Maker Project Lab

Maker Project Lab
Animatronic robot head
August 30, 2019 AUTHOR: Donald Bell CATEGORIES: News, Project Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Jon-A-Tron’s 3D Printed Animatronic Puppet

Occasionally there are projects that hang at the top of my “someday” list and refuse to budge, nagging me until I tackle them. Jonathan (Jon-A-Tron) Odom’s 3D Printed Animatronic Puppet project on Instructables is one of these projects.

When I started Maker Project Lab, the whole idea was that I was going to be rebuilding, evaluating, and elevating awesome projects that makers have shared online. It’s a process that was part of my job as a Projects Editor at Make: magazine, and it seemed like a cool thing I could continue doing. I mean, isn’t that part of what the Maker Movement is all about — sharing what you’ve done and inspiring people to build their own version and take it someplace new?

Needless to say, if you’ve been following this blog, you know that I got wonderfully sidetracked by making my own weekly show and reviewing tools. What little spare time I have left for actually making my own projects is typically sucked in to paid original project content, or personal projects for which a lot of the appeal is selfishly chipping away at something that’s just for me.

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August 30, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , ,

Donald’s Favorite Coffee Maker

Tool:

Clever Coffee Maker
https://amzn.to/2JzEJJv

Transcript:

I’m Donald Bell for Cool Tools and in this video I’m going to show you an immersion style coffee maker called the Clever Coffee dripper. It is one of my favorite ways to brew coffee. I’ve owned two different versions of these — a small one and this large one, which I like more. It cost me around $26 on Amazon. I’m going to show you why I like it. And if you use the Amazon link in the description to pick one up, it helps support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

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August 28, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , , , ,

When AA batteries won’t cut it, try an 18650

Tools:

EBL 18650 3.7V 3000mAh Li-ion Rechargeable Batteries
https://amzn.to/2HoFW5B

Charger
https://amzn.to/2JD1AUG

Holders
https://amzn.to/2JzFF0t

Transcript:

It’s time for another Cool Tool review. This time we’re taking a look at the most popular rechargeable battery most people know nothing about. This is the 18650, I got a pair of these name brand ones for $9, though you can get sketchy ones even cheaper. I’m going to show you why they’re useful and if you want some for yourself, using the Amazon link in the description helps support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

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August 27, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , , , ,

Workshop glue guns compared

Tools:

Surebonder PRO2-100 100-Watt High Temperature Industrial Glue Gun https://amzn.to/2Jzziu7
•YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/VhR7m2-hZwg

Ryobi (60 Watt) Cordless Glue Gun https://amzn.to/2JD2zUS
•YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/xPYm_Zk_9qs

PAM FastenMaster HB220 220 Watt Adjustable Temperature Glue Gun
https://amzn.to/2JxPv2W
•YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/XUxyjFphWZk

Transcript:

The glue guns I’m talking about here are the Surebonder Pro2-100, which runs around $30. The Ryobi Cordless Glue Gun, which is also around $30. And the FastenMaster HB220 adjustable glue gun, which I got for $80.

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August 11, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , , , , ,

Arduino-Controlled IoT Relay Power Strip Review

Tool

DLI IoT Relay
http://amzn.to/2CFGqkd

Transcript

It’s time for another Cool Tools review. This is the DLI IoT Relay. I got it for around $30 on Amazon. I’m going to show you why it’s awesome and if you want one for yourself, using the link in the description helps support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

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August 10, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , ,

Aven Adjustable Circuit Board Holder Review

Tool

Aven Adjustable Circuit Board Holder
http://amzn.to/2CFF3C5

Transcript

It’s time for another Cool Tools review. We’re going to take a look at this circuit board holder from Aven. I got this for just $12 on Amazon, and you can get this exact same one using the link in the description, which helps support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

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August 9, 2019 AUTHOR: Christine Cain CATEGORIES: Tools Tags: , , , , ,

Digital Angle Finder Ruler Review

Tool

Digital Angle Finder Ruler
http://amzn.to/2CHaWuh

Transcript

It’s time for another Cool Tool review. I’m going to show you a digital angle ruler. It’s sorta like digital calipers but for angles. I got this one for $19 on Amazon and if you want the same one, using the link in the description helps to support my videos and the Cool Tools blog.

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