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.
Gryphon Ornithopters
At MAKE Labs we built a squadron of balsa-and-tissue ornithopters for William Gurstelle’s how-to article in MAKE Volume 08. The trickiest part was bending the tiny wire crank that flaps the wings in time. Even with Bill’s clear instructions, that little wire was trial-and-error. This kit spares you that error. The pre-bent crank and laser-cut […]
Toys & Games: balsa, Games, ornithopter, planes, stick and tissue, toys
Herbie the Mousebot
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 […]
Initiator Starter Set
This starter kit has been the standard introduction to high-power rocketry (motor types H and above) for 20 years, and for good reason. The Initiator rocket is big (39″), looks sharp, and can handle a wide variety of motors with its 29mm reloadable motor casing. You can put the kit together in an evening with 5-minute […]
Kombucha Starter Kit
What’s kombucha? It’s a refreshing, lightly sweetened, sparkling tea drink that is naturally fermented (yet non-alcoholic). The Oregon Kombucha kit comes with everything you need to make your own kombucha at home. The instructions are clear and easy to follow. Boil a gallon of water, brew the tea satchel, dissolve the sugar, let it cool, […]
Beverages: beverages, fermentation, Kombucha, sparkling tea, starter kit
3-in-1 All-Terrain Robot
I’ve been building OWI robot kits since the mid-1980s. Some have been good, a few not worth the box they came in. Every once in a while, OWI does a kit that’s great — their 3-in-1 All Terrain Robot (ATR) is one of these. This entertaining kit, suitable for kids 12 and up, lets you […]
Compressed Air Rockets Kit
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 […]
Stirling Engine
This beautiful engine teaches you the basics of thermodynamics as its power comes from an external heat source, which can be anything from fuel to solar to geothermal energy. The instructions are in Japanese, but the Maker Shed page has an English translation. MAKE is proud to be the exclusive distributor in North America for […]
Science: heirloom tech, Science, Stirling Engine, thermodynamics
Arduino ADK TinkerKit
Android rocked the physical computing landscape last spring when it announced the Android Open Accessory Development Kit (ADK), an Arduino-based platform that combines the brains and connectivity of the Android with Arduino’s wealth of open source wares for controlling physical devices. The ADK presents almost limitless potential for projects. Now the ADK TinkerKit unleashes this […]
Electronics and Controllers Microcontrollers: Arduino, electronics, microcontrollers
TV-B-Gone Kit
Tired of all those TVs everywhere? Want a break from advertisements while you’re trying to eat? Want to zap screens from across the street? The TV-B-Gone kit is what you need. The new v1.2 works worldwide, turning off virtually any TV by running 230 TV power codes for Asian/North American and European IR remote standards. […]
Drawdio
Drawdio is an electronic pencil that lets you make music while you draw. It’s a great project for beginners: an easy kit with instant gratification. Invented by Jay Silver, it’s a very simple musical synthesizer that uses the conductive properties of pencil graphite to create sounds. The result is a fun toy that lets you […]
Toys & Games: art, audio, electronics, Games, toys
