Popular Mechanics articles from November 2004

Popular Mechanics archives from November 2004

Man the tool user.(Editor's Notes)
November 1, 2004... LIKE a lot of PM readers, I bet, I spent Labor Day weekend visiting relatives. And, probably also like a lot of PM readers, I spent a good part of that weekend puttering around their house. I installed a fewbroom hooks in a stairwell, replaced...

Traction patrol.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... Your article "Push Or Pull" in the September issue ignored an important factor in choosing a car: How does rear-wheel drive compare with front-wheel drive in hilly, snowy country? My guess is that various stability and traction control devices...

Air Leno.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... As a retired water quality biologist, I appreciated Jay Leno's discussion of the dangers of cleaning solvents [day Leno's Garage, September]. However, dumping ultrasonic cleaning solution (water) on the driveway or down the drain still can harm...

Reader project of the month.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2004... I built this motorized bicycle for my son. I cut and rewelded the frame to allow space for the 1 1/2-hp Briggs & Stratton engine [salvaged from a lawnmower). I mounted a centrifugal clutch and a sprocket to the driveshaft. A drive chain...

Can't be too thin.(50 Years Ago (November 1954))(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... This 1954 article predicted that televisions would be thin enough to "hang on the wall like paintings" as early as 1964. Instead, TVs grew bulkier and less elegant, until downward trends in design and culture bottomed out in the 1970s, with...

Making SUVS look good.(25 Years Ago (November 1979))(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... In the 1970s, gas prices were skyrocketing, setting off inflation and fueling a drive to decrease Americans' reliance on fossil fuels. In this 1979 issue of PM, the rage was all things solar, including this 15-mph "sun car" designed by British...

Best thing since.(75 years ago (November 1929))(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sliced bread--it's the crowning achievement of modern life to which all other innovations are compared. But when did this feat of culinary mechanics first grace breakfast tables? In 1929, PM reported on "ready-sliced loaves of bread" that "come...

Early call.(100 Years Ago (November 1904))(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... The idea of what we would call the videophone was kicked around as early as 1904, when PM reported on J.B. Fowler's camera phone. It's doubtful the "combination of wires, lenses and discs" worked, as neither Fowler nor his device was ever heard...

Going downhill fast.(Tech Watch)(Extreme Gravity Racing Series)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... "EVERY car designer," says Volvo's Doug Frasher, "has built a soapbox racer, or wanted to build one. In late August designers from six companies got to fulfill those childhood dreams in the second annual Extreme Gravity Racing Series in Irvine,...

How the brain turns fuel into thoughts.(Tech Watch)(Cornell University)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... IMPROVED brain imaging techniques have solved the mystery of what type of fuel the brain uses when people think. "Scientists have passionately debated whether the activated brain burns glucose completely to water or incompletely to lactate,"...

Genetic origin of psoriasis.(Tech Watch)(University of Sheffield)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BIOLOGISTS have in their crosshairs the gene responsible for causing psoriasis. A study at the University of Sheffield in England has linked susceptibility to the chronic inflammatory rash, which afflicts as many as one in 20 Caucasians, to two...

First jet-powered glider.(Tech Watch)(AliSport)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... VISITORS to the Silent Wings Airshow at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri couldn't believe their ears when Bob Carlton screamed by in his glider. The Silent Club flown by the veteran Albuquerque, N.M., aerial performer had sprouted a...

Light bursts hold parts in place.(Tech Watch)(Edward De Meter)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... LIGHT will do the work of clamps in the machine shop of the future. Edward De Meter, a professor at Pennsylvania State University in University Park, has developed a clamping system that uses light to attach and detach parts during grinding and...

And a side order of humor.(Dubious Advances)(Anrakutei)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... JAPAN'S Anrakutei barbecue restaurant chain has an amusing new addition on its menu: videotaped comedians who crack jokes as they take your order. Roughly the size of the jukeboxes found in booths in American diners, the "PLUS e" ordering...

First images of nanobending.(Tech Watch)(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE nanorealm is not only smaller, it is also very different. Consider something as simple as bending metal. Coarse-grained metals bend when part of a grain slips past another. "The process has been compared to moving a rug by flapping one end...

Dogfight upset.(Tech Watch)
November 1, 2004... "WE may not be as far ahead of the rest of the world as we once thought," Air Force Chief of Air Combat Command Gen. Hal Homburg candidly admitted to the press after his pilots were trounced by Indian aviators during the "Cope India 04"...

Virtual clay on a PC.(Tech Watch)(State University of New York)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE most natural tool for an artist is his hand. Building on that observation, Thenkurussia Kesavadas and Ameya Kamerkar of the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo developed a glove that turns hand motions into 3D computer images of...

Smallest fish.(Tech Watch)(Harold J. Walker)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... HAROLD J. Walker knew he was looking at a new species when he first put the tiny fish collected off Australia's Great Barrier Reef under the microscope in his tab at The Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) in San Diego. "At the time I...

Visualizing deadly genes.(War On Cancer)(Ethan Bier)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... EACH of us carries genes that have the potential to turn normal cells cancerous. Understanding the sequence of events that causes good cells to go bad may hold the key to earlier and more complete cures. Ethan Bier, a professor of biology at...

NASA goes nuclear.(Tech Watch)(National Aeronautics & Space Administration)
November 1, 2004... FOR the first time in four decades, NASA has firm plans to launch a nuclear reactor. To put its Prometheus plan into action, the space agency, along with the Department of Energy (DOE), has devised a spacecraft and proposed a mission. ...

Going deep: a next-generation Alvin submersible will take ocean exploration to new depths.(Science)
November 1, 2004... IT was cold. It was cramped," Monterey Bay Aquarium biologist Randy Koehevar says, recalling the ride he will never forget. An expert on deep-sea marine life, Koehevar had won a prized spot aboard the Alvin submersible for a trip into the...

Grandly go anywhere: Jeep revamps the Grand Cherokee and takes it to a new level.(Automotive)(Jeep Eagle Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Every Jeep, since the very first Willys MB, has been designed to dominate any off-road challenge--from the red rocks of Moab to the gumbo mud of Louisiana. The all-new '05 Grand Cherokee is no exception. The big step forward is that now there's...

Another Swedish first, at last: Volvo enlists help to stay competitive in the luxury SUV market.(Automotive)(sport utility vehicle)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FOR the first time in its 77-year history, Volvo will offer a V8 engine. It was mandated by the company's top brass in an attempt to have more people view its XC90 crossover as a worthy competitor to the likes of the BMW X5, Mercedes-Benz...

Join the party.(Detroit: spy report)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FORD Motor Co. executives keep saying that Mercury will be reinvigorated and will not simply be a copy of big brother Ford. Yet, here's a look at a still-to-be-named '06 model that's heavily based on the Ford Freestyle. The differences lie...

In command.(Detroit: spy report)(Jeep Eagle Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... JEEP will have a totally new vehicle as its flagship in 2007. Named the Commander, it shares much of its engineering with Dodge Durango. But the Jeep's upright windshield and side glass tell us this is not a Dodge. The square shape leads to...

Fusion power.(Detroit: spy report)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FORD will introduce a midsize sedan named Fusion in 2006. The all-new car fits below the Five Hundred and above the Focus in the lineup. Look for this front-drive five-passenger car to eventually replace the Taurus, though the decision on that...

Carving a path forward: more power, more room, better ride for the new Pathfinder.(Automotive)(Nissan Motor Corporation U.S.A.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... AFTER nearly 19 years and 900,000 sold, Pathfinder is Nissan's oldest and best-selling SUV nameplate. For 2005, Nissan's stalwart gets a ground-up makeover. Sitting on what amounts to a narrowed and shortened version of the Nissan Armada...

The Shel game.(Detroit: spy report)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... FORD needs to build another car on the GT's expensive architecture to offset costs. The Shelby GR-1 would be a perfect successor once the GT goes out of production in 2007. The GR-1 Concept is built from a modified version of the GT's platform....

Ramming it home.(Detroit: spy report)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... DODGE will make slight styling changes to the Ram pickup in 2006, with the grille and front fascia picking up forms from the SRT Ram design. Headlights are mounted atop amber turn signals and the bumper has a larger, flat face. The big news is...

Exploring the edges.(Detroit: spy report)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... FORD is giving its Explorer line a modest facelift for 2006. Both the front and rear appearance will change. A new grille with a revised screen and a new composite headlight unit dominate the front end. Horizontal bars fill the upper grille...

Stretching the cat: luxury British carmaker Jaguar takes the high road to increasing, interior space.(Automotive)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... LONG-WHEELBASE versions of top-level luxury cars are the norm these days. So a year after Jaguar's XJ was introduced, the car is getting stretched. Designed in from the outset, the 5 in. of additional wheelbase and length does nothing to the...

On the larger trail.(Asia: spy report)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... HYUNDAI'S smallest SUV, the Tucson, is nearly the same size as the company's largest, the Santa Fe. To fix that, Hyundai will grow the next-generation Santa Fe to compete with the Toyota Highlander and Nissan Murano. The new Santa Fe will be...

Civilized truckin'.(Asia: spy report)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... UNLIKE Toyota's and Nissan's trucks, Honda's entry into the pickup truck market will be very catlike. Honda's SUT (sport utility truck) will be based on the same unitized chassis under the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX. And that means front-wheel...

Subtly speedy:.(Asia: spy report)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... MAZDASPEED, Mazda's high-performance arm, is into subtlety. This prototype of the upcoming Mazdaspeed Mazda6 sedan is rather downplayed. However, one look at those two huge tailpipes and you know there's something serious under the hood. What...

Barnyard Dreams: Leno lives every collector's dream by finding a Duesenberg in a garage.(Jay Leno's Garage)
November 1, 2004... I love hearing a rumor about some old car and tracking it down. When I was a kid, there was always that World War II Harley, still packed in Cosmoline, waiting to be gotten for $35. Of course, the holy grail was the Corvette that a guy died in....

One ring to rule them all: waiting for a do-it-all device? Companies are racing each other to sell you one.(Digital Devices)
November 1, 2004... REMEMBER when a phone was just a phone, an address book just an address book, and a Walkman did nothing but play music? Those were the days of electronic yore, when your pockets were constantly filled with different devices to cover all your...

Life, family & your SUV: enjoy the ride.(smart consumer)(sport utility vehicle, Toyota Motor Corp.)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... No matter where the road tares you, your destination should always be safety. And while Toyota's SUVs raise time standard, we still can't promise safety is always automatic. A responsible consumer should bring the same level of knowledge to...

Is HDTV ready? The HDTV era has finally arrived. Here are some basics to know before shopping.(high definition television)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2004... FOR more than 20 years, this magazine has watched as high-definition television awkwardly lurched its way toward becoming a reality for more than just a handful of Americans. Well, today, that reality has arrived. For the past year, I've...

From Dickies, the leader in workwear, comes the ultimate in outerwear.(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Winter's cold is no match for Dickies water repellent High Performance Duck outerwear. Insulated coveralls in brown or stay-black are made with 100% cotton duck, lined with nylon and 6 oz, polyester fill and feature a new zipper to waist for...

Stanley[R] Professional Grade Tool Set.(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The Stanley[R] Professional Grade Mechanics Tool Set consists of over 250 unique items available in six graduated sets, which are designed for the enthusiastic "shade tree" mechanic or home improvement do-it-yourselfer who likes tackling...

The Woodworking Shows coming to a city near you!(The goods: great products and promotional offers from PM advertisers)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... The home improvement event of the year is coming to you! The Woodworking Shows offers the largest selection of hard-to-find tools and unique gadgets you'll find under one roof. It's everything you need to start your next project! * Free...

Fast company: the Concorde may be history, but the dream of nonmilitary supersonic flight still lives. Meet the supersonic business jet.(Lockheed Martin Corp.)
November 1, 2004... In the mind's eye, it gleams. It hasn't yet been built, but already the airplane speaks of performance, power and naked privilege like no sports car, penthouse or yacht ever could. The aircraft being devised in the inner sanctum of Lockheed...

Hack the vote: this month, electronic voting machines will receive their biggest test ever. But are they up to the task?(Science)
November 1, 2004... Last June, Stephanie Harris felt good about casting her ballot in New Jersey's primary election on a new Sequoia Voting Systems touchscreen voting machine, a replacement for her county's rickety half-century-old lever models. Until it came time...

Quick fixes for everyday disasters: a solve-it-fast guide for home, car and more. Because--sometimes--duct tape just isn't enough.
November 1, 2004... The world is populated by two kinds of guys: the ones who know what to do when something goes bust, and the ones who are always asking the first guys for help. Here's your secret manual for staying on the right side of the divide. It's filled...

Long-term test cars: a big brute joins the fleet as a small one leaves.(Automotive)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)
November 1, 2004... NISSAN TITAN First Report: It often seems that Nissan gets lost in the shadow of its gargantuan archrival, Toyota. So whenever Nissan can get a jump on its competitor, it's exciting. And, in this case, it's big news. While Toyota gingerly...

Talking ctures: toys? No longer. With sharper resolution and better design, camera phones are now seriously useful.
November 1, 2004... FOR most people, camera phones occupy a certain gray zone between gimmick and tool. That's in the United States. Elsewhere, particularly in Japan, the devices are looked on as a virtual necessity.: Now, with resolutions topping 1 megapixel, a...

Proudly serving those who serve: a history of the United Service Organization from inception to today.(special advertising section)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Think of the USO and what do you see? It probably depends on how old you are. Glenn Miller playing for the troops during World War II? Marilyn Monroe wowing GIs in Korea? Bob Hope's annual Christmas shows in Vietnam? Steve Martin at Operation...

Benchmark: the heart of any shop is the workbench. Here's how to make one for yourself.(Woodworking Guide)
November 1, 2004... Most of us don't think of a workbench as a tool. After all it doesn't have a motor, you don't plug it in and it never gets dull. But the fact is, it's probably the most important piece of equipment in your shop. It's where you hold, measure,...

Classic comfort: an easy-to-build armchair that looks great.(Woodworking Guide)
November 1, 2004... Sooner or later you'll want to build a chair--not because you need one, but just for the challenge. After all, chairs must do more than just about any other piece of furniture. Of course they need to be comfortable. But, they also need to be...

Treasured chest: a mahogany storage case for your most prized possessions.(Woodworking Guide)
November 1, 2004... If you're the type who empties his pockets onto the dresser top, or keeps everything from an old high-school ring to snapshots of last year's office party in the sock drawer, it's time to get organized--and we've got just the project to help....

Things that go bump in the night.(Auto Clinic)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... I have a 2003 Dodge Durango. It feels as if there is a bowling ball loose in the cargo compartment, rolling around on a carpeted surface, This happens under acceleration from a stop and only when there is about three-quarters of a tank of...

Or, buy a razor.(Auto Clinic)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... My cats like to sit on the roof of my Sebring Convertible and look around the yard. The problem is they shed, and periodically the hair plugs up the drainage holes from the convertible top. Then, I get water in the interior on the driver's...

Heatstroke.(Car Care Tip)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... THE smell of crisped brake lining was apparent as I pulled off the drum. The parking brake worked fine, and was capable of chirping the tires. The customer said her brakes had failed utterly earlier in the day, causing her to overshoot a...

Rip van winkled.(Auto Clinic)
November 1, 2004... I'm trying to find out how to free up an engine that has not run for almost 20 years. Darryl Busfield Via Internet I'm assuming the engine won't turn at all. Start by removing the spark plugs and pouring 2 tablespoons (no more) of...

Search engines: where to find service data and shop manuals online.(Saturday Mechanic)
November 1, 2004... YOUR temperature gauge inches up toward the danger point. Simultaneously, traffic slows ever closer to 0 mph--without ever quite reaching it--as the rush hour deepens. There's no air moving through your radiator, and any that does is too damned...

Chinese government ignites world's biggest gold rush: gold coin ownership legalized for first time in over 50 years--surge in worldwide gold demand creates shortage.(Shanghai Gold Exchange)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... SHANGHAI, China, Tuesday 8:55 AM -- What happens when 1.2 billion people suddenly have the opportunity to own gold after more than half a century? And what if their country has been minting one of the world's most popular gold coins for years,...

The easiest upgrade: installing RAM is the quick, affordable way to boost an old PC's performance.(Technology)
November 1, 2004... A brand-spanking-new turbocharged musclecar of a computer can set you back thousands of dollars. For some users, getting the fastest processor, the latest graphics capabilities, and built-in goodies like a high-speed DVD player is worth it. For...

Exercise in exactly 4 minutes per day.(www.FastExercise.com)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2004... Winner of the 1991 Popular Science Award for the "Best of What's New" in Leisure Products ROM * MANUFACTURED IN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1990 * $14,615 TIME IS IT. Over 92% of people who own exercise equipment and 88% of people who own health...

Stylus verve.(Great Stuff)(Olympus America Inc.)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... Sleek and black with a distinctive shape, the new Olympus Stylus Verve digital camera has a 4-megapixel CCD, 2x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom. A 1.8-in. LCD comes packed into this compact body and you can shoot in 10 different modes,...

Long-life saw.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PANASONIC $470 It's unlikely that you'll ever need to make 35 cuts in 2 x 10 lumber with a cordless reciprocating saw. But it's nice to know that this saw can de it. It cuts with a 7/8-in.-long stroke and its speed is adjustable from 0 to...

Pogo plus.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FLYBAR $299 Outgrown the pegs stick? Check out the Flybar, a superpowered pogo stick that can propel you to heights of up to 6 ft. A system of elastomer bands attached to the Flybar's piston stretches every time you land, catapulting you...

Movie star.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... PANASONIC $699.95 Panasonic's new 12-megapixel PV-GS120 makes its case as an upscale consumer product mainly because of its Leica Dicomar lens and 3CCD technology, features usually found only in professional camcorders. We also appreciate...

Fab phone.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SAMSUNG $299 Sporting a fashionable slide design, the new Samsung SGH-d415 GSM cellphone uses T-Mobile's network and includes a VGA 0.3-megapixel camera that rotates 180[degrees]. A large 2-in. color screen dominates the front of the phone...

Dog tags.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... ETAGS, LLC $39.95 Maybe Lassie could get Timmy out of a well, but we're pretty sure he couldn't tell people his owner's address or phone number. This product can. The Dog-E-Tag can be programmed to display 4010-character lines of text,...

Bottom freezer.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... GE $1200-$1700 If you're tired of bending down to get something from your refrigerator's fresh food compartment, consider GE's Profile Arctica R Series bottom freezer. It's available in 20- and 22-cu.-ft models, both of which have four...

Measuring aid.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... BENCH DOG $20 The Trim-Loc is an unconventional-looking tool, but that's okay. Its odd shape, ridges, grooves and holes enable you to measure and mark window and door trim with speed and precision. The tool also functions as a square and,...

Smart vacuum.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DIRT DEVIL $180 Dirt Devil's Vision self-propelled bagless upright vacuum adjusts to your cleaning pace and direction because it uses the same type of motor and motor-controller technology found on the famous Segway Human Transporter....

Bike transport.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... SPORTRACK $199 Not too many of us can mountain bike out the back door. With the Escape Twin-Arm Bike Rack you can easily transport up to four bikes of any shape, without the use of an adapter. The rack mounts in either a 1 1/4-or 2-in....

Precise sharpener.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... CHEF'S CHOICE $39.95 Dull knives are for dull people, we always say. The Chef's Choice Exact-V Diamond Hone Manual Sharpener Model 415 creates an arc-shaped edge. The unit's spring mechanism angle guide, with adjustable sharpening force,...

Classic range.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... FRIGIDAIRE $900 The words "affordable" and "stainless steel" are not typically associated with each other when discussing kitchen appliances, yet Frigidaire bridges that gap with its Classic Series. The appliances have smooth, glossy...

Shop vacuum.(Great Stuff)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2004... DEWALT $100 WITHOUT BATTERY DeWalt's 2-gal. shop vacuum can run off a 12- or 18-volt DeWalt battery, or you can use its power cord. Powered by an 18-volt battery, it can pick up 200 pounds of drywall dust or 100 gal. of water, DeWalt says....

It worked for us.(Tips & Hints)(faucets, stain cleaning, windows)
November 1, 2004... PANE TRIAGE FEW of us lead simple linear lives that let us take care of problems that come up when they come up. We're always too busy doing this and that. Emergencies around the house, whether big or small, can't always be dealt with...