This page is for tools & supplies used in the lab, which meet expectations & are recommended for other makers. Treat this page as an index of parts while the Lab Tour shows how the parts are arranged in the lab and integrated into processes.
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➡️ Key Tools, Cordless Power Tools, Instruments, Supplies, Computing, Safety, Facility, or Data
Admin tools are for typical business administration, but we focus extra on 5S & communication. This particular labeler choice is important because it's sold in high volume globally. It prints incredibly fast and reliably and you can find many cheap distributors of compatible sticker-label-spools. The downside is Dymo's upgrade from model 450 included addition of an RFID tracking sensor that attempts to lock-down the printer for pricey dymo-only spools. It's one of the only items that has a performance good enough to tolerate nasty business antics as noted.
- Labeler, Dymo 550 on amazon for $120
- Scanner, Epson ES530 for $360 is the nearest match for my DS-510 that is discontinued.
- Handheld label printer Brother PTD220 $45 on amazon is recommended
- Thermal Laminator, 3M's Scotch Model TL902 for $60 on amazon is recommended
Over 10 years went into evaluating the best marking tools for the lab. The main needs are labeling supplies, adding measurements on items, dating materials for expiration, or traceability between documentation and in-hand devices. See the 40-min video on Youtube called The Engineer-recommended Marking Utensils or watch the embedded video below. Some markers & pens featured in this video are the following:
- Shop my Amazon List Marking Tools for OpenLab
- Frixion Pens 3-color
- Pilot Precise 4-colors
- Carpenter's pencils
- Sharpie Industrial 3pc
- Scribe 2pc, Carbide
- Silver Sharpie 2pcs
- Autoclave Tape 12pcs
- White Nail Polish
- Clear Nail Polish
- 3M Micropore Tape
| Need | Recommended tool | Simple notes |
|---|---|---|
| Writing and sketching on paper | Pilot Precise V5RT | Doesn't smear easily (great for lefties) and lines scan/vectorize cleanly. |
| Drafting with erasable ink | Pilot FriXion pens | Ink erases via friction heat; avoid storing these in a hot car. |
| General marking on cut materials | Sharpie Industrial | Tolerates high heat (like outdoor Texas mailboxes) better than standard Sharpies. |
| Ultra-permanent marking on metal | Markal 96520 | Better reach and less odor than Sharpie Pro, plus it has precise lab data sheets. |
| Marking on black plastics | Silver Sharpie | Store tip-down; scuff the plastic with 320-grit sandpaper first so the ink sticks. |
| Protecting ink on rigid plastics | Wet N Wild Clear Coat | Swipe quickly in a single stroke, otherwise the acetone will dissolve the ink. |
| Labeling fabrics and porous items | 3M Micropore Tape | Highly flexible, resists shear forces that peel packing tape, and ink won't bleed through. |
| Color-banding equipment handles | Autoclave Tape | Extremely thin; doesn't slowly shrink back and peel off like vinyl tape does. |
| Color-coding tools permanently | Fingernail Polish | Tough like enamel and replaces messy paint pens; add a steel BB for easy shaking. |
| Construction marking (wood/metal) | HighBoom Carpenter's Pencil | Thick lead won't snap when marking through holes; includes a built-in sharpener. |
| Precision etching on hard metal | Tungsten Carbide Scribe | Saves your calipers from wear; makes fine lines with just finger pressure. |
| Deep engraving (e.g., drill bits) | Rotary tool w/ carbide burr | Etches hardened steel in 10 seconds; it's ugly but it never wears off. |
What to Avoid
- Paint Markers: Require too much shaking, puddle easily, and the pigment mixes unevenly.
- Vinyl Tape: Slowly shrinks back after being stretched, peeling up and leaving a sticky residue.
- Sharpie Gold (Oil-based): Messy to prime and doesn't perform cleanly like the standard silver Sharpie.
Information about softwares for the processes in OpenLabProject. Goal: to focus on the applications which have served for many years.
Top Applications Just a few of my favorite applications.
| Purpose | Application | Link | Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scanning | NAPS2 | naps2.com | Lightweight, flexible, open source & free scanning with fine controls |
| PDF edit | PDF Xchange Editor | pdf-xchange.com | The most fully featured PDF editor I've used, many years, worth the one-time price. |
| Images | ShareX | getsharex.com | Reformat images, post screenshots online, photo editor, OCR, screenshot editing, much more |
| Diagrams | Drawio | drawio.com | Open Source Diagrams editor, lightweight, open source plugins, vector & SVG capable. |
| 3D Slicer | Orca-Flashforge | flashforge.com | Open Source, popular slicer, with flashforge settings built in. |
| Image Edit | paint.net | paint.net | Open Photo Editor, Free & Lightweight, highly capable, analogous to photoshop |
| organizing | winDirStat | windirstat.net | Visualize Directories & see file statistics, free & open |
Notes on Apps The following softwares especially stand out for their purity - lightweight packages, high reliablility, open source code & fantastic utility:
- NAPS2 - for scanning, and making PDFs. My all-time favorite scanning software. Free, lightweight, opensource, highly compatible, and simple interface.
- Get the scanning software From NAPS2.com for your OS
- Separately, get drivers for your scanning machine. download raw epson drivers here or visit epson drivers page
- Configure your hardware device inside of NAPS2, and ignore softwares offered by Windows and Epson. (this is best practice for us)
- Label-Printing: the Dymo application is junkware with bloat and limited options, so I only install the driver and (when possible) avoid the application itself. Windows treats the machine like a printer, so I set up a template file to print the proper dimensions directly from MS Excel.
- Regarding ShareX, I continue learning features every year. There is no BS, tons of tools, customizable shortkeys. Built by very intelligent developers. It integrates with online images hosting so you can route images to the cloud automatically and grab hyperlinks to add in markdown content, such as this page you are reading. To access a full PDF List of Preferred Softwares, click here
The 3D printing toolset is focused on reliability over versatility. This is a setup for ABS Printing, the main material for all the functional example parts. There are 3 identical printers, Flashforge Creator Pro, stacked vertically on a shelf. In 2026 I examined the new generation of printers and bought the Flashforge AD5M Pro (around $550) and it is full of features and seems very robust.
Recommended Printer My recommended 3D printer as of 2025 is the flashforge Adventurer 5M Pro due to Flashforge's good reputation, metal frame, enclosure for thermal stability, and balanced overall performance. Recommendation: Aside from my preferred printer, there are many great options. Look for these qualities in a printer:
- enclosure, critical for stable temperature & printing ABS
- high volume: select a top selling product and a top-selling brand for the greatest online resources.
- proven technology: find a model over 1 year on the market, so issues are resolved.
- local adoption: find a model popular in your region. distributors and spare parts are available. Better yet, do you have a friend with this model? Be sure you can find parts & support where you live.
Tools which should last a lifetime, apply to all projects, base-level lab equipment. These are useful regardless of what type of work you will do - electronics, wood, metal fab, etc.
Daily Tools
| Item | Link | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Calipers | iGaging 100mm calipers | my favorite style of digital calipers |
| Steel Rule | 15cm Steel Rule 2pc | rules for measure & sketch, 2/$10 |
| Utility Knife | compact folding knife, quick-change | Utility Knives 3pcs $18 |
| Utility Blades | Blades, standard utility, 100pk | Utility blades replaced daily, $10 |
| Carpenter Pencils | marking pencils, mechanical | most frequently used marking tools $15/3pcs |
| Multimeter (DMM) | Auto-ranging DMM | top selling DMM 2026, $35 |
| Adjustable Wrench | Small & Large adjustable wrench | top selling, Workpro, $18 |
| Hex Drivers | Quality hex bit hex drivers | Durable S2 Steel, metric & SAE, $19 |
| Cutting Mat | Self Healing Mat, Metric & SAE | Flat & tough mat for precise cutting $10 |
Critical Lab Tools
| Item | Link | Note |
|---|---|---|
| DIN Cutter | DIN cutter $130 | bought & recommended |
| DIN rail 10 meters | amazon din cutter | bought & recommended |
| Ryobi Drill Press | amazon ryobi drill press | bought & recommended |
| Machine Vise | amazon machine vise | bought & satisfied, secondary to a bench vise |
| Cradle Vise | amazon | bought & recommended, most used vice in the lab |
| Torque Screwdriver | PDF doc | this is the Wera brand top-quality option, 0-30 in-lbs range |
| Torque Screwdriver | for $36 on amazon | by vanpo, opton of interest, not yet purchased, 10-60 in-lbs range |
2025 I'll add photos of tools that are unique or not part of a traditional machine shop, woodshop, etc. These may be familiar in various labs but we need them together in one lab.
Caulk Guns two are included because cylinder-shaped adhesives are used very frequently. We need a good quality caulk gun - high force to work with thick substances like black urethane glue. (need to write more yet - DM 2025.10)
Spot Welder The spot welder is Model DH20 from BFIRC or SEESII brand. This device requires just a little knowledge to successfully weld, and the drawback is the narrow range of utility for this device. These miniature spot welders are somewhat popular among electronics makers so I created an intro video. From this video, you can assess whether to add this tool to your lab.
- Download Spot Welder Manual PDF
- Video Link (coming soon, June 2026)
Project Prep Mention of supplies which are used for many different projects, at the immediate workspace
- fasteners bin, magnetic such as (craftsman 2pack $20) on amazon - have a magnetic base for storage & retaining screws from an assembly/disassembly stage.
- cloth-backed sandpaper rolls, dispenser, 5 grits, 6 meters on amazon for $16
Screwdrivers
Screwdrivers for electronics take many forms but three recommended models suit all electronics needs in the lab:
- Westward precison drivers of sizes PH0, PH1, and 2.5mm slotted. Part No's listed in table below
- Get the printable driver holder for these models.
- See Short video on problem & solution
- Shaft fitment is limited to 3.2mm - for larger shafts, drill out the hole for fitment.
| SIZE | PH0 | PH1 | SLOTTED |
|---|---|---|---|
| PN | 401L54 | 401L55 | 401L71 |
| SHAFT | 3.2mm | 4.0mm | 2.5mm |
| Pricing | 1.96 | 1.93 | 2.28 |
Wire Cutters Flush cutters are in the top five tools needed for electronics and the recommended model is IGAN 330. There are many other models with poor designs that cause frustration. Below, you'll find two types that appear commonly and are NOT recommended. The ones found in hardware stores are more bulky, intended for general electrical work, and the tips do not cut flush. Note the cutting region is recessed and less sharp, so the user loses precision. The next popular type is manufactured from stamped steel. It's the cheapest way this tool can be made and they are far less sturdy. With one forceful cut the blades can bend out of alignment and become useless.
- Buy Igan 330 Model Flush Cutters two-pack $13.76 on amazon
- Buy Igan 330 1-unit under $8 on amazon
_Below, see the first image with a typical application: clearing through-hole pins of a PCB component. This is only successful with a truly flush tool against the PCB. The next photos show the popular but ill-advised types of flush cutters.
Cordless power tools make up the largest tool investments for the lab. Each one is approximately rated at the competitive leading tech level for the period 2010 to 2025. That is to say the function and power level, and even the user experience should approximatley match any name-brand, cordless, 18 volt machine sold at a popular retailer in the year 2026. Most of these tools have a history over 30 years long where the attachments, blades, and inserts available became an expectation by the tradesmen who use these tools. So in a general sense we can ignore the brand specification and find the equivalent modern match in any region globally, and it will suit you for the same tasks that are demonstrated in openLab projects.
Below, find air tools. The air pump will reach over 100psi, and is the fastest portable inflator I've ever used (even stronger than those which connect to a car battery). Besides bikes and car tires, it can refill small tanks of air to carry about for driving the pneumatic tools further below. And the handheld blower is just fantastic - probably the most used tool: for consolidating dusty messes or supercharging the outdoor fire pit, it helps do work almost daily. When cutting wood projects, tools are brought outside and the blower expells all the sawdust with a 5-second sweep before bringing those dusty tools back inside the lab.
Find rotary tools below, which do all the work from a precise high speed shaft. Power levels for these units increases from left to right in the images. The router and cutout tools are multifunctional with collets that allow 3mm, 1/8inch, or 1/4inch shanked bits for a multitude of purposes. The dremel comes with 1/8 in collet that also suits the slightly smaller 3mm standard. see more in the toolbox photos with the rotary tools drawer.
below, note there is a compact variety of drill with a brushless motor and a subcompact design. This is the most frequently used drill for holes over 1/8 inch or general materials. The hammer drill on the other hand is used for larger materials requiring more torque for cutting.
The next section has the two reciprocating tools: a standard size reciprocating saw, advertised for demolition work and a jigsaw, each with a range of blades that give them many purposes. These can cut a full range of materials (wood, aluminum, steel, glass, ceramic) given the proper blade and orbital settings.
below, find heating-related tools and the main multimeter of the lab. Power comes from 120vAC for the hot glue gun, AA batteries for the multimeter, and DC power up to 20 volts for the hot air gun.
below, find two pneumatic impulse-firing tools: one for nailing brads and one for staples. Brads are essentially 18-gauge nails of various length up to 2in or 50mm. These staples are similar fasteners with two legs, for attaching a thin layer to a thick substrate such as cloth on wood. The staple supplies match those made for the famous Arrow all-steel stapler with an all-steel finish.
This section is being planned as of 2026.07. Items to include:
- DC Power meter
- Ammeters, module only
- Multimeters: compact and full-featured
- Laser Temperature Sensor
- Plug-in AC power meter (kill-a-watt)
- DC Desktop Power Supply (0-30v)
- and more Below, find the Kaiweets brand of multimeter, the most fully equipped of the multimeters in the lab.
Let's differentiate supplies from tools. What are supplies?
Supplies are ~ consumable items that pair with tools (ie, rivets for rivet gun) ~ parts attainable in bulk or unbranded while meeting a specific need. (ie silicone caulk) ~ items which support organization, like bin dividers. ~ items that may be considered a tool, but are used in this lab as a consumable (ie paint stirring stick). ~ items which are inventoried in a quantity that may overflow. ie, we have a hand-cleaner dispenser at the sink, but the bulk cleaner is stored elsewhere.
BinderClips These binder-style paperclips are used in organization of panels, hanging of parts, and within several designs with springs embedded for compliance.
- Get binder clips data in PDF here
Tubing This polyethylene tubing is used in hundreds of ways in the lab - it's a constant solution from pneumatics to small hardware. My choice is 3/8 x 1/4 inch, OD and ID respectively. This
- used as a hinge pin for printed parts
- cut slivers as washers in M5, M6, M8 hardware assemblies
- make springs by cutting short lengths
- compressible feature to fill gaps in an assembly
- carry pneumatic air in tools or projects up to
- safe for drinking water or other water pumping A note on Metric preference: I prefer all materials to come in metric, but this material sometimes accomodates both metric and imperial couplings. Both items have been found to seal with the new push-to-connect fittings for pneumatics and water systems, The smaller 1/4in size is a match for many 6mm fittings. Soon I hope to offer documentation about the collection of fittings in OpenLab for all plumbing projects, with the economical and high-performing collection of valves and parts that are compatible.
The two sizes used most often are
- order larger tubing, 3/8 in on amazon (this is the product I use as of 2026) at $11 per 25ft
- order smaller tubing, 1/4in on amazon (smaller version) at $14 per 40 ft
Below, find some linked photos from the product page:
Tapes My favorite tapes, in one video. Dated 2024.09. The applications are for nearly every project that takes place.
<iframe width="700" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/W0sAR_jI4b8" title="More than you ever wanted to know about tape" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>| type | amazon link |
|---|---|
| PET (hi temp) tape | https://amzn.to/3ZkBAX9 |
| Painters tape | https://amzn.to/4e038FT |
| aluminum foil tape, 3M | https://amzn.to/4ehrNFN |
| drywall tape | https://amzn.to/3Tr7oWD |
| drywall tape | https://amzn.to/3Tr7oWD |
| electrical tape | https://amzn.to/4gzzJ7p |
| extreme mounting | https://amzn.to/3B3BsBC |
| filament strapping tape | https://amzn.to/4ejHVGy |
| first aid tape | https://amzn.to/4dT0die |
| gaffers | https://amzn.to/4gwv4D8 |
| grafting tape | https://amzn.to/3znx1Rl |
| heat press tape | https://amzn.to/3B1b7nw |
| heavy poly tape | https://amzn.to/4ehey7P |
| kapton | https://amzn.to/3B0pyby |
| kapton tape | https://amzn.to/4d3CF9l |
| masking, scotch | https://amzn.to/47mgHwQ |
| mesh nonadhesive tape | https://amzn.to/3XCEeGI |
| scotch shipping | https://amzn.to/3MF8vyb |
| silicone self fusing | https://amzn.to/4eiZVB1 |
| thread seal, PTFE | https://amzn.to/3z49ipv |
| wire harness | https://amzn.to/3AVHlAu |
last updated 2025.05 Tools found in the soldering station are tabulated below. This selection is recommended since the tools were good value and have worked for two years or more. Some devices are not obvious, such as my custom helping hands made from the camera clamp and the 123 block. The clamp can be removed at any time from the 123 block and used separately. The adjustable LED camera light also mounts on any 1/4-20 thread which is found in camera tripods and devices for microphone, lighting, and accessories for filming.
About Soldering Irons:
My recommendation is to seek these properties: To heat up in less than 30 seconds, we want 80 watts of power or more. Both the Pinecil and TS100 are great on this. Pinecil can draw power directly from a USB-c cable if you have a PD rated adapter with 20 volts and 80 watts available. With the TS100 iron (which I had for 4 years before buying Pinecil) you can get a fast heatup and high power with any DC adapter. It can run on 12vDC using the barrel plug but it's better to find an adapter with 20v, which comes along with most of these iron kits. Then you want replaceable iron tips, and at least 1 replacement on-hand. These two irons have a tip which includes the heating element and thermocouple embedded, which gives high accuracy on the temperature reading and a nice localized heating near the tip. So, I recommend pinecil, with TS100 in second place.
| item | brand | amazon link | purchased? | added | category | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PINECIL | https://amzn.to/3EH690Y | 2025 | 2/23/2025 | soldering | $40 |
| 2 | iron tips, FEITA | https://amzn.to/3Ex3EhU | 2025 | 2/23/2025 | soldering | $36 |
| 3 | butane torch | https://amzn.to/4jUHvdk | 2023 | 2/23/2025 | soldering | $22 |
| 4 | fume extractor | https://amzn.to/43iztES | 2023 | 2/23/2025 | soldering | $30 |
| 5 | Kaisi soldering mat | https://amzn.to/4gQYoTT | 2022 | 2/23/2025 | soldering | $9 |
| 6 | usb power 120W | https://amzn.to/44rLE3k | 2024 | 5/6/2025 | soldering | $19 |
| 7 | solder, 0.8mm, | https://amzn.to/3EQZIZV | 2022 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $10 |
| 8 | flux pen | https://amzn.to/3GYpSub | 2021 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $8 |
| 9 | flush cutter, IGAN 330 | https://amzn.to/436JSlY | 2024 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $8 |
| 10 | brass mesh tip cleaner | https://amzn.to/3RT3ftt | 2021 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $10 |
| 11 | usb-c cable, PD | https://amzn.to/4k83BbG | 2023 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $6 |
| 12 | pivot clamp (lamp) | https://amzn.to/3EIhLl1 | 2023 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | |
| 13 | camera light, aluminum | https://amzn.to/3GEWVTZ | similar | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $20 |
| 14 | steel 123 block | https://amzn.to/439QLTC | 2023 | 5/7/2025 | soldering | $17 |
I'm beginning a section as of 2025.05 to post info about the PC workstation for CAD modeling and other compute-intensive tasks. PCpartpicker is a great place to document our community builds & assist each other in upgrades. The build linked above is partly outdated, but good to access thumbnails & specs for key parts.
- Access Workstation Build Documentation in PDF.
- Visit PCpartPicker Online to see my last documented build.
The above images of the PC build at different stages. One big lesson was the removal of the big fancy RTX2060, a high performance video card for graphics, in favor of the AMD Radeon WX4100 card, a purpose-built GPU for professional CAD design. This selection reduces cost, reduces power consumption, and improves performance by large margins for CAD modeling. One image depicts the PC case with an included small monitor (I tried it out for a few months) which is sold as a photography display, and can easily source power from the 12v bus on the PC power supply. For some time this monitor was used to display PC performacne metrics or CAD rendering status. In the long term it was not necessary. See also a simple neat deskspace for designing 3D models in our prototyping workflow.
Recommended PC Components from My Build (updated 2025.05) Half of these parts I gathered overseas or at brick-and-mortar stores but I've collected amazon links for the matching parts to share. If you use my affiliate links, it helps generate a small revenue.
| Component | Brand | Model | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | AMD | Ryzen 7 3700x | Amazon 🔗 |
| SSD | Samsung | SSD 980 Pro, M.2 | Amazon 🔗 |
| mobo | ASUS | PRIME B550M-A/CSM (ATX) | Amazon 🔗 |
| WiFi | TP-Link | AX3000, Archer TX50E(UN) | Amazon 🔗 |
| graphics | AMD | Raedon Pro WX4100 | Amazon 🔗 |
| SSD | Samsung | SSD 980, NVME | Amazon 🔗 |
| PSU | Corsair | RM750x | Amazon 🔗 |
| RAM | Corsair | Vengeance RGB Pro 3200 | Amazon 🔗 |
| monitor | HP | 27h | Amazon 🔗 |
| monitor | HP | 27h | Amazon 🔗 |
| keyboard | Logitech | MK540 Keyboard | Amazon 🔗 |
| USB Panel | EZDIY-FAB | Ezdiy 5.25in 10GB/s Gen2 Hub | Amazon 🔗 |
| case | coolermaster | Silencio S400 | Amazon 🔗 |
| mouse | Logitech | M720 | Amazon 🔗 |
A mix of tools and supplies for safety, PPE, and first aid. Note safety glasses are color coded so when one pair is assigned to a station, it becomes the color allocated to belong there.
| Item | Link |
|---|---|
| Safety Heaphones | ProCase $12 Amazon |
| ANC Headphones | runolim headphones $20 |
| alcohol wipes | alcohol wipes $6 |
| safety glasses | colored safety glasses $14 |
| fume extractor | amazon $30 |
| xytronic fume extr | amazon $60 |
These particular safety glasses are recommended for their color-coding. They come in a pack of around 12 with 6 colors. So, we designate a slot at each workstation (soldering, cutting, grinding) where the glasses ought to be used. Then we mark the slot with the same marking, so they return to their space. For hanging situations, there's a simple trick with a paperclip and an M2.5 fastener. (will post a short video to include).
Note that the ANC (active noise cancelling) headphones are chosen for comfort rather than safety. What is the use case? Many tools like the jigsaw or vacuum generate noise but they are not a safety concern. From personal experience, activating the noise cancellation enhances focus and precision for my work. The level of quiet was more fantastic than expected. When running a vacuum or high-powered tool, these inexpensive headphones do a marvelous job of cancelling steady, high pitched noise. At only $20, they compete with regular passive headphones but the comfort is far higher. For ordinary protective headsets, the padding is more firm and the spring-force is much higher, to create a seal against the head. But these units have just a gentle squeeze and are so much more enjoyable to wear. Sometimes I forget to take them off.
Two fume extractor listed above were compared in the lab and they both perform similarly - the Xytronic brand (purchased 2017) is a high-class brand in electronics labs but the no-name brand (Purchased 2023) seems to offer similar performance and take up less space in the lab, so a low-cost choice is recommended.
In the above images, see the storage setup for each item. This is just a sample of the safety elements, as documentation is built. The noise cancelling headphones have a rack, safety glasses reside at the saw, and alcohol wipes bin is open with no top. The retrieval happens within one second with one hand, enhancing convenience and making them used instead of skipped over.
PPE PPE means personal protective equipment. Gloves are the first topic in PPE as of 2026 April.
The selections of gloves as of 2026 aims to solve a few problems we all face. What's a durable and effective glove for each type of work? What is the right glove for chemical resistance and cut resistance? Prior to 2026 I worked with many glove types for a decade but these are the selections as of April 2026:
- For mechanical work (general) we want cut resistance, comfort, durability
- For finer tactile work, we want the thinnest glove with good cut protection, with grip and stretch.
- For the wash station, we need chemical resistance
This yields 3 kinds of gloves and these selections:
- Cut resistant gloves - Hyflex 11-561 Amazon Hyflex 11-561 $13
- Mechanics gloves - MCR Safety 919 Amazon MCR Safety 964L $25
- Chemical gloves, Showa 719B or Honeywell 101V Amazon Showa 727 LG 12 pair I've included links to the nearest matches for amazon shoppers. To source exact match, go to Grainger.com & input model numbers.
For all selections, we want a glove from a reputable manufacturer, with documented part numbers & preferrably a catalogue of variations - so when a special case arrives we don't start our research over from scratch. The photos below show an issue with a generic pair of cleaning gloves that appeared after 6 months or so. The interior surface became degraded. Without any knowledge of the glove specifications, we can't avoid the chemical or condition that ruins them. That drives the choice to select a new pair (two options selected to evaluate) which is backed by a datasheet and a respected company.
Below, find images of the supporting data for our glove choices. The gloves used in professional manufacturing are the woven glove types (see first image) which are cut resistant but allow the worker to feel the workpiece being handled, as they are thinner than mechanics gloves. The second image shows an issue we faced in the lab. The unbranded glove deteriorated at the inside surface, but we can't review any technical data to learn and make a correction. This prompts us to upgrade to a professional brand with part number & technical datasheets. The third photo shows documentation that ships with our MCR Safety branded mechanics gloves, featuring real goat skin.
Gloves Docs What is the SOURCE of the glove choices? The source is a whole technical evaluation, and it is documented & opened (hence open source). Two documents have been made to record the research for the glove choices. The 2026_glovesData.pdf holds the research information - queries and alternatives explored with datasheets & variations available. The 2026.04_LabGloves.pdf document has photos of the four glove models ordered. This document is where future discovered defects or information can be noted and new choices added.
Air filtration becomes highly relevant once we have the tools to control it. Since 2018 (8 years now) I have used two air filter models for the room, HPA300 and HPA200. Both units have performed fantastically and predictably, and helped me understand air filtration. The benefits are as follows:
- The user can control the power level - the low power setting is quiet and efficient, at about 40 watts and gently performs a continuous circulation of the air. Larger fans move air with lower RPMs and this is the main benefit of the larger HPA300. If a chemical is opened or a soldering task emits a lot of smoke, the power can be boosted to medium, high, or TURBO, and quickly eliminate smells in the whole lab in just a few minutes.
- Momentary tasks: If there will be a job of sanding to be done, especially with dusty work, the sander will be hooked up to a HEPA vacuum and the filter is switched to turbo mode. With this combination, a dust mask is used still but can be taken off as soon as the sander is switched off.
- These filters are good indicators of your month's air quality. The carbon prefilter begins a noticeable dust layer after a month and usually gets changed quarterly. If one needs to save money, you can vacuum the prefilter in between changes. The prefilter contains carbon substance that collects VOCs - dust can be vacuumed out but not the volatiles of course.
- Low cost to maintain and interchangeable - the Honeywell brand has a huge market presence and their models are popular enough to drive third party manufacturers of filters. So, these filters and prefilters are available at competitive pricing, and they have one matching filter design between models (HPA100, 200, 300). It is easy to find a multipack that has 6 filters for $40 and multiple prefilters, which can be bought large and cut to size for the smaller filter.
- Smart Devices - These Honeywell models seem to be truly engineered for the user's benefit. The fan power is adjusted based on the filter condition where more dust buildup will cause the fan to slightly increase in power and noise. When installing brand new filters, you can hear the noise drop lower. They have a simple indicator for prefilter-check and filter-check with LEDs based on the hours of usage, which is great if you forget to note when the filters were last changed. And lastly, it is easy to purchase spare filters and compare the appearance side-by-side. You can tell very readily how darkened the white HEPA filters have become, and if they need a change.
- order Honeywell filter HPA300
- order Honeywell Filter HPA200
- order filter refill packs
The photos below show my model HPA300 including the front grille removed (tool-free) and with the prefilter removed.
Lighting is a facility element that can be optimized to enhance the workspace. The specific brand of lighting is less crucial than the arrangement and control that suits our needs. Bright overhead lighting is a starting point with a neutral color that can support photography and video clips for engineering communication. The ability to show materials, surface finishes, and fluids in captured media is crucial for reproducibility and instruction, and overall knowledge retention. All of the photos posted here in OpenLab have a quality level that starts with the main overhead lamps and a clean painted white ceiling.
For the room having 330 square feet (30.5 square meters) and a ceiling of 8 feet (244cm) the main lights are 5 units of LED "shop lights" rated at 5,000 lumens each. This comes out to 5k lumens for 6 square meters, and I would recommend 1k lumens per square meter. There are two models since one model was discontinued and there is presently no specific recommendation for the lamps models, since these units have not proven to have fantastic longevity. With these main lights and the walls and ceiling painted white, this is enough light that I would recommend the same quantity as a minimum. Then if there will be camerawork and video-shooting, more light is still recommended for the specific area of the video subject.
Shop Lights Links
- Shop lights, 7k Lumen By Hypertough at Walmart
- Shop light 7k Lumen By JESLED on Amazon
- The Hypertough I actually installed and the JESLED is my recommended alternative if you shop Amazon, 2 pack for $49.
Two lessons from lighting installations are as follows:
- The shop lights can be installed upside-down and oriented at the ceiling to spread the light better in the room, eliminate bright spots for the eyes, and reduce harsh shadows overall. This is highly recommended.
- Some lamps come with pivoting beams so the angle of the lighting can be adjusted, and this is fantastic for arranging the specific spaces. Also recommended.
The below photos show the arrangement of lights in the lab, the lamp end-face where linking is possible, and the second (newer) lamp model with white color.
A great number of tools are not yet documented but you can still access the data describing these tools selections, some modifications, notes on special-purpose tools & labels for supplies with instructional info embedded. We want users to have access to exactly the devices & supplies we use in our projects. In the early stage of this project, I will post documents which contain collections of tools & devices that make up the lab. In time I hope to raise the accessibility so you can find a specific product label simply with the search function on this page.
- Get Tools_Scans_2025 PDF with 36 pages of tools labels
- Get Tools Scans 2024 PDF with 48 pages of tools labels
- New scans are ready (2026 April) and getting cleaned up for posting.