Cable coiling tip/ Boom/Bust / Text Expander

Recomendo: issue no. 210

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Custom coiled cables
I’ve been making my own coiled cables thanks to a tip I learned from Gareth Branwyn’s Tips newsletter (which we co-publish). Gareth pointed me to a John Park’s YouTube tutorial on heat treating ordinary USB cables into expandable coiled cables, like the ones on old telephone handsets, or headphones. (Jump to the 23-minute mark.) The hack really works and results in much more manageable cables for audio, photography, and desktop gear. — KK

The story of the once-viral trivia app
I binge listened to all 8 episodes of Boom/Bust: The Rise and Fall of HQ Trivia in one day. I was obsessed with the viral game back in 2017, but eventually lost interest and didn’t follow the demise of the trivia startup. This documentary podcast series gave me an insider glimpse into what really happened and helped me better understand the very fickle attention economy. — CD

Speed for slow typists
I’ve been using TextExpander for at least 10 years and it has saved me hundreds of hours of typing. It’s a global utility that converts short snippets of text into canned text. For instance, when I type “mf” it changes it to “Mark Frauenfelder.” When I type “adr” it changes it to my home address. “Bio” spits out my biography and a link to my headshot photos. I have a lot of canned boilerplate for email responses that save me a ton of time. It can also add anything that’s saved in my clipboard to a chunk of boilerplate. It also corrects frequently misspelled words. The Mac OS has snippet expansion but lacks many of the features and the snap of TextExpander. I can’t stand using other people’s computers to write or do email because not having TextExpander slows me way down. — MF

Ultimate refrigerator containers
My second favorite activity in the kitchen (after eating good food) is to stowe leftovers in our trove of Snapware Glasslock containers with snap-on lids. Glass makes the leftovers clearly visible, and re-heatable in their container, and the snap lids with gaskets create a nearly vacuum seal, and their sturdy flat tops can be securely stacked in the refrigerator. They will never spill, and are superior to all the other systems we’ve tried in the past. Snapping them shut on all four sides makes me really happy. By now there are 10 different brands of glass with snap lids (including Amazon Basics), all with the same design, though they are not interchangeable. I have not tried other brands; we are still using the original Snapware/Glasslock ones from a decade ago and they seem to last forever. — KK

Low maintenance label maker
I bought this DYMO Portable Label Maker ($23) because it was an Amazon best seller and I didn’t want to put that much research into it, but now it’s been almost a year that I’ve owned it and it’s still incredibly useful and has not let me down. It’s so intuitive that months have gone by between use and I don’t have to remind myself how to work it. I love that it’s so light. I can walk around with it, type on it, print and cut my label and put it back in one fell swoop. — CD

The 1913 dictionary is better
I found out about Webster’s 1913 Dictionary from David Perell’s excellent Friday Finds newsletter. Perell uses this 107 year old dictionary because he thinks “modern dictionaries have lazy definitions that focus too much on simplicity at the cost of precision.” I also love the extreme Simplicity of the interface. it’s worth bookmarking. — MF

Cooper Bates, Co-founder Hint Mint

Cool Tools Show 236: Cooper Bates

Our guest this week is Cooper Bates. Cooper co-founded the world’s first designer breath mint company, Hint Mint. Cooper also created the TEDx concept, and then he co-founded and produced TEDxSkidRow. He’s a playwright currently touring two award-winning solo shows, as well as being the founder of the card game: I Think, Therefore I Question.

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Show notes:

Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Station
We are big campers. We have a EuroVan, and I like to go out on my own sometimes to just be able to write, as I am a playwright. You need power, and so, I’ve had battery chargers and all kinds of stuff, but the thing that has saved the day for me is this thing called the Yeti 400. It’s the size of a car battery, so it’s kind of heavy, but it’s an amazingly beautifully-designed compact powerhouse. It has one twin port, so if you wanted to plug in a small lamp or a small fan, or anything with a ground that you plug into a wall you can. It’s also got a cigarette port. It’s also got two USB ports on it. If you shut off your Wifi, and Bluetooth on your computer, I can run my computer for three days on it, if I dim the screen a little bit, too, which is very cool. If I want to just have it around to make sure that my phone is charging, I can recharge my phone 30 times with it. You can also get solar panels for it, which I haven’t quite done yet, because I haven’t had a need for it.

Jump-N-Carry JNC660 1700 Peak Amp 12 Volt Jump Starter
I have two of them. The one that I use all the time, the one that I’ve had the longest, it’s called the Jump and Carry, and if you were to call AAA, the guy or girl, or they, gets out of the truck and this is what they have in their hand. The other one is the Micro-Start. It’s a XP-10. I haven’t played with it a whole lot. I mean, how often does your car battery die? The thing about it is, I’m always running up on somebody, and this is really nice, to be able to just jump out instead of them having to pull their car around and look out for traffic and hook the cables up. The cables are obsolete, in my opinion, because these jumpers are so small now and they are so powerful. You can jump your car four or five times with them, and they just fit in your glove box.

YETI Tundra 45 Cooler
There’s two family companies that I spend way too much time and money with, and one is Apple and one is Yeti. I have a Yeti Tundra ice cooler, and this thing is a rock star, man. If you filled this thing to the top with ice and just shut it, and no matter how hot it is outside, the cubes will stay intact for about four to five days. If we take off on a Friday, we’ll still have ice in there on Sunday. But its kryptonite is when you put hot stuff in it — that obviously works against the whole system. But as long as you’re not putting anything warm in it, you’d be amazed at how long the ice lasts. You can sit on it. It’s really rugged. You could stand on it. It doesn’t really scratch that easily. The texture is like a really dense plastic. It’s bear-proof, so you can put a lock on it, like one of those real thin cable locks that you would lock a bike up with, and then hook it to a tree.

LuminAID Solar Inflatable Lanterns
This is a light in an inflatable bag. It is about the size of a book and it solar. When you fold it it will fit in your back pocket. It has two modes for brightness, a bright and then a dimmer version of the bright. It’s got a handle, and it’s durable. I got mine in a goody bag. I ended up buying about 15 of them. I took them to Africa. I was doing helping a team make a documentary about the nomads. My intention was to give them away to people that I felt like, “Oh, I like you. I want to make you happy, and here’s an American prize just for making me smile,” or whatever. I ended up learning that a lot of women perish, along with their kids, in childbirth; a big reason is because there’s no light. And so, I ended up giving almost all those bags to women. I took a bunch of pictures, and I get thank you emails all the time; not all the time, because they don’t have any digital access, but they’re very grateful, and they still have them, and we ended up getting more to send to them.

About I Think Therefore I Question:

I have created a conversation deck. A card game entitled: I Think Therefore I Question. It’s more than just words on paper. More than manufactured questions generated by co-workers in a think tank. This deck is an expression my cumulative lifetime of experiences, interactions, and friendships amassed on a beautifully designed deck of cards. 60 cards, with 60 thoughtful if not eccentric questions crafted to mine entertaining, unexpected answers, interesting conversations, and a whole lot of fun. The questions in this deck are thoughtful and sincere. I don’t move through the world presenting crass topics in the interest of shock value. Enter with an open spirit and you will learn a little something about yourself, too.

We have hired professional editors to help create our weekly podcasts and video reviews. So far, Cool Tools listeners have pledged $390 a month. Please consider supporting us on Patreon. We have great rewards for people who contribute! If you would like to make a one-time donation, you can do so using this link: https://paypal.me/cooltools.– MF

FreshForce Citrus Juicer

Squeeze a lot of juice with ease

After using the FreshForce Citrus Juicer by Chef’n daily for over two months I can unequivocally state this is the best handheld juicer I have ever used. It is easier to operate, more reliable, requires less effort, and produces more juice than any other. A single FreshForce Citrus Juicer replaces two different size cheap juicers and does a better job than either.

During twenty-five years of researching and making cocktails (my main use for citrus juicers), I found most handheld juicers are cheaply made. Hinges break, paint chips off, and in two cases, the (pot?) metal handles snapped. Further, the design of cheap juicers leaves much to be desired in terms of efficiency and ease-of-use. A cheap lime juicer is too small for large lemons, and a cheap lemon juicer is often too big for small limes.

The Chef’n FreshForce Citrus Juicer design addresses all these issues.

• The bowl interior has a “stepped” surface. This permits squeezing small limes (think key lime) up to large lemons. The cut edge sits firmly on a step instead of sliding down into the bowl, allowing better juice extraction.
• Clever gearing provides additional leverage to extract more juice. The gearing is very similar to highly-regarded Fiskars garden loppers.
• Hinge pins are large (5/16″ diameter) hardened steel pins, replacing the thin (1/8″) junk pins used in cheap juicers.
• Handles, gears, and main bowl are made of strong injection-molded plastic which feels very similar to Delrin.
• Handle shape is very comfortable even when squeezing hard.

Drawbacks?

• The FreshForce juicer does not appear to be user-serviceable, but Chef’n has a limited lifetime warranty.
• The FreshForce juicer is approximately twice the price of “enameled” or “cast aluminum” handheld juicers.

In my opinion, if you use a tool often and that use is important to you, buy the best tool you can afford. The FreshForce Citrus Juicer is worthy of that label.

(This is a Cool Tools Favorite from 2015 — editors)

Running 3-Phase Machines in a Single-Phase Shop

Gareth's Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales - Issue #54

Running 3-Phase Machines in a Single-Phase Shop

Put a VFD on it.

James of Malt & Make sent me a message and a link to his recent video on running 3-phase machinery in a single-phase shop using a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD): “… you can use three-phase tools in the home shop on single-phase power using a VFD. It’s something that’s made a big difference to my maker life, specifically that I’ve been able to buy used industrial tools for a low price at auctions… which I’m choosing to think of as a money saving exercise!”

Making Your Own Coiled Cabling

Go retro with coil cords

In this video by our ol’ pal, John Park, he demonstrates how you can use the thermoforming properties of most plastic-based equipment cabling (e.g. USB cables) to create coiled cables. Basically all you need is a heat gun, a dowel, and some zip-ties.

3D Printing Custom-Fit Face Masks

Mind the gap with a custom 3D mask fitter.

DC-area artist and maker, Dave Mordini, sent me link to the Bellus 3D Mask Fitter frame app. It allows you to use 3D scanning to create a mask frame that’s perfectly fit to the contours of your face. The frame then goes over a typical surgical mask, giving you a mask with the minimum amount of edge leakage.

Consider the “Opportunity Cost” of Shop Space

How much does the space in your shop “cost” you?

My former Make: colleague Tyler Winegarner sent me a link to this Keith’s Garage video which makes an excellent point. When organizing your workshop, think of the cost of the space (in terms of use, convenience, economy of motion, etc). Is where things are the best use of that space? Keith calls this the “opportunity cost.” Spend it wisely.

Pen and Marker Organizer

3D printable custom pen holders.

I have a Letraset marker organizer that I love from my former life as a graphic designer. The markers holster at an angle and allow you to see the color and PMS color number on the butt of the marker. This pen/marker holder on Thingiverse uses that same angled design and can be expanded to fit your storage needs. I might be begging a friend with a printer to make me some of these.

Preventing Nails from Splitting Wood

It’s better with a blunt.

On the Instagram channel for Custom Builds and Products, they explain in a brief video why it’s actually a good idea to blunt the tip of a nail when driving it into thin, soft wood where splitting is likely. Basically, the sharp tip of the nail acts as a wedge that splits the grain. A blunted tip compresses the wood around it. Watch the video for the full explanation. Science!

Shop Talk
On the Cool Tools site, newsletter reader LarryA2010 took exception to my mentioning that I’d used WD-40 to stop a squeaky door hinge (frankly, it’s all I had on hand at that moment):

“…you don’t necessarily want to use WD-40 to lubricate anything. It isn’t really a lubricant. It is mostly a cleaner/degreaser and water displacer (supposedly).

I have been searching for a solution for years. I’ve tried WD-40, 3-in-1 Oil, Tri-Flow, B’Laster PTFE and graphite spray, silicone spray, powdered graphite, WS2 (Tungsten Disulfide), directly in the hinges and removing the pins. They all work for about two or three months before they dry out and the squeak comes back. I finally did an exhaustive search online and the consensus that made the most sense to me was using Lithium grease. Most posts said to remove the pins from the hinges but that is laborious and often at least one pin is really stuck and requires hammer and screwdriver. So I looked at the SDS and found out that it is 10-20% each of hydrotreated light naphtha and hydrotreated heavy naphthenic. I put a good size dab of the grease into a needle-tip PE squeeze bottle and topped it up with VM&P naphtha (close enough) and added a ball bearing to aid mixing. It dissolved instantly. Now all I have to do is dribble the thin liquid from the top of the hinge just under the collar of the pin until it starts leaking at the bottom of the pin onto a paper towel. The operation is clean and so far this has lasted a lot longer than any other lube I tried. The only problem is the naphtha evaporates between uses even with an added O-ring in the cap. Topping up is not that bothersome though considering that this works so well.”

(Gareth’s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up here. — editors)

Stain Devils

Effective stain removal

I’ve used Stain Devils for at least two decades now, mostly the formula made to remove fats and oils. The number of times I’ve washed clothes with a Chapstick left in a pocket is high, and this stain remover has saved many favorite items.

Stain Devil makes nine different stain removers:

• Ink, marker and crayon
• Grass, dirt and makeup
• Chocolate, ketchup and mustard
• Fat and cooking oil
• Coffee, tea and juice
• Blood, dairy and ice cream
• Motor oil, tar and lubricant
• Rust, perspiration
• Nail polish, glue and gum

I’ve used all but a few in my regular life and tested out the rest for this review (except the formula for nail polish, glue and gum – I wasn’t able to find this one).

The results are very good. I tested them on 100% woven cotton (white), and let the stains sit an hour before trying to remove them. And while the directions call for dabbing the stain remover onto the fabric and repeatedly pressing it into the fabric, I found that it’s far more effective to scrub the fabric between my fingers while thoroughly saturated with the stain remover. After this step, I washed the fabric, per the instructions.

I was able to try each of the stains, with the exception of tar and perspiration. All stains were removed either 100% or about 95% with one wash. The remaining spots (grass, chocolate, coffee, bike chain grease, and rust) which weren’t completely removed the first time where totally cleared up with a second application and wash. The Stain Devil formulation for makeup had virtually no effect on the makeup stain (Nars oil-free foundation). I was especially impressed with the complete removal of Bic pen ink with just one wash. However, Sharpie ink cannot be removed with Stain Devils – but they don’t claim it can be.

The bottles are small, but don’t let this fool you. They are also cheap and last for a couple of years, depending on how often ketchup and oil jump onto your shirt.

(This is a Cool Tools Favorite from 2015 — editors)

What’s in my bag? — Kevin Kelly

What's in my bag? issue #59

Kevin Kelly is Senior Maverick at Wired magazine. He co-founded Wired in 1993, and served as its Executive Editor for its first 7 years. His most recent book is The Inevitable, which is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. His other books include the best-selling New Rules for the New Economy, the classic Out of Control, and his summary theory of technology in What Technology Wants. From 1984-1990 Kelly was publisher and editor of the Whole Earth Catalogs. He co-founded the Hackers’ Conference, and was involved with the launch of the WELL, a pioneering online service started in 1985. He also founded the popular Cool Tools website in 2003.

About the bag

This is my day hiking bag. An ancient 20-year old JanSport bag with essentially 3 big pockets. I use it for day hikes. In addition to the items shown here, I’ll also carry some snacks and water. This is the closest current model JanSport bag.

What’s inside the bag

Homemade, super light-weight plant press for preserving plants and flowers from my hikes. Made from scrap pieces of foam core boards. I glued two layers for each side with strips of wood to corner the velcro straps. Inside are sheets of “couch” blotter paper to dry the plants.

A single AA battery LED light hangs inside the JanSport bag. Very light weight, but extremely bright and long lasting. To be used when darkness comes or to inspect underbrush. The one shown is no longer made. This one is near equivalent.

Tiny binoculars. I only use these occasionally, so I don’t want to carry the full weight of real birding binocs. At 8 x 21 magnification they are low powered, and sometimes called opera glasses. These inexpensive ones are helpful for short glimpses. Since they are very compact and very cheap, I don’t mind packing them. The ones I have are no longer made so this is an equivalent.

The lightest, smallest portable camp chair I could find. This fits in my daypack and unpacks into a tripod stool which lets me sit almost anywhere. While it is very compact, the TriLite Stool is not super comfortable, and not made for relaxing. It’s also tipsy, and easy to tip over in. But I use it only for short rests and for picnicking.

(What's in YOUR bag? We want to hear about unusual and unusually useful items that you carry in your bag. We are especially interested in the specialized bags of doctors, athletes, repair techs, artists, gardeners, hikers, etc. Start by sending an email to claudia@cool-tools.org with a photo of the things in your bag (you can use your phone). If you get a reply from us, fill out the form. We’ll pay you $50 if we run your submission in our What’s in my bag? newsletter and blog. — editors)

What’s in my bag? — Kevin Kelly