Tools

Autodesk Inventor Publisher Viewer for Android

Autodesk Inventor Publisher Viewer for Android

Having good documentation really helps out when you’re assembling or repairing something of significant complexity. Now that access to a smartphone or tablet is becoming more commonplace we’re starting to see better documentation tools hit the market. Take for instance the newly released Autodesk Inventor Publisher Viewer for Android. Business looking to publish interactive 3D […]

The Kukri Knife of Nepal

The Kukri Knife of Nepal

A kukri is the incredibly large and heavy knife carried by Gurkha soldiers. Real kukri knives are handmade by knife smiths in primitive village forges in the Himalayan foothills of Nepal. I ordered mine from a knife maker in Kathmandu. Even with shipping, for a handmade item such as this, the cost was surprisingly reasonable (well under $100).

New in the Maker Shed: Panavise Jr.

New in the Maker Shed: Panavise Jr.

The Panavise Jr, now in the Maker Shed, is the perfect workbench companion. The grooved jaws allow it to easily hold circuit boards, jewelry, models, rotary tools, pencil torches, soldering irons, or anything else you can think of. The single turn adjustment knob allows you to easily position the Panavise head anywhere you need it. Check out the Shed for other Panavise models as well.

Tool Review: Stanley 55-119 FatMax FuBar

Tool Review: Stanley 55-119 FatMax FuBar

I saw some of these wicked-looking crowbars while browsing the big orange store back in April. Curious, I fired off an e-mail to Stanley about a review, and they happily obliged me with a free tool. At 15″ in overall length, the 55-119 is the shortest crowbar in Stanley’s FuBar line. First, about that acronym: Stanley insists it stands for “Functional Utility BAR,” but, well, we all saw Saving Private Ryan, right?

Cream-of-the-crop DIY Softbox Designs

Cream-of-the-crop DIY Softbox Designs

Thanks to Flickr user Matt Jones for hipping me to Udi Tirosh’s recent homemade softbox design contest over on DIYPhotography.net. For those, like myself, who are unsure, a “softbox” or “soft box” is simply a diffuse lighting source for taking photos, commonly with a reflective interior and one or more diffusing panels that scatter the light and help prevent it from casting harsh shadows. The contest had seventy submissions, reportedly, and here you can read about Udi’s top 24.