Maker Skills

Can you ever have enough clamps!? One of the Maker Skills crew claims they have enough clamps. This may be a maker first. The recited history of clamps is somewhat suspicious and may be keeping fact checkers the world over busy for some time to come. Big thanks to our listeners for joining in on the fun via Instagram and playing along with their questions, comments and awesome deals as we head off into 2021. 

It's that time of year when we think a bit more about Shop Organization. Where are you going to put all those new tools you got for Christmas, and the ones you picked up so you could make gifts, and the ones you grabbed to organize the ones you have (to make it look like you don't have too many), oh and of course the bargain tools you picked up from the people who were trying to get organized.

Episode 11 is one more. Right across the board 11, 11, 11. When asked how it compares to episode 10 the Maker Skills crew simply said, "but this is episode 11". 

This week Tom tells us how he converted some kayaks into cold cash, PJ's vice vices make for some good deals and everyone chimes in on restoration, even Memphis (Only because PJ promised him he could be on the show). We can say that because we're pretty sure Memphis doesn't read these blurbs. Big thanks as always to Johnson's Hardware for the support and good to know they now carry Uncle Crusty's Crud to Chrome!

"Hey I've got an idea. Let's hold our tool still and spin the workpiece!", Og was banished from the cave and never returned, but the passage of time would see his idea vindicated and even used to process materials other than mastodon thigh bones. A big shoutout to all of you who are not only brave enough to listen but have even put forth some questions for Old Oswald!

Taping can be a sticky proposition but that's not stopping the maker skills bunch from chatting about it. For once Tanda has a Dealer's Corner find. So much stuff she doesn't even get around to mentioning it all before she starts getting quizzed. Old Oswald stops in for some talk on gloves and if you stick around long enough this inventive threesome even spills the beans on that time we made a rabbit hole for storing stuff in a pocket dimension. 

It's Thanksgiving! Time to weigh that turkey. This week the skill that provides our jumping off point is Measuring. Coming in with a skill class of 2-3/17, it's useful for getting a read on everything from millipedes to whales. Tom buckles up for this episode and the dealer's corner deal has a measurement of "Mother of God deal".  We're pretty sure M of G is close to where the tape won't go back into the case. Fisnar for now, it's time to Fishman! 

Between the three of them, the Maker Skills crew can maintain just about anything... except maybe a straight face during some of our improv bits. Our buddy Oswald sits in for a chat and provides answers to every question we throw at him. PJ scores another round robin, Tanda unleashes the flow of power to a laser printer and Tom's hanging things from the ceiling, when he's not riding his new generator out to check the mail. 

With CNC and modern digital approaches, the design process can be a bit (see what we did there) different. The topic this week is, Design Differences for CNC and other digital fabrication. Tom's excited about some new 3D printers that can roll parts off like a production line, PJ ferrets out some great deals as always and Tanda takes some flack for using big words. Yeah, it's pretty much our typical fair... 

This week the maker skills crew talks about welding. PJ makes a huge precision tool hall by outlasting everyone else at a long auction. Tom reminds us that you can get started welding with some coal and a hammer, and Tanda survived a childhood of unsupervised welding just to be on this show. If you've been wanting to learn how to weld, and you've read this far, you should go for it! (despite the lack of any practical welding advice in this episode)