Makers
These are makers or people who have given me some inspiration.
3x3 Custom
A US based woodworker who has a great variety of sensible projects and designs. A great sense of design and isn't afraid to experiment and publish mistakes.
They have a mostly power-tool based approach and doesn't tend to use a lot of hand-tools. They don't have a crazy tool collection and has a lot of really good methods and jigs to make up some of the shortfalls in equipment equipment.
Topics
Woodworking, design
Stuff Made Here
Great sense of humor and a variety of cool projects. They make some really strange projects, some of which are not really easily DIY as they require a lot of tools, but the ideas are really cool.
Mental tool collection... Definitely uses them, but just wow.
Topics
Maker, electronics, programming, mechanical
Chris Salomone
They have a really impressive design eye and make some great looking furniture. They outline a lot of their design methodology which is really cool if you're trying to learn about design.
Primarily power-tool focused, and their sense of humor can be a little grating.
Topics
Woodworking, design
Ishitani Furniture
A Japanese woodworker. I can't describe how amazing their designs are, and watching them make furniture is medative. I can easily just sit and watch it for hours. I'd love to be able to actually go to Japan to see their work in person.
I definitely aspire to actually own one of their pieces.
Has a hybrid approach and uses a good mix of power and hand tools. Their tool collection is very old school and very cool.
Topics
Woodworking, design, zen
Squarerule Furniture
A Korean woodworker with some amazing designs. Like Ishitani Furniture his videos are very meditative and I can easily watch them for hours.
Has a hybrid approach to woodworking.
Topics
Woodworking, design, zen
Kobeomsuk furniture
A Korean woodworker with great designs. Similar to Ishitani and Squarerule in their videos and presentation. Has some great live edge designs, this one in particular is a real inspiration.
Has a hybrid approach to woodworking.
Topics
Woodworking, design, zen
Laura Kampf
German based maker, focuses on wood and metalworking. Has a really good design focusing more on industrial / bare designs rather than uber clean commercial furniture.
Has a real flair for making good stuff out of old things. Their piece on the bench they made on the Rhine River is a really cool way of thinking
Topics
Maker, mechanical, woodworking
Jeremy Fielding
A really interesting self-taught mechanical engineer. Really good advice for engineering and tends to focus on re-using things rather than buying them new.
Topics
Woodworking, metalworking, mechanical engineering, robotics
Alexandre Chappel
A huge inspiration for cool projects. A mixture of great designs and cool methods. I'd recommend looking as their assortment boxes which are super useful and I have them set up in some of my organisation boxes at home.
Topics
Woodworking, maker.
Stumpy Nubs
US based woodworker. Has a hybrid woodworking method (power tools and hand tools). I'd recommend following them as they are just super sensible and have a lot of good common sense advice.
Topics
Woodworking, just good old common sense.
Stores
A list of useful stores that I use for parts / supplies. I've skipped out some of the obvious ones (RS Supplies, Farnell).
I try to avoid Amazon where I can even if it means paying more, although on occasions I still have to use it. I'll keep updating this page whenever I find anything interesting.
Cool Components
UK based electronics supplies. Good selection of dev kits, components and breakouts
BitsBox
UK based components supplies. Good for small quantities of basic supplies.
Ooznest
UK based mechanical components. Great source for 3D printing supplies.
Maker Beam
EU based mechanical extrusions. Supplier of MakerBeam (10mm x 10mm) and OpenBeam (15mm x 15mm) aluminium extrusion,
Accu
UK based screws and fixing supplier. Expensive, but really good stock and selection.