Printing on Heat-Shrink Tubing

In the latest episode of Maker Update, Donald Bell covers a cool "hack" from Al Williams of Hack-A-Day on printing onto heat-shrink tubing using a Brother label maker. This opens up all sorts of opportunities for fun DIY branding, organizational labeling, and other cool applications. Good stuff.

Knurling Your Own Knobs

On Pask Makes, he shows how easy it is to create your own knurled knobs using little more than some rounded-off bolts, a metal file, and a vise. He then takes the time to build the above jig that helps to better control and accelerate the process (using a power drill for turning).

Even MORE on 1-2-3 Blocks

Now that I've covered 1-2-3 Blocks three times in this newsletter, you might think I have a bit of a #toolcrush. Guilty. I ran across this Stumpy Nubs video covering "5 Must-See Woodworking Tools," and in it, he includes 1-2-3 Blocks (at the 14:25 mark). Lots of uses on the table saw, router table, and elsewhere in the woodshop. And I didn't know that there's a depth gauge attachment for 1-2-3s. Sexy.

Trend Spotting: Instagram Stories

Recently, I've noticed a number of the well-known YouTubers have been posting more real-time project updates using the Instagram Stories feature. Andy Birkey chronicled an entire weeks-long restoration project via Stories. It is fun to follow along, and to offer suggestions and encouragement when requested. Others heavily using Stories include Jimmy DiResta, Anne of All Trades, Pneumatic Addict, Alex French Guy Cooking, Skull & Spade, Tim Sway, and many more. The downside is that I've been seeing less YouTube content from some of the makers heavily using Instagram. I hope instant doesn't come at the expense of more thoughtful and well-edited content.

This Book is a Hammer

On this Tested video, Adam talks with Peter Brown about the copy of Adam's book, Every Tool's a Hammer: Life Is What You Make It, that Peter turned into an actual hammer. The hammer was cut from a copy of Adam's book after Peter resin-impregnated every page to create a surprisingly-strong composite material known as Micarta. And, yes, the hammer actually works. Cool project and I was introduced to a material and process that I'd never heard of. Paper fiberglass!

Ingenious 3D-Printed Tape Roll Caps

My friend, Norwegian maker and artist, Hans Meier, recently sent me these 3D-printed caps that turn a roll of duct/gaffer tape into a container, in this case, to house an emergency repair kit. This is definitely one of those "Why didn't I think of that?" ideas. And it hasn't apparently occurred to many others. I was shocked to not find anything like it on Thingiverse.

Life Hacks: Delaying Your Thanks

This one's a little on the sneaky side. When you ask someone to do you a favor online, and they say they will, don't respond with your "Thank you" right away. Wait to see if they do what was requested. If they don't (within a desired time-frame), then send your "Thank you." It will serve as their reminder. This way, you won't risk annoying them by sending additional nagging emails.