Uploaded January 2025 | Updated September 2026, 9 hours ago
Most of the tools in your shop—your table saw, bandsaw, drill press—are ones you’d never leave running when you leave the shop. Unless you’re hearing impaired, the chances of forgetting they’re on are slim.
But tools that produce heat, like a glue gun, soldering iron, or wood-burning tool, are a different story. These tools are invisible dangers, and forgetting to turn them off could be devastating.
Mathias Wandel recently did a video where he wired a bulb onto the end of these tools so he could tell when they were on. If you’re not into DIY wiring, let me show you how a simple splitter might save your shop.
With this splitter, we have two methods. The first is a visual indicator. Attach an LED nightlight to the front of the plug and your heated tool on the side, and when you turn off the lights in your shop, the light serves as a warning that your heated tool is still on.
Another option is an audible indicator. Plug your tool and a corded radio in. When the splitter is plugged in, the radio plays, giving you an audible reminder to unplug it when you're done.
As long as either method is attached to the splitter, forgetting their on will be much more difficult.
Mathias Wandel's video → youtube.com/watch?v=D-vAQClxv-w
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
Most of the tools in your shop—your table saw, bandsaw, drill press—are ones you’d never leave running when you leave the shop. Unless you’re hearing impaired, the chances of forgetting they’re on are slim.
But tools that produce heat, like a glue gun, soldering iron, or wood-burning tool, are a different story. These tools are invisible dangers, and forgetting to turn them off could be devastating.
Mathias Wandel recently did a video where he wired a bulb onto the end of these tools so he could tell when they were on. If you’re not into DIY wiring, let me show you how a simple splitter might save your shop.
With this splitter, we have two methods. The first is a visual indicator. Attach an LED nightlight to the front of the plug and your heated tool on the side, and when you turn off the lights in your shop, the light serves as a warning that your heated tool is still on.
Another option is an audible indicator. Plug your tool and a corded radio in. When the splitter is plugged in, the radio plays, giving you an audible reminder to unplug it when you're done.
As long as either method is attached to the splitter, forgetting their on will be much more difficult.
Mathias Wandel's video → youtube.com/watch?v=D-vAQClxv-w
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
