Zivko the Robot. Our best selling STEM kit ever! Just call her (or him--it’s unclear and we don’t like to ask) “Zivko” because “the Robot” is her last name. Using just a screwdriver and side cutters, you build Zivko from this 107-piece S.T.E.M. kit. Set the mode for “Follow Me” or “Explore,” and Zivko will, yes, track you, or evade obstacles, respectively, via an infrared sensor and micro-controller programming. Interactive LEDs and sounds abound. Measures approx 5" x 5-1/2" x 6-1/2" when assembled with all (6) legs. You add (4) “AA”s for power, which is the least you can do for someone this cute. Ages 10+.

Clip a light or driver on your pocket, because sometimes a big ol’ tool is great and other times all you need is a little one. This nice two-piece combo pack includes a sturdy 5-3/8" long LED Versa Beam® penlight-style flashlight with 2 light levels including a blinding 200 lumens hi-mode, slide focus and pocket clip. The pocket driver includes (8) precision bits, 2mm & 3mm slotted, #1 & #2 Phillips and T5-T8 Torque bits that store in the 4-3/8" knurled body and, of course a pocket clip. Set comes with (2) AAA batteries.

..my sweet engravable you. Safeguard your stuff with this little battery-powered engraving pen. The 1/16” dia head vibrates to let you inscribe your ID on stuff  that might otherwise wander off. Surprisingly effective for a lightweight tool. Measures approx 6” long x 1” dia and works on metal, wood, glass, plastic, leather and more. Runs on (2) included “AA” batteries.

Techie Alert!  Techie Alert! This low-profile LCD readout hand-held switching power supply has constant voltage and current modes adjustable from 0.3 to 30VDC and 0-3.75A with a max 50W output. It is regulated and you can preset up to (5) V/A and there is also a dual USB 5V 2A output mode to charge your devices. The 2.9" backlit LCD display has adjustable contrast. Comes with a 6-foot power cord but you’ll need to add your own banana leads. A quality Velleman piece that doesn't come along in surplus very often. Originally sold for $149 

The boys in the back room called this IZoom Pro™ flashlight ludicrously bright, and they’re usually right. Rated at 300, 1200, and 2500 lumens with a strobe setting, light is through a reticular COB LED element with an adjustable focus lens. Takes (6) “AA” batteries, and they’re included. Measures 7” long x 1-1/2” dia in black aluminum alloy body. Has up to a 4-hour life, depending on the beam strength you use.

Just like the classic Yankee drill, but for the kitchen. Has that “as seen on the television” kinda feel. You push the handle of this 10” long spring-loaded whisk and it spins clockwise on the push, and reverses when you let up on it. The 10-tine head is 2-1/8” dia at the bottom x 2-1/8” long, with a little center pin to keep it off the bottom of the bowl or jar or whatever. In stainless steel.

You do close work? Slap on these eyeglass-style magnifiers and make your life a bunch easier. The plastic frames are 5-1/2” wide with adjustable interpupillary distance, 4-1/2” long temples and an adjustable 12” elastic strap. Comes with (4) sets of lenses, 10X, 15X, 20X and 25X, illuminated by LED arms at the sides of the lenses. Replaceable button-cell batteries included. These could also be the steampunkiest-looking item we’ve ever offered.

Go on, take a chance with Futurama Universe X from Kidrobot®. For less than the price of a chicken and waffle slider, we’ll send you a blind, sealed pack, possibly with with one of the Frys, Leelas, Benders or Zapps, or Dr. Zoidberg, Morbo, Hedonism Bot, Roberto, Calculon, Slurms or Robot Devil, among others. We don’t know what’s in the blind pack and neither will you until you open it…you know the drill, right?

And you can’t lose. Really. Five bucks buys you (4) good quality artists’ paint brushes, 5” to 12” in length, from an extremely assorted collection. You’ll get sable, nylon, ox hair or camel hair, long or short, very fine to very wide, round to flat, in sizes from very fine to very wide, all from Duro Art Industries in Chicago. Gives you something to look forward to.

Can't beat a classic. These uncoated ceramic donut magnets have a 1-lb pull, which makes them dandy for classroom or refrigerator use. They measure 1-1/4" dia x 3/8" ID x 3/16" thick and are polarized on the faces. You get a wrapped roll of 29 donuts.

Da Mare could use this to point out cracks in the infrastructure at Wrigley Field. You, having a forgiving nature, will resist the urge to point out cracks in da mayor's infrastructure. You will, of course, use it to point out chimney cracks to the tuck-pointer, a cracked limb to the tree-trimmer, and the crack in your profit picture during a slide presentation. You can do all that and much, much more with the bright light from this 5mW green laser pointer. It's an unbelievable tool. If you need a laser pointer that seems to go on forever and is so strong that you can actually see the beam in the dark, it will be the best low-cost investment you ever made. Or the coolest high-end toy. The 532nm Class IIIa light is 5-5/8" long x 1/2" dia, with (2) "AAA" batteries (not included), a momentary-on switch, pocket clip. (Sorry case not included). An absolute necessity for construction, surveying, warehousing, inspection and other large sites. And for playing in the dark.

Prick tiny bits of gunk from nasty places with these U.S. made hardened stainless steel dental tools. But please don't use them for dental work. They are slight seconds, and some may have been re-worked which only matters to teeth. Trim excess glue from models, place a barrel on the deck of the ship-in-a-bottle, clean a rasp. If you need the strength and durability in a tiny pick, you need these tools. We have an assortment of the sort you've seen laid out on your dentist's tray. We'll pick (3) different ones for you.

Don’t stick cotton swabs in anyone’s ears, even your elephant’s, although the largest of these will be tempting. Our each is a giant 325-piece pack of single-tip cotton swabs on wooden sticks and in (6) different sizes. The smallest is about what you’ve got in your medicine cabinet, and the rest range on up to the elephantine, 8-1/2” long with 3/4” dia swabs on the end. Were thinking artists, art restorers, auto detailers, electronics techs, gunsmiths and fussbudgets of all sorts will love them.

It doesn't get much cooler in the robotic-arm-kit game. The assembled STEM educational arm is 15" tall x 9" long x approx 3-1/2" wide. It's 2-pronged hand opens to 1-3/4", lifts up to 3.5 oz (100g), swings 120 degrees at the wrist, pivots 300 degrees at the elbow, and sits on a base that swings 180 degrees up and down and rotates 270 degrees, like, well, an arm. Controlled by (5) 2-axis joy-sticks and powered by (4) D-Cell batteries that you provide. Includes a hand-mounted search light and over-torque and gear-breakage alarms, which is more than your arm has. Requires a diagonal cutter and Philips screwdriver for assembly of its 200+ pieces and is made for ages 12 and up.

Velcro®, Velcro®, Velcro®. We get so tired of all the time having to say “hook-and-loop fastener” that we get super-excited whenever we have actual self adhesive Velcro® brand Velcro® in stock. Which is what this is. Each piece is 5/8" wide x 13-1/2" long, in black, and includes both sides. Our package of (5) nets you (5) sets. Velcro®!, Velcro®!, Velcro®!

Based on drawings from Da Vinci's Codex Atlanticus, this Pathfinders catapult kit uses a pair of bent wooden arms as springs to launch clay balls (included) over (4) meters at enemy fortifications (not included, go make your own enemies). The assembled model will be approx 9" tall on a 10" x 7-1/4" base. Made from pre-cut, untreated wood from sustainable forests, and built with pegs for added strength and verisimilitude. A 2013 Creative Child Magazine Top Toy of the Year Winner and a great resource for STEM activities. For ages 12 and up.

Donut magnet you can take to town!! 74mm dia x 14mm thick with a 30mm hole. Very strong and well pedigreed - in fact, its kin are activating pacemakers. They are of a high permeability ferrite material with a lovely light blue or white epoxy coating. Okay, we have them because there is the odd bubble, slight scratches or the word MAGNET painted in the coating which ruled them out of the medical ball, but they're fine company nonetheless. Good display bases, paper clip traps, and super for classroom demos.

Let there be light. Without switches. These (2) pivoting light bars at 6-3/8" x 1-5/8" x 3/4" with two 2" COB LEDs are motion- and light-sensitive (with a 30-second auto-off feature), and can be mounted pretty much anywhere via their self-adhesive strips and disc magnets. With 90-degree tilt-ability and rated at 300 lumens, these little lights are about as bright and versatile as anything this size can be. Each package comes with (2) light bars and (3) AAA batteries for each. Get a couple and you’ll probably be back for more.