Autodesk’s SketchBook program, which serves as a jumping-off point for many artists, engineers, and CAD designers, is now totally free! I know what you’re thinking, but for now, there seem3 to be no strings attached to this deal. According to a blog post by Senior Product Manager Colin Smith, the aim of making SketchBook free is to give creators easy access to a fast sketching tool. And seeing as most people hurry towards anything that’s free, SketchBook aim’s to be the tool they’re looking for. Here, industrial designer Reid Schlegel breaks down his design process and how he integrates the tool into his workflow: Past subscribers to Sketchbook no longer…

Cherished by writers, designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals for its soft dark lead and unique flat eraser, the Blackwing 602 is worth trying at least once—but be forewarned: you may never go back to plain old #2 pencils again. Originally manufactured by the Eberhard Faber Pencil Company from 1934 – 1988, the Blackwing brand was acquired by California Cedar Products Company in 2008 and reintroduced to a new generation of creatives in 2012. And now, you can score your own 12-pack of the legendary pencil for just 23 bucks. Palomino Blackwing 602 Pencils 12-Pack — $22.95 Features: One pack of 12 Palomino Blackwing pencils Pencils feature a soft and…

Back before having a car, having a bike meant you were the coolest kid on the block; it said you could go anywhere, do anything, and cause untold bodily harm to yourself when you fell flat on your face. As you get older though, having a car becomes way more chill than owning a bike. It’s air-conditioned, comes with cup holders, and most importantly, it has airbags which protect your oh-so-delicate face. The guys at Make It Extreme want to bring back the days when bikes were cooler than cars. How? By taking two used car tires and making a heavy duty bike of their own: Taking inspiration from existing…

When it comes to woodworking, the quality of your work really can come down to the quality of your tools—which is why it’s critical to invest in tools that perform properly for the cuts you need. Thankfully, wood craftsmen have been refining many of these tools and techniques for centuries. And among others that stand out above the rest are Japanese hand tools—which are different from Western tools in that they are minimally designed, which results in a lighter and simpler tool. The SUIZNAN brand of Japanese Pull Saws is a perfect example. Pull saws are popular in both Western and Japanese woodworking shops because they require less power and…

Rejoice, creators of instructables.com! For if you ever wanted to learn how to use a table saw, manual lathe, CNC mill, or a certain crafting machine, Autodesk’s Pier 9 technology centers have heard your plea and made a slew of workshops to help you get your bearings without losing any important body parts. In total, 25 classes—classified into Wood Shop, Metal Shop, CNC Shop, and 3D Printshop categories— are available for enrollment or download. As you may have guessed, Wood Shop covers using the miter saw, the table saw, and bandsaw, the drill press, the sander, the planer, the router table, and the jointer. If the material you’re working with…

Tires are amazing. Until, you know, they run out of air or altogether pop in the middle of a trip. Seeking to make your daily commute less of a hassle, 3D printer manufacturer BigRep just made a bicycle tire which doesn’t go flat or runs out of air. The wheel uses the company’s PRO FLEX TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), an industrial grade filament which is nearly just as flexible as any material you would get from a rubber tree. The PRO FLEX bends whenever you need it to, though this could bode ill once you drop your entire body weight on it when riding your bike. As for the remainder of…