Well, ladies and gents, as we celebrate the end of summer with BBQs, camping, and one our final water balloon fights, it’s also time to start getting prepped for the months ahead. And for many of us, this means applying a fresh layer of waterproof fabric wax to all of our canvas shoes, hats, jackets, rucksacks, and more. But when it comes to fabric waxes, not all are equal. Our choice? Portland, Oregon’s own Otter Wax brand. Otter Wax offers long-lasting protection from the elements and contains only all-natural ingredients from renewable resources. It is also the first and only water repellent wax that doesn’t utilize paraffin, silicone, or other…

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.…

Don your favorite bathrobe, cream that coffee, and get comfortable with this week’s SolidSmack Weekend Reader. The Weekend Reader features a handful of the most interesting articles featured on the ‘Smack over the past week ranging from tips and tricks to inspirational designs, processes, and more. So lay back, relax and take a load off while reading the top ten stories on SolidSmack this past week. Oh and uh…don’t forget to shed some much-needed sunlight on your face, too. This Wooden Domino Row Building Machine Just Might Be the Best Thing Ever With over 1 million subscribers on YouTube, woodworker Matthias Wandel knows a thing or two about making shop…

Five times we heard the rapping at the gate–a tinny echo, guttural and shrill. We were not sure if it was their claws scraping the steel bars, the sound from their jawless face or both. But when we heard them break through, we decided unequivocally it was time fire these links. Brian Sum – New work from one our fav mech concept artists, with new vehicles, sketches, drones, tactical units and a george. Old Wounds – This is officially the best MUSIC VIDEO/CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE ever… I think it’s the only one actually. Help the band survive. Or not. Mercedes Maybach 6 – The stretched front end makes it look like…

As one of the most coveted of all design jobs, sneaker designers often have it made. From hanging out with pro athletes to working with the most innovative color trends, materials, and finishes day in and day out, it’s no wonder why colleges and trade schools are beginning to offer sneaker design courses to keep up with demand. But with the latest sneaker release from Nike, you don’t have to do all that just to make your mark. Instead of deciding where the Swoosh would be on the new Nike Gakou Flyknit shoe, the designers decided to sell the shoes with included rubber stencils, allowing consumers to personalize the shoe…

An interesting technique used by some Ultimaker users could put a better finish on your 3D printed parts. It’s called “Neosanding” and is a way for flat surface layers to be “polished”, so to speak. The technique has been developed by Ultimaker forum moderator Neotko from Spain, who has recently posted a version 2 method to complement the version 1 method of 2016. Neosanding seems to be the process of reprinting the final top layer at a layer increment of something less than the previous extrusion width, without actually extruding. In this way the nozzle rubs against the previous extrusion and through some passes will actually smooth it out. This…