Tools

Impressive laser-cut Mars rover model…er, kinda

Impressive laser-cut Mars rover model…er, kinda

This elaborate laser-cut plywood “Spirit” model is one of many cool designs available from WoodMarvels.com. They sell PDF plans, EPS files, and parts kits. Caveat: This image, and pretty much every image I can find on their website, is a computer generated rendering. I’m sure their models go together in the real world just fine, but personally, I’d kinda like to see some photos that prove it. [Thanks, Rachel!]

Fold-up “robotagami” figures

Fold-up “robotagami” figures

Lubbock, Texas artist Dustin Wallace, whose larger one-off/limited edition transforming robot sculptures I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, also makes these wicked little “robotagami” dudes that are CNC-cut from sheet metal (stainless steel or copper), ship flat, and get slotted together and folded up to make a dimensional figure by the buyer.

Make: Time & Space, the notebook edition

Make: Time & Space, the notebook edition

In Make: Time & Space, our series on organizing your lives physically and mentally, we’ve talked about tips for arranging your tools and being more productive. What about your notebooks? I read this excellent Slate review of a book about Agatha Christie’s messy notebooks. Apparently she wrote anything in them, merging day-to-day stuff like shopping […]

DIY word clock kits

DIY word clock kits

Back in September, Matt blogged about the QLOCKTWO text-display clock from high-end German design firm Biegert & Funk. If you like their version, one can be yours right now for the low, low price of €885, which is about $1200US as of this writing. Matt mentioned, in his original post, that the design “could be […]

Cat plays Gakken theremin

Move over Keyboard Cat, Theremin Cat’s in town and requires no human assistance to play his instrument of choice. Well … maybe just like a teensy bit of help assembling the Gakken Mini-Theremin Kit … and yeah granted, he’ll need fresh batteries once in a while. But aside from that – 100% straight solo, baby. […]

Dual-purpose workbench

Dual-purpose workbench

Check out this excellent workshop Jim added to the MAKE Flickr pool. He’s got his setup divided into two — he calls them the “tool side” and the “nerd side.” How about you, readers? Do you designate separate parts of your bench for different kinds of work or do you mush it all together?