MAKE Magazine: Tools

McMaster-Carr Catalog

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:47:49 GMT

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 surprisingly speedy, with orders usually magically appearing on our doorstep in a day or two. And, there is no better source of brainstorming fodder than their well-organized catalog chock full of extra-descriptive info and masterful line drawings. Can't get your hands on one of their coveted catalogs? Their website is excellent as well: mcmaster.com.

Adjustable Wrench

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 19:56:37 GMT

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 86 03 250. I love it. -DAVE

Loctite Stick

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:56:50 GMT

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 nut or bolt without this stuff.

Saving Electricity

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:38:24 GMT

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 is.

Recycling Electronics for Free

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:37:37 GMT

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 environmentally friendly manner, provides free envelopes in 1,500 post offices to handle everything from inkjet cartridges to cell phones and MP3 players. The postage-paid Mail Back envelopes are located in post office lobbies, and you can take as many as you want for free. Currently the pilot program supports 10 areas, including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., but could go nationwide this fall if the trial is successful." This is fantastic news for those of us that are never quite sure of the best way to recycle old electronics. Cross your fingers that they expand the program, and if you live in one of the pilot cities, try it out and let me know how it goes! It's interesting to see the post office try creative ways to raise funds (while doing good for the planet).

Unclutterer

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:33:39 GMT

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 clearing out your garage to organizing your desktop (computer or otherwise) to the psychological impact of clutter. Worth a glance to see what the latest posts are, but be sure to search around the site for past posts as well.

Home Comforts

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:27:38 GMT

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 cover, the real story is told in the subtitle: "the art and science of keeping house." Written by a law professor with a secret fetish for domestic order, it literally covers everything to do with keeping your house ship shape. No task is too small or seemingly too obvious (and after author Cheryl Mendelson gets through with it, the obvious always turns out to be dizzyingly complex). It's a fascinating read, and a great reference; by the time you're through with the subject you looked up, you truly do understand both the art and the science behind it. Kevin Kelly has a great review of it on his Cool Tools site, too.

Doggle (Doggie Goggle)

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:06:07 GMT

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 top 1.5", including the spout. The plastic is thickest near the spout, so how much you cut off determines how hard it is to cut, and how flexible it is going to be wrapped around the dog's muzzle. Cut off the rest of the bottle around the top of the label. Cut a vertical slit so the bottle top opens up into goggle shape. Trim off the sharp corners and smooth any ragged cuts. The plastic will try less to curl back into bottle shape after a while. When you have cut the spout off at the right level and stretched it and fit it properly, the plastic's preformed curl will keep the top of the bottle snug around the dog's muzzle. If there's too big a gap, I suppose wind will lift the doggle and blow it off. It shouldn't be squeezing his muzzle, just trim it so it is formfitting. Poke a little hole in the plastic where you want to tie a string. I suggest two ties at the bottom rear corners clipped to his collar under his chin, with a spring clip. The weight of his collar was enough to hold doggle against muzzle when he lifted his head into the wind. Once I got the right shape to fit and stay down, and the right location of holes and length for ties, he could slip it off if he wanted. But he routinely left it on and seemed to enjoy it, riding head out, wide-eyed. It won't stay crystal clear forever. When it's time for a new one, wrap the old one around a new bottle as a guide for cutting.

Fire Arts Chicago

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:55:29 GMT

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 classes in foundry, forge, armor, sword-making, welding, and sculpture. My son and I have worked in bronze and copper sculpture using the ceramic-shell lost wax process, making pieces upwards of thirty pounds. Vince Hawkins is the resident wizard/alchemist who keeps things running at Fire Arts, and he's a remarkable sculptor in his own right. Editor's Note: Don't live in Chicago? Check out our list of industrial art spaces here.

Watt Watt

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:53:55 GMT

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. And speaking of energy, I got an interesting list of energy-saving tips in the mail from my local gas and electric company. Most of them are common sense, like only washing full loads in the dishwasher and washing machine, or setting your thermostat lower at night. But a couple were things I'd never thought of, like cleaning out the lint from the dryer after each use, or letting dishes in the dishwasher air dry if you have time. I might just have to post this on Watt Watt!

Removing Ink Stains from Toys

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:52:23 GMT

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 scribbles from toys. I love the process the author of the post went through to test various solutions, and the before and after photos are astonishing!

Don't Forget the Duct Tape

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:51:09 GMT

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 full of great advice for repairing broken zippers, snagged sleeping bags, and sputtering camp stoves, but even more importantly, it lays out the best way to keep these problems from happening in the first place. Kristin Hostetter is the gear editor at Backpacker magazine, and you can tell she's seen a LOT of gear. Heck, it's a great thing to take with you when shopping for your stuff in the first place.

How to Remove Pine Sap from Your Hands

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:27:18 GMT

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 sticky, messy, nasty pine sap on your hands. I got this from the guy that sold me my tree last year and it works great: Alcohol Gel Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer. Pour a couple of squirts into your hands and rub till the sap is gone, but then rinse your hands in water. If you don’t rinse your hands while the gel is still wet the diluted sap will leave a sticky residue.

Cough Cure

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:26:40 GMT

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 bed doesn’t get all gooey), a friend tried it out and reported back in favor. “It’s incredible!” he said in awe. “I’ve gotta try it on my kids when they get sick.”

Free Rice

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:36:54 GMT

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 word you get right, they donate 20 grains to the United Nations to end world hunger. (There's a small changing advertisement at the bottom of the page which generates the rice money.) Pretty cool idea, no? It's surprisingly addictive, and you'll learn new words (and definitions) as you go. I'm up to 2600 grains of rice, which, admittedly is not that much, but I've learned that a "kerf" is a notch, "hebdomadally" means weekly, and a "dinkey" is a small locomotive.