#multi-tool

#multi-tool

The transition from hand-held to hafted tool technology marked a significant shift in conceptualising the construction and function of tools.

The Pocket Grip is proof that the best ideas don't expire - they wait for the manufacturing era that can do them justice. MetMo pulled a 1913 Anderson patent from near-total obscurity and rebuilt the concept from scratch using CNC machining and modern metallurgy.

Thomas Slim immersed their new EDC fountain pen in water for 24 hours, pulled it out, and it wrote immediately. They dropped both the fountain pen and rollerball versions fifteen times from one metre onto concrete, and aside from minor ink on the nib face, both kept writing without issue.

One thumb movement sends the blade straight out the front in a single linear motion, and it locks automatically. There's no arc, no fiddle factor, and no grip position the hand needs to be in before deployment works.

The CyberFold is a foldable clamshell cyberdeck that bears a striking resemblance to an oversized Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP. Inside is a surprisingly capable Linux computer, complete with a touchscreen, a full QWERTY keyboard, stereo speakers, and a proper port selection.

The advertising industry has always been in the business of making things, such as the OOH billboard, the 30-second spot, the snappy social post, the standard website: final, finite assets polished and pushed into the world. Agencies were paid, often by the hour, for producing final versions of these things and then moved on to the next project. Even with generative AI entering the picture, much of the conversation remains focused on making those same things faster or cheaper.

The TiLink is a 24-in-1 titanium bracelet that doubles as a watch strap, creating this interesting yin-yang of capabilities. Compatibility spans across all watches with lug widths between 18-26mm, which means the TiLink can attach to the Apple Watch as well as Garmin, Samsung, Google Pixel, and analog watches. One side tracks your biometrics and messages, the other has screwdrivers, wrenches, a magnifier, and a fire starter machined from aerospace-grade titanium.

I take the product apart. CAD it up. Illustrate each view. Then animate and lay it out for the web. That sounds quick, but it does take me quite a bit of time to create each one.

It's got a 20,000-mAh battery -- yes, twenty thousand milliamp hours -- with an included USB-C port for charging other devices. It also powers a large audio speaker and LED lamp on the back, the latter of which can get so bright that a pop-up dialog warns you not to look directly at it to avoid eye damage.

These unassuming pliers replaced my multitool for a fraction of the cost But sometimes there's a tool that completely changes the way you work, and you wonder why it took you so long to get one. This is how I feel about my Stanley Maxsteel MultiAngle Base Vise . It's an invaluable tool that goes a long way for me in the workshop.

Repair and assembly are usually framed as chores, tasks to be completed as quickly as possible, so we can move on to something more enjoyable. The bi:ts tool challenges this perception by transforming the act of tightening a screw into something closer to play. Instead of feeling like labor, the experience becomes tactile, intuitive, and surprisingly satisfying. At the heart of the product is a joystick-inspired interface, borrowed from the language of game controllers.