{"id":41668,"date":"2023-11-24T08:48:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-24T15:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=41668"},"modified":"2023-11-21T11:52:27","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T18:52:27","slug":"gars-tips-tools-issue-168","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/gars-tips-tools-issue-168\/","title":{"rendered":"Gar&#8217;s Tips &#038; Tools &#8211; Issue #168"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><em>Gar\u2019s Tips, Tools, and Shop Tales is published by Cool Tools Lab. To receive the newsletter a week early, sign up\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/garstips.substack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Reading a Measuring Tape Shouldn\u2019t Be Hard<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_74408\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/YyE9Q7n6eCI?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As James points out in this&nbsp;<em>Stumpy Nubs<\/em>&nbsp;video, reading an Imperial\/standard&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/43TBXBj\">measuring tape<\/a>&nbsp;shouldn\u2019t be as hard as many people make it. Most tapes are only divided into inches, half, quarters, 8ths, and 16ths of an inch. And you can easily train yourself to identify these marks at a glance without having to count them. The key is visually knowing which line is which increment and then counting forward or backward from the beginning of the inch, half way, a quarter, etc. In time it becomes second nature. Watch the video to make this much clearer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Electroplating Effects for 3D Prints<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_80130\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Y2mHxheFiqE?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>In this&nbsp;<em>HEN3DRIK<\/em>&nbsp;video, he explores 3 different ways you can get an electroplated effect on 3D prints. He looks at painting with rattle can metallic&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/ISos\">gold<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/GH2HPjg\">silver<\/a>, airbrush painting, and actual electroplating. [Via&nbsp;<em>Maker Update<\/em>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Best Water Filter<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\"  id=\"_ytid_19466\"  width=\"480\" height=\"270\"  data-origwidth=\"480\" data-origheight=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ja0ioX6GSz0?enablejsapi=1&#038;autoplay=0&#038;cc_load_policy=0&#038;cc_lang_pref=&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;loop=0&#038;modestbranding=0&#038;rel=1&#038;fs=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autohide=2&#038;theme=dark&#038;color=red&#038;controls=1&#038;\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  epyt-is-override  no-lazyload\" title=\"YouTube player\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of you reading this probably use a pitcher-type water filter, at home, at work, or in your workshop. Have you ever wondered which ones actually filter out the impurities that you don\u2019t want to be drinking? In this&nbsp;<em>Project Farm<\/em>&nbsp;video,&nbsp;<strong>Todd<\/strong>&nbsp;tests ten different filters. Products tested were from ZeroWater, PUR, Brita, Aquaphor, AquaTrue, Lifestraw, Survivor Filter Pro, Frizzlife, Sawyer, and RV Filter. He also tested a homemade filter. The filters were tested for removing total dissolved solids, removing red food coloring, and removing iron. Several filters were also cut open after testing to compare the filter media. In the final analysis, the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/3Ji9C\">Aquaphor<\/a>&nbsp;came out on top. The<a href=\"https:\/\/geni.us\/55XNgL\">&nbsp;ZeroWater<\/a>&nbsp;filter also performed well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Sandpaper Tip from Tom Haney<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feb9c8d44-da1c-4a19-bee6-a50868481353_640x1014.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Feb9c8d44-da1c-4a19-bee6-a50868481353_640x1014.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"413\" height=\"654\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On Instagram, the amazing automata artist,&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/tomhaneyartwork\/\">Tom Haney<\/a><\/strong>, posted this useful tip about making small back-to-back sanding sheets. [Note the dedicated sandpaper scissors.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Whole Earth Catalogs Online<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d18297f-62d9-4202-baf3-664b03bd2c61_1000x522.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F1d18297f-62d9-4202-baf3-664b03bd2c61_1000x522.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"483\" height=\"252\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When I was 16 years old, I was introduced to&nbsp;<em>The Last Whole Earth Catalog<\/em>. We often exaggeratingly say that such and such changed our lives.&nbsp;<em>Whole Earth<\/em>&nbsp;changed my life and that is no hyperbole. Nearly everything that has held my attention for my entire adult life: systems thinking, DIY, zines, wargames, computers and hacking, community, and much more, came through the pages of&nbsp;<em>Whole Earth<\/em>. As a teen, I used to sit at the kitchen table with a stack of dollars from my allowance money, envelopes, and stamps, and I would go through the catalog ordering books, magazines, newsletters, and products. I still have all of my catalogs. And, in 1993, I had the immense honor of being asked to contribute to&nbsp;<em>The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog<\/em>. The catalogs have long been out of print, but now you can view them all, plus&nbsp;<em>CoEvolution Quarterly<\/em>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<em>Whole Earth Review,<\/em>&nbsp;at the new&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wholeearth.info\/\">online archive<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1>Maker\u2019s Muse<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16150742-e267-497e-8289-1fad7e41b833_1034x1294.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F16150742-e267-497e-8289-1fad7e41b833_1034x1294.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"431\" height=\"540\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A slice of England&#8217;s iconic A303 road shows how it has changed over thousands of years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>Shop Talk<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p>It was interesting to see what email I got in response to my&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/garstipsandtools.com\/p\/gars-tips-and-tools-issue-167\">\u201cTen Top Tips That Will Change Your Life\u201d<\/a>&nbsp;issue, the follow-up to my Maker Faire talk on the same subject.<br><br>Overwhelming, people commented on \u201cThe Universe is a Collection of Parts\u201d\u201d and the One-Handed First Aid Kit.\u201d<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/theuncommonworks\">Mark Hewitt<\/a>:<br>\u201dHi Gareth, as always loving the newsletter and saving it for my coffee time treat \ud83d\ude42<br>I really resonated with the section about Perry Kaye&#8217;s way of &#8220;Frankesteining&#8221; projects together&nbsp;from existing parts; this is exactly the way I work, and I have a sort of mental stance for it. Instead of thinking&nbsp;about what standard tool or part I need, I think about exactly what the *properties* are: E.g. &#8220;I need a metal disc exactly 25mm across with a center hole, with a little flex in it.&#8221; Then, I use that mental template to go searching&nbsp;for things which might fit the parameters, and think about the places where such a thing might be useful on e.g. industrial supply websites. This has led to solutions like making&nbsp;a wax pouring kettle out of a saucepan with a metal tap screwed into the side upside down as a spout, or silicone water hoses filled with silicone sealant as a diffuser for LEDs.\u201d<br><br>Several other people also commented on the \u201cRule of Thumb for Buying Tools,\u201d pointing out that another way to go is to buy old tools to get started. They are often as cheap as cheap new tools, they are usually much better made, and they may not need to be upgraded to higher-quality new tools. D\u2019uh. Of course. I really should have mentioned that in my talk and newsletter and will certainly do so going forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h1><strong>I Have Stickers!<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf9d56e0-32ba-4d9e-af9e-0cd654dd19f8_1462x1330.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcf9d56e0-32ba-4d9e-af9e-0cd654dd19f8_1462x1330.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"412\" height=\"375\" title=\"\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I now have Gar\u2019s Tips &amp; Tools stickers. If you want one, send one of your maker stickers to me (435 OFarrell Dr, Benicia, CA 94510) and I will send you one of mine in return.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Weekly-ish access to tools, techniques, and shop tales from the worlds of DIY<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13684,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[2371],"tags":[2372],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41668"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/13684"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41668"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41668\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41669,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41668\/revisions\/41669"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}