#hardware-engineering
229 episodes · Page 2 of 10
#5107: The Wearable Power Grid: Smart or Just Early?
Is a distributed belt-mounted power system the future of EDC, or just a clever fantasy? We dig into the engineering.
#5101: Drill Bits and Concrete: What Actually Worked
A 12V drill, a $20 bit set, and a reinforced safe room wall — what actually happened, and why the first bit failed.
#5097: Who Actually Gets Paid to Test Hardware?
Real testing vs. affiliate content — and whether AI can finally separate genuine reviews from the noise.
#5096: Vacuum Engineering: When Industrial Machines Beat Consumer Gear
Why a $500 Bosch industrial vacuum outperforms a $700 Dyson — and what happens when you take construction-site gear home.
#5092: Pelican Cases vs. Neoprene: The Real Tool Travel Trade-Off
Weighing hard cases like Pelican Air against neoprene sleeves and padded inserts for carrying tools on flights.
#5091: Hex vs Round Shank: When Drill Bit Footprints Fail
Why small hex bits snap, big reduced shanks twist, and what actually works for precision drilling.
#5090: Drill Accessories: Useful or Gimmick?
Cleaning brushes work, jigsaw converters don't. We break down which drill attachments are worth your money.
#5082: Why Mechanical Keyboards Refused to Die
The surprising economics and community revival behind the keyboard that wouldn't stay dead.
#5080: SKÅDIS vs Industrial Pegboard: IKEA's Clever Lock-In
IKEA broke the pegboard standard. Here's why that's both frustrating and brilliant.
#5072: Tiny Raised Numbers: Why Embossing Is a Mold, Not a Mark
Why those tiny raised numbers on plastic parts are molded in, not stamped on — and what that means for aftermarket marking.
#5070: HUD vs. Portable Screens: Solving Car Nav in the Heat
Daniel's tablet melts in the Israeli sun. True HUDs can't show maps, but portable CarPlay screens might be the real answer.
#5060: Engraving Bits Decoded: Geometry, Grade, and Material Match
Cone vs. ball-nose vs. pointed, C2 vs. C4, single vs. multi-flute — what actually matters when engraving with a handheld rotary tool.
#5053: Inside Daniel's Drill: Clutch, Gears, and Hammering
What actually changes when you twist a drill's selector ring? We open the housing on a Bosch GSB 120 LI to find out.
#5052: Drill Bits Explained: Why Concrete Bits Fail on Plastic
Why a concrete bit ruins acrylic, what HSS actually means, and whether drill bit sharpeners are worth it.
#5051: Engraving's Three Worlds: Tools, Communities, and Craft
Rotary, hand, and laser engraving share a name but little else. We map the tools, communities, and skills behind each.
#5050: Engraving Hardened Steel: Carbide Grades & Hardness Tests
How to measure material hardness without destroying your workpiece, and pick the right carbide grade for stainless steel engraving.
#5049: How Deep Does an Engraving Need to Be?
Why engraving outlasts stickers and ink — and what NASA specs reveal about carving for the ages.
#5028: What 670nm Red Light Actually Does for Sleep
670nm is a badge, not a mechanism. Here's how to actually shop for a sleep light.
#5026: Moving Boxes Through a Window? Try Rolling, Not Lifting
A storage nook reachable only through a window needs a clever transfer system. Here's the fix.
#5024: Voltage Tiers: What Your Drill Battery Really Means
Why 12V tools can't do sustained work, what 18V really buys you, and how battery platforms—not tools—are the real commitment.
#5023: The Three Machines Hiding in "Get a Small Vacuum
Dust, fume, and static are three different problems. One word — "vacuum" — can't solve them all.
#5022: Choosing a Real Industrial Vacuum for Your Home
How to verify true commercial grade, pick the right size, and avoid the wet-dry trap when buying a vacuum for your house.
#5016: Micro-Engraving Bits: Why Fine Carbides Fail on 2mm Text
The bit that's perfect for 0.5mm text is exactly wrong for 2mm numbers. Here's why.
#5013: Android Camera Fragmentation: Why Apps See Different Lenses
OnePlus hides fisheye lenses from third-party apps. Here's how Android's camera API actually works and what you can do about it.