20-Piece Bit Driver Kit $15 ifixit.com

I always resist buying kitted tools because they never seem high-quality, but this kit is exactly what I need when my electronics break. (iFixit has replacement parts and free tutorials, too, so you don’t have to ditch that cracked iPhone or shell out to have the Apple Store fix it.) The driver kit has all the bits you’d want, in nice sizes, and with a convenient case — a comprehensive toolkit for the electronics hacker.

It’s the sort of thing you probably wouldn’t buy for yourself, but would be stoked to get as a gift. So buy one for a worthy friend, or just make sure to suggest strongly to your better half that it should show up in your stocking. —Saul Griffith

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NerdKits $80 nerdkits.com

Ever since I got into robotics,

I’ve wanted to know more about electronics and programming. I wanted a good kit with a microcontroller, but the kits I found were either too advanced or too dumbed-down without many interesting components.

I finally found a good kit. A USB NerdKit comes with a lot of great stuff, including an ATmega168 MCU, a buzzer, a 4×20-char- acter LCD display, three different colors of LEDs, a temperature sensor, switches, and a potentiometer. It even comes with a great guide and programmer! The guide starts at the basics and works its way up to more advanced topics. The programmer comes with multiple languages and sample codes.

The NerdKits support team is quick and helpful. There’s a great forum and even video tutorials that explain how the programs and circuits work. I would definitely recommend a NerdKit! —Dylan Kirdahy

Sea Perch ROV About $75 seaperch.mit.edu

My favorite scene from Maker Faire 2009 was two girls laughing as they remote-piloted tiny submersibles around a big tank of water. The Sea Perch ROV was developed by MIT Sea Grant and the U.S. Navy to spark students’ interest in robotics, engineering, and marine sciences. Obviously kids loved driving the Sea Perch. Could it really be that easy for kids to make?

I decided to build one, and yes, it’s that easy. The parts are standard stuff from hobby shops, hardware stores, and RadioShack or Jameco. The free, downloadable instruction manual is classroom-clear, and the vehicle design is simple and forgiving, with DC motors potted in wax, and a frame made of slip-fit PVC pipe that allows infinite adjustments. It’s the first project I’ve soldered, and it was a piece of cake.

Bagged kits are provided for teacher trainings (sign up at seaperch.mit.edu), but anyone can download the manual and parts list and make their own kit. The website also has video instructions, K– 12 and college curriculum ideas, an international data bank where students can upload data, and tips on adding cameras and sensors. —KH

Soft Circuit Sewing Kit $15 bekathwia.etsy.com

Not to toot MAKE and CRAFT blogger
Becky Stern’s horn, but she’s put
together a fantastic kit for augmenting a
favorite garment or a needlework project
with LEDs. The kit is based on the demo
she gives at Maker Faire as an introduction
to sewing a soft circuit. There’s a free
video tutorial and step-by-step instruc-
tions if you’re not used to working with
soft circuits, and the kit includes
everything you need to get started;
just be sure to tell her what color
LEDs you want! —AOG

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