Many of you have asked about the tools used in One Day Builds and seen around Adam's workshop, so we're starting a new series putting a spotlight on some of Adam's favorite and most essential tools. Adam starts with his favorite calipers, and explains why it's like having a superpower--to precisely measure!
Adam puts a spotlight on one of his favorite shop tools, the Pica pen. While he has hundreds of markers in the cave, this particular marker stands out for having a tiny point that can fit into corners and holes. It's extremely satisfying to use for tracing and marking up projects--you may have seen it in previous One Day Builds!
Everyone has some kind of 90-degree angle square in their shop, but Adam advocates for a specific kind of square: the 4” machinist’s square. They allow for fine and delicate layout on small parts, something a big honking 12” square will have trouble with. Adam has them in multiple sizes going down to 3/4” long (super tiny!) but if you had to have only one, get the 4”!
For makers who use any kind of sheet metal, this is an important tool: the handheld sheet metal brake. It's basically a pair of pliers purpose-built for bending thin sheet metals. Adam has three pairs of these at different angles, and use them more than you’d think. They’re fantastic for getting nice flat bends on small tabs of metal!
Here's another tool everyone needs in their shop: an automatic wire stripper. Unlike the manual wire strippers we've all used, these remove the outer plastic layer effortlessly without having to pull the wire from both sides. They were a game changer when first released, and are now more affordable than ever!
You know those little square black power transformers that come with nearly every new electronic you get? We call them “Wall Warts”. The problem is that they often don’t have written down on them which device it charges. That's why every single new adapter that comes into Adam's house gets a small label made for it, describing exactly what electronic thing it belongs to. These label makers can make very small labels (Adam puts his name on all camera equipment in unobtrusive spots) or larger and colorful labels depending on the make and model you want to invest in.
Over the years, Adam has learned to look to other industries to see if the tools, tips, and processes used by other experts could apply to his workflow. It's how he discovered emery boards work great as modelmaking sanding sticks, and where he found jewelry clamps to hold onto small and irregular-shaped objects. Good clampage is something every maker should have in their shop!
For cosplayers, trading tips and tricks are the bread and butter of the community. One of the best secret weapons for cosplayers are called Chicago screws. They’re also known as paper rivets, binding screws, or binding posts. They come in an endless variety of finishes, depths, and materials. They’re fabulous for attaching armor sections together that can move without nuts and bolts sticking out and scratching you or other parts of your costume!
Safety glasses are an essential part of every workshop, and Adam takes issue with the design of those that don't fit well over his glasses. Enter this full-face visor, which Adam was inspired to seek out after seeing them used as a piece of costuming on the TV show Westworld! These sci-fi looking goggles have a great fit and wide near-field visibility--they're by far Adam's favorite safety glasses!
Making circles. Every maker has to make circles or holes, and Adam highly recommends that every maker have a compass set they can use to draw circles of various sizes. But in addition to that trusty tool, there are also templates and adjustable ring rulers that can help draw curves. And one of Adam's recent favorite tools are cookie cutters for marking and cutting circles out of soft materials. This set of cookie cutters are a terrific and cheap option to have at your disposal. Great for epoxy putty, bake-able clay, and super sculpey, as well as simply drawing templates!
There are many rotary tools in the world, but Adam's latest favorite is one he learned about while visiting Weta Workshop. The Proxxon precision rotary tool is lightweight, powerful, and has fine speed control for modelmaking work. Adam also likes the keyless chuck that can hold the smallest of bits. You can expect to see this appearing in future One Day Builds!
Adam goes through the different types of magnifying devices modelmakers can use for precision work, from handheld loupes to stereo surgical glasses. But the best type of magnifiers for both ergonomics, field-of-view, and depth-of-focus are just a simple set of headband magnifiers that you can get for around $20! Adam demonstrates why he likes this style so much, but we'd love to know what works best for you!
Of all the allen wrenches, this set of Bondhus T-handled hex wrenches are Adam's absolute favorites. They're nearly indestructible, feel great when you’re using them, and are durable enough to use as a thwacker in a pinch! They’re also made in both short and long forms, and of course in both metric and imperial. Adam loves them so much that he has multiple sets in the cave for easy access!
As you might've seen in Adam's recent videos, one of the changes to his shop workflow has come from his use of a utility apron for carrying his essential tools like Pica pen and dial calipers. Adam talks about what changed his mind about wearing a shop apron, what kinds of tools he carries on it, and how it's changed the operating procedures for his builds.
Adam can't get enough of this new utility knife that he's been using in the cave! On its surface, it looks like any standard box cutter with snap-off 9mm blades, but this knife also holds extra blade cartridges in its handle for automatic reloading when you finish an entire blade. It holds up to five blades and is super satisfying to use--perfect for quick projects like foamcore or cardboard crafting!
This tool tip was learned the hard way by Adam on a job he did (with Jamie!) many years ago that required precision carving around a glass bottle. Back then, the job took hours and hours with careful and stressful application of a circle cutter. And it was only afterward that Adam learned about the efficiency and precision of a hardened steel glass cutting bit for his Dremel rotary tool. Let's watch a demonstration of this tool that shows why Adam always has a few on hand in his shop!
Adam goes through the wide range of different pliers and grabbing tools he has in his shop, and their different use cases. From his favorite vise-grip locking pliers (which make an awesome sound) to more esoteric grabbers like a fish hook extractor, they've proved to be essential for a wide range of projects. But his favorite is a pair of steel extended grabbers called micro alligator forceps used by surgeons. Their gripping pressure is incredibly strong and allow for precise grabbing or manipulation of modelmaking parts!
Adam guides us through his collection of circle drawing tools, from a reliable machinist protractor to golden mean calipers for satisfying drafting and design. Adam also gushes over the design of an iris compass, made of beautifully machined brass. With all of these drafting tools, he's also using one of his favorite pencils: the venerated Blackwing 602!
Adam's latest tool tip is short and sweet: his pick for reusable shop rags to use around the cave for cleaning, applying paint washes, and wiping off your hands. Adam goes through the various kinds of rag materials and the benefits of each (as well as the ones to avoid) and shares his pick for most reliable shop rags that actually come from the medical field!
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!
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?
Adam shares a new tool he only recently learned about but has found very useful for his builds: machine thread taps for woodworking! When paired with a set of woodworking drill bits, it's radically improved the projects Adam's doing in the cave!
Let's talk about hammers! Adam shows the hammer he made as a crew gift for his Mythbusters production team, and why he loves its design. And for his workshop apron he's wearing these days, he's chosen a similar style deadblow hammer that's become his go-to hammer for his everyday carry!
Adam gripes about something everyone who's worked with sockets can relate to: having an incomplete set because the cases they're stored in aren't any good. That's why he's a fan of Milwaukee's ratchet and socket sets, which are stored in a robust and thoughtfully designed carrying case. What are tools you own that have great storage cases?
After a recent shop accident that required three trips to his ophthalmologist, Adam is a convert when it comes to wearing safety goggles for all kinds of operations in his workshop. Today he tells the story that that shop injury and gives his pick for his favorite go-to safety goggles for everyday shop use.
This week's tool tip is about an esoteric machining tool that Adam has used a few times lately in his machining projects. It's a "wiggler" center finder, used on his lathe and milling machine to perfectly line up the tool with the center of a piece of round stock. Adam used it recently to calibrate his lathe tailstock, and it's one of those tools where learning its name was a revelation for Adam's journey as a machinist!
Adam shares his choice of favorite hot glue gun for foamcore builds and prototyping! There are a lot of options out there for hot glue guns, and the ones Adam always goes back to heat up quickly and have stable stands that don't tip over. And just as important as the glue gun are the glue sticks--here's why Adam recommends low temp melt sticks.
An essential tool for a modern propmaker is a multimeter for any kind of electronics work, whether for testing lighting circuits or troubleshooting wiring work. And while Adam has relied on his trusty Fluke 77 multimeter for years, getting an electronics multimeter to start your toolkit can be affordable too. That's why he's a fan of Fluke's compact entry-level multimeter, which costs less than $45 and gets the job done!
Adam opens out his leatherworking cabinet to talk about one of his favorite materials used in the construction of his Indiana Jones bullwhip replica. Every maker should have some waxed twine in their string drawer, but Adam prefers using super strong artificial catgut sinew for low profile wrapping of projects where the twine doesn't bulk up. And one spool of it will probably last you a lifetime!
Adam covers an essential tool he's been using a lot lately in his machining journey, and that's Dykem blue layout fluid for making precise marks on material when even a fine tip pen won't do. Adam demonstrates how to use layout fluid with his recommended scribe and explains why it's worth investing in a quality scribe for your projects!
Adam shows off two sets of tools that helps him fast: a hex shank adapter that connects his drill/driver to any socket in your standard socket set, and hex drivers that fit any imperial or metric hex bolts. Combined with any standard driver/drill, these are essential for tasks like putting together flat packed furniture!
Adam's shown some tools for drawing small circles on work materials, but what if you need to draw a very large circle? Here are two tools to help with that: a set of trammel points that you can clamp onto any length of wood, and a novel device called a Rotape that combines an adjustable tape measure with a drawing compass! Adam demonstrates how to use each of these, and now you too can draw large circles!
Adam shows off a machining tool that allows you to make a punched mark in an exact location on a piece of material--especially when precision matters. An optical center punch lets you make a mark right on target, much more accurately than making a mark with just the naked eye. It's a fantastic gift for a machinist or maker in your life!
For taking apart and repairing his electronics, Adam finds the iFixit line of bit driver kits more than meet the task. Their repair kits feel good to use, will last, and have an incredible range of bits that fit the tiniest screws in your gear--including those with tamper-proof pins. Adam champions the mission of Right to Repair, and policies that would give consumers the ability to open up hardware they've purchased to modify, tinker with, and repair them.
Adam shares a critical woodworking tool that is also a relatively inexpensive piece of kit! A cheat $3 angle finder helps you match an exact angle of any part you're working with to another piece of material, whether it's wood, plastic, or metal. And if you can find one, Adam loves his antique cast steel angle finder, called the Angulus!
One of the best places to find beautiful vintage tools is at antique malls, and Adam shares some of his favorite tools he's picked up from his travels. One such tool is an elegant folding ruler--the kind that craftspeople used to carry around all the time. That classic design is renewed with a gorgeous folding ruler from Makers Cabinet, called the Stria. Adam checks out the steel and brass versions of the Stria, as well as the updated Iris drawing compass that improves on its unique design. Thanks to Makers Cabinet for sending these lovely tools to add to Adam's shop collection!
Adam loves discovering new tools by watching other craftspeople at work, even if there aren't immediate projects or tasks in need of that tool. Having a unique tool like a pair of wire twisting pliers isn't about having it handy all the time, but it's part of understanding how things are put together in the world. In this case, the twisted safety wires you may find holding screws in place under aircraft or military hardware. Here's how those are made!
Today's tool tips are a three-in-one: Adam recommends three sets of pliers that perform unique tasks for grabbing, gripping, and manipulating materials for shop work. There's soft-jaw pliers that are great for holding on to delicate parts without marring them, jeweler's pliers that are amazing for bending coat-hanger wire, and screw pliers that are essentially a handheld small parts vise. Make sure they're part of your plier collection!
Adam marvels at the advances in electronics miniaturization on display in his recently acquired endoscope. This is a flexible wireless camera with a built-in light that you can snake into hard-to-reach places and crevices around your home or workshop. It sends HD video you watch remotely on your phone, and this model has the smallest diameter of any endoscope Adam has seen--plus it's only $30!
Adam recently picked up a set of these annular cutters on the recommendation of his good friend John Knoll, and their efficiency in cutting large holes through aluminum blew Adam's mind. Adam demonstrates how they work compared with a normal milling bit, and explains why their design allows them to cut so smoothly. As always, go slowly with a tool like this and use lots of cooling fluid!
After over eight months of filming his builds in the cave, Adam has refined his mobile filming rig to make it easy to move around the shop and capture all the different tools and processes shown in One Day Builds and other videos. Let's walk through all the components of Adam's mobile filming kit, which breaks down and packs up nicely in one of his EDC bags!
In showing off the usefulness of a small awl for marking your materials and punching holes in fabric and leather, Adam gets to share a tool that was handed down to him from his father. Even though an awl is basically a sharp point with a handle, they come in many formfactors and are used in the shop on almost a daily basis. How many awl-based puns can you come up with?
One of the most useful tools from Adam's modelmaking days at ILM was the trusty blow dryer. Adam's preferred one is the iconic Conair Yellow Bird, which is one of the few things he wants at arms reach by the workbench. And when paired with a simple cardboard box, it makes for an effective oven for quickly drying primer and paint on his models and props! What are some of your favorite household tools that end up being used in the workshop?
Adam is thrilled to show off his Savage Industries workshop apron, which he designed and prototyped as a One Day Build this past summer! Based on your feedback and comments, Adam and the makers at Mafia Bags have turned his apron project into a real product, made of durable green canvas and soft brown leather. Adam shows off its various features and the thought process behind each design decision, and can't wait to see makers wear these in their own workshops!
After making extensive use of this wire cutter in his most recent One Day Build, Adam dives deeper into how to use his favorite Proxxon hot wire cutter for shaping foam. It's a powerful tool for quickly carving foam sheets both thick and thin, and an essential piece for kit for modelmakers and other foamsmiths.
For Adam's final tool tip of the year, he reads from an iconic yellow book: the mighty McMaster-Carr catalog. Not only is it an essential reference guide to the over half million products sold by McMaster-Carr, but its detailed descriptions unlock the utility for all manner of esoteric tools and hardware supplies. The printed catalog isn't easy to get ahold of, but thankfully the entire catalog is also online and in McMaster-Carr's mobile app!
Praise the trusty monkey wrench! In this week's tool tip, Adam explains how this essential pipe wrench works, why it's so much better than a crescent wrench, and the case for having two of them for plumbing work.
