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Taylor Analog Instant-Read Dial Thermometer
Whenever I need a temperature read from an item in the oven, I use this inexpensive, stainless steel thermometer. It’s well-designed: I can read the numbers without my glasses or contacts, and a...
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Michael Dubno, Founder of Gadgetoff
Our guest this week is Michael Dubno. Michael is a former Wall Street CIO/CTO and a software developer. He’s an inventor, artist, welder, machinist, polar explorer, photographer, roboticist, tech...
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Field Tweezers
These are carry-all-the-time tweezers — they’re tiny and they slide into a guard that keeps them flat. Also known as Uncle Bill’s Tweezers ($6), they are carried by some US military personnel on...
View ArticlePocket WiFi/Parrot Teleprompter/Do nothing
Cheap fast wireless for travel to Japan I spent almost five weeks in Japan this summer. My T-Mobile plan includes international data but it is pretty slow so I rented a Pocket WiFi from eConnect. I...
View Article45 Piece Repair Toolkit
This is the tool kit ($8) I reach for first whenever I need to take apart some piece of consumer electronics. It has a handle, a shaft extender, tweezers, and 42 different driver bits, including ones...
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Zeroll Ice Cream Scoops
Unfortunately for my waist, I love ice cream. For a long time, I accepted the fact I either had to strengthen my wrist muscles, leave out the ice cream to soften up, or run the frozen tub or spoon...
View Article3 Cordless Ryobi Tools Worth Getting
I’m going to show you 3 cordless Ryobi tools I think are worth getting, even if you’re already invested in another cordless system. Generally, I’m not a big fan of Ryobi, and this is not a sponsored...
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FuBar Demolition Tool
The FuBar ($17) is a single cast piece of high carbon steel that looks like a prettied up hammer. One end has a hammer and a tearing, armour-penetrating beak, while the opposite end has a conventional...
View ArticleCheap LED Headlamp
I bought this cheap LED headlamp ($8) in 2015 and I use it a lot: walks at night, barbecuing, reading, fixing stuff, going under the crawl space and attic. It’s basically a flashlight that you don’t...
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FURminator De-Shedding Tool
The FURminator ($22+) is the only really functional cat-grooming tool I’ve ever found. The stiff steel rake grabs the undercoat while leaving the topcoat intact. It does a tremendous job of removing...
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Simichrome Metal Polish
I’ve been using Simichrome cream polish )$9) for a couple of years to get a mirror polish on all the vintage bicycles I collect. Before discovering it on a listserv about classic bikes, I tried various...
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Steve Lodefink, User Experience Designer
Our guest this week is Steve Lodefink. Steve is a software User Experience designer by day, and a tinker and maker of things by night. As a contributing author Make and Craft magazines, and blogger,...
View ArticleWeb Resizer/Small parts storage/Linkclump
Fast photo resizing Upload any image to Web Resizer and shrink it to a manageable size. You can also round the corners, tint or sharpen the image, or apply other filters. It’s faster than Photoshop,...
View ArticleSchlage Keypad Deadbolt
The Schlage Keypad Deadbolt ($75) was reviewed by another reader in 2014. I got the lock around five years ago (prior to the review) and I wanted to let you know it’s still going strong! The previous...
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Art Comber
Efficient equipment, tool or “stuff” management is always an issue with creativity. With the Art Comber ($70), I always have a portable art studio at my beck. I draw everyday, but attend paint-ins/outs...
View Article5 Sleeves for Covering Cables
In this video we’re going to take a look at 5 different types of cable wrap. As a maker, I use this stuff to gather and protect wires in my projects, but it’s also good for managing cables from your...
View ArticleAnti-Jam Stapler
There have been a number of staplers featured on Cool Tools, but I think the Bostitch No-Jam Premium Half-Strip Desktop Stapler ($9) could give any of them a run for its money in terms of value, length...
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Double Paper Holder
Modern public toilets employ versions of these dual TP holders, and even though a private household has no similar absolute need for one, it’s very nice to permanently eliminate one of life’s little...
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Adam Fisher, Author of Valley of Genius
Our guest this week is Adam Fisher. Adam grew up in Silicon Valley, playing Atari, programming computers and reading science fiction. He still lives in the Bay area, but now spends his time thinking...
View ArticleChevy Bolt/Bitcoin for the Befuddled/The Reassembler
Fabulous electric car I really love my all-electric Chevy Bolt which gets 240 miles from an overnight charge in our garage. Its immense power and acceleration is intoxicating. Unexpected bonus: silence...
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