As frivolous as it may seem, the humble mouse pad can be a serious tool on the desktop. Whether it’s a simple run-of-the-mill pad from a vendor or a more robust ergonomically-crafted wrist support system, a good mouse pad can save your sanity after hours of clicking away on a project. But you’ve likely never seen a mouse pad like this one before. The G840 XL Mouse Pad from Logitech, which more closely resembles a yoga mat than a desktop peripheral, is an insane approach to making computing a tad more comfortable. Designed for marathon gaming sessions, the “performance-tuned surface” provides a consistent height across your desktop while extending material…

How can something be ancient? And 3D printed? Because we’re IN THE FUTURE. It’s like the answer to why it smells like beer and cigarettes in here. Because WE HAVE CATS. (Name the reference!) But really, it’s not like you’re going to walk downtown and find an ancient skull artifact unburying itself from the sidewalk. So, what better way to get one in your hands, or give to a loved one as a gift, than to 3D print that sucka out yourself. Kim of Kimbolt.com has created just what we need – This is a cool, ultra-ancient looking 3d printed skull that’s so fancy it could double as a door knocker,…

Let’s be honest: commuting sucks. When you aren’t hurrying to find a cab or Uber, you’re spending an uncomfortable journey in the back of a stranger’s car with sticky floors. Student Jack Davies was so fed up with his everyday commute that he decided to find an alternative solution. The result is the Fusion E-Board – a 3D printed electric skateboard he designed and manufactured in less than a week. Using a combination of sourced and 3D printed parts, Jack was able to craft a $700 board on par with other commercially available electric skateboards – most which cost in the neighborhood of $1,750. After identifying the main components of…

When it comes to work wear, it’s not always easy to find something that’s both functional and could be pulled off in the office. Thankfully, the expert craftsmen over at LC King Manufacturing and Design have got this sorted. The company’s Indigo Denim Chore Coat—made of lightweight 100% cotton RAW denim—includes four top-loading patch pockets for your pens or smartphone and polished nickel buttons on the cuffs, a snap pocket, and down the front. Sold in its unwashed, unprocessed RAW form, the coat is built entirely by Cone Denim Mills at their White Oak facility in Greensboro, NC. So whether you’re strapping up for a day in the shop, or…

Get that stretch out of your system with this week’s Spotify-powered SolidSmack Radio Playlist. It’s fashioned up, ready to make you pull your shoulder blades back and knock out another week of meaningful work while you bob your head to the beat. Whether you’re in the shop milling aluminum, sketching the latest product prototypes or modeling up a 3D storm, consider these tracks as a tool for your process. This week we’ll get the groove going with “Creature Comfort” from Woods before diving into sweet melodies from Moss of Aura, Feed Me Jack, Raury, Tall Tall Trees, and others before wrapping up with “#23” from IAN SWEET. Rock! Have suggestions?…

Mondays might not be your favorite day of the week, but the good news is that we’re all in this together ladies and gentlemen. As purveyors of prime Grade A web content, the SolidSmack crew has done some of the heavy-lifting to make sure you get your Mondays started on the right track. Welcome to The Monday List. Each Monday, we’ll link you up with some of the most insightful, informative, and socially-relevant stories to keep tabbed, bookmarked, reading listed, pocketed, or what have you. Be sure to check in each Monday morning for a new crop of freshly sprouted words curated straight from the source of your favorite homegrown ‘Smack.…