Gar's Tips & Tools - Issue #194

Access to tools, techniques, and shop tales from the diverse worlds of DIY

Making Your Own PCBs

In this video, part of Becky Stern’s excellent electronics series for Digi-Key, she shows you how to get started with designing, preparing, and having your own printed circuit boards (PCBs) manufactured. This is something I’ve always wanted to do but have never gotten around to trying. If you’re in the same boat, after watching this, you’ll be more inspired than ever to undertake the process. There are so many great tools and affordable fabrication services available these days, there’s no reason not to give it a go if you’re curious.

Repairing a Beautiful 1960s "Volt-Ohm-Meter"

Via my pal Peter Bebergal comes this restoration video. If you're a fan of vintage electronics, you'll enjoy this detailed restoration of a beautiful 1960s Simpson 270 multimeter from Canada. This once high-end analog meter was in dire need of repair, with corroded battery terminals, failed components, and inaccurate readings—especially on the AC voltage scale. Using a mix of acid cleaning, rewiring, parts replacements, and careful calibration, the repair process revived the meter, bringing it back to its near-original accuracy. And you’ve got to love the overall design, Bakelite enclosure, and the swanky leather case.

Where to Get Free/Cheap Lumber

On this episode of Stumpy Nubs, James shares some great tips on scoring cheap or even free lumber. He discusses firewood, trash day lumber, dumpster diving, construction site trash bins (with permission!), pallet wood, internet searches, yard sales, home store clearance areas, sawmill cut-offs, and more.

One of the more clever tips I’ve ever heard for acquiring cheap lumber (and vintage tools) is to set up a Craigslist notification for the word “grandfather’s.” Any posting with “grandfather’s” (also do “granddad’s”) in the title (e.g., grandfather’s shop, grandfather’s tools, granddad’s wood shop, etc.) will get scooped up. Using this search method James of Wood by Wright got an alert for “grandfather’s barn” and ended up acquiring 20,000 feet of 15-year-old, air-dried white oak for .50/board foot.

What Records to Have in Your Disaster-Prep (Virtual) Go-Bag

With the recent disastrous Southern California wildfires, I’m sure lots of people started wondering about what they would grab in an emergency that required quickly evacuating. My wife and I are in the process of putting together physical go-bags for our Bay Area home, but what about the critical documents you’d want to save? This checklist floated across my transom last week and I thought I’d share it. Compiling your own collection of critical documents, putting them some place safe in the cloud, and scanning them to a go-bag thumb drive makes a lot of sense.

Interview with Eric of Hand Tool Rescue

One of my all-time favorite maker YouTube channels is Hand Tool Rescue. On it, Eric restores all manner of ancient and decrepit hand and power tools with great panache, tips, and goofball humor. In this Essential Craftsman interview (from four years ago), Nate talks to Eric about how his channel got started, the now expansive restoration video space, how he became obsessed with vintage tools, his “white whale” (i.e., impossible-to-find) tools, and lots of other interesting tidbits. When I first started watching Eric’s channel, I thought that he must at least take photos of the disassemblies to be able to reassemble the tools. It turns out, that’s how the channel got started. He started taking photos, then switched to videos on his phone, then he decided he might as well record the entire process and post it on YouTube. 1.5 million subscribers later…

Rules of Thumb

Practical wisdom, simple guidelines

Avoid any Instagram or YouTube tips channels where they wag their finger while showing you what’s wrong and give a thumbs up when the issue has been miraculously resolved (usually via some sketchy or just plain impossible “hack”).

Shop Talk

Readers offer their feedback, tips, tales, and tool recommendations.

Long-time reader Rex Burkheimer writes:

Klein Tools makes your list regularly. I became a believer when the Klein rep demonstrated the 6" needle-nose pliers. These have long thin jaws - truly needle-ish! We watched as the rep gripped a metal strip near the tips and twisted mercilessly. Any other tools like this would have been permanently sprung. The Klein jaws retained their form despite all the abuse we could deliver that day, showing no daylight between the jaws. I bought a pair for myself the next day. Still got 'em, use them daily, still perfect. I have no doubt Klein Tools are the best available. I wish I could afford more of them.

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Buy a Sub/Win a Tool!

It’s time to run another subscriber drawing. For the month of February, everyone who signs up for a one-year paid subscription to Gar’s Tips & Tools will be eligible for a drawing (March 1). The winner will get either a Workpro Multitool (that I raved about in issue #184), if you live in the US, or PDF copies of both of my Tips and Tales from the Workshop (Vol. 1 and Vol. 2) if you live outside the US.

A paid sub is a great way to support me and this newsletter.

Special thanks to Hero of the Realm Jim Coraci for your generous support.