Toolsday

Tool Review: QU-BD Silicone Heater

Tool Review: QU-BD Silicone Heater

QU-BD (pronounced โ€œcubedโ€) is a recent startup that sells parts for 3D printers. They sent us a few of their silicone heaters to review. The heaters were designed for use in a heated build platform (which is required for warp-free ABS prints) and come in three different-sized square pads of 150 ร— 150mm, 200 ร— 200mm, and a giant 300 ร— 300mm. They are about 3mm thick and a 100k thermistor is built into each pad for measuring their temperatures. The build quality of the heaters is quite robust. The pads are made of a flexible fiberglass-reinforced silicone…

Tool Review: Rio Grande Swap-Jaw Pliers

Tool Review: Rio Grande Swap-Jaw Pliers

There’s nothing especially complex about these pliers from prominent jeweler-supply house Rio Grande: one jaw features a rounded bending mandrel about 5mm in diameter and 20mm long, and the other, a cupped steel band holding a nylon forming block with a matching V-shaped groove. The cool part is that the nylon block is removable and replaceable, so if you have access to a 3D printer, you can print your own custom jaw inserts and mount them in place using small wood screws.

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

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

Itโ€™s Toolsday here at MAKE, so you know what means โ€“ a live Google+ hangout where we will be discussing our favorite tools and workspace essentials. Tune at 2pm PST/5pm EST on the +MAKE page, or if youโ€™re busy you can catch the broadcast on the MAKE YouTube page. The main topic of todayโ€™s hangout will be dream tools. If money was no object, what tool(s) would you buy? Join in the discussion by leaving your questions, comments, and opinions on MAKEโ€™s G+ page.