Make: Kit Reviews

What to do when you want to machine precise custom parts but don’t have room or funds for a professional CNC? Invest in a manual mill that can convert into a CNC. Considered a great tool for the price, the X2 Mini Mill is the kit builder’s top choice, and Probotix offers complete conversion kits (see […]

Tools & Workshop: CNC, Tools, Workshop

This kit is amazingly cool and easy to use. POV (persistence of vision) displays show words or patterns that seem to float in mid-air; if you’ve ever seen one, you know what a great effect it is. A line of LEDs flashes the Y component of what you’re displaying, and you provide the X by […]

Electronics and Controllers LEDs: electronics, LEDs

The Phlatformer is a hobby vacuum- forming machine that quick-melts 10″ square plastic sheets into form-hugging shapes. Originally built for R/C modelers to make identical, lightweight body parts, it has many uses; for example, I plan to form custom holders to display my raygun collection. The kit’s parts and thoughtful extras never skimp on quality, […]

Tools & Workshop: Tools, vaccuum-forming, Workshop

I’ve built my share of catapults (see MAKE Volume 28, “Gravity Catapult”), and this floating-arm kit has thoroughly impressed me. The parts come pre-cut in solid ash, and you clip off tabs to remove them, just like the plastic models I built as a kid. A file will help clean up the tabs. It’s put […]

Siege & Ballistics: ballistics, siege, trubuchet

I would happily eat my weight in cheese, so the idea of having fresh mozzarella whenever I want has very strong appeal. This kit makes it as easy as buying a gallon of (not ultra-pasteurized) milk. The clear instructions take any mystery out of the chemistry, and I went from hot milk to perfect curds […]

Food: cheese, cheese-making, food

The world of Arduino microcontrollers can be a challenge to break into — but not if you’re equipped with this kit, which includes all of the hardware you need to work through each of the experiments in Getting Started with Arduino, the popular introductory book by Arduino project co-founder Massimo Banzi. To make it even […]

Electronics and Controllers Microcontrollers: Arduino, electronics, microcontrollers

The DrinkDuino drinking game was the perfect excuse for me to get my first Arduino. After ordering the DrinkShield breathalyzer kit and an Arduino Uno to drive it, I hastily pieced it together on my living room floor. The kit was simple enough, all components were included, and the instructions online were quick and easy. […]

Kit Party: Arduino, breathalyzer, drinking game, party

Whether your motivation is the environment, the economy, independence, or you simply despise the oil companies, converting your diesel vehicle to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO) can truly be a rewarding experience. (You can get WVO free from restaurants, preferably higher end. Luckily for me, my brother-in-law is a head chef, and he has access to WVO.) […]

Wheels: automotive, cars, engines, green conversion, Wheels

Desktop battering ram? I think yes. This small kit is a lot of fun to build and use. It takes some time to put together and uses a fair amount of wood glue, but the instructions are clear and easy to read. The kit comes with two ½”-thick boards that are CNC’ed out with all […]

Siege & Ballistics: ballistics, battering ram, desktop, siege, wood

The great thing about this kit is the variety of skills you’ll learn. Not only do you end up with a warm-sounding tube amp, but you also learn how all these audio components are produced, as well as proper soldering technique, orientation of polarized capacitors, spacing of large-value wirewound resistors, and heat sinking of transistors. […]

Audio Gear: amplifier, audio, music