{"id":46807,"date":"2026-08-29T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/?p=46807"},"modified":"2026-08-25T12:38:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T19:38:41","slug":"gars-tips-tools-issue-214","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kk.org\/cooltools\/gars-tips-tools-issue-214\/","title":{"rendered":"Gar’s Tips & Tools – Issue #214"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Still Sweet On It<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Tools That Continue to Delight Daily<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a new periodic column where I again profress my love for a tool I recommended in a previous newsletter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I wrote about Sewing Machine Lights<\/a><\/strong> in issue #208<\/a>. These cheap, corded, gooseneck lights on a magnetic base use 36 bright LEDs to give you extra illumination on or near a tool or workbench. They come with six adhesive metal disks that you can mount around the shop so the light can be moved to where you need it. There are battery\/rechargeable versions, but they\u2019re more expensive and obviously need regular charging. You can get a 3-pack of the corded lights<\/a> for $18.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3D-Printer Thread Checker<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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My friend and former work colleague, Sean Ragan<\/strong>, shared this 3D print on Facebook recently, saying \u201cThis NPT thread checker\u2026may be the most useful thing I\u2019ve made this year.\u201d Sean has long been a thread-checker enthusiast. Here he is<\/a> extolling the virtues of two commercial checkers six years ago on Cool Tools (a wall-mounted checker<\/a><\/strong> and one cable-wired model<\/a>).

For the above 3D-printed checker, on its Thingiverse page<\/a>, he writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This quick 5-minute print organizes 5 pairs of male-to-female NPT thread adapters in every standard size between 1\/8\u201d and 3\/4\u201d. If you\u2019ve ever worked with this kind of pipe before, you know that the nominal size is only loosely related to the actual size and having a reference like this is a lot faster than breaking out the calipers, taking an OD measurement, and looking it up. You could also laser-cut it from any stock about 3\/16\u201d thick. To assemble, just pass the male end of each adapter through the corresponding opening on the front side of the plate, then tighten the female end onto the male threads from the back side.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The Accessible Workshop<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Do you have favorite \u201cadaptive tech\u201d that you use in your work and home life? I\u2019d love to hear about it<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shop Vac Handle<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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