Comic Transcripts

[[A banner at the top reads: “Striving boldly into new arenas (and losing interest)”]]

[[A large picture shows a box full of stuff, captioned: “Why let the detritus of previous failed projects clutter up your workspace and demoralize you? PUT IT AWAY FOR GOOD.” “BUILD A JUNK BOX – For all your unifinished projects”]]

[[The article reads: “MATERIALS. This plan builds a 4″ x 8″ x 16″ box. We advise using reclaimed materials whenever possible. One box (4″ x 8″ x 16″ or larger); Assorted junk.”]]

[[“DIRECTIONS. 1. If the box you have obtained is larger than the prescribed size, cut it down to size. We have done extensive testing and our size is unequivocally the best. If your box needs to be watertight (say, if some of your unfinished projects involve plumbing, rainwater reclamation, or crab-husbandry) be sure to seal the new seams you are creating with plumber’s goop. Also take care to cut straight so that your seams will join smoothly. Really 80% of this project is getting the seams right. The rest is just putting stuff in a box.”]]

[[“2. Once your box is cut to size and sealed (as necessary), place your old project materials in the box. Create dividers if desired. We recommend putting the oldest projects nearest the bottom to create a sort of strata of failure. That way you will not be too discouraged when you open the box; you will only see the birdhouse you failed to finish last week, rather than the solar-powered water-heater you discovered was way over your head three and a half years ago.*” “*For example.”]]

[[Another picture shows some sort of box, circular diagrams, illegible writing, and what looks like a gear inside a pizza.]]

[[“3. Our simple pattern for the box (left) includes hinged walls held in shape with cotter pins. This way, should you fail to complete construction of the box itself, you may simply remove the pins and place the loose pieces within the general shape of the half-formed box. This recursiveness cuts down on waste.”]]

{{Alt-text: NEXT ISSUE: Building A File Box For The Projects You Clipped Out Of Magazines But Will Never Actually Build}}

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 5 (of 8) transcribed by in

[[A banner at the top reads: “Striving boldly into new arenas (and losing interest)”]]

[[A large picture shows a box full of stuff, captioned: “Why let the detritus of previous failed projects clutter up your workspace and demoralize you? PUT IT AWAY FOR GOOD.” “BUILD A JUNK BOX – For all your unifinished projects”]]

[[The article reads: “MATERIALS. This plan builds a 4″ x 8″ x 16″ box. We advise using reclaimed materials whenever possible. One box (4″ x 8″ x 16″ or larger); Assorted junk.”]]

[[“DIRECTIONS. 1. If the box you have obtained is larger than the prescribed size, cut it down to size. We have done extensive testing and our size is unequivocally the best. If your box needs to be watertight (say, if some of your unfinished projects involve plumbing, rainwater reclamation, or crab-husbandry) be sure to seal the new seams you are creating with plumber’s goop. Also take care to cut straight so that your seams will join smoothly. Really 80% of this project is getting the seams right. The rest is just putting stuff in a box.”]]

[[“2. Once your box is cut to size and sealed (as necessary), place your old project materials in the box. Create dividers if desired. We recommend putting the oldest projects nearest the bottom to create a sort of strata of failure. That way you will not be too discouraged when you open the box; you will only see the birdhouse you failed to finish last week, rather than the solar-powered water-heater you discovered was way over your head three and a half years ago.*” “*For example.”]]

[[Another picture shows some sort of box, circular diagrams, illegible writing, and what looks like a gear inside a pizza.]]

[[“3. Our simple pattern for the box (left) includes hinged walls held in shape with cotter pins. This way, should you fail to complete construction of the box itself, you may simply remove the pins and place the loose pieces within the general shape of the half-formed box. This recursiveness cuts down on waste.”]]

{{Alt-text: NEXT ISSUE: Building A File Box For The Projects You Clipped Out Of Magazines But Will Never Actually Build}}

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 5 (of 8) transcribed by in

[[A banner at the top reads: "Striving boldly into new arenas (and losing interest)"]]

[[A large picture shows a box full of stuff, captioned: "Why let the detritus of previous failed projects clutter up your workspace and demoralize you? PUT IT AWAY FOR GOOD." "BUILD A JUNK BOX - For all your unifinished projects"]]

[[The article reads: "MATERIALS. This plan builds a 4" x 8" x 16" box. We advise using reclaimed materials whenever possible. One box (4" x 8" x 16" or larger); Assorted junk."]]

[["DIRECTIONS. 1. If the box you have obtained is larger than the prescribed size, cut it down to size. We have done extensive testing and our size is unequivocally the best. If your box needs to be watertight (say, if some of your unfinished projects involve plumbing, rainwater reclamation, or crab-husbandry) be sure to seal the new seams you are creating with plumber's goop. Also take care to cut straight so that your seams will join smoothly. Really 80% of this project is getting the seams right. The rest is just putting stuff in a box."]]

[["2. Once your box is cut to size and sealed (as necessary), place your old project materials in the box. Create dividers if desired. We recommend putting the oldest projects nearest the bottom to create a sort of strata of failure. That way you will not be too discouraged when you open the box; you will only see the birdhouse you failed to finish last week, rather than the solar-powered water-heater you discovered was way over your head three and a half years ago.*" "*For example."]]

[[Another picture shows some sort of box, circular diagrams, illegible writing, and what looks like a gear inside a pizza.]]

[["3. Our simple pattern for the box (left) includes hinged walls held in shape with cotter pins. This way, should you fail to complete construction of the box itself, you may simply remove the pins and place the loose pieces within the general shape of the half-formed box. This recursiveness cuts down on waste."]]

{{Alt-text: NEXT ISSUE: Building A File Box For The Projects You Clipped Out Of Magazines But Will Never Actually Build}}

NEXT ISSUE: Building A File Box For The Projects You Clipped Out Of Magazines But Will Never Actually Build

The Tinkerer’s Handbook, Page 5 (of 8)

  — May 3rd, 2011

[ Tags: , , ]       Permalink: https://wondermark.com/c/tink5/

(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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