Starting a T-shirt printing business can be a fun and lucrative venture. Even so, there are so many different kinds of T-shirt printing machines and materials available. It can be challenging to figure out which one fits your needs. Today, we’re going to take a look at the different ways to …
The 8 Best T-Shirt Printing Machines for Small Business Read More
Need some fresh gift ideas for the scientist, doctor, teacher, engineer, or other science lovers in your life? It can be hard to find good science gifts for adults, especially since science is such a broad term. But don’t worry! There are tons of great science gift ideas out there for …
How long it takes for acrylic paint to dry depends on a number of factors including temperature, airflow, humidity, and the brand of paint used. However, most types of acrylic paint dry within 20-30 minutes in most environments. How long does acrylic paint take to dry? If you are thinking of …
If you want to make your own custom painted shoes, you might be wondering which paints can be used on shoes and which can’t. When picking out paint for shoes, it’s important to choose one that works with the material of the shoes you want to decorate, but that isn’t always …
The 9 Best Shoe Paints for Long-Lasting Decorations Read More
If you ever shopped for models or model kits, you’ve probably heard the term model scale tossed around a few times in reference to the model’s size. You may be wondering what exactly scale sizes mean and how they work. If you’re new to the concept of model scale or just …
Airbrushes are a great tool to have in any painter’s arsenal. They allow you to create smooth, even coats of paint without leaving any brush strokes behind. Right from painting cars and walls to the delicate work of decorating cakes and painting miniatures, an airbrush can bring your work to life. …
The 11 Best Airbrush Compressors for Smooth Airbrushing Read More
In recent years, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines have evolved a lot in their designs, applications, and use case scenarios. You can now buy a them at a relatively affordable price and get started carving your ideas. Getting your hands on some of the best CNC routers for at home is …
The 8 Best Home CNC Machines for Easy Desktop Routing Read More
For adult science lovers looking for fun ways to experiment and learn at home, a complete chemistry set is a great way to get started. One of the most difficult things about trying to perform chemistry projects at home is getting the chemicals and tools needed for basic lab work. It’s …
Assembling wooden model kits is a fun and rewarding way to spend a free evening or weekend. They’re great for teaching or strengthening skills like reasoning, problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity, and many other important competencies. Wood model kits for adults are especially good at building up those skills, but they can …
Looking for a fun weekend project to challenge your skills? Robotics kits for adults are a great way to learn or strengthen your STEM competencies in a fun and engaging way. Not all robot kits are created with older users in mind, however, so it’s important to know what to look …
Model building doesn’t have an age limit, despite some people’s tendency towards categorizing it as a children’s activity. In reality, most model kits are geared towards ages 16+, as most are too complex for younger building enthusiasts. So if you are an adult that wants to start model building, or are …
If you regularly build or repair electronics, it is inevitable that at some point you need to crimp wires. While this sounds simple on the surface, the world of crimping is a complex one. Especially for hobbyists who cannot justify spending thousands on official crimp tools, it can be a challenge …
Engineer PAD-02 Review: A Versatile Crimping Solution Read More
Crimping small contacts can be a challenge. Not only does the crimp tool you use need to be accurate and precise, it also needs to apply the right amount of pressure to conform the crimp terminal to the right shape. Using the wrong tool can lead to poorly crimped contacts or …
Adding a Tremol-No system to your guitar is a great way to remove most inconveniences that come with using a tremolo bridge. Simplifying guitar setup, improving sustain and blocking the tremolo when you do not need it are some of its most notable benefits. In order to get these advantages, however, …
Guitarists that have used tremolo bridges know that they can be a nuisance at times. While they can add an extra dimension to your playing, they also cause problems with tuning stability, complicate guitar set up and make it impossible to quickly change tunings. Locking devices like the Tremol-No attempt to …
Allparts Tremol-No Review: Challenging Yet Worth It Read More
Just like many other phones, the Huawei Mate 10 can end up with display problems that make the device unusable. A broken or cracked LCD screen, an improperly functioning touch panel or a completely black screen are some of the most frequent issues people run into. Luckily, if you deal with …
If you work in engineering or the automotive industry, do your own maintenance or use the repair guides on this site, you might have come across the term “witness mark” before. In this article, I will explain what they are, why you might want to use witness marks, and show you …
If you frequently deal with old lenses or live in a humid climate, you are probably already familiar with camera lens fungus. Lens fungus is microbial growth that makes its way into your lenses and quickly grows out of control in the right conditions. Because of its potentially harmful consequences, lens …
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 that …
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 application, …
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 even …
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 saying …
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 one …
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 all …
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 or …
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 only …
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 electronics, …
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 the …
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 for …
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 connect …
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 bought …
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 space …
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 SMT …
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 why …
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 many …
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 an …
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 case, …
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 computers …
Andonstar AD407 Review: A Powerful Digital Microscope Read More
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 I …
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 versatility …
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 household …
Bondhus Balldriver and Hex T-Handles Review: Durability at Its Best Read More
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 soldering …
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 of …
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. Anyone …
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, because …
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 and …
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 660 …
Neewer 2.4G 660 LED Panel Review: Bright and Versatile Read More
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 make …
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 use …
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 this …
