MAKE’s Kits For The Holidays!
In MAKE 04 we featured some great kit gift ideas in the magazine, “Kits for the Holidays”. But we didn’t have room for all the kits we found, so here’s another round for elves with makers on their list. MAKE subscribers can log in and view the full article here…Link. We also have our own kit for taking high speed flash photography to capture high-speed events — A splash. Popping balloons. Breaking glass. It’s an amazing adjustable flash controller triggered by light or sound. Link.
These are pretty clever to make or buy – “4 way rubber bands…a great new way to hold boxes or books or large stacks of paper together. (Sample shown above holding a Nuclear War box together). If your game box is starting to fall apart, or if it is so stuffed with supplements things start to slip out, or if you just want to organize your books, this is for you. Package of 6 for $5. You can order small (4″), regular (8″) and large (10″).” [
“…Skype has struck a partnership with consumer electronics chain RadioShack. Skype Starter Kit More than 3,000 RadioShack locations nationwide on Monday will begin offering the Skype Starter Kit, which includes the software that enables a customer to use Skype’s free computer-to-computer telephone service, a headset and 30 minutes of Skype’s premium service, with which a user can call a landline or cell phone, company executives said.” [
Might be a good DIY project…“This is the first laser-guided regulation-sized pool cue. When activated, the harmless visible laser provides a precise guide for lining up the perfect shot with pinpoint accuracy. The touch sensor on/off switch features both manual and automatic shut-off to preserve battery life. The set includes a 58″ two-piece cue with a secure microfiber grip and an aluminum joint and ferrule…” [
More soap box derby action – “A lot has changed since the first Soap Box Derby in 1934. More girls are racing, wind-tunnel technology and computer modeling are the norm, and the cars are made mainly of plastic from easy-to-build kits…Over the last decade, Soap Box Derby racing has come barreling back thanks to a blend of tenacity, adaptation, renewed interest from national sponsors – including Nascar – and a yearning for nostalgia.” [
Michael is looking for more advanced electronics kits…“I love building electronics kits, but I have run into a slight problem: there aren’t many out there past the “solder these 20 things” level. I’d love a complicated kit (too bad Heath Kits no longer exists). I would love an article on complex kits you can buy (maybe highlight a few in each price range). The last kit I bought that I really loved was an RGB LED Blinky from Ramsey Kits. You assemble a little tiny SMT circuit board (that was challenging, quite fun) and the one LED (which is 3 in one) glows all different colors. Very cool to show off.” 
