Comic Transcripts

[[A banner at the top says: “Wind us up and set us loose – aimed at the world”]]

[[A poster reads: “A CODIFIED SET OF THE BUILDER’S, CRAFTER’S MAKERS RULES.” A list follows:
NO NEED SHALL STAND UNADDRESSED. There is a way to make things better.
NO CRAFT SHALL PASS UNAPPRECIATED. It is always worthwhile to pause and intake a thing of beauty. Plus, it may spark a concordant idea of one’s own.
THE EFFORT ITSELF IS THE REWARD. Yes, I did spend three days on a device to save me ten minutes. You are missing the point of the process.
A FAILURE IS SIMPLY AN EXPERIMENT. Most efforts will fail. Rarely should the same failure repeat itself.
MISCELLANEOUS PARTS ARE LIFE. I’m keeping that because I will need it someday. Last time I threw something out, I needed it the very next day.
PROBLEMS ARE DESIGNED TO BE SOLVED. Spring into action. Make it happen. Hannibal was right: I love it when a plan comes together.
PROJECTS ARE STACKABLE. It’s not that I’m starting something new before finishing something old – I’m nesting the new project inside the old. IF IT HAS SCREWS, THEY SHALL BE TURNED. If it has bolts, they shall be loosened. If it has rivets, they may get along for a while without being pried open, but that probably won’t last.
IF IT IS BROKEN, IT IS FAIR GAME. Maybe I can fix it. Maybe I can use some of its parts for something else. Maybe I just want clearance to be more rough than usual when opening up the case.
THE INSIDES OF THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL. Let’s see what they look like.]]

[[A badge at the bottom says: “TAKE IT APART”]]

{{Alt-text: NO HONEY IT SAYS ‘TAKE IT APART’ NOT ‘PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AFTERWARDS’}}

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 8 (of 8) transcribed by in

[[A banner at the top says: “Wind us up and set us loose – aimed at the world”]]

[[A poster reads: “A CODIFIED SET OF THE BUILDER’S, CRAFTER’S MAKERS RULES.” A list follows:
NO NEED SHALL STAND UNADDRESSED. There is a way to make things better.
NO CRAFT SHALL PASS UNAPPRECIATED. It is always worthwhile to pause and intake a thing of beauty. Plus, it may spark a concordant idea of one’s own.
THE EFFORT ITSELF IS THE REWARD. Yes, I did spend three days on a device to save me ten minutes. You are missing the point of the process.
A FAILURE IS SIMPLY AN EXPERIMENT. Most efforts will fail. Rarely should the same failure repeat itself.
MISCELLANEOUS PARTS ARE LIFE. I’m keeping that because I will need it someday. Last time I threw something out, I needed it the very next day.
PROBLEMS ARE DESIGNED TO BE SOLVED. Spring into action. Make it happen. Hannibal was right: I love it when a plan comes together.
PROJECTS ARE STACKABLE. It’s not that I’m starting something new before finishing something old – I’m nesting the new project inside the old. IF IT HAS SCREWS, THEY SHALL BE TURNED. If it has bolts, they shall be loosened. If it has rivets, they may get along for a while without being pried open, but that probably won’t last.
IF IT IS BROKEN, IT IS FAIR GAME. Maybe I can fix it. Maybe I can use some of its parts for something else. Maybe I just want clearance to be more rough than usual when opening up the case.
THE INSIDES OF THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL. Let’s see what they look like.]]

[[A badge at the bottom says: “TAKE IT APART”]]

{{Alt-text: NO HONEY IT SAYS ‘TAKE IT APART’ NOT ‘PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AFTERWARDS’}}

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 8 (of 8) transcribed by in

[[A banner at the top says: "Wind us up and set us loose - aimed at the world"]]

[[A poster reads: "A CODIFIED SET OF THE BUILDER'S, CRAFTER'S MAKERS RULES." A list follows:
NO NEED SHALL STAND UNADDRESSED. There is a way to make things better.
NO CRAFT SHALL PASS UNAPPRECIATED. It is always worthwhile to pause and intake a thing of beauty. Plus, it may spark a concordant idea of one's own.
THE EFFORT ITSELF IS THE REWARD. Yes, I did spend three days on a device to save me ten minutes. You are missing the point of the process.
A FAILURE IS SIMPLY AN EXPERIMENT. Most efforts will fail. Rarely should the same failure repeat itself.
MISCELLANEOUS PARTS ARE LIFE. I'm keeping that because I will need it someday. Last time I threw something out, I needed it the very next day.
PROBLEMS ARE DESIGNED TO BE SOLVED. Spring into action. Make it happen. Hannibal was right: I love it when a plan comes together.
PROJECTS ARE STACKABLE. It's not that I'm starting something new before finishing something old - I'm nesting the new project inside the old. IF IT HAS SCREWS, THEY SHALL BE TURNED. If it has bolts, they shall be loosened. If it has rivets, they may get along for a while without being pried open, but that probably won't last.
IF IT IS BROKEN, IT IS FAIR GAME. Maybe I can fix it. Maybe I can use some of its parts for something else. Maybe I just want clearance to be more rough than usual when opening up the case.
THE INSIDES OF THINGS ARE BEAUTIFUL. Let's see what they look like.]]

[[A badge at the bottom says: "TAKE IT APART"]]

{{Alt-text: NO HONEY IT SAYS 'TAKE IT APART' NOT 'PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AFTERWARDS'}}

NO HONEY IT SAYS 'TAKE IT APART' NOT 'PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AFTERWARDS'

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 8 (of 8)

  — May 6th, 2011

[ Tags: , , ]       Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/tink8/

(Start from Page 1.)

Buy a Print

New ways to get Bolted!

July 24, 2026 by David Malki !

In addition to buying things directly from me, the normal way, my game Bolted! is also now available on Amazon dot com.

On that famous website, you can also get the Creature-Crafting Magnets Set, which is made of the same artwork from the game, but is just a weird little trinket (not a playable game).

My kiddo made the elaborate version below to show off just how many magnets you get in the set (it’s 150 pieces in all — this isn’t even all of them).

Also now on Amazon is my set of Multi-Purpose Greeting Cards — a full dozen cards with envelopes in a fancy, unbranded, foil-stamped box!

Event alert!

I’ll also be showing off Bolted! at Greenwood Games, an event in Seattle this Saturday:

Greenwood Games is a free, all-ages community game event that invites players to spend the afternoon walking Greenwood Avenue from 65th to 80th, collecting clues, cracking puzzles, and discovering games made right here in Washington.

Think of it as Pride Hop, ArtWalk, and the Gumshoe all rolled into one,  except the whole thing is built around games and puzzles.​

Local game designers will be set up at different places along Greenwood Avenue in Phinney Ridge (near Ballard). My specific spot will be the “Holy Mountain Phinney Ridge Taproom”. All the information about all the different games & venues is on the website!

(If you’re in Seattle generally but not free tomorrow, Bolted! is also stocked at Blue Highway Games in Queen Anne.)

Next week, I’ll be at Gen Con! I personally will be hanging with my buddy Sam Logan at BFE Webcomics, booth #1217… but I have it on good authority that copies of Bolted! will be available at the CRWN Studios booth, #2549.

Visit one booth! Then the other! The order…is up to you.


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