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Last week, I forgot to include a link to the oscillating multi-tool tips video I included. Thanks to those of you who kindly pointed out the omission. In the future, if this happens, you can always go to the channel I mention, search on the subject, and find the video. My apologies for the hiccup.
Tips Busters: Amazingly Stupid Tape Tricks
Months back, I proposed the idea of doing a “Tips Busters” section where I deputize readers to try out a tip, any tip they see that appears too good to be true, to determine whether it works, doesn’t work, sorta works. I’m still hoping to put such a series together. If you want to bust a tip or have a tip to bust, message me. In the meantime, I’m going to start running pieces from others who are testing and evaluating tips. On this episode of Stumpy Nubs, James looks at a number of dubious (at best) painter’s tape “hacks” as found on YouTube. There are many such tips. As James points out, lots of them are just plain silly.
Understanding Tolerances for 3D Design and Printing
Via Maker Update comes this gem of a video on Practical Alchemy about understanding parts tolerances when designing in Fusion 360 (and other CAD programs) and how to ensure that your 3D designed parts will properly fit when sent to a 3D printer. They also show you how to create a 3D printed “Fit Guide” to better understand and accommodate tolerances for your particular printer.
A User’s Guide to H-Bridge Motor Drivers
Anyone with even a casual familiarity with hobby electronics is likely familiar with H-bridge motor drivers. So named for the H-like configuration of the circuit schematic, with its 4 switching elements, these drivers allow you to control DC motors for speed and moving forwards, backwards, left, and right. In this DroneBot Workshop, they look at a number of popular H-bridge drivers (e.g. L298N, DRV8871, and the MX1508) and the types of DC motors they can control. At over 1-hour, this is a useful crash course in understanding and using this common drive train controller.
Animations of 75 Different Knots
Via the Tools for Possibilities newsletter comes this amazingly useful resource. Knot-tying is a fundamental maker skill. But learning to tie them from a text, or looking at still images, can make them seem unnecessarily confusing and complicated. I don’t know about you, but seeing these knot animations immediately makes me want to grab a rope and go to lashing school.
Maker Slang
Slang, jargon, and technical terms for the many realms of making things.
Surface profile – The 3-dimensional tolerance zone around the surface of an object, often one that’s a complex curve or shape. This profile requires that every point along the surface lies within a specified tolerance range.
Slush casting – A form of casting where material is “slushed around” inside of a mold, creating a thin layer on the outer walls of the casting. This technique is most often used to create a lightweight, hollow castings. It can also be done as the first pour in a highly-detailed mold, with a second pour finishing a solid cast.
The Rule of Cool – In making anything from realms of the imagination (e.g. sci-fi, fantasy, other fiction), the overriding of realism, the laws of physics, and practicality in the service of sheer cool factor.
Shop Talk
In response to my piece on toilet floats and valve reseating tools, I got an interesting message from a reader. He was taken aback by the fact that doing this sort of basic household plumbing was even a question for me. He assumed that any maker/handyperson would do this type of maintenance/repair work without even thinking about it. This led him to ask: “Is there anything you look at and think: ‘I cannot fix THAT!’ I’ve never once thought that. Am I in the majority or minority?”
My situation might be somewhat unique in this regard. I have severe spinal arthritis. So, many maintenance, repair, and DIY projects are outside my reach. Even to replace the float tank, I couldn’t reach down and shut off the very frozen water intake valve on the toilet. I had to get a friend to come over and do that for me.
But even for the more physically able, I’m sure there are preferences. I know plenty of people who loathe house painting, and others who would never think about doing electrical work. And I know plenty of electronics nerds who build robots, microcontroller projects, and all sorts of other high-tech makery who wouldn’t think about doing traditional shopcraft (woodworking, metalwork, etc). And vice versa.
Different strokes for different folks. And so on and so on and scooby dooby dooby.
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A cool tool can be any book, gadget, software, video, map, hardware, material, or website that is tried and true. All reviews on this site are written by readers who have actually used the tool and others like it. Items can be either old or new as long as they are wonderful. We post things we like and ignore the rest. Suggestions for tools much better than what is recommended here are always wanted.
I got especially excited about a package that arrived this week because I was finally able to read my preorder of the new book from Austin Kleon: Don’t Call It Art! The subtitle is 10 ways to create like a kid again and it lives up to that promise. The core idea is to let your inner child loose and make things with joy, as a form of play instead of something you’ll be judged on. As always with his titles, the hardback is full of fun illustrations. This time they’re joined by drawings from his two young sons, which brings the whole message home. It is a fun read and would be a great gift for someone who is stuck in a rut creatively or just starting a new job or business. The author of Show Your Work is on Substack as well.
Where Americans are Moving
For the first time since the Great Depression 90 years ago, more people moved out of the USA last year than moved in. That was widely reported around the world, but if you’re wondering where they ended up, most studies I’ve seen peg Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, and Colombia in the top 5, though sometimes the order is a bit different after the clear winner south of the border. This site lists 10 countries and a reason for each, like a truly useful digital nomad visa in Thailand and Italy’s remote worker visa. I expect #10 Bali to drop off after recent actions. (See the previous issue.)
Living in Bulgaria, Post-euro
Bulgaria has gone from unknown to undeniable hotspot in the past 15 years, thanks in part to great conditions for nomads in Bansko and a cost of living advantage that’s hard to beat in Europe. They adopted the euro and became part of the Schengen Zone recently though, so I tapped native Bulgarian Maria Stoynova from Sofia Expats to give me a rundown on how things stand now with prices. See the current results here: The Cost of Living in Bulgaria.
Where the Summer Flight Bargains Are
Dollar Flight Club crunched some data and named the destinations that are still a good deal this summer for flights. In general, the most popular cities are up 15-20% over last year, but others have barely budged. In Europe, they point to 10 destinations going for $570 or less round-trip from U.S. gateways. The ten ranged from expensive (Stockholm and Bergen) to bargains (Krakow and Budapest), but in general were secondary cities except for Dublin. Heading south, check Guatemala, Costa Rica, and a few different spots in Mexico and the Caribbean.
A weekly newsletter with four quick bites, edited by Tim Leffel, author of A Better Life for Half the Price and The World’s Cheapest Destinations. See past editions here, where your like-minded friends can subscribe and join you.
