Bambu Lab A1 mini
The printer that just works. Auto-calibration means more time designing gadgets and less time fixing spaghetti.
“Great first printer — it basically sets itself up.”
Check it outGear I actually use
Not a wall of random Amazon stuff — this is the real bench. Everything here survives daily use by an 11-year-old, which is the toughest certification there is.
3D Printing
Bambu PLA Basic filament
Reliable, bright colors (the Pixel Radio purple!), and prints clean on basically any printer.
Check it outElectronics
Arduino Uno R4 WiFi
The classic starter brain. The R4 adds WiFi and a built-in LED matrix — perfect for first gadgets.
“This is where I started with code + hardware.”
Check it outESP32 dev boards (2-pack)
Cheap, tiny, WiFi + Bluetooth built in. Once you outgrow the Uno, these power almost every real gadget.
Check it outElegoo breadboard starter kit
Jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, sensors — the box I reach into at the start of every single build.
Check it outWorkbench
Pinecil V2 soldering iron
Heats up in seconds, USB-C powered, and safe enough to learn on (with a grown-up nearby).
“Ask an adult to solder with you — hot end is HOT.”
Check it outThe honest disclosure
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the channel may earn a small commission — at zero extra cost to you. Every commission goes back into parts, filament, and the occasional replacement for whatever I just broke. Nothing gets recommended here unless it actually lives on my bench and earns its spot.
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