I've been building guitar pedal kits from buildyourownclone, and it's been great fun. I'm running out of pedals I want to make for myself, and am looking for other projects, like this stereo tube amp, and maybe this sous vide. Can you recommend more electronics projects (preferably kits, so I don't have to scrounge for parts) that are cool and look good at the end? [more inside]
posted by Admiral Haddock on Mar 21, 2013 - 9 answers

I would like to learn more about electronics and circuitry by making a LED light panel. I have questions about how to calculate the number of LEDs I need, soldering, and how to diffuse the light. [more inside]
posted by gagoumot on Aug 2, 2012 - 2 answers

I am the proud new owner of a soldering iron. What are some good first projects? Must be cheap and at least marginally useful. Blinky lights are a plus! [more inside]
posted by Scientist on Mar 15, 2012 - 17 answers

Yay I can solder! Please show me where to get a simple, inexpensive DAC (USB) kit, preferably < $50. Inspired by krilli's earlier question. [more inside]
posted by amtho on Feb 4, 2012 - 6 answers

Where can I get a replacement motor for my vintage Christmas color wheel? [more inside]
posted by the matching mole on Dec 11, 2011 - 4 answers

Please recommend a "soldering mat" or other heat-resistant surface. [more inside]
posted by crawl on Oct 4, 2010 - 14 answers

I want to make little machines that do cool things. I've been daydreaming and doing moderate "research" for years and years. How do I make this into reality? [more inside]
posted by elephantsvanish on Mar 13, 2010 - 8 answers

How do I build a microphone preamp for a Macbook Pro? [more inside]
posted by knowles on Jan 25, 2009 - 6 answers

I have a medium-sized run of printed circuit boards that'd be most cost-effective for me to silkscreen/photo-etch at home. I'm pretty sure I got that part covered... lots of tutorials available [1, 2, 3, etc]. It'd be a shame, though, to build this setup and then not use it again, so I'm wondering where are some great repositories for (all types of) PCB layouts? Added difficulty: Would like reasonable descriptions of "what they do" and how the boards are likely to be employed. [more inside]
posted by jjjjjjjijjjjjjj on Dec 30, 2008 - 7 answers

How do I get solder to stick to the tip of my fancy new soldering iron? [more inside]
posted by shimon on Sep 17, 2008 - 9 answers

Should I eat – er, solder – this? I'm building a preamp and I just discovered that I'm low on 0.1μF 50v ceramic disc capacitors. My question is about whether it's worth trying to salvage more from another (already disassembled) piece of equipment. [more inside]
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks on Aug 22, 2008 - 10 answers

Soldering - Please give me all your iron and accessories recommendations for a beginning home hobbyist (electronics, circuit boards, etc) [more inside]
posted by malacologist on Jul 23, 2007 - 25 answers

Electronics filter: What can I do to make a 24v PSU turn into a 18-19v PSU? It's 0.5A power supply which as far as I can tell is important to know when using, say a resistor to lower voltage. But how resistant should the resistor be? I've found information on how to tell a resistor's value, but not how it will actually effect a line's voltage or how to calculate it. Are there any good sites with this information? Also what will happen to the amount of amps the PSU supplies when I do change it to 18/19v?? Also, what can be done to increase the amperage of a power supply? What inside the circutry is actually dictating the amperage?
posted by Napierzaza on Dec 3, 2006 - 25 answers

Tips for hand soldering leads to printed flexible circuits? [more inside]
posted by loquacious on Sep 22, 2006 - 11 answers

I'm looking for a really good pair of wire strippers. [more inside]
posted by Jack Karaoke on May 7, 2005 - 8 answers