Popular Mechanics articles from December 2007

Popular Mechanics archives from December 2007

Renaissance readers.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When I saw your cover story ("25 Skills Every Man Should Know," Oct. '07), I was hoping it would be a challenge and that there would be a new skill I needed to learn to be a "skillful man." I went through your 25...

PM for all.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Don't think your magazine is just for middle-aged guys who love gadgets. I'm 25, and I think POPULAR MECHANICS is awesome--to the point where I just ordered my father a subscription, so I can share my nerdiness with someone. Keep up the good...

Check the web.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Well, my issue of PM just arrived in the mail, so until I read it from cover to cover, I'll be useless for anything else. I wish you could publish an issue every week. I've been reading PM for years, and will for years to come. DAVE ELROD...

Affordable flying.(LETTERS)(Letter to the editor)
December 1, 2007... Thank you for the article about the Glasair plane ("Barnstorming the Yukon in a Hand-Built Plane," Oct. '07). I subscribe to aviation magazines, but none seem to mention the cheaper alternatives to airplane ownership like you guys do. PAUL...

Correction.(LETTERS)(Correction notice)
December 1, 2007... In the November issue we improperly identified SafeTouch Fiberglass-Free Insulation, made by the Dow Chemical Company. The insulation won a POPULAR MECHANICS 2007 Breakthrough Award.

How to tie a bowline.(LETTERS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I think a few basic knots could have been included, like a bowline, a clove hitch and three half hitches. Items that could have been skipped to make room for knots are hooking up an HDTV or extending a wireless...

Scrap-yard cybernetics.(TECH WATCH: NEWS + TRENDS + BREAKTHROUGHS)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... TODAY'S PROSTHETICS are medical miracles, controlled by impulses from the user's own muscles. But a myoelectric hand can cost $35,000 and up, far too much for many amputees around the world. So when a team of students at ITESO Graduate School...

Waiters beware.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A restaurant in Germany has unveiled a Rube Goldberg-style contraption that provides table service with no waiters. Patrons order from a touchscreen display at their table, which also provides real-time updates on...

Drug ooze.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... By testing half a teaspoon of sewage, researchers at Oregon State University can track a community's pattern of drug use. A 10-city study found that cocaine use peaks on weekends, and that methamphetamine was popular in an urban area with a...

Emissions-free research.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A research facility that will be built in Antarctica starting in January (artist sketch, left) aims to be the first "zero-emission" station on the continent. During the summer months when the base is in use, more...

Magnetic cool.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Danish researchers have built a fridge that uses magnets to cool its contents. Putting magnetic materials into a magnetic field causes them to emit heat, and removing them leads to cooling. The fridge works by...

The sun is my co-pilot.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In another giant leap for robot-kind, the record for the longest-duration unmanned flight appears to have been shattered by a lightweight aircraft called the Zephyr. Its 59-ft. wingspan is covered in paper-thin solar...

Cellphone dead zone.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cellphones are hazardous to your health after all--in a few specific circumstances. A study of 61 medical devices showed that close proximity to a phone with Web-surfing capabilities can cause electromagnetic...

Hybrids go to war: the army's latest weapon is an unlikely milestone--the world's first hybrid electric howitzer.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... THERE ARE LOTS OF ECO-FRIENDLY reasons to switch to a hybrid. And then there's the Army, which has announced that its entire family of Manned Ground Vehicles (MGV) will use a new hybrid electric drivetrain, starting with the Non-Line-of-Sight...

Time machine: September 1933.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN 1933, PASSENGER trains were on the skids: Ridership was down; profits were shrinking. That year, PM reported on a proposed super-train that would use "advanced methods of streamlining to reduce resistance to the...

Tether forecast: energy-efficient tethers could provide cheap transit between earth and space. If only they worked.(TECH WATCH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ONE MAN'S FAILURE IS ANOTHER'S partial success. The latter is how scientists described the premature release of a small capsule tethered to a satellite this past September, A collaboration between the European and...

Robots to the rescue: they haven't sliced open any humans yet, but autonomous surgeons might be closer than you think.(TECH WATCH)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] IF A ROBOT SURGEON is treating you, your life is in danger. That's not due to any machine-borne malice, but because current research into autonomous surgery is focused on battlefield casualties barely clinging to...

PM//wish list 2008: the season of shameless gear coveting is upon us. From classic tools to sheer gadgetry, here's our annual most-wanted list.(UPGRADE)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ///YAMAHA FX CRUISER SHO ($12,800) Statistics lie, and so do personal watercraft specs. Yes, this three-seat cruiser has an engine that's 300cc larger and 45 pounds lighter than its nearest competitor and a hull that...

Automotive Excellence Awards 2008.
December 1, 2007... It's a tough job and we love to do it. Each year, the POPULAR MECHANICS automotive department test drives just about every new vehicle on the market--and even a few that won't be available for six months or more. In fact, we spend most of our...

Mini Monster PC: we put together a custom minicomputer, then attached it to a humongous hard drive, and you can win the whole shebang.(EXTREME FREEBIE)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EACH December, when we design and build a custom computer to give away in PM's Monster PC Sweepstakes. we pose the question: What can we do to make this harder for ourselves? So this year we decided to make two...

Wildlife forensics: a crime lab for protected species takes on a case of poisoned meatballs--and stops a wolf homicide.(SCIENCE)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FROST CLINGS TO Idaho's Salmon-Challis National Forest when, one February morning, Tony Latham and Scott Bragonier follow a trail of boot prints through the snow. Latham kneels and examines a small hole--one of many...

Fast track: with airports and highways more congested than ever, new train technologies have the potential technologies have the potential to resurrect the age of rail.(Cover story)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NESTLED BETWEEN the seaside bluffs of Southern California's Torrey Pines and the concrete arteries of Interstate 5 is the low-profile campus of General Atomics, home to the only magnetic levitation, or maglev, train...

Know your footprint: waste: smart strategies for putting a lid on household garbage.
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PARTWAY THROUGH CLEANING her Austin, Texas, home last spring, Ashley Menger encountered an eco-riddle: How do you throw away all old garbage can? "I left it by the curb for days, but the garbagemen wouldn't take it,"...

Heavy haulers: a four-wheel-drive diesel pickup is the only tool you need to move the heaviest loads.(COMPARISON TEST)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If there's a massive load that needs to be moved in this country, few vehicles can handle the job better than a heavy-duty diesel pickup. These trucks are built specifically--and unapologetically--for work. And,...

The treasure hunters: with high-tech gear and old-school diving, the company founded by America's salvage king finds Spanish gold in Florida waters.(Mel Fisher's Treasures)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE DIVE LADDER BOUNCES UP AND DOWN In the offshore surge. We're hanging on tight, fighting the current, nearly deafened by the roar of the boat's diesel engine. It's revved high to send powerful jets of water down...

[H.sub.2] fuel cell land speed record setter.(How It Works)
December 1, 2007... RACING HAS ALWAYS driven automotive innovation. By building better race cars, automakers are ultimately able to deliver better production cars. So, in 2005, when students at the Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research approached...

Shape-shifters: woodworking's most versatile tool is even better with interchangeable bases. We test seven top router kits.(DIY HOME: CUTTING PLASTIC + REPLACING A LIGHT SWITCH)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In the old days, every well-equipped shop had an assortment of wooden planes, each made to cut a different molding or joint. Enter the compact electric motor, and it wasn't long before those many tools were replaced...

Flip the switch: don't put up with a failed switch or one that's ugly. Change it.(HOME: HOME JOURNAL)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... There aren't many building components you can replace for about 60 cents, yet that's all you'll pay for the simplest kind of switch-a single-pole model. All the more reason to replace the device when it's old and discolored, has been broken by...

A quick fix in 5 steps.(HOME: HOME JOURNAL)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] (1) Remove Loosen each terminal screw and remove the hooked wire from beneath the screwhead. Take off: the switch and bend each wire out of the way. Vacuum out the box if it's dirty, and check that the electrical...

Dodging basement disaster.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q We had a major rainstorm that flooded our basement--with sewage. Now that we've got things cleaned up and dry, I'm wondering how far to take the repairs. I've already removed the bottom half of the drywall. Should...

Cutting plastic sheet.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q I want to make a table cover from 1A-in.-thick clear plastic. I cut the straight part by scoring and breaking it, but I'm having difficulty cutting curves on the corners. I've tried using a coping saw and a file. Neither worked well. Any...

Magnetic attraction.(HOME: HOMEOWNERS CLINIC)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It took me years to realize how useful magnets can be around the house and shop. Now I keep several handy. I started out using magnetic dishes for small parts when I worked on cars or my lawnmower, but now I use them...

Blocking gable vents.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q My house has large gable end vents. With cold weather arriving, I'm thinking about blocking them to reduce heat loss. Should I? A Bad idea. The best way to prevent heat loss is to add insulation and foam-seal gaps in the wall framing...

3 steps to a better laundry room.(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... SIMPLE CHANGES MAKE IT QUIETER AND EASIER TO MAINTAIN.--R.B. 1 USE RIGID VENT Wherever possible, use a rigid aluminum dryer vent instead of a flexible aluminum vent because it won't restrict airflow as much, and it's less likely to clog...

Diagnosing a well pump woe.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q When we use water, the gauge on our well's storage tank shows the pressure rapidly rising and falling. This makes it difficult to use our water system. We dug up the pump, but it wasn't leaking, nor were any of its connections. Can you help?...

Fighting funky odors.(HOMEOWNERS CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q Shortly after moving in, we took up our carpet, hoping to find hardwood floors, but discovered funky-smelling particleboard. I'm concerned the odor will come through after we put new carpet down. Will carpet underlayment keep the odor in? If...

Repairing power windows.(AUTO: SATURDAY MECHANIC)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Another tollbooth beckons. It's a perfect time to practice slam-dunking quarter into the basket. Coin in hand, you toggle the power window switch. The window snakes its way open a good 3 in.--and then grunts to a...

Where's that car?(CAR CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q Can you resolve a long-standing disagreement I have with my father about rearview mirrors.'? He insists on adjusting them so that he can see only his own rear fenders in the outside mirrors. I like to set them so I can just see the edge, not...

Mechanical lock.(CAR CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q I have a Jeep Wagoneer. The mechanic was trying to test the electric fuel pump, applying 12 volts direct from a battery to the terminals of the pump lying on the ground outside the fuel tank. Another mechanic was cranking the engine while a...

He said, she said.(CAR CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q I have a question about fuel economy. If you are driving downhill, do you save gas by putting your transmission in Neutral and coasting, instead of having your vehicle in Drive? I think that you do but my wife seems to disagree. Can you give...

Vision quest.(CAR CARE TIP)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A friend was driving me around last week and complained that the windows were taking too long to clear. So, I just pushed the button on his dash to use fresh air instead of recirculated air. He said that didn't make...

Brighter idea.(CAR CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q I have a new SUV. Both brake lights and the high-mounted center brake light come on when I step on the brakes. But the light on the driver's side is very dim. I would say it is about half as bright as the right-side one. I have tried cleaning...

Cracking the code.(CAR CLINIC: Q + A)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q The battery in my Daewoo died last Monday and I had the car towed to a local auto repair place. Ever since the battery replacement, if the radio is turned on, it shows "COD" on the display and won't play anything. I have gone to three auto...

Ground effects.(DIY TECH)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q I just got a new surround-sound .system with a powered subwoofer. Every time I turn oft the receiver, the subwoofer hums, and I have to turn it off manually. How can I find out what s causing this? A A variety...

Old antenna, new tricks.(DIY TECH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q I'm getting a new HDTV, and have no intention of signing up with either cable or satellite if I don't have to. I see new HDTV antennas advertised. Do I need one of these to receive HD signals or will my old roof antenna work? A Not only...

Know your huge hard drives: everyone needs a backup plan, but not everyone needs the same kind.(DIY TECH)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EXTERNAL DRIVE Price: $70 to $500 Capacity: 80GB to 1.STB The most affordable option, these drives link to one computer at a time using USB, FireWire, eSATA or all three. Most models (such as the Maxtor...

Wi-Fi with a little help from my friends.(DIY TECH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q When I set up my wireless network, my computer gave me the option of setting up an "ad hoc" network. What is this and what would I use it for? A "Ad hoc" is a method by which multiple wirelessly enabled devices may communicate without...

Mice without tails.(DIY TECH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q When shopping for a wireless mouse, I noticed that some mice use Bluetooth, and others use non-Bluetooth radiofrequencies. Is one technology preferable to the other? A Many modern laptops have Bluetooth built in, which makes a Bluetooth...

DisplayPort.(EMERGING TECH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Now that you've traded in all your analog cords for expensive DVI and HDMI digital cables to workwith your new AV and computer equipment, you'll be less than thrilled to learn that another video standard is coming next year. Recently certified...

Calling all cars.(DIY TECH)(Brief article)
December 1, 2007... Q When I place my cellphone in the cupholder of my car, I sometimes hear a clicking noise through my stereo speakers. What am I hearing and why does it happen? A That noise is your cellphone communicating with the local tower, either to...