Adam talks about how he uses the various calipers he has in his shop and how after decades of using them he’s come to a new point of view as to what type of calipers are most useful for his everyday carry. He goes through the pros and cons of digital vs dial calipers, and why a short 4″ dial caliper best suits his builds. What kind of calipers do you use in your own shop?
Children of Makers – Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Project – 6/30/20
On the 25th anniversary of the release of Apollo 13, we talk about the impact of the film, the great late Bill Paxton, and our hopes for Comic-Con at home later this month. Plus, a discussion about the ways parents try to encourage their children to be makers and find the interests and pursuits that’ll resonate.
Adam Savage’s New Tiny Parts Sorter and Storage!
Adam checks out a new set of boxes for sorting and storing tiny screw and other parts for his modelmaking builds. His solution of gluing small jewelry boxes to foamcore is similar to the sorting boxes used by professional watch repairers like these sent by a viewer. Also sent are some incredibly tiny screws and watch parts that Adam checks out with his recently upgraded microscope!
Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Front Porch Table!
Adam’s latest weekend build is a piece of furniture for his home–an integrated front porch table to help organize all the shoes, outdoor gear, and pet paraphernalia that lives in Adam’s home foyer. And it’s going to be a surprise for his partner–so it’s one of the more finished and polished builds Adam takes on during the lockdown!
ButtKicker Gamer 2 Review: Amazing Audio Haptics in VR!
Sound is a big part of immersion in VR, and adding a bass shaker to seated VR rigs is something we’ve always wanted to test. We’re impressed by the performance of the ButtKicker Gamer 2 tactile transducer and amplifier kit, which works seamlessly with cockpit games from racing to mech piloting to space combat games, and adds a tremendous amount of fun to VR experiences. It’s a highly-recommended upgrade to your VR setup!
Episode 557 – Apple Gets Fully Armed – 6/25/20
So much to cover this week as we recap the big annoucements from Apple’s virtual WWDC keynote, their impending shift to ARM architecture Mac computers, and the gameplay details of Star Wars: Squadrons. Plus, surprise Batman casting rumors, Mixer shutting down, and a farewell to the Oculus Go headset!
Making an Illuminated Action Figure Display Stand!
Our next laser cutter project is an exercise of designing with slot joints to piece together a clear acrylic display stand that houses LED lights for underlighting. Norm walks through his design process and prototyping for this action figure platform, the lessons learned in vector design, and completes the build with a collectibles photo shoot. Download the vector files for this project to make your own!
Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Stitching Pony Clamp!
Adam’s latest build is a new tool to aid in his quest for precision in his machining and other shop work! It’s called a stitching pony by leatherworkers and is essentially a large third hand for holding onto raw materials or parts while he works on them. And Adam has come up with a way to make his stitching pony quick to release, tighten, and operate!
Ash, Vito Cornelius, and Bilbo – Still Untitled: The Adam Savage Project – 6/23/20
We recall the amazing careers of actor Ian Holm and director Joel Schumacher, whose works hold special places in the pop culture pantheon. Adam, Will, and Norm also talk about great character actors whose appearance and performances elevate the films they show up in, and give a few recommendations for classics to rewatch. Plus, a discussion about build materials that Adam has been workging with lately!
Adam Savage’s Favorite Tools: Heavy Duty Bearing Swivel
Among the many sorted tools and hardware in Adam’s workshop is a shelf labelled “Lazy Susans.” And inside are Adam’s go-to swivel bearings for builds, including what he used for the dome on his R2-D2 astromech replica. These heavy-duty Rockler bearings are versatile, robust, and have a smooth swivel action. They’re bound to be used for a future build!