Source or Store, Tip
Tags: hand+tools vintage resource

FingerWorks TouchStream LP
(Note: FingerWorks has ceased operations. You can still buy the keyboard from online retailers and eBay.) Three weeks of 12-hour days in front of my laptop, and the mere amoun... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply
Tags: keyboard

Fire Arts Chicago
I know your article on The Crucible ran a while back, but I'd like to mention a wonderful place like it here in Chicago. It's the Fire Arts Center of Chicago, and they offer ... Read More
Type(s): Organization or Group, Source or Store
Tags: fire+arts chicago metalwork

Firefighter Pants
Firefighter pants are the best snow pants ever. They are waterproof, durable, and warm. Large snaps and buckles can be put on while wearing bulky gloves. Double-padded knees a... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: fireman pants snow

Five Seasons of MacGyver on DVD
Creating an impromptu smokescreen, plugging an engine hole with egg whites, and dismantling a missile with a paperclip were all in a typical day's work for television's fictio... Read More
Type(s): Video Recording
Tags: macgyver dvd

Flaky Fractals
As if the recirculating fountain wasn't enough, Turkey Tek also constructed a giant pecan pie in the shape of a fractal. While this is probably more work than anyone in their ... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: fractal pecan+pie

Folding torx and hex Key Set
Husky makes some folding key set that are great. I am always losing my Allen wrenches and this puts a stop to it. The set can be loosened and tighten according to your prefere... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags:

Food Expiration Dates
A couple months ago, I finally got fed up with not knowing how long things last in the refrigerator, and spent several days compiling the web's largest (so far as I know) repo... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Service, Web Site
Tags: expiration+dates

Free Rice
Shawn Connally, the managing editor of MAKE, has gotten all of us at the office hooked on Free Rice, a vocabulary game that also puts your brains to a good cause. For every wo... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: rice donate hunger vocabulary

Freecycle.org
Makers (and regular folk): May I direct your attention to a website I recently discovered!! Freecycle.org, where you can give for free and get for free....Yes that's right... Read More
Type(s): Web Service
Tags: freecycle

Fretlight Guitar
Wouldn't it be great if you could pick up a guitar, plug it in to your computer, and have it teach you to become a rock god? That’s the premise behind the Fretlight guita... Read More
Type(s): Toy
Tags: guitar led pc

Future Floor Wax
Johnson Wax sells Future as a floor polish, but it's really a clear acrylic paint. Put it on a clean, reasonably smooth, non-porous surface and that surface becomes shiny. I u... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: floor wax

Gadget Organizer
Gina from Lifehacker has a great tip from a reader: buy a clear plastic shoe organizer and use it to store all your gadegets. You'll be able to see everything at a glance, and... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: gadget organizer

Gaffer's Tape
Move over duct tape — Gaffer's tape is as versatile as its space-age cousin, but looks nicer and doesn't leave behind a sticky, messy residue when it's pulled up. Absolut... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Art Supply, Hand Tool, Household Product, Raw Material, Toy
Tags: tape

Gaffer's Tape
Many people swear by duct tape for all their taping needs, but I think its adhesive is too gummy, its backing is too plasticy, its fabric is too difficult to tear, and it tast... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Household Product
Tags: gaffer tape

Garmin Geko 201
Simple, tiny, and runs 12 hours on two AAA batteries. No maps, but it supports upload/download of waypoints and routes with an optional serial cable. Supports NMEA and the fas... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Toy
Tags: gps

Genuine Buddy
The Buddy is an affordable ($1900 49cc, $2500 125cc) Motorscooter with so many mod options its ridiculous. The plastic body is rustproof, durable, inexpensive to replace or s... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Travel and Outdoors
Tags: scooter

Get Ready for the Eclipse!
From NASA's website: In the USA, the eclipse will already be underway when the moon rises on Saturday evening. Observing tip: Find a place with a clear view of the eastern ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: eclipse lunar NASA

Gojo Natural Orange Pumice Hand Cleaner
Everyone has their favorite cleaner, and Gojo is ours. We like the mild orange scent, the abrasive action of the pumice, and the fact that it doesn't leave your hands feeling... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: soap cleaner pumice gojo orange

Google Calculator
One of the most useful tools I've found for Makers is Google's built-in calculator. It knows about all kinds of units and is as simple as typing in plain English. For examp... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: google calculator

Gorilla Glue
Gorilla Glue is a two-part glue that works on everything: stone, wood, metal, concrete, you name it. The strength is easily comparable to JB-Weld, but the second part is wate... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s):
Tags: glue tape gorilla stick adhesive

Gorilla Rack Workbench (GR 2102 B)
At $99, the Gorilla Rack Workbench is the best workbench that I have found for the price. This model is much higher quality then similarly priced workbenches found at Home Dep... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: organization, workshop, workbench

Gorilla Tape
The best duct tape ever made. It's cheaper than gaffers tape and amazingly tougher. A friend of mine taped up his car and drove from Idaho to California in the snow, and sti... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s):
Tags: tape glue gorilla adhesive duct+tape duck+tape

Gotcha Gift Boxes
I haven't actually seen these in person, but one (or more) of the Gotcha Gift Boxes will definitely be under the tree, disguising my presents. My dad is always rattling and sh... Read More
Type(s): Source or Store, Toy
Tags: gift gotcha joke present box

Government Liquidation
Looking for "Space Survival Equipment" or "Nuclear Reactors"? Government Liquidation is the place to go. Just be prepared for a bit of paperwork if you bid on anything from th... Read More
Type(s): Source or Store
Tags: government liquidation surplus

Grammar Tip: Affect vs. Effect
Just continuing my campaign to keep makers grammatically correct; there are a number of verbs that we makers use with some frequency, so I thought it might be time to clear th... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Tip
Tags: grammar tip affect effect

Grammar Tip: Lie vs. Lay
OK folks, here's your grammar tip of the week. There are a number of verbs that we makers use with some frequency, so I thought it might be time to clear the air. Here's one p... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Tip
Tags: lay lie grammar tip

Gravy Train
Instructables user Turkey Tek is full of creative ideas for Thanksgiving. This recirculating gravy fountain might just be my favorite, although it seems about as decadent as C... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: gravy fountain

Green Garbage Grabber Instructable
I love this Instructable for how to make a simple garbage picker-upper. While, of course, it would be wonderful if it encouraged people to help clean up the streets, parks, an... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Raw Material
Tags: garbage grabber litter

Greenhouse Hoop Bender
We bent the steel hoops for both of our hoop greenhouses. I've been a gardener for 26 years and never could afford a decent-sized greenhouse. I first saw these benders on eBay... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Travel and Outdoors
Tags: hoop bender greenhouse garden

Grey Tape or Muffler Tape
This stuff is amazing and has saved my bacon a number of times. I've used it for fixing all manner of things--from its intended purpose of holding a muffler together until I r... Read More
Comments: 5
Type(s): Art Supply, Electronics/Gadget, Hand Tool, Household Product, Raw Material, Travel and Outdoors
Tags: muffler+tape grey+tape huskytape pvc tape

Hack The Razr . com
Restore the features your cellular provider removed from your Motorola Razr v3c and v3m.... Read More
Type(s): Software, Tip, Web Site
Tags: Razr cell phone

Hard Drive Eraser
A large company I work for is liquidating their supply of old computers: some will be auctioned, some will be donated to worthy causes. Recycling is great, but you don't want ... Read More
Type(s): Software
Tags: hard+drive+eraser

Henry Field's White Button Mushroom Kit
Imagine a room full of 3- and 4- year-olds pulling on you, tugging on you, yanking on you - all desperate to show you something. That's what my life was like when my son't pre... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: mushroom, kit

Here, There, and Everywhere
Here's an easy but goody grammar tip this week (my head was spinning trying to explain compound words last time). Most of us could probably explain the difference between ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags:

Hi-Touch Imaging 631PL
My friends and relatives still don't think that getting "MIME Encoded DSC10034.JPG" in their email inbox is an appropriate response to "Send me a copy of that picture." With t... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Electronics/Gadget, Office Supply
Tags: image printing photo

HitchMaster
A rope pulley without wheels! No jammed wheels, easy to use, doesn't break. Carry it on your belt or in your pocket — what could be better? I have had mine for about seve... Read More
Type(s): Travel and Outdoors
Tags: HitchMaster, rope pulley, tiedown

Home Comforts
My mom gave me a copy of this book when I moved into my first apartment, and I've carted it around with me ever since. While it looks like a Martha Stewart knock-off from the ... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: home cleaning mendelson science

Hot Steaming Glue Gun!
I am in love with my glue gun ... well, one of them. Is it the new snazoid cordless one with the space-age heating base from Black & Decker? No, though that is a beautiful... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: glue+Gun, hot+glue+gun, wicked glue gun

How to Cut an Onion
Ever wondered how to hack an onion? Here's one answer...... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags:

How to Remove Pine Sap from Your Hands
It’s the holiday season and between steam punking your wreath and putting homemade solar LED lights on your tree, there is a fair chance that at some point you will have ... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Tip
Tags: Pine+Sap hand+sanitizer

Hyphenated Compounds
Hyphenating compound words is a very tricky subject, and I thought it was time to tackle it. In fact, Wikipedia claims that "a definitive collection of hyphen rules does not e... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: hyphen compound+modifier grammar tip

iKaraoke
I love karaoke; there's nothing like singing your heart out to your favorite tunes while your friends and/or coworkers wince in embarrassment for you. Up until now, I've h... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: karaoke home

INOVA X5 Ultraviolet Flashlight
Got a CSI fantasy? Then just drop one of these in your bag of tricks and start shining it around in spare moments. Featuring five high-power LEDs backed by two 123-sized lith... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Toy
Tags: ultraviolet flashlight

iPod Shuffle
I have about 1,000 vinyl albums, 600 CDs, and enough MP3 files to fill an 80-gig disk. Unfortunately, I have discovered that having music is not the same as listening to music... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: shuffle music ipod

iVod case for iPod
My name is Jason, and I'm an addict. I'm hooked on Argentine leather, quality craftsmanship, and amazing electronics cases. Years ago, when I bought a Handspring Visor D... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Raw Material
Tags: case ipod ivod leather

Jack Kamen Comic Book Reprints on Book and CD-ROM
Dean Kamen’s penchant for the fantastic, it turns out, runs in the family. When the millionaire inventor wants a drawing of one of his medical or personal transportation ... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: comics cd-rom

James Bond-Style Security
Thanks to Lazer Trip Wire, you too can have affordable, James Bond-style security. For just under $25, you get three mountable units that can each transmit an infrared beam wh... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Toy
Tags: lazer+trip+wire security

Japanese Marking Gauge
It comes up often enough in the shop: You want to mark a line X inches in from the edge of something. You end up futzing around with tape measures, pencil tick-marks, and stra... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: marking+gauge

K-Byte's Zipit Wireless Messenger
K-Byte's Zipit Wireless Messenger is a cute pocket-sized Instant Messaging (IM) appliance that can connect to any wi-fi access point for on-the-go IM. Just turn the Zipit on, ... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: portable linux wi-fi zipit

Kafka Pinstriping Kit
Great kit for pinstriping your latest computer case mod or robot companion. Designed by pinstriping master Steve Kafka, the kit shows you the basics of customizing anything yo... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Kit
Tags: kafka, pinstripe, paint

Keyspan USB Server
I’m in a mixed marriage — my wife has a PC and I have a Mac. We don’t have a lot of desk space, so we use a Keyspan USB Server to share USB devices. This tiny (... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply
Tags: usb server

Kleer Drain
I went to Home Depot recently to buy $2 worth of hardware (pins for door hinges) and walked out with over $100 worth of stuff, of course. My prime purchase was a Kleer Drain i... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: drain clear clog

Knitting for Dummies
I hate television, but if my wife, Jacqui, and kids were going to watch it, I wanted to put the passive consumption of media to good use — by getting them knitting. And w... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Book
Tags: knitting

Kuskokwim Kings (or, how to know good salmon when you see it)
Growing up fishing for salmon with my dad in Alaska, I took for granted a lot of knowledge that many people don't seem to have. Here are a few tips: When buying salmon, ma... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: salmon cooking tip

LaMotte Soil Testing Kit
Soil Test kits allow you to learn more about how your garden grows. This particular kit lets you to test soil samples for concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, an... Read More
Type(s): Household Product, Kit
Tags: soil testing kit

Leatherman Squirt E4
This multitool does it all for electronics. It has needlenose pliers, a multi-gauge wire stripper, wire cutter, phillips screwdriver, flathead screwdriver, DIP switcher, twee... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: multitool leatherman

LED Lantern
Recently, standing on a chair in my bathroom, reaching yet again for an expired light bulb, I thought: there's got to be a better way. And there is — an LED light. The be... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Household Product
Tags: led light

Lego Mindstorms: Robotics Invention System
Contrary to what you might have thought, you can do a lot more with Legos than build another useless static display. Actually, you can pick up a set that includes a bunch of ... Read More
Type(s): Kit, Toy
Tags: legos, robotics

Lehman's Non-electric Catalog
Yes, I realize it's strange to promote a "non-electric" catalog here. This catalog is a throwback to the makers of yesteryear. Some people never stopped doing things themse... Read More
Type(s): Book, Travel and Outdoors, Web Site
Tags: diy camping

Lie Detector Kit
We've had a few emails and posts from folks who wanted to build their own lie detector, and now you can. The website explains how lie detectors work (by measuring the change i... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: lie, detector, kit

Lifestyle Hack
When I have a bunch of glasses that won't fit on my usual dish rack, I use a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet. ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: lifestyle hack

Light Box
Phil Torrone and Natalie Zee of the MAKE and CRAFT blogs both posted about this great, no-fuss light "tent" that just about anyone can put their hands on. If you've got a cool... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: lightbox seamless background photography lighting

Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream
Yet another of Turkey Tek's Thanksgiving innovations, this ice cream frozen in liquid nitrogen makes running out to the store for a last-minute Breyers run obsolete (assuming ... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: liquid+nitrogen ice+cream

Literary Clock Instructable
As much as I hate seeing books butchered, I have to admit that this seems to be a good use of your time. (Arrggh! Pardon the pun!) Instructables user mdhaworth has a great how... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: book clock literary reuse

Loctite Stick
I can't live without Loctite threadlocker stick (medium strength — blue color). I put one of these in every toolbox I own, and I own several. Rarely do I ever tighten a n... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Tip
Tags: nut bolt tightener loctite

Logitech Harmony 880 Universal Remote
The joy of the Harmony 880 is in the set-up wizard, which is part of a personal on-line account you create on Logitech’s website. In the wizard, you select devices you w... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: universal remote

Look Good in Party Photos
My brother-in-law relayed this great tip: when the photographer comes around taking candids at the next company party, or the waiter snaps a photo of your table at a restaura... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: photography

Lulu
Lulu is a print-on-demand system that you can use to make, publish, and sell your own books. I used lulu.com to create a book for my nieces and nephew and was really happy wi... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: lulu book self+publishing

Mac Across the Living Room
If your Mac and mobile device are both Bluetooth-enabled, Salling Clicker will let you control your Mac using your mobile phone or Palm OS PDA. You can use this application to... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: mac bluetooth mobile

MacGyver Handbook
MacGyver always seemed like one of one of those "kids, don't try this at home" shows. Well, that was up until this spiffy book came out that includes a complete listing of eve... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: Macgyver handbook

Machinery's Handbook
Machinery's Handbook is the ultimate reference tool for makers and hardware hackers. In just the past few weeks, I've used it to help an acquaintance figure out how much wate... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: machinery reference

Magellan RoadMate 700
As I drive, my Magellan RoadMate 700's voice prompt tells me when to turn and also recalculates my route if I happen to stray off course. It has a bright, full-color touchscre... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags:

Magnatunes
I think of Magnatune as the standard bearer for open music. They: [1] Always share half of their proceeds with the artists they distribute. [2] Provide you with multiple... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: music+download mp3 open+source

Magnifying Ruler
Sometimes the most useful tools are also the most low-tech. Growing up, I always remember my dad (a dental school professor) having one of these and using it to save his eyesi... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Hand Tool
Tags: ruler magnifying

Math and Shoelaces
I was toodling around on the internet and found this article about math and shoelaces. With sentences like, “Even if God wears shoes with 100 eyelets, these proofs will ... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: shoes shoelaces tying new+scientist

McMaster-Carr Catalog
In our book (a big yellow and green one, in fact), McMaster-Carr trumps all other industrial supply companies. You can get anything from McMaster. Standard shipping is surpris... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: macmaster carr catalog industrial+supply

McMaster-Carr Online Catalog
McMaster-Carr is a hardware supply outfit that sells a bewildering variety of tools, equipment, and raw materials — plastics, metal stock, cable and wire, and rope —... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: catalog hardware supply

Microplane
I bought my first Microplane for the kitchen when I got tired of barking my knuckles on the old punch-through grater. Not only does it slice off the most delicate wisps of che... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Kitchen Tool
Tags: kitchen shop tools

Minwax High Performance Wood Hardener
This is as much an invitation to experiment as a review. Minwax Wood Hardener is an obnoxious-smelling, toxic, flammable, watery-thin fluid used to treat weathered or r... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Household Product, Raw Material, Tip
Tags: wood hardener experiment

Money Clip
I have a ton of old clip-on earrings that I've either inherited from my great-grandmother or collected from junk sales (I can't shake the desire to be prepared for playing dre... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Tip
Tags: earrings clip-on clip money tip

Museum of Telecommunications
The Museum of Telecommunication in Seattle (a.k.a. The Telephone Museum) is a must-see for any tinkerer. Run by folks who spent a good chunk of time working for the phone comp... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Organization or Group
Tags: museum telecommunications

My Favorite Pens
Right now in terms of pens I'm digging the Staedtler Triplus Fineliners and the Le Pen by Marvy from Japan. The Pentel Sign Pen is nice for more of a marker feel; the line fat... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Art Supply, Hand Tool
Tags: pens nibs marker drawing

Mylar Backed Sanding Film
This stuff has been around forever, but few people seem to know about it. It's like sandpaper, but the abrasives are based on a plastic film. You can roll it, fold it, and wet... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Household Product, Power Tool, Raw Material
Tags: sandpaper mylar

NADH
To call whatever my problem is "attention deficit disorder" probably does a grave disservice to medically distracted persons everywhere, but I've known for years now that some... Read More
Comments: 5
Type(s): Raw Material
Tags: nadh attention

Nail It
Two handy tips I picked up in an old, out-of-print book of "household helps": To drive nails in plaster without cracking the plaster, put the nail in hot water for a few minut... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: tip nails screws

Nail Polish Meets House Paint
Sometimes a tool comes along that’s so ridiculously simple, but makes such a huge impact on how you go about your business. Qwikie Paint Pots are such a wonder-widget. Ba... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: housepaint storage

NewerTech iPod Replacement Batteries
After several years of heavy-duty use, the batteries on my old iPods were losing steam. They’d play for an hour or so, then conk out. I knew Apple had a program to replac... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: ipod battery

NINJAM
Not only does NINJAM enable musicians to play together online, it even saves the jams as Creative Commons-licensed recordings. But the breakthrough is the way it overcomes the... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: collaborative music

Nintendogs
I hesitate to be honest about this. Being a kindergarten teacher, I know I’ll be lambasted for recommending a video toy … the dreaded Nintendo, no less. But I can&... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Toy
Tags: nintendogs nintendo

Nissan 11-Ounce Stainless Steel Coffee and Tea Traveler
This small, rugged stainless steel thermos is perfect for making a cup of coffee or tea to enjoy later in the day. The screw-top lid makes a tight seal, so you can throw it i... Read More
Type(s): Kitchen Tool, Travel and Outdoors
Tags: thermos coffee tea

Nixie Desk Clock Kits
Nixie tubes are vacuum tubes that contain filaments representing the digits 0-9. These beautiful relics of early computing display their numerals with a quivery orange glow. T... Read More
Type(s): Household Product, Kit
Tags: vacuum, clock, kit

Octopart
Enter the part number, or simply its title or use, and Octopart returns the best-matched specific components, their prices and availability from several suppliers, and links t... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Web Service
Tags: instructables octopart search+engine parts components

OmniDiskSweeper
OmniDiskSweeper helps you find out what's taking up so much disk space on your Mac. It lets you browse your folders in a way that's completely optimized for looking for large ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Software
Tags: OmniDiskSweeper disk+space

Painting Tip
Gotta paint the bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom? If you have an airbrush, use it to cut-in: just get a can of compressed air and hook it to your airbrush. It's faster and easier... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: paint spray

Pan Scraper
Breathe easy. The problem of the ages (by which I mean getting those congealed eggs off the bottom of your pan after you’ve forgotten them in the sink all week) has been ... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool, Kitchen Tool
Tags: pan scraper

Paper Clip!
With regard to the spring hook and trimmer screwdrivers posted, I find a paper clip unfolded with a small Z-shaped bend in the end is best for guiding belts in VCRs and such. ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags:

PC Toolkit for Your Pocket
I'm on my second CyberTool. (The first was lost, along with my luggage, by Delta.) I absolutely love it. It won't change your life; you probably already have a toolset. The Cy... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: swiss+army cybertool

Pentel Pocket Brush
I was introduced to the Pentel Pocket Brush by a comicker friend, and though pricey for poor students, it truly makes drawing with ink a joy again. Unlike felt-tip brush pens... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Art Supply
Tags: brush+pen art illustration comics cartooning

Perfume Made Easy
I'm not a fan of most commercial perfumes (they don't really smell like anything in particular), and neither, apparently, is Instructables user Rapiertwit. Check out this nice... Read More
Type(s): Raw Material, Tip
Tags: perfume solid how-to

Photo Cube
A nice twist on the classic gift of a beloved photo in a frame, this clever photo cube project on Instructables.com allows you to use more than one photo and create interestin... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Toy, Web Site
Tags: photo cube frame display

Pi Divider
Found this when I started glassblowing. I was amazed I had made it through life without it. You measure the diameter of an item at one end and the circumference is automatical... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: glass circle pi

Piggyback Audio Cables
My preamp mixer has too much stuff plugged into it. A pair of turntables, laptop PC, and portable CD player consume the four stereo inputs. Then there's the radio signal from ... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: cables extra connections

Pixel Papers
I've stopped buying newspapers. I read them on a Palm Vx running AvantGo. This old grayscale palmtop's screen has extremely good contrast and it's reflective. That means that ... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Web Service
Tags: newspaper palm

Plasma Generator Kit
This looks like a fun kit: you can build plasma balls, light up fluorescent tubes with no wires, and also make big sparks ... it’s a solid state high voltage power supply... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Kit, Toy
Tags: plasma, kit, light

Plasti Dip
Plasti Dip International has a range of maker-friendly rubber coating products (like Super Grip Fabric Non-Skid Fabric Coating and Liquid Tape Electrical Brush-On Insulation),... Read More
Type(s): Raw Material
Tags: rubber coating, plastic coating

Plastic Cup Phonograph Kit
Record your voice, Edison style. The kit uses a plastic cup and a needle instead of a waxed pipe and stylus, but the effect is the same. Pretty basic to put together.... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: phonograph, edison, record

Plastic Flashlight Mouthpiece
Sold under a few brands, these things are little plastic caps that fit on the end of a AA minimag or most any other aluminum AA flashlights. They are shaped so you can hold th... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: flashlight+mouthpiece

Plexiglass Cutter
A plexiglass cutter is a very simple tool, essentially a sharp point with a handle. It is drawn over plexiglass to score it before breaking along the score to cut the plexi. ... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: plexiglass cut tool

PlugGrip
The PlugGrip is used to assist in the installation and removal of electrical outlets. I found this tool at Lowes and had never heard of it until it caught my eye as I was pick... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: "handtool", "electrical", "installation"

Poqet PC
Some things in the computer industry were so far ahead of their time they did not gather a following until years after the parent company quit doing business. First sold in 19... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply
Tags: poqet pocket+pc pc

Porter Cable 6 Gal. Compressor Combo with Finish & Brad Nailers & Crown Stapler
Whenever I told anyone that I was planning to install a chair rail in my dining area, the most common response was, “You do have a nail gun, right?” I complained tha... Read More
Type(s): Power Tool
Tags: nail+gun

Practical Math
Chenier's Practical Math Application Guide is the kind of math I wish they'd taught me in high school. Each section uses real-world situations (with a homebuilding bent) to il... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: practical+math guide practical math

Pressure Handle
This drill accessory is great. If you do any drilling, it can definitely save bits by applying steady pressure. It works on power drills: replace the handle with this and it w... Read More
Type(s): Power Tool
Tags: power+drill pressurehandle

Pumpkin Gutter
MAKE senior editor Phillip Torrone posted about this drill attachment on the blog, and I couldn't resist checking it out. It doesn't seem to work any better than some dedicate... Read More
Type(s): Kitchen Tool, Power Tool
Tags: pumpkin gutter

Punch Happy
If you have sheet material you need to make neat holes in, nothing beats a Roper-Whitney #5 Jr. Compact, powerful, reliable, and hand-powered, a #5 Jr. will punch holes throug... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: hand punch

QX5 Computer Microscope
The QX5 is the ultimate microscope for the casual scientist and is guaranteed to provide even the mildest-mannered geek with countless hours of fun. In addition to viewing, sa... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: microscope, computer, camera

RadioSHARK
I've been trying to figure out how to listen to "This American Life" on my iPod, without having to buy the episodes on Audible.com (too expensive). I tried Radio Recorder (xrl... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: radio record

Rare Earth Magnets
By now many people have been exposed to wonders of neodymium rare earth magnets; they've been around in various forms since the mid-1960s. As the years go by, these magnets ... Read More
Type(s): Raw Material
Tags: magnet magnets neodymium rare+earth rare+earth+magnets neodymium+magnets

Rayovac Rechargable Battery Charger
My whiz-bang digital camera consumes batteries at an alarming rate. Rechargeable AA cells always seem to be dead when I want to use the camera, so I either put in disposables ... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: rechargable batteries

ReadyMade, How to Make (Almost) Everything: A Do-It-Yourself Primer
This whimsical instructional guide from the folks at ReadyMade magazine (a sort of sister publication to Make) shows you how to make useful objects from things formerly destin... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: readymade diy

Recycling Electronics for Free
Wow! Just noticed this great post about free electronics recycling on Lifehacker. From the blog post: "The program, which allows you to discard your used electronics in an... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Service
Tags: recycling electronics free USPS

Removing Ink Stains from Toys
In my experience, there's nothing makers like more than being a hero, so here's a good tip I saw on BoingBoing for Dads and Moms: acne cream and sunshine will remove ink scri... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: toys ink stains removal

Rentometer
This is the type of site that shows why maps mashups are so popular; when the right data is displayed on a map it just comes to life. Rentometer will let you know if you are p... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: rent meter calculator website

Required Reading: The Arithmetic of Life and Death
For the numerate among us, it's sometimes hard to understand those who are not (just as it's sometimes hard for the literate, or the emotionally intelligent, or the physically... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: book arithmetic math

Required Reading: The Encyclopedia of Food and Culture
I was lucky enough to take a look at Sol Katz and William Weaver's amazing resource, The Encyclopedia of Food and Culture. A three-volume compendium of everything you could ev... Read More
Type(s): Book, Kitchen Tool
Tags: food, encyclopedia, resource, history, culture, science

Rice Cooker
The image of geeks surviving on colas and cold pizza is not completely myth. When you're really cranking on a cool project, who can spare the processor cycles to cook? Well... Read More
Type(s): Kitchen Tool
Tags: rice+cooker pressure+cooker kitchen

Riding Machines (for kids)
Are there kids in your life who deserve better than those expensive, battery-powered, disposable plastic toys you find at the mall? Be a good parent, relative, or friend and m... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: book wooden+toys toys

Roboraptor
Guided by the design brilliance of Mark W. Tilden, WowWee Robotics created the best-selling robot of all time, Robosapien. Dubbed the only robot fluent in “caveman talk,&... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Toy
Tags: robsapien robots dinosaur

Ryobi BT3100 10" Table Saw
The Ryobi BT3100 10" table saw is accurate, inexpensive, and cleverly engineered. Its accuracy is due to a number of well-designed features, although the design may make some ... Read More
Type(s): Power Tool
Tags: table saw

Safety Glasses
Actually, safety glasses are more of a favorite thing by association. What we are truly in love with is our eyes. They've been invaluable in most every project we've done to ... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: safety glasses

Safety-Walk Tape
Hardware stores and home centers sell some wonderful stuff made by 3M called Safety-Walk. This self-adhesive roll of gray, nubby rubber comes in 1-inch and 3-inch widths. It&#... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: tape sticky

Sappy Cards
Dear Toolbox, A neccessity I recommend including in your column: Sappycards ... the right tool for dealing with holidays, awkward crushes, and general communication of ... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Web Site
Tags: cards sappy

Saving Electricity
I just stumbled across this site in the pursuit of answering the question "Why is my electric bill so high?" and really like how utterly accessible and easy to understand it i... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: electricity tips save energy

Screw Buster
Once I got a Boxer TP62 screwdriver kit, I realized the world was held together with tamperproof screws and started carrying it with me everywhere. Previously, if I came acros... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: screw+driver

Screw Gun Alternative
I had a screw-off with the famous Don Montague the other day. We squared off across a crate that had too much stuff attached to it with drywall screws. We would vie to see who... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: brace+and+bit bit+brace screw+gun

Screw-base Fluorescent Lights
If you spend your workday in Cube Hell, the very words "fluorescent light" might send you off screaming. But there's been a quiet revolution in compact fluorescents lately: No... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: bulb, fluorescent, cost saver

Sean Shrum's Shuffler
The iPod shuffle is probably the biggest-selling flash-based MP3 player in the world. Given that you can drag and drop files onto from any decent file manager (on Windows, Mac... Read More
Type(s): Software
Tags: itunes shuffle alternative

Self-Fusing Rubber Splicing Tape
If you do any kind of electrical work or home repairs, you likely rely on heat-shrink tubing and/or electrical tape to seal and insulate wiring splices. But even the best viny... Read More
Type(s): Household Product
Tags: splicing tape

Servo Magazine
Over the years, there have been several attempts at creating a magazine aimed at robot enthusiasts. Sadly, none of them have been around for more than a few issues. So it was ... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: robotics magazine

Sharpie Mini
I, like most women I know, have used the venerable black Sharpie for many wardrobe fixes – scuff marks and bleach splatters, are no match for the queen of permanent marke... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Household Product, Office Supply, Organizing Tool
Tags: sharpie mini

Simple Burn Remedies
For those of us who get distracted at just the wrong moment in the kitchen or workshop, here are two more handy tips I picked up from an old, out-of-print book of "household h... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Tip
Tags: kitchen, workshop, remedy, burn

Sky Calendar
Sky Calendar comes as a one-page per month subscription from Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University. The front of the page is a calendar that's packed with informati... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: calendar astronomy sky+calendar

Slingbox Mobile Home Theater
The road. Sure it can be ugly. The lumpy beds, flat pillows, and sub-par chicken wings from room service. You’re desperate for comfort, even something as meager as watchi... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: slingbox, tv, travel

Solstice Sipper
If celebrating the winter solstice is more in your line of things, the night won't be complete without some homemade mead. Follow the instructions here, and you can raise your... Read More
Type(s): Raw Material, Tip
Tags: mead recipe how-to

Sony MZ-NH900 Hi-MD Minidisc Recorder
MD isnt dead -- at least not at my house. Last year's release of Sony's Hi-MD portables has made this flexible format even more useful for hobbyists interested in more than j... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: minidisc recorder recording audio sony

Sound Money Tips
Sound Money Tips is a nice site to keep yourself on top of your game. They post a short personal finance tip every day. Some are pretty obvious (like "stay organized" — w... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: money tips finance

Spam I Ain't
The anti-virus industry is dominated by a selected elite, like Symantec and McAfee, and to some extent by the pseudo-elite like BitDefender and Sophos. They are major market-s... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Software, Web Service
Tags: spam "anti-virus" kaspersky

Speedy Metals
Tip: Speedy Metals is a great place for ordering small quantities of metals for your projects. I've ordered brass tube stock, 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, and tool steel f... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Raw Material, Web Site
Tags: raw+metal metal brass steel cast+Iron aluminum

Spray Can Trigger Handle
No more tired index fingers! With the Spray Can Trigger-Handle avoid the frustration of keeping even pressure applied to the plastic nub on the top of the spray paint can. T... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Hand Tool
Tags: spray paint handle

Spring Hook Tool: Push/Pull/Lifter Combo
I picked up one of these years ago when I was working on tape recorders (audio/vidio) for replacing belts. Now I keep one in my kit and use it to manipulate all kinds of thing... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Hand Tool
Tags:

Spyderco Endura
It's inevitable: at least once a day you're going to have to ruin someone else's handiwork. You've got to cut some rope, open a packing box, delicately cut a printed circuit b... Read More
Comments: 5
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: knife

Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons, by George Pendle
I already knew a bit about Jack Parsons before I read Strange Angel. I knew he was an avid DIY experimenter, a pioneering rocket scientist from Pasadena who co-founded Jet Pro... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: scientist biography

Stylish Leg Purse
Doesn't everybody want a secret pocket on their person to store useful gadgets? Having just watched a sleep-inducing cigarette procured from a garter-case in The Spy Who Loved... Read More
Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: leg purse hands+free

Sun SPOT Kit
This Java-based wireless-sensor development kit, an ongoing project from Sun Research Labs is all about sensors. It's pretty techy, but looks like a lot of fun. Release is sch... Read More
Type(s): Kit, Software
Tags: java wireless+sensor kit sun+spot

Sunk Sink
OK, this is fun: say your sink is clogged. It just won't drain right, and you're constantly having to stop what your doing to let the water level sink enough to wash the dishe... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Raw Material, Tip
Tags:

SuperKnife
The Original Folding utility knife. Never sharpen a blade - always have a razor sharp tip. I have two of these and they are the greatest.I run a sign shop and I use this thing... Read More
Type(s): Art Supply, Hand Tool
Tags: utility knife craft hobby cutting tool

Suunto X9
A technological tour-de-force (and priced accordingly), this huge but comfy GPS watch also includes the usual Suunto complement of outdoor gizmos: barometer/altimeter, compass... Read More
Type(s): Toy
Tags: watch gps

Swiss Tech
I originally got this as an impulse purchase because it was small and "cute." Believe me, the Swiss+Tech Screwz-All 4-in-1 is anything but cute when it comes to working. S... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: "4-in-1" keychain tool mini+screwdriver

SwitchGrip
The SwitchGrip is used to assist with the installation and removal of light switches. I came across this tool after we purchased the PlugGrip for our remodel. We were just as ... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: "handtool" "electrical" "installation" light+switches

Tasty Tool
From the clever domain name department comes http://del.icio.us. Forget Yahoo's categorized links and Google's web directory, del.icio.us is a far tastier treat. del.icio.us... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: links

Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios, by Jim Cogan and William Clark
“Those studios were built with some incredible technology. For instance, the studios were built on four or five inches of cork. A cement slab was then floated (suspended)... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: sound music

The Ancient Engineers
MAKE pal Peter Mui brought this book, by L. Sprague de Camp, in to us because he thought it was right up our alley, and he hit the nail on the head (so to speak). A classic, t... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: history engineering

The Best Kitchen Quick Tips
Ever thought of using your washing machine as an ice chest for parties? How about adding balsamic vinegar to the water you boil eggs in so you can tell them apart from the ra... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: kitchen tips cooking food

The Big Box of Monster Garage
It's hard to find a set of books that appeals to geeks, car junkies, TV cable fans, and connoisseurs of good design, but this is exactly what Motorbooks has achieved with its ... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: customize handbook

The Complete Metalsmith: An Illustrated Handbook
This spiral-bound book by Tim McCreight has been around for years, and it's now available in a "Professional Edition" that's even better. You'll get an overview of common met... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: metal+working jewelry metal+work metal techiques

The Hippie Handbook
Offering up The Hippie Handbook to your friends quickly becomes a sociological study. The younger hippies – say, 35 and under who still live more or less by the hippie co... Read More
Type(s): Book
Tags: hippie carefree

The Names of Things
Ever feel like techno-creep has got you down? Don't even know what that means? Well, check out the Word Spy and you'll at least solve the second problem, if not the first. Wor... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: wordspy words new

The Prelinger Library
You might have heard of the Prelinger Film Archive (http://internetarchive.org), a stupendous collection of industrial films from decades past. But you might not know that the... Read More
Type(s): Source or Store
Tags: library

The Simplicity Cycle
I’d like to recommend for you’re consideration a new book, from the author Dan Ward, on simplicity and complexity titled: The Simplicity Cycle (published under The R... Read More
Type(s):
Tags: design simplicity

The Soul of the Shop
In his essay, "Shop Class as Soulcraft," Matthew B. Crawford writes in praise of manual labor, lamenting the disappearance of the shop class (and shop teachers) as our culture... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: shop soulcraft article

The Way Things Go
You may have seen the Honda commercial where parts from an Accord are used to create a fantastic Rube Goldberg-like contraption. That footage pays homage to artists Fischli an... Read More
Type(s): Video Recording
Tags: rube+goldberg video

Tie Yourself in Knots
Instant merit badge: Animated Knots by Grog shows how to tie a hundred useful knots, each with its own clear animated photo sequence. From necktie Windsors to bowlines to the ... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: rope knots ties

Tiptop Tips
Man, do I love this thing! It's a metal, ashtray-like dish crammed with brass shavings that allows you to quickly and safely clean your iron's tip without lowering its temper... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Hand Tool, Tip
Tags: solder tip clean

Tombow Dual Brush Pens
These great pens come in 96 colors and have two tips: a fine point marker, and a big soft brush. The brush is great for making painting strokes or filling in large areas. Yo... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Art Supply
Tags: pens pen brush brush+pen tombow marker paint

Tools in a jumble?
Try using a big carabiner as a cool means to store your box-end wrenches. The beener keeps all the sizes in order (or more precisely, you can keep them in order on the beener... Read More
Type(s): Organizing Tool, Tip
Tags: carabiner wrenches wrench tool+clip

Tracking Power Consumption
Two recent posts on O'Reilly Radar caught my attention. They both talk about ways to track the hidden power consumption of our gadgets, as well as discuss ways to change how w... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Tip, Web Site
Tags: power+consumption conservation energy

True Grit
I paid CDN$79 for my Delta 5" disk/1" belt sander two years ago, and I use it every day. Yeah, 5" isn't much — I'd be the first to admit to serious disc envy over the Pro... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Power Tool
Tags: sander

TV Tuner
The TVMicro is a terrific value if you're a Mac user who is looking for a cheap and space-efficient way to replace your existing TV or digitize those dusty old VHS cassettes u... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: tv tuner miglio tvmicro gadget

Ultrasonic Toothbrush
The toothbrush has had a spot in my toolbox for years, and I've been thinking for a long time about what a great cleaning tool my Sonicare toothbrush might make. My first visi... Read More
Type(s): Household Product, Tip
Tags: toothbrush, cleaning, sonicare

Unclutterer
While the writers on this great organization blog can sometimes be scarily fanatical about cleaning clutter, it's still a fantastic resource. It has posts on everything from c... Read More
Type(s): Web Site
Tags: clutter organization blog tips

Uniden BCD396T
Remember those old crystal-controlled police scanners it seems just about everyone had during the CB radio craze of a few decades ago? You probably have visions of an old tabl... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: scanner, radio

Utili-Key 6-in-1
A well-crafted tool in an elegant package is one of the true great joys in life. This little key-shaped piece of metal is usually my first and frequently last tool I need for ... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: tools

Vacuum Tube Radio Kit
You can put together your own radio with vintage vacuum tubes. Not only do you learn about basic electronics and radio, but it looks really cool.... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Kit
Tags: vacuum, radio, kit

Vaughan BearSaw
When I think of Japanese tools, I think of minimalism and efficiency, two qualities perfectly embodied by Vaughan’s BearSaw, actually modeled after a traditional Japanese... Read More
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: saw, japanese, bear saw

Versadriver
I finally found a pocket-sized driver set that isn’t afraid of major appliances. The Versadriver’s carabiner-shaped handle folds flat and strategically placed detent... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool, Kit
Tags: tools

Viewsonic Airpanel V110
I have a wireless network, a PocketPC, and an old Vadem Clio 1050 with a wireless card. But the PocketPC's screen is too small for more than occasional viewing, and the Clio i... Read More
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: terminal touchscreen windows

Vinyl Film
Five years ago, I wanted a clear protector for my iPod that worked just like the sticker that Quickie-Lube puts in my car windshield. So I went to my local craft store to see ... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply, Raw Material
Tags: clear protect

Vinyl Fruit Bowl
Have an old, scratched-up LP you were going to toss? Don't! Turn it into a fruit bowl instead, following the steps in this well-done Instructable. A lovely way to reuse otherw... Read More
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: record fruit+bowl vinyl

Wüsthof 10-Piece Classic Block Set
Before discovering the awesome blade of the Wusthof knife, I avoided recipes that called for cutting up fresh ingredients. Cutting things is more fun when you're doing it with... Read More
Type(s): Kitchen Tool
Tags: knives block set

Watt Watt
Watt Watt is a "community for individuals interested in electrical energy efficiency." It has forums on topics ranging from appliances to transport to renewable energy. An... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Tip, Web Site
Tags: electricity tips save

When Electronics Get Wet
I've revived a couple of soaked laptops and iPods, and if the machine isn't turning on, you pretty much have to disassemble it as fully as possible. You can find guides all ov... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget, Tip
Tags: electronics wet fix repair

While Away the Hours
MAKE's managing editor, Shawn Connally, pointed out the following grammar problem: When “awhile” is spelled as a single word, it is an adverb meaning “for a... Read More
Type(s): Tip
Tags: grammar a+while awhile tip

Whip Pro +5.5dB PowerBook antenna
Frustrated by the Wi-Fi reception problems on your large screen Powerbook? Use QuickerTek’s high gain Whip Pro antenna. My 15-inch aluminum Powerbook was showing two wire... Read More
Type(s): Office Supply
Tags: wi-fi antenna

Wire Spice Rack
A simple spice rack at the workbench can organize smaller bottles of glues, solvents, lubricants, etc. With less than a dollar's worth of hardware they'll mount to the gar... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Organizing Tool, Tip
Tags: work+bench spice+rack

Wooden Clock Kits
One of our readers wrote in and suggested a few wooden clock websites for kit builders. He started out with the Ascent, which is precut and ready to build. (Plans are also ava... Read More
Type(s): Kit
Tags: gear, wood, clock

Worthy Wordie
Another great site for word lovers, Wordie.org is sort of "like Flickr, but without the photos." Instead of uploading photos, you add in words. Your favorite words. Your least... Read More
Type(s): Web Service, Web Site
Tags: words wordie lists tags users

Xantrex xPower 400 Plus Power Inverter
Have you ever wanted to run a TV, stereo or other appliance while on the road or camping? For anyone who travels, an inverter will allow you to plug in/recharge all of your gi... Read More
Comments: 1
Type(s): Electronics/Gadget
Tags: power inverter power+inverter

Yankee Push Driver
Stanley bought out the Yankee brand name at some point and has subsequently diluted it by selling non-push-style screwdrivers under the Yankee name. These are great tools and ... Read More
Comments: 2
Type(s): Hand Tool
Tags: yankee push+driver screwdriver drill

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