01/31/18
The best maker projects and tips of the week
01/27/18
One of the greatest hits of the Cool Tools blog
I have long flirted with the idea of making my own tabletop spray booth. In this episode of Steady Craftin, everyone’s favorite puppet crafter, The Crafsman, shows how he built a pretty swanky booth on the cheap — at least most of it was cheap. He started with a simple storage tote, a furnace filter, and an under-cabinet light. He finished it off with a $180 Mounto fan. You can probably get away with something less expensive, but never use a brushed box fan for something like this. The beauty of using a fan like the Mounto is that it is guaranteed explosion-proof. Sparks are not your friend here, so you want to make sure you use a brushless-motor. I’ve seen a number of small booth projects using HVAC inline duct fans (available for around $30).
When I saw this rotary tool on Amazon for a mere seventeen bones, I knew I couldn’t resist. The reviews were decent and… well… $17! At first, I was disappointed. It doesn’t have a lot of torque, and it binds easily and shuts off. It is definitely not a replacement for my corded rotary tools. But now that I’ve learned its limitations and eccentricities, I love having it on my hobby bench. For small (especially plastic) sanding and shaping jobs, light cutting, drilling through softer plastics, it’s great. Did I mention $17?
You probably already know some of the benefits of carpenter pencils (they’re flat so they don’t roll, they’re about 1/4” so you can use them as a crude ruler, they make a convenient spacer for deck boards, etc.). But Scott of Essential Craftsman is always droppin’ the science, digging deeper on tricks of the trade. Here, he runs through different methods for sharpening the graphite for different marking use, how to use them for measuring, marking, scribing, and more. You always learn something in one of Scott’s videos.
In Becky Stern’s latest video for DigiKey, she offers a clear, beginner’s guide to benchtop power supplies. These adjustable DC power units let you dial in the exact voltages and current for your circuit projects. Unlike batteries or wall adapters, they provide precision, built-in protection, and flexibility that make them indispensable for prototyping, debugging, and testing, and all serious benchtop electronics work. Becky explains key features (digital displays, coarse and fine adjustments, constant voltage vs. constant current modes), demonstrates practical uses like measuring current draw to size batteries, reviving rechargeable cells, and simulating weak power conditions, and offers tips for safe operation: set current limits first, double-check polarity, and start low and slow. She also points out what to look for when shopping for a supply, such as low ripple and noise for clean, reliable power.
It’s the little things. Like squeezing every last bit o’ juice from two measly AAA batteries. I don’t know about you, but I get a surprising kick out twisting the batteries in my remote control to keep them going for as long as possible. Infrared remotes don’t need a lot of juice, so battery rolling (or switching the batts around in the bay) can often keep them in service longer. We’ve had the same AAA batteries in our Samsung TV remote for years and I’ve become somewhat obsessed with seeing how long I can extend their life. Rolling batteries helps redistribute the electrolyte in them, giving you a short-lived boost. Switching them around can sometimes get more juice out of the weaker one(s). OK, so all a little silly for something that’s a couple o’ bucks for two, but as I said… the little things.
Tips & Tools readers join in the conversation
I’ve recommended these inexpensive 20w LED shop lights a number of times over the years and I’m always thrilled when I get email (with pics) from readers who buy them and are as impressed as I am. You get six 4’, 2200lm, 6500K Super Bright White fixtures that can be daisy chained (up to 8 fixtures) for $43 — that’s just over $7 each! A few weeks ago, I got an email from my old pal Steven Roberts (the venerable high-tech nomad). He’s installed them in his mobile shop and is loving them. Looking good, Steve! Love your organization system, too!
Gar’s Tips & Tools is free. But if you really like what I’m throwing down and want to support it, please consider a paid subscription. Same great taste, more cheddar to help keep me in tattoo wash bottles. Plus, I’ll occasionally pick paid subscribers at random and send them little treats, tools, or tip-related treasures.
Your support keeps this whole Rube Goldberg contraption lovingly cobbled together and running…smoothly (enough). Thank you!
Special thanks to Hero of the Realm members: Jim Coraci, Donobster, Peter Sugarman, and Will Phillips for your generous support.
© 2022
