The Ultimate Kit Guide

Kit Complexity: 1

(1=Easy, 5=Difficult) Is the kit easy, moderate, or challenging to build for its most likely target audience? Kits clearly aimed at children would, for example, be rated differently from microcontroller kits.

Learn to Solder Merit Badge

Learn to Solder Skill Badge

Make Kit Reviews

Learn to Solder Skill Badge

$3

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Reviewed: November 12th, 2011

Thousands of people mastered soldering for the first time at this year’s Maker Faire events in the Maker Shed’s “Learn to Solder” tents, with the helpful coaching of Mitch Altman, Jimmie Rodgers, and dozens of other hackerspace volunteers. Participants left the Maker Shed with smiles on their faces, new skills, increased confidence, and a cool […]

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Astra 1

Astra 1

Make Kit Reviews

Astra 1

$11

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Hobby rocketry leader Estes Industries makes more than a dozen inexpensive launch sets (launch pad/rod, launch controller) for beginners, but their included rockets are either pre-built or not much of a challenge. For a good first build, I’d instead suggest the Quest Astra 1. Its balsa fins are mounted “through the wall,” making it easy […]

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Eskimold Igloo Building Kit

Eskimold Igloo Building Kit

Make Kit Reviews

Eskimold Igloo Building Kit

$24

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Reviewed: November 3rd, 2011

This is loads of fun — a way to get the kids out of the house during the winter, or make a cheap little ice fishing house that’s disposable. Any type of snow can be compacted into this nifty device to quickly create hundreds of perfectly formed, slanted, stackable igloo building blocks. The Eskimold differs […]

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Solar Grasshopper Kit

Solar Grasshopper Kit

Make Kit Reviews

Solar Grasshopper Kit

$12

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Reviewed: October 26th, 2011

Build your own life-size grasshopper and explore solar power with this educational mini solar robot kit. The snap-together, attention-getting  Solar Frightened Grasshopper teaches how solar energy can be used to generate electricity. This easy-to-use science kit is perfect for first-time experimenters with little or no experience. Ages 10 and up.

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