Popular Mechanics articles from May 2004

Popular Mechanics archives from May 2004

The good old days.(Editor's Notes)
May 1, 2004... Enough about the classic car years of the '30s. golden years of the "50s. The muscle-Already discredited. If you're a car guy, are the good old days. Our comparison which kicks off on page 112, aqain--today's high-performance cars chewed up and...

Weapons and terrorists.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I am a concerned citizen who has generally supported the war on terrorism. Your article helps explain, and renew my support for, tax dollars spent on military R&D. Thank you. DEREK JONES LAYTON, UT I resent your use of the word...

Boating '04.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I enjoyed reading about the new wave of boats and motors for '04, but why do all the photos show these fancy boats traveling at top speed with the riders not wearing life vests? This is not good promotion for water safety. P.J. LAUTZ ...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
May 1, 2004... In the Spring 2004 issue of J.D. Power Car Guide, several of the paragraphs and charts in the article, "The Greenest," were improperly used and should have been attributed to The New York Times and author Jim Motavalli. We regret the error and...

Reader project of the month.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2004... I built this "wheeley" using two bicycle frames and a piece of auto tailpipe. My eldest son, Wes, did the welding and pipe bending. It has a 5-hp Briggs & Stratton engine, a 30-in. propeller and a handbrake. The wheeley is approximately 8 1/2...

Time machine.(items from old copies of Popular Mechanics)(Excerpt)
May 1, 2004... 100 Years Ago: May 1904 Barrels Of Fun In PM's Mechanics For Young America section was this story on building a barrel boat for sailing. The hull consisted of nothing more than a plank supported by wooden barrels at either end. An...

Electricity from the sea.(Technology Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Extracting energy from waves and tides is among man's most enduring technological daydreams. And like most dreams, it has failed to materialize. The problem is that the sea is a far harsher environment than most designers realize....

Atom rocket revived.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... After a 3-decade hiatus, the Los Alamos National Laboratory has restarted work on a nuclear-powered rocket. Engineers for the New Mexico lab say one will propel NASA's Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter mission to Europa. The ice-covered Jovian moon is...

Watery view of ancient Earth.(Tech Watch)(Atlantic Ocean hydrothermal vents)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A hydrothermal vent in the mid-Atlantic Ocean is giving scientists what they believe is a glimpse of the incubator that nurtured the earliest life on Earth. Known as the Lost City, the 18-story-tall vent emits chemically rich, heated...

Virtual Teleportation for meetings and interrogations.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Life-size 3D holograms that allow executives to virtually teleport themselves to distant business meetings via a standard ISDN line may soon be used to bring experts into interrogation cells to question suspected terrorists. James Stephens...

Cheap steam cleaning makes vegetables tastier, crispier.(Tech Watch)(Vapor-Flow system)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Before vegetables are frozen, they undergo blanching, which, among other things, helps preserve a fresh-picked glow. The process involves dipping cut vegetables into boiling water, then quickly cooling them. The downside of hot-water blanching...

Barn inspires steel house.(Tech Watch)(FACE Design develops building system)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... With their vaulted ceilings and expansive interiors, converted barns make luxurious homes. But old barns were built with what are now hard-to-find woods. "It didn't seem environmentally responsible to utilize heavy timber in a modern...

Old enemies collaborate on new plane.(Tech Watch)(Russia's Saratov Aviation Center)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... A flying saucer-shaped aircraft propelled by a "controlled tornado" is being jointly developed by Russia's Saratov Aviation Center and the U.S. Navy. The propulsion system uses a concept called vortex oscillation, which is rumored to have...

NASA will try solar sail.(Tech Watch)(Solaris sail)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... NASA will try to sail in space. After launch, the Inertial Stellar Compass mission will deploy a plastic sail that will be pushed by the pressure of sunlight. The Solaris sail provides a low-cost alternative to conventional propulsions, says...

Temporary heart pump builds health.(Tech Watch)(CardioWest introduces artificial heart)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Heart patients could soon get healthier while waiting for a donor organ. The Total Artificial Heart from CardioWest of Tucson, Ariz., restores normal blood pressure, thus relieving stress that damages the kidneys and liver.

Planet watch.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... * TEXAS A dust storm that swirled along parts of U.S. Highway 84, 20 miles southeast of Lubbock, is being blamed for a 30-car pileup that killed two and injured 11 on Feb. 19. * INDONESIA The rainy season, which runs from October to April...

Label tells customers when fruit is ripe.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Customers who squeeze fruit to test ripeness are an expensive problem for grocers who are left with bins of bruised produce. New Zealand scientists have discovered a more accurate and far gentler approach. It is a label that changes color...

Fume risk misjudged.(Tech Watch)(study measures solvent exposure)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The health risks associated with exposure to solvents and other organic compounds that evaporate at room temperature may be three times higher than previously estimated, according to a new study of indoor air by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg...

Building with lasers.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... In manufacturing, lasers normally cut away unwanted material. Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta have put laser light to a more constructive use. The microscopic chain shown above was created by using a laser beam to...

GPS heads for cover.(Tech Watch)(indoor positioning system)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Since the advent of GPS in the mid-1990s, engineers have wished for a similar system that could be used indoors to help, say, build large aircraft. Arc Second of Dulles, Va., has delivered on that dream with an indoor positioning system....

When stars collide, a galaxy gets a black eye.(Space Shots)(stellar collision in the M64 galaxy)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... NASA's soon-to-be-discarded Hubble Space Telescope has produced the most dramatic photo ever taken of the aftermath of a stellar collision in the M64 galaxy. A popular target for amateur astronomers, M64, also known as the Evil Eye of Black Eye...

Honda business jet takes off.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Honda has successfully completed initial flight tests of its latest compact, the Honda Jet business jet. In a break with typical industry practices, Honda is powering its 4-passenger, 2-crew aircraft with its own engine, designated the Honda...

Retiring the missiles that fought the Cold War.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Old generals may fade away, but old missiles go out in a blaze of glory. At the height of the Cold War, PM gave readers an inside look at the land-, air- and sub marine based legs of the nuclear triad that deterred Soviet aggression. Last...

Using sound to create the power of stars.(Tech Watch)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... When researchers first reported that it might be possible to produce useful amounts of energy with a technique called sonoluminescence, we were properly skeptical. The flap over cold fusion was still fresh in many people's minds. Yet, the...

Body armor takes a hit.(Materials)
May 1, 2004... When I hear the buzz phrase "improvised explosive device," I think of this kid I knew growing up. He was fascinated with explosives. One day while packing match heads into a pipe, he blasted a fist-size hole in his thigh. It ended happily...

Open-door policy.(Legislation)
May 1, 2004... Picture a pristine wilderness, a majestic landscape, a magnificent lake. Now, take the same scene and plaster it with "Keep Out" and "No Anything signs. It's the ongoing tug of war between the folks who want to enjoy the great outdoors...

Musical computers.(Computers)
May 1, 2004... Aspiring rock stars are mixing and performing their own songs as they always have, but instead of making a scratchy demo tape in their garage, they're making slick professional-quality CDs using middleto high-end computer systems and...

Think small.(Computers)(IBM ThinkPad X40)(Product/Service Evaluation)
May 1, 2004... The other day, a small package arrived from IBM. Inside was a box that resembled a ThinkPad notebook. Inside that, I found keyboard made of chocolate with a note that read, "Sweet news from IBM: ThinkPad's been dieting. Our loss is your gain....

World's largest gun.(Weapons)
May 1, 2004... For sheer firepower, it's hard to imagine anything outgunning the planet-killing Death Star from the "Star Wars" movies. Not for lack of trying, though. Since the first catapults and cannons took aim, the search has been on for guns that can...

2005 Chrysler 300C and Dodge magnum.(New Cars)
May 1, 2004... Chrysler and Dodge are going back, way back. Back decades. It has been Nearly 20 years since Either brand has had a passenger car with a V8 engine and rear-wheel drive. Well, for 2005 this once traditional combo has returned in the Chrysler...

2004 Volkswagen R32.(New Cars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Volkswagen will dip its roe into the youth-oriented tuner market with the R32, a high-performance version of the Golf 2-door. Sporting 18-in. alloy wheels, special body cladding and a muscular 240-hp 3.2-liter V6 engine, the R32 will be sold...

2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible.(New Cars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... There's more funk and more fun to be had in Chrysler's PT Cruiser. For those who prefer wind-in-the-hair good times, there's now a PT Cruiser Convertible. And it's the lowest-priced 4-passenger convertible on the market at $19,995. After...

2004 BMW R 1200 GS.(New Cars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... BMW's new lightweight R 1200 GS has a bigger, smoother, more powerful engine, a nav system, completely new electronics, frame and luggage, and, oh yes, a new look. The bike's engine is enlarged to 1170cc by a 2.5mm increase in stroke (now...

2004 Yamaha R1.(New Cars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Yamaha's new top of the line 379-pound R1 sportbike has more horsepower than Ford's SVT Focus--173, to be exact. In fact, the new R1 is the most powerful sportbike you can buy. Its heart is a 20-valve 998cc 4-cylinder engine. It's more...

2006 Chevrolet Roadster.(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Chevrolet has plans for a small 2-seat roadster similar in size and layout to the Pontiac Solstice. As yet unnamed, the new vehicle will be built on the same Kappa chassis that GM has assigned to the Saturn Curve, Chevy Nomad and Solstice. This...

2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Look for Chevrolet to perform a major facelift on the Monte Carlo for the 2005 model year. However, you can expect that the car's NASCAR-inspired profile will be kept intact. Up front, the grille will consist of an air intake that's larger and...

2005 Jeep Cherokee.(Detroit Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Here's another look at the 2005 Jeep Cherokee undergoing real-world testing. But thanks to very thorough camouflage, you can't see much in the way of new sheetmetal. Still, Jeep's trademark 6-bar grille is visible behind the mesh in front. And...

2005 Volkswagen Touareg.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Partly in response to requests largely from the huge base of buyers in North America, Volkswagen is planning a longer-wheelbase version of the Touareg SUV. Stretched about 8 in., the bigger truck will have room for a third row of seats. This...

That seventies car! The way we were.
May 1, 2004... The way we remember the Seventies, and we were there, it was all about finding yourself and personal expression and letting it all hang out. When it came to clothes, that meant striped bell-bottoms, leather vests and platform shoes. When it...

2006 Porsche 911.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Despite recent introductions and rumors of different kinds of vehicles, Porsche continues to refine its core product, the 911 series sports cars. Shown here is an undisguised 2006 model, known internally as the 997. Scheduled to replace the...

2005 Land Rover Discovery.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Clearly influenced by the Range Rover's styling, the Land Rover has abandoned its distinctive 2-plane roof and theater-style rear seating to give the Discovery replacement a sleeker look. And in a nod to civility, the spare tire has migrated...

2005 BMW 7 Series.(Europe Spy Report)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The father of the current controversial styling at BMW, Chris Bangle, has recently been promoted up and out of the day-to-day business of designing new cars. However, before he took on his new job, he oversaw the redesign of the Munich-based...

Now that's a hot rod.(Jay Leno's Garage)
May 1, 2004... All of my car-owning buddies used to kid me because I never had a real hot rod. Well, a little over a year ago, a guy named Randy Grubb showed up at my garage. He was hauling a trailer with a car on it that he and a pal of his, Mike Leeds, had...

1. MotoVoom.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Motorola's newest accessory is the V600, a sleek, attractive flip phone with Bluetooth wireless capability. The phone includes a camera, Multi-media Messaging Service and always-on Internet access. Not only can you take images, but you can also...

2. Just do it.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
May 1, 2004... If you need to fix anything around the house, Popular Mechanics Complete Home How-To is the gold standard reference on the subject. One of the most complete and up-to-date DIY guides ever published, the 528--page book covers every area of...

3. Water Scooter.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Yamaha ups the performance of its flagship WaveRunner with the FX High Output. A new 4-stroke engine cranks out 160 ponies. The power is put to the water via a new, more efficient pump that increases stream velocity and thrust while decreasing...

4. Free poster.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Here is one great poster. It shows 100 of POPULAR MECHANICS'S best covers, one from each of the first 100 years of PM's existence. It measures 11 x 17 in. and is suitable for framing. And it's free. To receive a poster, simply send PM a...

5. Compound interest.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... When you shop for a compound miter saw, put Hitachi's 10-in. C10FSB on your list. The 43-pound saw is equipped with a 10-in. blade and cuts 45[degrees] on the left and 57[degrees] on the right. Its bevel capacity, left and right, is...

Branch office.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... For light-duty work or small jobs such as removing a single branch, it's pretty hard to beat electric tools for fast and efficient work. That's why we like the Homelite 18-volt cordless pruning kit. In it you have a 10-in. chain saw, an 18-in....

Fun box.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... If you like to sleep with your toys, check out the new GearBOX LSV (Lifestyle Support Vehicle). It is a towable trailer with a fold-down ramp door that will haul your toys (ATVs, motorcycles, snowmobiles, etc.) to remote locations and give you...

Zipperfree.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Reducing a tent to the bare minimum, the Vela featherweight solo tent replaces the traditional entrance zipper with a slide system. The entrance opens and closes by sliding up and along Vela's one and only pole. Setup takes 1 minute. Just slide...

Putt out.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... One sound you won't hear is "putt-putt" with the new Briggs & Stratton outboard. That's because the 3-hp motor is electric powered. Something else you won't find is a high price tag. At $1798 for the tiller version and $1898 for the remote...

Daring duo.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... One small step for Sony, one giant step for digital warriors everywhere. If you love your Memory Stick--the Sony media for use in digital devices such as cellphones, digital cameras and digital audio players--you'll go gaga over the new Memory...

Doozer of a cruiser.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Formula packs lots of features into its new 34 PC Performance Cruiser. The U-shaped lounge accommodates the entire crew for intimate entertainment. A design-integrated wet bar is always within convenient reach, and 16 cupholders means there's...

Lawndry bag.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Spring is an ideal time to seed bare ground, but crabgrass can get a foothold before the grass even starts. Now you can prevent crabgrass while hastening seed growth with Scotts Starter Fertilizer plus Crabgrass Preventer--a product that can be...

It's a bird, it's a plane.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Yes, but what kind of plane? The "Plane Spotter" military aircraft identification guide provides the answer. The guide contains photos, descriptions, and spec lists that give each plane's use, branch of service, manufacturer, speed, range and...

Take a whirl.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Here's just the thing to liven up dull office meetings or family gatherings or to just scare the cat. The Vectron Ultralite flying saucer lifts off and flies without wires or tethers, Just point the infrared controller (similar to your TV...

Porta-basket.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... If you thought you couldn't take basketball with you because your hoop is firmly attached to your garage, think again. Monster Basketball is a new twist on an old game--and you can pack it up and play it anywhere. The inflatable basket goal...

Cut and fun.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... One way to make lawn cutting more attractive is to make the job fun. The Ariens Sport-Zoom 1232 is a 12-hp, 32-in. riding mower with dual hydrostatic transmissions. The machine looks like there's nothing to it, but it weighs a bit under 500...

Power grab.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... If your backup power needs are extreme, you might consider this permanently installed Kohler generator. Powered by a 56-hp liquid-cooled Kohler engine, the setup can produce up to 30 kilowatts. Better yet, it does so while operating at 65...

Hydromatic.(Great Stuff)
May 1, 2004... Outboard engine shift levers are sometimes difficult to use--especially when long cable runs are involved. Mechanical connections to the throttle also can result in power fluctuations. The PowerShift PB electronically connects shift and...

Our very own field of dreams: the first of a two-part series about the rebuilding of a Little League baseball field.(special advertising section)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2004... A baseball field sits among the trees. An oasis of green in an otherwise urban landscape, a place where people--children--can go to get away from the crime, the bustle and the many, many ways there are to find trouble. There's just one...

WD-40.(The Goods)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... WD-40, used on everything from automobiles to industrial equipment, is now easier to use on large surface areas. The new WD-40 Big Blast Can, available at major retailers, provides an easier way to deliver product quickly and efficiently. A...

eBay Motors.(The Goods)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... eBay Motors is among the world's largest automotive marketplaces, providing a uniquely valuable combination of value, selection and security to those who use it. Every month over 10 million visitors use eBay Motors to research, buy and...

Weber.(The Goods)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... The Weber[R] Style Professional-Grade tool set features a stainless steel chef's tong, spatula and barbecue fork. The tong has an easy-grip handle with a locking mechanism, the barbecue fork is great for lifting large cuts of meat from the...

Go RVing.(The Goods)(Recreational vehicles)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Starting at about $4,000, a new RV can help you go where you want, when you want. And if you've seen a recent-model, you know that many RVs offer optional state-of-the-art amenities: flat-screen TVs, slide out rooms and spacious full bathrooms....

Wolverine Boots and Shoes. They don't quit.(The Goods)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Comfort and performance this is what the Wolverine Boots and Shoes customer expects and gets from all footwear and apparel that bears the Wolverine brand name. Since 1883, Wolverine has crafted tough, dependable and comfortable footwear that...

Atomic Wings: a new mini-reactor revives the dream of a nuclear-powered aircraft.(Aviation)
May 1, 2004... After more than six decades of research, the first atom-powered airplane is cleared for takeoff. Although details of the project remain classified, a description of this remarkable aircraft has begun to emerge from technical conferences and...

Get ready for HDR: high definition radio delivers the clearest signal to your car's sound system.(Audio)
May 1, 2004... TV is doing it. Cellphones have made the transition, Music players, cameras and binoculars have taken the plunge, New U.S. radio stations are finally stepping into the Digital Age, and radio has never sounded better. The party line is that...

Bad day at mission control: from the beginning, the Mars rover mission was plagued by bad luck. Then disaster struck.(Space)
May 1, 2004... Jennifer Trosper has a nervous habit. When things get tense, the perpetually composed NASA Mission Manager begins chewing on the end of her pen. And things don't get tenser than this. Mission control has cryptically announced that Mars Explorer...

Acceleration nation 2: now, street cars that run 12-second quarter-miles.(Comparison Test)
May 1, 2004... Last time we checked, the United States of America didn't have an autobahn of an autostrada or any road with a speed limit higher than 75 mph. Sure, the rest of the world may care if a car can bit 150 mph. But not us. Here in the good old U.S....

Technology in the dugout: baseball strategy is changing as managers and coaches rely more heavily on information rather than intuition.(Sports Science)
May 1, 2004... Decisions in the dugout have come a long way since the days of the 15-cent ballpark hot dog. No longer is it a simple matter of just going down the roster to select a righthand hitter to face a southpaw on the mound. The information revolution...

Mechanics of the fast ball: it's still the best pitch in baseball and the pitcher's ultimate weapon.(Sports Science)
May 1, 2004... With a 3-run lead going into the bottom of the eight in Game 5 of the 2003 American League Championship Series, no one was the least bit surprised when New York Yankees manager Joe Torre called on closer Mariano Rivera to come in and shut down...

Log on: we put seven chain saws to the test.(Comparison Test)
May 1, 2004... A tree, or even a large branch, that falls and blocks your driveway can be a major inconvenience, to put it mildly. It also can be downright expensive to have someone come and remove it, and they may not be able to come when you need them. That...

New Holland TC30 utility tractor.(Test)
May 1, 2004... Recently, New Holland introduced a tractor called the TC30 that promises more power and capability for less money than its competition. We decided to try one out for a long-term test and pass on the results to you. Like most tractors in...

Review: how to build a better house.(Home Journal)(JLC Field Guide To Residential Construction, A Manual Of Best Practice)(Brief Article)(Book Review)
May 1, 2004... A book, like a house, is only as good as what you put into it. And that's what makes this book excellent. It's the collective experience of many construction professionals, not the opinions of a single author. The book is published by the...

Installing siding: do the job yourself and save a bundle.(Home Improvement)
May 1, 2004... Siding is a highly visible product, so when it fails, it's hard to ignore. And, it fails with some regularity. All siding products have inherent weaknesses, and if the materials haven't been installed and maintained properly, you can expect...

Deep wells.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... What is the difference between deep and shallow wells as far as their typical depths and the pumping apparatus that is used for each? Also, what is the average depth of wells that drillers are producing these days? JERRY FUCH VIA INTERNE...

Intermittent air conditioner.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... On very hot days the compressor on my central air conditioner will turn on for a few seconds then shut off, but the blower coil fan continues to run and the thermostat shows that the system is operating. I've installed a new thermostat, which...

Review: help with traditional stucco.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Applying traditional 3-coat portland cement stucco is a skill that is rapidly vanishing. Still, we see value in stucco because when properly applied it looks great and it comes as close to being permanent as any building material can be. The...

Get the water off.(Service tip: masonry)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... Bleed water rises to the top of a concrete slab after it is poured. Some water will always rise to the surface, even if just enough to give the concrete an attractive sheen. Standing water, however, is a sign of trouble, and it must be removed...

Rising butt hinges.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... I live in a very old house. Because some of the floors are uneven, I would like to replace the door hinges with rising butt hinges. Do you know where I can purchase these hinges? Thank you for your help. BOB REINSTEIN VIA INTERNET For...

Leaking refrigerator.(Homeowners Clinic)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... When I removed the bottom drawers of my refrigerator to wash them, I was shocked to see a quarter-inch of water standing in the bottom of the refrigerator cabinet I sponged the water out and checked it again a few weeks later, only to find that...

Crazy.(Auto Clinic)(damaged headlights)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2004... I took my 2-year-old car into the shop last week for diagnosis of a bad alternator. Both headlights looked fine when I dropped it off. But when I picked it up, the plastic headlamp lens on the driver's side was hazed over and cracked, like they...