Gordon McComb's Gadgeteers Goldmine (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Everyone knows about Benjamin Franklin's shocking discovery of electricity in 1752..." (more)
Key Phrases: light show device, polarized electrolytic, wave communications link, Van de Graaff, Radio Shack, Edmund Scientific (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Gordon McComb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine is one of the most exciting, well-rounded collections of electronic projects available anywhere, featuring experiments in everything from magnetic levitation and lasers to high-tech surveillance and digital commuications. Hobbyists and garage-shop tinkerers will find instructions for building such useful items as a fiberoptic communications link, portable He-Ne laser pistol, laser alarm system, ultrasonic pest deterrent, solar batter recharger, wireless sound transimitter. IBM PC control interface, and many others.

About the Author

Gordon McComb is an avid electronics hobbyist and is the author of 50 books and over thousand magazine articles. He wrote the best-selling Robot Builder's Bonanza the most popular book on amateur robotics, as well as Robot Builder's Sourcebook, Gordon McComb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine, and Laser Cookbook.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 406 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/TAB Electronics; 1 edition (July 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 083063360X
• ISBN-13: 978-0830633609
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #515,934 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars flawed but still pretty cool, May 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Gordon McComb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine!: 55 Space-Age Projects (Paperback)

At first glance, this book seems to be a necessary addition to the average tinkerer's library. However, after purchasing the book I found little inconsistencies between the schematics and the text, typos, or something else which led to confusion and apprehension--as the book starts out by warning of the risk of death with most of the projects if the instructions and safety precautions aren't followed exactly, and repeats the warning with almost every project. Before buying this book I'd suggest becoming very familiar with high-voltage circuits (to the point where you can design your own), otherwise you won't get as much out of it as you should. For example, the first project I tried was the variable xenon strobe, because I found all the parts in a $3.50 kit online, and it's actually two projects in one. The first thing I noticed before building it was that the parts list (the book lists all the components you'll need to build each project) didn't match the schematic--the 555 IC isn't listed. The text says it's the heart of the circuit. Not a big deal, but then the text refers to a third diode, which is neither in the parts list nor the schematic. If this is a necessary part you could blow other components and/or, as the book warns you several times, kill yourself. As an intermediate-level "gadgeteer," I can't figure out if the text is wrong or if the schematic is wrong, and if the schematic is wrong (the text sounds correct) what to do about it. This book isn't really to teach how things work, it's more for an advanced gadgeteer to put his or her knowledge to use. There is a basic explanation of how each project works, but not to the point where you could go in not knowing anything and come away a rocket scientist. Overall I'd recommend this book only to an advanced gadgeteer, or someone who's very serious about learning these types of applications of high-voltage circuits. Once you do understand what's happening, though, this book shows you how to build the coolest things, either from scratch or by rewiring things you'd find at a junk shop, and for that, if you are at that level, I recommend it highly.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great compilation of projects for the intermediate hobbyist, January 18, 2006

By	calvinnme "Texan refugee" (Fredericksburg, Va) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This 16 year-old book is a cut above most electronic hobby books that are published today. Many of the newer volumes appear to be rushed out the door and either are constructed for children or for very advanced hobbyists. This is an "intermediate" hobbyist book in that the author expects that you have some experience in tinkering with electronics, but does not necessarily expect that you have an engineering degree. Like the other reviewers, I found some errors in the instructions and parts lists in this book, so be very careful, especially since the first chapter of this book is dedicated to the danger of working with high voltages! This is not a book that merely involves some LED's and 555 timer devices. Instead, the author's projects include a high-voltage Van de Graaff generator, a tesla coil, and several projects involving lasers. Therefore, for safety's sake you should not just turn your high-schooler loose alone in the garage with your credit card number, the number to the closest wholesale electronics warehouse, and these projects. The final projects in the book are the tamest and safest. These involve a custom robot entitled "Scooterbot", designed long before the age of Lego Mindstorms. There are significant mechanical component assemblies involved in most of these projects, so the reader should be comfortable with mechanical as well as electrical tinkering, and most of all have a strong penchant for safety. However, if you are careful, I think you will find this book's projects both interesting and educational. Plus, it is a real bargain at its very low cost.

6 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Gizmos!, June 16, 2000

By	Randall Barnhart (Earth) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Gordon McComb's Gadgeteer's Goldmine!: 55 Space-Age Projects (Paperback)

I love do-dads, thingamagigs and gizmos, and this book is just chuck full of them! Even better, the writer doesn't assume you're an utter moron, or that you have an advanced degree in Electrical Engineering. Fun and challanging, I highly recommend it.