Durable, full‑strip desktop stapler in a classic design for everyday office use.

Yes, it’s the Office Space stapler—and yes, the Swingline 747 still earns its keep on my desk. The all-metal mechanism drives up to 25 sheets cleanly without jamming, the full-strip magazine is easy to reload, and the locking anvil lets me switch to temporary tacking when I’m organizing workshop handouts. The red enamel finish brightens the workspace and survives scuffs from gear bags when I take it onsite. After three years, the spring still feels strong and the base padding keeps it from sliding. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the stapler I hand to coworkers when the cheap plastic ones fail.

Iconic red desktop stapler with all-metal mechanism. Staples up to 25 sheets reliably with full-strip magazine and locking anvil for temporary tacking.

Swingline Classic Red 747 Full-Strip Desktop Stapler

Swingline Stapler 747

Desktop P-touch printer with Bluetooth and USB, color LCD, auto cutter, and support for laminated TZe tapes up to 1 inch wide for durable office, lab, and rack labels.

I put the PT-D610BT through another round of labeling projects this fall and it remains my go-to desktop labeler. Bluetooth to the Design & Print 2 app stays rock solid, so I can pull saved templates on my phone, while the USB connection to my workstation lets me import asset logos and Code 128 barcodes from P-touch Editor without hiccups. Brother still ships 17 fonts, 17 styles, 160 frames, and 900 symbols, and the onboard memory retains 90 favorites—my rack, patch panel, and storage bin labels are two button presses away even when the PC is off. The auto cutter keeps 24mm laminated TZe tape cleanly trimmed, and the labels I applied last winter in a warm network closet and on outdoor junction boxes still look fresh after chemical wipe-downs. TZe refills at wider widths remain the spendy consumable, and without the optional Li-ion base you need AC power, but for a shared workspace that needs durable labels on demand this unit continues to earn its keep in 2025.

Desktop label maker with Bluetooth, USB, and color LCD. Auto cutter and laminated TZe tapes create durable labels for office, lab, and rack organization.

Brother P-touch PT-D610BT Wireless Business Label Maker

Brother P-touch PT-D610BT Business Label Maker

Desktop CNC kit with a 300 x 180 mm work envelope, GRBL control, ER11 spindle, and keyed wiring that let makers engrave PCBs, plastics, and hardwood alongside their 3D printing projects.

I rebuilt my Genmitsu 3018-PRO this fall with the bundled GS-775M 20K spindle and it reminded me why this kit is still the best entry CNC platform under a few hundred bucks. Assembly now takes under an hour thanks to pre-wired limit switches and labeled harnesses, and once the frame is squared it happily carves hardwood inlays, FR-4 PCBs, and acrylic panels with 0.05 mm repeatability. I rely on Candle/UGS with stock GRBL 1.1, but the board also accepts LaserGRBL and gSender when I swap to the 5.5 W diode module. The keyed wiring and acrylic safety shield are welcome upgrades for classroom demos, while the offline controller and Wi-Fi relay let me run a short batch without tethering a laptop. Power-wise, ECO passes on my 3 mm birch sheets draw about 3 A at 24 V, and the new spindle runs cooler than the original 10K motor, so tool changes feel less rushed. You’ll outgrow the 300 x 180 mm work area if you want cabinetry or aluminum, but for badges, instrument panels, and PCB prototypes this kit still punches above its price.

Desktop CNC router with 300x180mm work area and GRBL control. Pre-wired harness and 20K spindle perfect for PCB milling, acrylic engraving, and hardwood inlays.

Genmitsu 3018-PRO Desktop CNC Router with 20K Spindle

Genmitsu 3018-PRO CNC Router with 20000RPM Spindle

70W temperature-controlled station with the new rotary encoder interface, T18 tip ecosystem, and rapid thermal recovery for dependable assembly and rework.

I upgraded to Hakko's FX-888DX this spring and it improves on the legendary 888D in all the ways I care about. The new rotary encoder and OLED display let me bounce between leaded 625°F work and 750°F lead-free joints without memorizing button codes, and the heater recovers in seconds even when I’m dragging across big ground planes. I’ve rebuilt keyboard PCBs, swapped USB-C connectors, and reflowed tiny RF shields with the stock T18-B tip, then swapped to chisel and micro-pencil tips in under a minute thanks to Hakko’s keyed collar. The station holds ±1°C once it settles, sleeps automatically after inactivity, and wakes almost instantly, so I waste less solder and stress fewer pads. It still bundles the sturdy iron holder, brass wool, and tip storage slots that made the old unit a staple. The only downsides are the cost of genuine tips and the need for fume extraction, but if you solder weekly this upgrade pays for itself in saved time and saved boards.

Hakko FX-888DX Digital Soldering Station with T18 Tips

Hakko FX-888DX Digital Soldering Station

True-RMS digital multimeter with integrated non-contact voltage detection, low-impedance mode, and compact design for electricians and electronics workbenches.

My Fluke 117 has lived on my bench for five years and it’s still my favorite everyday meter. The compact body and bottom-mounted leads make it easy to wield in breaker panels, while the True-RMS range handles everything from noisy switching supplies to clean mains without drama. LoZ mode has saved me from ghost voltages in industrial cabinets, and the integrated non-contact sensor is a quick sanity check before pulling covers. The backlit display stays readable even in dim closets, and the dial still clicks with that solid Fluke detent. I’ve dropped it more than once and it only shows a scuff. It’s not the cheapest meter, and you still need a clamp meter for high current, but for troubleshooting electronics and household wiring the reliability is worth it.

Fluke 117 True-RMS Digital Multimeter with VoltAlert

Fluke 117 Multimeter

Hands-on reviews of development tools, soldering equipment, and electronics tools for makers. Discover reliable equipment for hardware projects and prototyping.

Tools

Swingline Stapler 747

Brother P-touch PT-D610BT Business Label Maker

Genmitsu 3018-PRO CNC Router with 20000RPM Spindle

Hakko FX-888DX Digital Soldering Station

Fluke 117 Multimeter