The Ultimate Kit Guide

Component Quality: 4

(5=Highest quality) How nice are the components in terms of materials, design, fit, and other qualities? Well-made circuit boards, computer-cut plastic and metal parts, and other precision components add to the experience.

Herbie the Mousebot

Herbie the Mousebot

Make Kit Reviews

Herbie the Mousebot

$40

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: ,

Reviewed: November 14th, 2011

I built this Mousebot with my son, who had just turned 10. At first, I had to show him how to solder and helped him align the sides (not too easy), but by the end he was doing all the work himself and enjoying the “toughness” of the assembly. This kit is simple, but it […]

Robotics: ,

Compressed Air Rockets Kit

Compressed Air Rockets Kit

Make Kit Reviews

Compressed Air Rockets Kit

$50

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: , , ,

Reviewed: November 13th, 2011

I was looking for something to do with the kids. They raved about how much fun the rocket launching was at Maker Faire, so I brought some of that fun home with this kit, which is based on Rick Schertle’s project from MAKE Volume 15. The kit is an easy build, one or two hours […]

Rockets: , , ,

Ginger Ale

Ginger Ale

Make Kit Reviews

Ginger Ale

$16

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: , ,

Reviewed: November 11th, 2011

The Brew It Yourself Ginger Ale kit is a great weekend project for the whole family. It comes with easy-to-follow instructions, ginger ale flavor extract, yeast, a funnel, and two blank labels. My kids enjoyed measuring, mixing, and heating ingredients, proofing the yeast, and bottling in two 2-liter bottles, adorned with their custom-made labels. After fermenting […]

Beverages: , ,

Real Time Clock Kit

Real Time Clock Kit

Make Kit Reviews

Real Time Clock Kit

$40

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: , , ,

Reviewed: November 2nd, 2011

The Real Time Clock Kit Parts Bundle includes everything but the casing to build the PIC-based clock designed by Sparkle Labs and featured in MAKE Volume 09. Be sure to read the article for detailed explanations of how the PIC, Real Time Clock, and LED driver all work together to make a functioning clock.

Clocks: , , ,

Pendulum Challenge

Pendulum Challenge

Make Kit Reviews

Pendulum Challenge

$26

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: , ,

Reviewed: October 26th, 2011

How are your reflexes? Ken Delahoussaye’s Pendulum Challenge (featured in MAKE Volume 26) is a fun and clever handheld game that you assemble on a printed circuit board. The game’s arc-shaped array of 15 LEDs (14 red and 1 green) simulate the path of a swinging pendulum, which you try to stop at the bottom […]

Toys & Games: , ,

Mintronics Bundle: Mintduino + Survival Pack

Mintronics Bundle: Mintduino + Survival Pack

Make Kit Reviews

Mintronics Bundle: Mintduino + Survival Pack

$45

Complexity:
Components:
Documentation:
Community:
Completeness:

TAGS: , ,

Reviewed: October 25th, 2011

The Mintronics Bundle from the Maker Shed is a great way to get started with Arduino and electronics. It includes a MintDuino — a mint tin containing all the components you need to build a full-featured Arduino-compatible microcontroller — plus the Mintronics Survival Pack, another tin containing over 60 über-handy components you can use for […]

Electronics and Controllers Microcontrollers: , ,