Make: Easy 1+2+3 Projects

Springboard

By Casey Shea ■ Illustrations by Julie West

You will need

Plywood or soft wood, 4"×6"×¾"

Springs, 2" with loops on ends (2)

Springs, ½" with loops on ends (4–15)

Wood screws, ¾" (2 per spring)

Power drill

Battery (I used a 9V)

Snap battery connector 9V

I get a vicarious thrill watching young Makers’ eyes light up like the LEDs in the conductive dough they’re working with. But that feeling is too often followed by shared frustration at the increased difficulty when they switch to a solderless breadboard.

To ease the transition, I call back to duty the springboard, a 50-year-old relic that’s difficult to find these days, but is ...