Toolbox Archives

Tool Review: Shapeoko CNC Mill Kit

Michael Newman

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August 14th, 2012 12

MAKE reader Michael Newman reviews the Shapeoko CNC Mill Kit.

Tool Review: Schröder 9″ Hand Drill

Gregory Hayes

Gregory Hayes is a helpful being who has lots of fun. He makes most of his living as a photographer and writer, and occasionally tweets @mootpointblank.

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July 17th, 2012December 3rd, 2015 28

I picked up a pair of these German-made drills from Garrett Wade: the 9″ Mini Hand Drill ($25.50) and the 12″ Larger Hand Drill ($46.50), which has an additional wood knob opposite the crank handle. Since the Mini reminds me more of the old eggbeater, I’m using that. It looks shiny and new, but the solid construction and tight engineering hark back to the days when tools weren’t considered disposable.

Tool Review: Klein Kurve Wire Stripper

By Stuart Deutsch

Stuart Deutsch

When I am not testing and reviewing new tools, I am working on robotics, electronics, woodworking, and other types of projects.

I am also interested in microscopy, the physical sciences, and new technologies.

I write about tools and workshop topics at ToolGuyd.com.

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@ToolGuyd

June 26th, 2012 10

Klein’s Kurve wire strippers are comfortable to use and can cleanly strip the thin wires we use in small electronics and Arduino projects.

Tool Review: Whitelines Squared Notebook

By Stuart Deutsch

Stuart Deutsch

When I am not testing and reviewing new tools, I am working on robotics, electronics, woodworking, and other types of projects.

I am also interested in microscopy, the physical sciences, and new technologies.

I write about tools and workshop topics at ToolGuyd.com.

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@ToolGuyd

June 12th, 2012 26

Whitelines is a paper design that features white grid lines on a light grey paper to make your designs and drawings stand out better than on traditional dark-lined graph paper.

Tool Review: Stainless Steel Bonsai Shears

By Sean Michael Ragan

Sean Michael Ragan

I am descended from 5,000 generations of tool-using primates. Also, I went to college and stuff. I am a long-time contributor to MAKE magazine and makezine.com. My work has also appeared in ReadyMade, c't – Magazin für Computertechnik, and The Wall Street Journal.

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@seanragan

June 5th, 2012 10

Scissors or shears on this classic pattern are sometimes referred to as “butterfly scissors,” “butterfly shears,” or simply “Chinese scissors.” The finger rings are integral to the blades, and are formed by bending the steel stock back on itself in two simple, elegant loops which, taken together, suggest a heart, or a leaf, or a pair of wings

Tool Review: NEMA 23 Stepper Motor Covers

By Nick Raymond

Nick Raymond

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May 29th, 2012 6

Over the last year I have been finishing a project to convert my X2 manual mini mill into a fully enclosed 3-axis CNC milling machine. Once I had the stepper motors mounted and running, I worried that the wire connection at the base of the motors might be a potential weak point in the design. Eventually I want to use mist coolant when machining parts but I do not want to run the risk of shorting out the wiring due to spotty connections.