tools
Fix
Mod Your Lantern-Style Flashlights To Use A Rechargeable Battery
3:30AM Sarah Rae Trover | Big, bulky lantern-style flashlights are super easy to find when the power goes out, but the batteries they require can be draining on the wallet. This small modification lets it work with a rechargeable battery to ease the cost. More »
Fix
How To Prevent Split Boards
9:00AM Sarah Rae Trover | A split board can ruin a woodworking project if you’re down to your last piece. Stave off splits and weekend project frustrations with this super simple and quick trick. More »
Organise
Magnetic Knife Strip Keeps Drillbits Handy And Organised
9:00AM sarahrae | Organising your home garage or workshop isn’t always as efficient or affordable as it appears to be. Try repurposing a magnetic knife strip to keep small bits in line. More »
Fix
Paper Fix Binds Your Papers Without Staples
5:00AM Jason Fitzpatrick | Not a fan of paper clips? Wish your stapler had an infinite supply of staples? The Paper Fix is a stapler-substitute that binds paper together using just the paper itself. More »
Fix
Pick The Right Screws And Nails For The Job At Hand
5:00AM Jason Fitzpatrick | If you’re a contractor, the charts and usage tips here will be old hat to you. For the rest of us, this chart helps make knowing which nail or screw to use less of a hit-or-miss prospect. More »
Fix
Learn About Different Screw Types
8:00AM Jason Fitzpatrick | There is an entire world beyond slotted and Phillips head screws. Learn your screw types and a whole lot more about the history of screws. For each screw drive type, from ancient Slot through to space-age Lox we present a quick view of the screw head, the drive name, a picture of the appropriate drive bit, followed by an explanation of the type. Also presented are the advantages and disadvantages of each drive type. Never find yourself peeling back the warranty sticker on an electronic device again and exclaiming “What the hell is that!” when confronted with an exotic screw type. When a Phillips is not a Phillips [via Make] More »
Fix
8:57AM Angus Kidman | If you’ve ever purchased any furniture from Ikea (or similar mass-market retailers), you’ll be familiar with the trials and tribulations of the S-shaped Allen keys (known by our US brethren as hex keys) supplied with many items to screw them together. Nate at Ikea Hacker came up with a way to simplify the process of using one to assemble or disassemble an item: cut one end off with a pair of bolt cutters, and then you can fit the remaining piece into an electric drill, giving you a powered Allen key that’ll greatly speed up the task. Of course, you can already do this with a commercial L-shaped Allen key, but why pass up a freebie? [Ikea Hacker]
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Rev up your Allen key
8:57AM Angus Kidman | If you’ve ever purchased any furniture from Ikea (or similar mass-market retailers), you’ll be familiar with the trials and tribulations of the S-shaped Allen keys (known by our US brethren as hex keys) supplied with many items to screw them together. Nate at Ikea Hacker came up with a way to simplify the process of using one to assemble or disassemble an item: cut one end off with a pair of bolt cutters, and then you can fit the remaining piece into an electric drill, giving you a powered Allen key that’ll greatly speed up the task. Of course, you can already do this with a commercial L-shaped Allen key, but why pass up a freebie? [Ikea Hacker]
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DIY Leatherman Compact Keychain
8:00AM Adam Pash | A group of users at web site EDCForums have tweaked their Leatherman (and Leatherman-like) multi-tools into the ultimate multi-key tools. The process appears to involve grinding the edges off your regular keys then bolting them in place of a few or all of the regular tools (you can mix and match keys and screwdrivers if you like, for example). If you liked our previously posted DIY compact keychain but wanted a little more robust key holder, the variety of user-contributed multi-key ideas at EDCForums are worth a look. It’s like a Keyport, only way less expensive and arguably more useful. Thanks Edney! The REAL Leatherman KEYman! My custom LM Multi-Key!! [EDCForums] More »
The Power-Drill Brush Means Serious Cleaning
3:00AM Adam Pash | If you don’t feel like you’re doing a job right unless you involve power tools in the mix, web site Sleepy Dog Labs details how to put together a cleaning brush with power-drill chops. In all it’s a pretty simple process, and when you’re done you’ll be begging for an excuse to do some cleaning. The author uses his brush to clean the bathtub, but this power brush is the natural enemy of any surface where grime reigns. Bathtub Cleaning Drill Brush [Sleepy Dog Labs via Make] More »
