Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2018 i Popular Mechanics

A FRIENDLY GUIDE TO THE DIGITAL AGE. WHY YOU GET SPAM PHONE CALLS WHEN YOU SHOP online or even set up a Bluetooth speaker, you probably have to create an account. That used to mean entering your email address, then clicking a “verify” link. Now, services like Lyft and Square’s Cash app verify you by text. But just as your inbox has become a repository for 50-percent-off-sale emails and scammers disguised as customer support, disseminating your phone number across the internet creates opportunities to find you and obtain your sensitive info. Some bad guys use a technique called neighbor spoofing, which gives the incoming number the same area code as yours in hopes that you’ll mistake the caller for your mechanic or your kid’s school. It’s distressingly lucrative. Some call…

LATE AFTERNOON. Cocktail hour. Whiskey-tinted light canting in through windows. Dust motes. The whole bit. You could have a beer. But that’s just taking something out of the fridge. Have you ever been impressed by a person who took something out of the fridge? Maybe if the something was a cheesecake. And the person was a dog. No. You’re going to have a cocktail, because our ancestors invented cocktail hour to give much-needed structure to what is otherwise an inconsiderate march of unregulated, haphazard moments. Friend in from out of town? Make a set of sidecars in a punch bowl. Layoffs at work? Make a stiff martini that you can stir yogi-like until your thoughts dissolve into vague wisps of horror and indignation. I’m not saying you should structure your…

NUMBER OF PARTS:180 THE STANDARD PART The front part of the eMicro One is exactly like a standard kick scooter. At the top, the left and right handles (1) clamp to the upper vertical tube (3), which telescopes from the lower vertical tube (4) to match the height of the rider. The other end of the lower tube holds the front fork (2) and front wheel (5), which has a hard outer shell of rubber and a core made of the same kind of foam used in running shoes for a comfortable ride. The front tube passes through the head tube (6), which acts as a collar that allows it to pivot freely, so the rider can steer. The head tube bolts to the folding mechanism (7): A quick release…

WE DON’T THINK about spices as plants, and we really don’t think about the people who grow those plants. Spices are almost entirely grown on small farms, picked by hand, and dried in the sun. Through my company, Burlap & Barrel, I’m trying to connect people with their spice farmers. We work directly with farmers across the world who grow unique, wonderful spices—think cinnamon with hints of citrus peel and sea salt—that don’t fit the mold of growing generic flavors for giant companies. Eight years ago, I was a pastry chef with an itch to do good. I left my kitchen and got into a grad program for conflict and development. After school, I went to a remote northern province of Afghanistan with an NGO (non-governmental organization) to manage infrastructure…

THE FUTURE of the car is written, and we’re not in it. Well, we’re in it—riding in a mobile living room, looking at our phones, or possibly pouring a drink and playing poker with our fellow car-share commuters. And hey, for the daily ooze down the nearest traffic-choked conduit of drudgery, that doesn’t sound so bad. The thing is, though, we love driving. We always will. Fortunately, we’re not alone. Just look at what’s happened this year: Economy cars that should be slow and efficient are quicker than old muscle cars. New muscle cars are quicker than old Lamborghinis, and new Lamborghinis accelerate like Formula One cars. BMW and Mercedes are building all-wheel-drive systems that you can put in rear-wheel-drive mode just so you can do burnouts. Ford made the…

1 Catch marlin from a kayak. 2. Explore a house that’s under construction. Driving around Flathead Lake in Montana, a friend and I stopped at what we thought was a small lakeside park. It was actually frontage on a massive piece of property. The house on the property was under construction, a big extravagant thing. They’d carved a sweeping driveway into the hillside down from the road and lined it with huge rocks that must have taken several truckloads to deliver. There was an outbuilding, some kind of shed, with better workmanship than any house I’ve lived in. We walked through the open studs across plywood floors where one day people would dance and fight and watch TV and learn to walk. We poked around—the skeleton of a spiral staircase,…

The Essential Leather Tune-Up Clean and apply conditioner to your shoes and boots once a month. First remove dirt with a nylon medium-bristle brush and a capful of Woolite diluted in a bowl of warm water, says Fabrizio. His Los Angeles shop, Pasquale Shoe Repair, has made custom shoes for Rihanna and Will Smith. Let the shoes dry completely, and use a clean rag to rub in leather conditioner, like Lexol’s Leather Deep Conditioner ($8), to restore moisture. Give it a light buff with a horsehair shine brush after it dries. Your shoes will show you if they need more conditioner, says McFarland, owner of Lakeland, Florida’s 100-year-old McFarland’s Shoe Repair and past winner of the Shoe Service Institute of America’s Silver Cup. “Reapply it whenever the leather looks dry…

READER NOTE Improvised Garbage Can for Busy Worksites ON THE SITE of many big indoor jobs—like, say, a home renovation—you can find a dumpster stationed outside, but there isn’t always a good distribution of garbage cans near the work itself. Reader Brian Flynn of Overland Park, Kansas, recommends a handy substitute: Since floor protection almost always arrives first, he’ll cut a sheet of the heavy cardboard (six feet usually does the trick), roll it into a cylinder, and use a spring clamp to both hold it in shape and hold open a contractor bag, creating a great on-the-spot refuse container. SCRAP PINCUSHION A scrap piece of insulation board (or other soft or porous material) that fits in your chest pocket can be used as a pincushion for brads or tacks.…

WET MANGROVES LINE the rivers that meet the ocean along Colombia’s Pacific coast. The dense tropical canopy beneath them makes for stifling heat—and the per fect cover from prying U.S. satellites. For the past 25 years, drug smugglers have hidden entire manufacturing operations beneath these trees. Not drug-manufacturing operations—they’re making submarines. In the middle of the jungle. And, for the first time ever, they’ve gone electric. Last summer, the Colombian military captured a drug sub powered by smaller, quieter electric engines and more than 100 batteries. At the building sites, smugglers ferry in thousands of pounds of materia ls, a labor force, and, sometimes, Russian submarine designers. They construct subs up to 100 feet long, typically made of wood, fiberglass, and Kevlar to avoid radar detection, and capable of carrying…

In 2011, Shinola was a new company making watches in Detroit. They had Swiss movements, but that didn’t matter. I bought one because they’re so nicely designed, and you feel good buying something mostly made in the U.S.A. Now, Shinola built its first pair of headphones, the Canfield ($350 and up). Like the watches, they’re made of top-quality materials: American leather and stainless steel (covering Chinese audio hardware). I like how substantial they feel. But as an audiophile, I wanted to know if a design company could do tech. The sound is a little bass-y for my taste, but otherwise very good. The one disappointment: the four-foot cable, which is too short to use comfortably on my home amp. I tried them with my iPhone, but if that’s where your…

BARTENDERS LEARN TO make drinks the same way chefs learn to cook—one recipe at a time. Are there general principles? Sure. But those will emerge the more cocktails you make. “If you pick up a decent cocktail book, you’ll eventually be like, wait, that recipe looks exactly like this one. And it is, just with different ingredients,” says Kimber Weissert, bartender and bar manager at Pittsburgh’s Butcher and the Rye. For now, start with the basics. 1. The Martini (2 oz, 1 oz, 2 dashes) “I think the first drink a person should make should be a manhattan or a martini. In reality, they are the same recipe,” says Weissert. “A manhattan is two ounces bourbon or rye, one ounce sweet vermouth, and two dashes of Angostura bitters. A martini…

Although historically the site of flourishing stockyards, modern Kansas City is no cow town. As the first major U.S. city to receive Google Fiber, which offers gigabit internet speed, its central location and economic incentives have created a growing tech base that draws companies like Sprint and Garmin. Since the 1850s, there have been two separate K.C. metro areas, divided by the Missouri–Kansas border. But there’s no need to pick a side. These community work spaces may be in two different states, but their mission of shared interests means “Come one, come all.” THE MAKER DAVE DALTON HIS COMPANY HAMMERSPACE COMMUNITY WORKSHOP If you’re an artist or crafter, hobbyist or inventor, it can be hard to find your tribe. That’s what we do: establish a place, filled with tools, to…

INGREDIENTS □ 2 Tbsp ghee or coconut oil □ 4 shallots or 2 large red onions, sliced □ 3–5 whole cinnamon verum chips,* or 1 tsp ground true cinnamon □ 5–6 whole Pemba cloves,* or other high-quality cloves □ 2–4 green cardamom pods* □ 4–5 garlic cloves, minced □ 3–4 inches of fresh unpeeled ginger, minced □ 2 cups long-grain basmati rice □ 3–4 cinnamon-tree leaves, or high-quality bay leaves □ 1 lb white fish, ideally kingfish or swordfish, cut into small pieces INSTRUCTIONS 1. In a large pot or wok, heat ghee or coconut oil with sliced onions and a pinch of salt until caramelized. 2. Add spices, garlic, and ginger, and saute until fragrant, about 90 seconds. 3. Add the dry rice to the pot and saute until…

So far, about 450,000 people have each paid $1,000 to reserve a Model 3, with the waiting list for delivery stretching to over 18 months. Tesla literally can’t build this thing fast enough. So the question to be answered, the only one that really matters, is whether the Model 3’s biggest problem is that too many people want one. Because that’s a dilemma that hasn’t existed since maybe 1964, when a million people wanted the new Mustang. You know, that vaporware fad that’s only been around for a half-century now. The demand makes sense. I try to reserve judgment on any car until I drive it, but the Model 3 sure looks good on paper. Tesla claims zero-to-60 times in the five-second range—unofficially, the first owners are getting into the…

Think of Kia’s 365-hp hatchback as a Korean Chevy SS in that you get a sensible package with a surfeit of horsepower, along with brakes and handling to match. And while the SS design was absolutely anonymous, leaving the general public unaware of its capabilities, the Stinger looks like a concept car, low and wide, with possibly a few too many vents and flourishes. But it faces the same underestimation. Because it’s a Kia, and in 2018, few people realize that Kia builds a 170-mph sports sedan. Well, it does, and this one had its chassis tuned by a team led by Albert Biermann, whom Kia poached from BMW’s M division—which makes it interesting that the Stinger’s steering gives more feel than most BMWs’. Comparisons aside, Kia built something that…

Makita XSC02Z WEIGHT: 6.4 lb DEPTH OF CUT: 2 1/8 inches LIKES: Compact and powerful, the Makita was the only saw that made it through twoinch conduit—and with a little room to spare. Its spindle lock is smooth and easy to use. DISLIKES: We’re nitpicking, but there is a bit of a recoil with when you pull the trigger. $199 (tool only) A/Bosch CSM180-01 WEIGHT: 6.4 lb DEPTH OF CUT: 1 15/16 inches LIKES: Easy handling, lightweight, and compact, the Bosch sailed through everything we put in front of it, from thick-walled pipe to heavy plate. And it has a convenient hanging hook. DISLIKES: It is the only option without a front handle. While that can mean improved sight lines and reduced weight, we prefer a two-handle saw. $380 B/DeWalt…

THE CAT CAME with my girlfriend, who brought the most basic of litter boxes: an ugly plastic dome. I couldn’t handle looking at such an unattractive thing. We needed something better. My friend Amanda is an artist, and she connected me to a Brooklyn woodworker and artist she knew named Scott Chasse. Chasse had just started making birdhouses, but for cats. After talking to him, we decided we could tweak the design a little to make it perfect for my living room. And my cat, Pico. I sent him a simple schematic of what I was looking for. I wanted the tray of litter to rest directly against the walls of the box. That way the litter couldn’t spill out. We added vents to the design, too, for ventilation and…

WHEN THE HUBBLE Space Telescope launched in 1990, becoming the first truly powerful telescope not handicapped by interference from Earth’s atmosphere, there were nine known planets. In the entire universe. One of which would turn out not to be a planet. (Sorry, Pluto.) Today we know of about 3,700, and, while most weren’t found by Hubble, in retrospect it was the beginning of a sequence of missions, which NASA formalized as the Exoplanet Exploration Program in 2009 (planets outside our solar system are called extrasolar planets, or exoplanets for short), that are exploding our conception of how crowded space may be. Pending final preparation of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite will have departed Cape Canaveral by June. Smaller than a Smart car, it’s a modest…

askroy@popularmechanics.com @askroypm If I switch from bagging my grass clippings to mulching them, do I need a new blade? James C., Belmont, Massachusetts There are three basic blade types, and many hybrids: standard for side-discharging clippings, mulching for recirculating clippings back into the lawn, and high-lift for bagging. Blade shape, profile, and curvature on the blade’s back edge determine performance. At this point, manufacturers have engineered blades that handle two or three operations very well, if not perfectly. That way, if the homeowner does change his mind—as you have—in most cases he doesn’t need to also change his blade. Assuming your blade is sharp and balanced, many times all you need to do is adjust two variables on your mower: 1. Raise the deck to an appropriate level relative to…

Come Here Often? A compilation of excellent writing about bars, this book includes dives, music joints, and even a bar in Antarctica. Read it while you have whatever you’re having. Drink Like a Man The closest thing to a modern classic, by Ross McCammon and David Wondrich, this will set you straight on oldschool drinks and the tastiest ways to riff on them. Also: It contains plenty of booze history for lording over people at parties. The Flavor Bible Not a drinks book, per se, but very handy for determining which flavors go with which. “If you try something and you like it, it’s a cocktail,” says Weissert. “Cocktails come from somewhere, you know?”…

I PICKED IT up on a hot summer night, and tried the a/c. Not only did it not work, but the fan resistor blew out, and the cabin filled up with electrical smoke. Another time, the ignition switch failed in my driveway. Once, when I was driving to work, a pinhole leak in the transmission cooler bled pink fluid all over the windshield. There’s a quote I found on one of the forums: “Land Rover: Turning drivers into mechanics since 1948.” That’s the anti-charm of these trucks, the myriad potential electrical gremlins on obsolete out-of-production components. But it’s all worth it to have a classic three-ton four-wheel-drive head-turner. Mine is a short-wheelbase model, with old-fashioned coil springs, a factory brush guard, and a front hitch I had welded on so…

THE DANNER STRONGHOLD WORK BOOT Born from logging and exploration, Danner is a Pacific Northwest Original. Every boot is handmade to hold up in unforgiving conditions. The Stronghold work boot is what happens when more than 85 years of legendary quality, durability and heritage runs into modern construction, technology and materials. danner.com/stronghold NEW EDGE® 2-IN-1 SHAVE CREAM Hydrating formula, with 50% more moisturizers than traditional shave gels, conditions skin throughout your shave. www.edgeshave.com GET THE NEW HD MIRROR CAM™! Capture it all and never miss a thing with the HD Mirror Cam! Instantly turns your existing rearview mirror into a Dash Cam! Features include: Wide Angle lens - Motion detection - Night Vision-Instant Playback screen-Endless Loop Recording - and so much more! 1-800-355-0495 www.hdmirrorcam.com/PM…

PAGE 52 PAGES 54 – 55 PAGE 58 ALSO USE DON FRISCH’STRIP…

A ASTON MARTIN DB11 BEST FOR: A 1,000-mile drive to your highschool reunion $198,995 Did you know the Queen is descended from Germans? It’s true. Go back a couple generations on the royal family tree, you’re at the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. So don’t worry that Aston Martin turned to Mercedes-AMG for the DB11’s standard 4.0-liter V-8. But if you’re really bothered, there’s always Aston’s inhouse continent-inhaling 5.2-liter twin-turbo V-12, which makes 600 horsepower and emits a ripping warble that commingles thumping bass with a high-pitched feral shriek. When you’re just mellowing out, the DB is cosseting and smooth, just the thing for a long road trip. This is the rare supercar that can play understated but still do 200 mph. Roll in with a DB and your old…

The car you drive is serious business under a Detroit sky. And this Detroit sky roils, August weather set to sweep east over Lake Erie—hot gusts of dry wind, little pellets of rain, intermittent patches of blue visible behind the moving clouds, a nascent Rust Belt rain, bound for Cleveland, Buffalo, Rochester. All that hanging over the Chrysler – Jeep assembly plant on the southeast side of Detroit. The facility is banded on the outside by various parking lots, separated by high chain-link fencing. Some shift change must be near; employees approach from their parking lot, pairs and singletons, in T-shirts and jeans, wearing heavy boots, carrying little beyond an occasional zip-up lunch box or small cooler. But they walk with pace, and look surprisingly unweary. It brings to mind…

1/D-Link Wi-Fi water sensor Setup happens via an app and is quite simple. The device comes with a 1-foot 7-inch cord and the option of a 3-foot 4-inch extension, if you’re trying to protect something farther from an outlet. When it senses water, the D-Link has a 70-decibel alarm, which is hard to hear if you’re not in the next room. It also sends an immediate push alert to your phone, along with an email. $60 2/Zircon Leak Alert Wi-Fi It’s about the size of a point-and-shoot camera. When the two wire sensors are exposed to water, the device screams at you with a 105-decibel alarm, and sends an alert email to up to five addresses. The battery should last about a year. Setup is a little dated — instead…