Gift Guide: Solder: Time LED Watch Kit

John Biggs

Biggs is the East Coast Editor of TechCrunch. Biggs has written for the New York Times, InSync, USA Weekend, Popular Mechanics, Popular Science, Money and a number of other outlets on technology and wristwatches. He is the former editor-in-chief of Gizmodo.com and lives in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. You can Tweet him here and G+ him here. Email him directly at... → Learn More

Thursday, November 15th, 2012
giftguide12-solder

Short Version

Geek parents will get a huge kick out of the Solder:Time watch kit from Spikenzie Labs. It’s a cute kit that contains all the parts you need to make a large, readable LED watch. Just grab a soldering iron on Christmas Day and get cracking.

Long Version

Features:

  • LED screen
  • Laser-cut case
  • Hackable controllers

Info:

  • Requires a soldering iron
  • Available: Now
  • MSRP: $29.99
  • Product page

The Solder: Time is…

… a very cool watch kit. It includes a four digit display and microprocessor as well as a plastic case that stacks up to protect the circuit board. It comes with everything you need in the box including a battery and strap.

Buy the Solder: Time for…

… the kid in your life who wants to learn to solder (I know it’ll be tough to find them, but they’re out there). The watch is easy to build, fun, and the parts are big enough to solder without much help (although you should probably be in the room). My son and I bought this kit at Maker Faire in New York and it took about thirty minutes to put together.

Because…

… soldering is fun.

I mean it really is.

Note that Spikenzie Labs is now offering the Solder:Time II which has a larger LED screen and some on board chips. I found the original Solder: Time to be a bit simpler for my 7-year-old and I to build together.

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