When deciding on whether 3D printing is the right hobby for you, it is important to take all 3D printing costs into account. Not only are there initial expenses you have to make, like filament and the device itself, but you also have to consider recurring costs. One of the …
Power supplies used in 3D printers, like the popular MeanWell PSUs, can get noisy. This is generally not a problem in industrial settings, but when you have your 3D printer placed in your (home) office or workshop, it can get annoying quickly. Aside from being obnoxiously loud, the noise of …
When it comes to shrinking heat shrink tubing, nothing beats a heat gun. But if you do not have one, what should you do? Rest assured, you can still use heat shrink without a heat gun. It responds to many sources of heat, so there are plenty of alternative tools …
How to Use Heat Shrink Tubing Without a Hot Air Gun Read More
Heat shrink tubing and electrical tape are both widely used for insulating, protecting and bundling wires. Because of their similar qualities, it is easy to assume that they can be blindly interchanged. This is not the case, however. The two products have several prominent differences. Depending on your project or …
Heat Shrink Tubing vs. Electrical Tape: Which One Should You Use? Read More
If you do any DIY electrical or electronics work, it is inevitable that you need to use heat shrink tubing at some point. It is a versatile product that lets you insulate wires, add strain relief, color code cables, and even more. With special types of heat shrink you can …
More often than not, you can find a can of WD-40 in someone’s toolbox, household or garage. Originally developed for the military, it is now used for hundreds of DIY fixes, from cleaning rust to removing paint smudges. You might have even heard of it in some form of the …
Digital multimeters are indispensable tools when it comes to working with electronics. If you are looking to buy one, you don’t have to look very far. Large hardware stores sell so many different multimeters that it can be hard to see the forest for the trees. The Fluke 115 is …
Lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries are commonplace nowadays, and so are the problems that come with them. Most notably those caused by these batteries swelling up. Laptops with bulging keyboards or trackpads, smartphones with a bump in their screen or tablets that have formed a gap in their casing are …
Many people benefit from using a humidifier to increase moisture levels in the air. But while humidifiers are practical devices, it is also practically inevitable that they wear out over time and become louder. The most common causes of a noisy humidifier or vaporizer are issues with the internal fan …
When working with capacitors, especially high voltage ones, a capacitor discharge tool is essential. It is a device that helps you drain capacitors safely before handling them further. While you can buy a capacitor discharge tool, they are just as easy to make. It is a quick, simple project that …
Capacitors are common components in modern day electronic devices. They store a charge that can be released at once to components that need it. Capacitors can also be used to filter specific signal frequencies. When building, repairing or salvaging electronics, you can be certain of encountering them. Before working on …
Salvaging components from circuit boards and electronic devices has many benefits. Most notably, it gives you a bunch of free parts. But it is also a valuable form of education in product design and it reduces E-waste and its strain on the environment. In this article I will show you …
Ergonomically designed and always sharp, mechanical pencils are the ideal tool for artists, writers, designers and other creative professionals. Choosing the right mechanical pencil can be a tricky process, however. Because there are a lot of features to pay attention to, it can sometimes be hard to see the forest …
The 8 Best Mechanical Pencils for Drawing and Writing Read More
The Duet Wifi is a control board from Duet3D for 3D printers, laser engravers, and home CNC machines. I have been using it for my new 3D printer and have been happy with its features and performance so far. Unfortunately, I ran into an issue where I suddenly could not …
Heater cartridges are essential components in 3D printers. They make sure that the hot end gets up to the right temperature. Without one, a hot end would not get hot enough for filament to melt. If you want to upgrade a hot end heater cartridge, replace a broken one, or …
Hot End Heater Cartridges: Everything You Need to Know Read More
If you want to build your own projects, develop your coding skills, or start with robotics, the Raspberry Pi is a great piece of kit to have. With its many features, small form factor and low price, it is the ideal platform for countless DIY projects. But once you have …
It has been a while since I made a post on the new CoreXY 3D printer (tip: don’t start too many new projects at once). Lately I made some solid progress on it however, so I figured it was time for an update. Since the last post, I have added …
When buying a new power tool, you can find yourself having to choose between a lot of different brands. But if you ever decided to look at these brands more closely, you might have been shocked to find out that the most popular tool brands are owned by only a …
Which Companies Actually Own Your Favorite Tool Brands? Read More
Large monitors improve almost every computer setup. Whether it is to increase productivity or to get a better gaming experience, they are here to stay. To get the best experience, however, it is a key to use a monitor arm. These give you the best ergonomics and help reclaim desk …
If you want to repair electronics, you will greatly benefit from a microscope. Surface mount components are getting smaller and smaller, and there is only so much you can see with the naked eye. Nowadays, magnification is essential when it comes to the inspection of solder work, PCB traces and …
No toolbox is complete without a non-contact voltage tester. It gives you a quick, easy and reliable way to check whether a wire or outlet is carrying electric current. Since the first step in working on electric equipment is to make sure that it is not energized, you can see …
The 5 Best Non-Contact Voltage Testers to Keep You Safe Read More
Spring hinges are a great addition to any pair of eyeglasses. They let the temples (the long arms that rest on your ears) flex outwards, so that the glasses adjust to the shape of the head. This helps the glasses stay in place and makes them easier to wear for …
Multimeters are essential tools for anyone who works with electricity. They let you measure voltage, current, resistance, and frequently have even more testing capabilities. Whether it is for home DIY purposes, building or repairing electronics or automotive work, a multimeter gives you insight in what is going on and is …
The 9 Best Multimeters for Electric Testing and Measuring Read More
Whether you are someone who occasionally does DIY projects around the house, or if you are a professional who uses a screwdriver every day, a quality cordless electric screwdriver is something that you should not go without. Driving screws with a manual screwdriver gets tedious, tiring and in the worst …
The 8 Best Electric Screwdrivers for Easy Furniture Assembly Read More
When it comes to soldering small SMD components, inspecting PCBs or setting stones in jewelry, a digital microscope is a useful tool. It lets you work on solder joints and components that are otherwise hard to see with the naked eye. Where earlier versions of digital microscopes required connections to …
Andonstar AD407 Review: A Powerful Digital Microscope Read More
When 3D printing, it is likely to at some point end up with stuck filament in a PTFE tube. Whether it is broken filament in a Bowden tube or a clogged piece of filament stuck in the PTFE tube of the hotend, it must be dealt with before you can …
Nowadays, it is relatively easy to build a silent computer. But there is one particular noise that can be hard to eliminate: coil whine. This high pitched hissing or scratching noise is not only highly annoying, but also sounds like something is not working as it should. In this article …
A hot glue gun is a crucial tool for hobbyists and professionals alike. It lets you apply melted glue that can bind to almost any material. Its adhesive works on plastic, wood, paper, metal, fabric, stone, you name it! While glue guns were originally used for bonding shoe soles, their …
Hex keys, also known as Allen wrenches or Allen keys, are an essential tool for any DIY enthusiast or professional mechanic. They are used to drive bolts and screws with hexagonal sockets, and are commonly found in tool kits for working on bikes, go-karts, repairing electronics, furniture, and many other …
Bondhus Balldriver and Hex T-Handles Review: Durability at Its Best Read More
Threaded inserts are a great way to add strong and long-lasting threads to 3D prints. While it is possible to tap screw holes directly in 3D printed parts, these threads often wear down quickly. This is because the thermoplastics that we use for 3D printing are rather soft. To create …
Whether you are a hobbyist that only solders occasionally or a professional that does it a lot, a soldering iron is an indispensable tool. Its versatility allows you to build and repair electronics or circuit boards, create jewelry, soldering guitar wiring and all kinds of other projects. To get good …
The 10 Best Soldering Irons for Beginners to Professionals Read More
The Playstation 4 is a great console, but unfortunately it comes with some design flaws that can cause it to break. One of these issues is the HDMI port. It is fragile and is often one of the first things to get damaged on the console. One of the signs …
When it comes to in-depth cleaning of items, ultrasonic cleaners are the ultimate tool. They can clean jewelry, dentures, glasses, fuel injectors and tools without breaking a sweat. They are also perfect for cleaning larger stuff, like carburators and gun components. Nowadays, ultrasonic cleaning is not just limited to professionals. …
The 8 Best Ultrasonic Cleaners for Quick and Thorough Cleaning Read More
Ultrasonic cleaners are amazing tools that allow you to perform in-depth cleaning on almost any object. From jewelry to watches, tools, firearm components, fuel injectors, carburetors and coins, it is hard to find a limit to what they can clean. Ultrasonic cleaning is a gentle but invasive cleaning method that, …
If you do any type of SMD repair work, like repairing phones or laptops, a hot air rework station is an essential tool. It allows you to efficiently add and remove SMD components from circuit boards. Having a quality rework station saves you time and reduces the risk of overheating …
Plant labels (also known as plant markers, garden markers or plant name tags) are useful accessoires for any gardener. They let you identify your plants and make it easier to keep track of and organize your garden. As someone who does some occasional gardening, I too found myself looking for …
LEDs have come a long way since they were first introduced in 1962. Compared to the early days, they have become more efficient, cheaper, brighter, and have better color quality. All of this has made LED lighting panels a great option for things like photography, videography and streaming. Neewer’s 2.4G …
Neewer 2.4G 660 LED Panel Review: Bright and Versatile Read More
One of the best ways to create eye-catching 3D prints is to print them in multiple colors. This is often referred to as multicolor printing. It is a great way to add extra color to your prints without having to resort to post-processing techniques like painting. Dual extruder 3D printers …
When it comes to desoldering, a good quality desoldering pump (also known as a solder sucker) can be worth its weight in gold. Being able to quickly and efficiently remove solder from solder joints and pads saves you time and frustration. The Engineer SS-02 is a solder sucker designed to …
When it comes to repairing electronics, desoldering is an important skill to learn. Whether you want to replace defective or incorrectly placed parts, fix bad solder joints, troubleshoot an electric circuit or salvage electronic components, desoldering can help you do so. There are many different methods and tools you can …
A common problem in computer mice is that after a period of using them, they randomly start double clicking when you single click. This random double clicking often occurs after several years of using the mouse and can be very annoying. Usually it is the left mouse button that develops …
Leather watch straps are a great way to add extra style to your watch. It is important, however, to maintain them properly. If you neglect this, your leather strap ends up stained, greasy and smelly. I regularly ran into this problem myself before I figured out how to properly take …
The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Leather Watch Straps Read More
Linear guides are an essential component when it comes to building 3D printers, home CNC machines, and laser engravers that need some kind of linear motion. Unfortunately, high quality linear guide rails are often too expensive for hobby projects. Cheaper ones are available (typically from China), but they can come …
How to Improve the Performance of Cheap Linear Guides Read More
After building the frame, I have made some further progress with the new 3D printer. I installed the Z carriage of the printer and mounted and aligned all other components that facilitate the motion on the Z-axis, such as the linear rails and lead screws. As expected, aligning the linear …
I recently had to replace the battery on my LG Nexus 5. Where I last year needed to repair the power button, it was now the battery’s turn to be swapped out. For anyone else who also has problems with very little screen-on-time on their Nexus 5 due to an …
Tell me if this sounds familiar: you own a guitar that you are overall quite happy with, but you don’t play it as much as you want because it has a gloss neck with a sticky feel. Your fretting hand keeps ‘catching’ the neck as you try to slide it …
Time has come to build a new 3D printer. While the previous 3D printer I designed and built 5-6 years ago is still in use, I run too often into its limitations. This is starting to impact my workflow and honestly also affects my enjoyment of 3D printing. To solve …
One of the worst things as a photographer is finding out that your gear does not work in a crucial moment. An example of this is discovering in the middle of a shoot that your lens has sticky or stuck aperture blades. Sticky aperture blades usually occur when the blades …
The Complete Guide to Fixing Sticky Aperture Blades Read More
Keyboards with detachable cables can be very practical. The detachable cable allows the keyboard to be stored and transported more easily, and also makes the process of swapping out the keyboard painless. The detachable cable is most often connected to the keyboard with a mini-USB or micro-USB connector. Unfortunately, while …
When left out in the open, 3D printer filament can absorb moisture from the air. “Wet” filament can ruin our prints, and thus this is something that we want to avoid. In order to prevent filament from absorbing moisture, we need to properly store it. This means we have to …
