Tools

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Today at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Today at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Today is Toolsday here at MAKE, so you know what that means – a live Google+ hangout where we will be discussing our favorite tools and workspace essentials. Tune in at 2pm PST/5pm EST on the +MAKE page for a hangout related to safety – bad experiences with tools, and how to prevent them. We’ll share our experiences and discuss how to prevent certain frightening things, like table saw kickback, from occurring.

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Today at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Today at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Today is Toolsday here at MAKE, so you know what that means – a live Google+ hangout where we will be discussing our favorite tools and workspace essentials. The main topic of the hangout will be power, in various forms. We’ll discuss a few of the many possible ways to power your projects, whether it’s with a homemade bench-top supply, a solar panel hanging out of your window, or a kit like the Mintyboost.

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Tomorrow at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Toolsday Hangout on Air, Live and Online Tomorrow at 2pm PST/5pm EST

Tomorrow is Toolsday here at MAKE, so you know what that means – a live Google+ hangout where we will be discussing our favorite tools and workspace essentials. The main topic of the hangout will be part finishing. We’ll discuss the tools and techniques required to protect and decorate your part with paint, varnish, anodizing, powder coating and more. Join us at 2pm PST/5 pm EST on the MAKE Google+ page or catch it later on the MAKE YouTube page.

DiResta: Tool Bag

DiResta: Tool Bag

In each bi-monthly episode of DiResta (every other Wednesday at 2pm PT), artist and master builder Jimmy DiResta (Dirty Money, Hammered, Against the Grain, Trash for Cash) lets us into his workshop, to look over his shoulder while he builds whatever strikes his fancy. On this episode of DiResta, Jimmy sews himself up a classic canvas and leather tool bag.

For lists of materials, tool, and supplies, notebook sketches, and Jimmy’s notes, see the post on MAKE: http://blog.makezine.com/2013/01/02/diresta-tool-bag/ ‎

Best of 2012: Toolsday

Best of 2012: Toolsday

We started doing tool-review-Tuesdays—inevitably compounded to “Toolsdays” in short order—in early 2011, and 2012 has been the column’s first full calendar year. The reviews are written on a volunteer basis by MAKE staff and friends. Sometimes a manufacturer or retailer provides a review unit, but as often as not, the reviewer simply opens his or her toolbox, picks out a personal favorite, and serenades it. Usually the tool is of modern manufacture and is available for retail sale, but sometimes we write about old tools, eBay finds, and family heirlooms. These “tool stories” usually add a human interest element to the sometimes dry approach common in product reviews, and have been some of my personal favorite Toolsday columns from 2012.