Reviewer:
Del Ahlstedt
from Lexington, SC United States
It's a great starter project. This kit will assist in developing both physical and electrical assembly skills. The directions are easy to follow, and will guide even a novice in creating one of the most "useless" pieces of logic circuit driven mechanics.
You'll need a low temp soldering iron, rosin core solder, a pair of needle nose pliers, a set of wire cutters, a small Philips screwdriver, and a pair of scissors. A set of "third-hands" will make work on the small PCB easier, but is not absolutely needed.
Completing the kit will provide hours of entertainment as your friends and acquaintances try and figure out what's happening.
BTW, the LEDs make this version great for dim or lights out rooms.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Awesome!!!!
March 6, 2013
Reviewer:
Scott
from Tulsa, OK United States
I got two of these and built them with the help of my daughter. We both enjoyed them tremendously. I'm going to figure out a way to slow down the "finger" to make it more dramatic. Also, on one of the builds we didn't notice the "protective cover" on the black box pieces. This turned out to be a good thing though, as that box seems built better and is more quiet in operation. We did take the cover off the outside of the box as it had peeled up a bit during assembly (that's when we noticed our error), but left it on the inside of the box. That one box just feels built better as the extra plastic makes the box "tighter" and a tad heavier. So do that if you can while you build yours. We took it 100% off on the second box, and it just isn't the same.
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0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Fun Stuff
January 11, 2013
Reviewer:
Richard
from Riverside, CA United States
This is s great kit. The only complaints I would have is that the plastic hinge model should be discontinued. I would have bought metal if I had know it was offered. Also the battery holder is so tight you can install batteries and have the positive battery contact held clear of the box connector.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
Response to Reviewer: CJ Baar from Aurora
December 8, 2012
Reviewer:
Brett Coulthard
from Regina, SK Canada
As the manufacture of The Ultimate Useless Machine, I have to disagree with CJ Baar's review about the parts being easy to break.
If you drop the machine on the floor, yes it will break.
We were at Maker Faire New York and not one machine broke after thousands of visitors operated and handled them.
They even survived the trip down to New York with United Air Lines!
The Shed would not be selling them if there was a problem with parts breaking.
We stand behind our product and design: free replacement parts including shipping (for one year after purchase).
If you don't find our product completely useless (or defective in any way) please return it for a full refund.
Sincerely, Brett Coulthard CEO The Frivolous Engineering Company Inc.
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0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Great project; poor construction
November 3, 2012
Reviewer:
CJ Baar
from Aurora, CO United States
This is a fun project to build and play with. However, it is another great project brought down by a poor acrylic case. The pieces are very easy to break with almost no pressure at all.
It's absolutely "Useless" (but fun!) 
Fun Stuff 
