The Big Book of Maker Skills: Tools & Techniques for Building Great Tech Projects

by Chris Hackett

This ultimate guide for tech makers covers everything from hand tools to robots plus essential techniques for completing almost any DIY project.   Makers, get This is your must-have guide to taking your DIY projects to the next level. Legendary fabricator and alternative engineer Chris Hackett teams up with the editors of Popular Science to offer detailed instruction on everything from basic wood- and metalworking skills to 3D printing and laser-cutting wizardry. Hackett also explains the entrepreneurial and crowd-sourcing tactics needed to transform your back-of-the-envelope idea into a gleaming finished product.   In The Big Book of Maker Skills, readers learn tried-and-true techniques from the shop classes of yore—how to use a metal lathe, or pick the perfect drill bit or saw—and get introduced to a whole new world of modern manufacturing technologies, like using CAD software, printing circuits, and more. Step-by-step illustrations, helpful diagrams, and exceptional photography make this book an easy-to-follow guide to getting your project done.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Engineering, Technology, How To

550 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 4, 2014

About the author

Chris Hackett was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 13, 1990, but was raised in Union, NJ for most of his life where he attended the public schools. He attended Rutgers University in New Jersey where he received a M.S. in Biotechnology and Genomics. He is a mixed-race Dominican American. He currently lives with his wife and three children in Hunterdon County, NJ.

Chris is the author of the PROFESSOR BRIDGES Saga, a humorous crossover space opera, and other works over the years. His scientific background informs but does not limit his science fiction approach. His enjoys history, particularly the Antiquities, and writing books that make people "feel good" after reading them - that a book that inspires a positive imagination leaves a positive mark on the world.

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting, enlightening, inspiring, clear, and fun. I think this may be one of the most useful books, in a concrete way, that I've come across in a while.

Starting with how to work safely and how to set up and organize a workspace, this is a systematic exploration of a great variety of tools, how to use them, and the kinds of projects people can create with them, from the most basic hand tools to computers, lasers, and robotic projects. A lot of it is about how to improvise tools and systems. The author (whom I've seen on quite a few documentaries in which he's done that kind of improvisation) even includes some points on seeking crowdfunding and making a sales-pitch video.

Again, interesting, inspiring, and fun.

[David Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for the makerspace library. It will teach how to use tools, salvage parts, and has some cool projects

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book of tips and techniques for anyone who is new to making. I liked it a lot, because it was entertaining in addition to being informative. And I think that the humor not only makes it fun to read, but also helps to make the information stick in your memory.

The book has four sections: Basics, Hand Tools, Power Tools, and Robots & Beyond. Instead of page numbers, this book numbers the tips/tutorials - some pages have one, some pages have two, and some tutorials span two pages - and the numbers and titles are large and prominent, so it is very easy to find the one you want.

The Big Book of Maker Skills includes tutorials on:
Setting Up a Workspace
Picking the Right Tools
Safety and First Aid
Welding Smarts
Circuitry Basics
Programming & Arduinos
Working with Wood
3-D Printing
Laser-cutting
CNC Routing ...and more.

If you are interested in one specific craft, I would recommend finding a book devoted to that craft for a more in-depth study. But for learning basic skills and getting an overview of every kind of making, this is a very good book.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of maker skills from welding and forging to circuitry and robotics. The topics skim the surface but also assume basic pre-existing knowledge. I enjoyed most that this book is clearly aimed at an adult audience; the writing is to the point and author Chris Hackett has a certain sense of humor and seeming-rebel attitude that makes it more fun. For example, he takes us along on a hunt to a junkyard to find Obtanium (anything that can be salvaged and rebuilt into something else) but warns us not to get into an encounter with more desperate scrappers one might meet there. Some of the repurposing projects such as extracting a motor from a scooter and then connecting up to the rear wheel of a bicycle with a belt for the tire to power an electronic were pretty cool. One thing I might have appreciated in this book is a list of resources to learn more about these topics but I can see why not to include this as well. It's also a giant rabbit hole! It would be fun to watch his maker show sometime "Stuck with Hackett" and build something in a maker space.

[D's · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again I have proven I have a lot to learn

I have been in the maintenance field for over 30 years and this book has shone me I can still find better ways to do a lot of things. I got this book for my 17 year old son and read it first and discovered a bunch of new ways to do a better job. From straighter welds to new ways to implementation 555 timer. As I teach my boy we end up learning together and this has been a blast.

[Caro · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. This chock full of information, tips and tricks, ideas and DIYs. I learned a lot. There's a lot to try to comprehend (I'm a layman...) and remember. This would be a great book for the shelf, just in case you need to check yourself. This one just got my inner DIYer juices flowing. I can't wait to try some of the projects. Totally enjoy!

[Nico Berx · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good for novice makers starting this great hobby

The book shows the basics in a comprehensive way. For experienced makers, I expected more advanced tips and tricks. Nice and crisp pictures.

[Geoffrey L. Greetham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book

Decent info. Easy to read and understand. Very basic though.
Ten more words required to complete the review of book.

[Colin · Rating 2 out of 5]

What kind of book doesn't have page numbers?

[Elizabeth Byerly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generalist as advertised; better intro to possibilities than applications. Author keeps an engaging tone through potentially dry material.

[Justin Gasal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to making things--woodworking, metalworking, welding, electronics, microcontrollers, robotics, etc. Introduces tools and techniques in bite-sized chunks. Not much step-by-step text--Hackett gives you the bare bones of a project and assumes you have have a brain and can fill in the blanks.

[Oriana]

This guy is sort of Brooklyn DIY royalty (here's the Times telling you why), and this book will certainly be a work of bizarre genius.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic full-color book with lots of useful information. If you're getting into making and can only have one book, make it this one.

[Leo Boone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked it, and it was helpful for my diy projects

[Shellie Ware · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great overview of maker techniques, with some pithy comments thrown in and interesting project ideas. Good launching point to then deep dive on specifics elsewhere.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice overview of a lot of stuff, gave me a few increasing ideas.

[James Dewes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read and a great overview of a broad range of topics.