Collin’s Lab: Electronics Tools
A run through of basic and indispensable electronics tools to get newcomers properly geared up
Tools
How-To: Compressed Air Rockets
In this how-to video, Lucas Weakley walks you through the process of making paper rockets for the compressed air rocket launcher found in MAKE Volume 15. Based on his experience from making his own rockets, he offers a lot of great tips and tricks. The Compressed Air Rockets Kit is available in the Maker Shed if you’d like to get started launching your own rockets.
Heat Shrink Tool Grip
Check out this quick way to add a durable grip to your favorite tool using heavy gauge wire and some heat shrink tubing.
How-To: DIY Acrylic Cement
A commenter on my recent post about using cheap paint-stripper DCM to solvent-weld acrylic hipped me to this cool method of making thicker-bodied acrylic adhesives by dissolving acrylic chips in bulk acetone. I haven’t tried it myself, yet, but it seems like a fairly well-known method in the PC case-modder community, among others.
Zero to Maker: Gateway to Making… Drawing
Regardless whether it’s an email exchange, Skype call, or an in-person meeting, I always make sure to ask them for one piece of advice they would give a wannabe maker. More often than not, the response is some derivative of: just get started. Make that first mistake, pick up that tool, or go out and get your hands dirty. I agree with all of that, but I want to offer another piece of advice: start drawing.
ISO: Dangerous Kits
We’re in the process of working on another special issue publication for holiday release, like our popular Ultimate Workshop and Tool Guide from last year. This one is going to be the Ultimate Guide to Kits! It will feature over 150 kit reviews plus new kit-related articles and other delectable MAKE goodness.
Using Liquid Paint Stripper as Acrylic Cement
Unless your application is critical, cheap liquid paint stripper from the hardware store (not the gel, paste, or color-changing varieties) is a fine substitute for commercial acrylic solvent cement. Comparing one MSDS to another, we see that each product is about 75 wt% dichloromethane (AKA methylene chloride), which is the “active ingredient” that softens the plastic and allows it to weld. Purpose-made acrylic solvent is a bit thinner, in my experience, and evaporates a little faster, and contains trace amounts of acrylic monomer that may result in a slightly stronger bond, but for most practical purposes I have not found these qualities to justify paying twice as much for it.