2020-09-01 Popular Mechanics South Africa.pdf

1 400 000 000 6 72 $7 200 −65°C 2

Pores per cm² Number of rain rooms Number of Cost of each Lowest wind chill Hours it takes to go

in a Gore-Tex Gore has in Maryland, overhead lights in Environmental temperature replicated from −50°C to +50°C

membrane. Germany, the United the Environmental Chamber light. in the Environmental in the Environmental

Kingdom, and China. Chamber. Chamber. Chamber.

TURNS OUT, Gore’s Davis can even bend the direction of the water to simulate rain in wind
DRYNESS Environmental speeds up to five metres per second. In the rain test, both human subjects
INVOLVES A LOT Chamber and mannequins wear a grey cotton T-shirt or long johns beneath rain
OF WATER can mimic garments while walking or standing in simulated downpours. The amount
85 per cent of visible moisture on the undergarments indicates not just the membrane’s
If you’re wondering how of the Earth’s effectiveness in sealing out water, but also how seam tape, pockets, zippers,
Gore-Tex keeps rain from weather and design all work to keep water out. To simulate extreme conditions such as
getting into a jacket while also conditions. open-water sailing and riding a motorcycle in driving rain, there’s an additional
allowing moisture to escape, it has rain room in which technicians can set up a horizontal spray that douses test
to do with the fabric’s pore sizes subjects head-on with the equivalent of up to 560 mm of rainfall per hour
– they’re large enough to let heat while they ride a stationary bike.
and water vapour out but small
enough to keep external moisture, The floor of the Rain Tower is dotted with several drains and measured into
such as raindrops and snow, from 25 square sections that all receive different rainfall velocities and raindrop sizes
getting in. ‘If a water-vapour – values that Davis mapped out with a laser disdrometer. (‘That’s two months
molecule is the size of a soccer of my life I’ll never get back,’ he says.)
ball,’ Davis says, ‘the pores are
the size of a soccer stadium, and popularmechanics.co.za
a raindrop is the size of the Earth.’

Inside the wind-driven
Rain Tower, Gore’s lab techs
run garments through a series
of tests that determine how much
water they keep out as well as how
much vapour they allow (or don’t
allow) to evaporate. When a piece
of apparel holds moisture, it has
what’s known as evaporative
resistance, and it’s one of the
most significant readings the lab
measures. The more water vapour
that stays inside a jacket from
sweat and other moisture, the
clammier you’ll feel. So, the lower
the evaporative resistance of the
test subjects’ garments – meaning,
the more vapour they allow to get
out – the more breathable they
will be and the longer it will take
subjects to overheat.

‘Nothing goes to market until
it passes the rain test,’ Davis says,
walking through the Rain Tower.
With six different overhead water
nozzles positioned 9 m high, this
approximately 3 m × 3 m glass and
stainless-steel room is capable of
replicating any rainfall on Earth
that occurs between 4°C and 27°C
at up to 80 mm per hour, from
a light mist to peak Hurricane
Florence making landfall in 2018.

50 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

$400 000 138 500–1 500 $76 700 $5 000 000+

Cost of Walter Number of washing Hours a garment Cost of a Number of water-vapour Cost of

the apparel- machines used to fabric will spend single-use Core molecules that could fit the entire

testing test fabric durability. in a washing Temperature inside a single Gore-Tex Biophysics

mannequin. machine. Pill. membrane pore. Lab.

PHOTOGRAPHY: EMILIANO GRANADO DURABILITY Fabrics get out.’ And the more that Davis and his colleagues nerd out, the better the
EQUALS washed in tap technology gets.
COMFORT water for 500 to
1 500 hours to And so the washers spin. Down the hall, Walter runs on his treadmill.
When you have to worry test durability. The lights in the Environmental Chamber pump up the temperature for
about whether your paper-thin another round of tests. The data keeps pouring in. Together, these unique
outerwear layer will rip on a tree testing facilities work to push fabrics to their limits, and help scientists find
branch or wear out in the wash, out what makes for even better outdoor apparel. Because the more that Gore
you’ll feel distracted wearing it – understands what makes us wet and cold and uncomfortable, the more we
not to mention uncomfortable, can forget about what we’re wearing – and the more we can accomplish.
should a tear in your shell let
in rain. Durability is an under-
appreciated factor of comfort,
Davis says. And that’s where
Gore’s Wash Machine Area comes
into play. On a large factory floor,
138 standard washing machines
are rumbling like the engine bay
of a transatlantic cargo ship.

This is where Gore simulates
the real-life wear and tear that
its performance garments go
through in everyday use. None
of the machines have lids or use
detergent, and they’re all modified
to run the agitate cycle in eight-
hour intervals, which is tracked
by a computer for each machine
and piece of material. Only fabric
– no actual garments – goes into
these machines because buttons,
zippers, and other features can
damage the equipment over time.
Fabrics go through various tests
in other parts of the lab, then get
washed in the machines in tap
water for 500 to 1 500 hours and,
if they’re not frayed or worn out
by then, go back through the
original tests again. Gore has
40 years’ worth of data using
this method to compare with the
results of newly developed fabrics.

Balancing all the factors that
make outdoor apparel more
effective and comfortable is a
tricky proposition – but one that
Davis enjoys. ‘When I see a large
performance difference in one of
our new products, that’s when we
really start to get excited and nerd

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 51

PRODUCTS

GEAR &
Must-have hardware for humans on the go

GOOD COFFEE, made quickly and popularmechanics.co.za
simply, is a time-tested method to
get through a hard day’s work, or
freezing morning while out camping.
In fact, the applications for good coffee
are endless, so you could say our
Pipamoka discovery has knock-on
benefits for almost all aspects of life.

This portable filter-coffee maker
is made by Wacaco, inventors of the
innovative Nanopresso. The secret to
the travel-mug-sized Pipamoka is the
twist-action mechanism, which creates
vacuum pressure that draws pre-boiled
hot water through the reusable coffee
capsule. All it takes is two minutes of
your time, and a little bit of effort as
you twist the cuff, and you’re left with
piping-hot and perfectly brewed
coffee, directly in the insulated
stainless-steel travel mug.

No disposable pods
or even paper filters are
required, so it’s gentle on
the environment, and the
entire device can be recycled
too. All components pack away
into the lidded mug, making it
convenient for all manner of
travellers. So no matter your
brew preference – long coffee,
cold brew, or espresso-style,
the little Pipamoka has got
you covered.
RRP $46.90
wacaco.com

52 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

WEDGIT ACER TRAVELMATE P2
HOSES AND
CONNECTORS THE TRAVELMATE P2 and its big brother the TravelMate P6 are
constructed for the demands of the modern world, where you’re
SOUTH AFRICANS DERIVE a lot of often expected to work from anywhere. We found that the P2
enjoyment from their gardens – our perfectly embodies our motto for this section of the mag:
mostly sunny weather lends itself ‘Must-have hardware for humans on the go’.
to growing almost all year round.
But watering can’t be neglected, The P2 is loaded with a robust Intel Core i7 processor
and wrestling with a poor-quality and, if you like, an optional NVIDIA GeForce MX230 GPU,
hose and connectors can make this for powerful computing and graphics performance. There
aspect of gardening a real hassle. is a configurable dual-drive system featuring a 1 TB high-
capacity HDD, a super-responsive 512 GB 4-lane PCIe
The Wedgit range of hoses and SSD and a standard 8 GB of memory (which can be
connectors is made to last, boasting upgraded to 32 GB).
fewer moving parts that are prone
to breaking than competing brands. If you’re a Nervous Nellie and security is your
It’s simple to set up and use, making biggest priority, the P2’s got your back. The
changing between accessories a fingerprint reader gives added protection,
cinch. Hoses come in 12- and 19 mm while Windows Hello lets its users easily
diameters, and a variety of lengths access secure information via a fingerprint
up to 100 m, all of which are greatly or using face recognition.
resistant to kinking. The Wedgit RRP R14 999
system features unique coupling shopacer.co.za
technology, where the hose-nut
coupling is extremely strong and SONY HT-S100F SOUNDBAR
highly leak-resistant.
LOOKING FOR ENHANCED sound quality for your TV viewing or music playing,
Hoses from RRP R645 where bass isn’t compromised and there’s crystal clarity throughout the audio
range? Invest in Sony’s two-channel single soundbar. Not only does it deliver
Connectors from RRP R35 a superior surround-sound experience that emulates cinema-style audio, but it
looks great, too, enhancing any audiovisual set-up with its slim-profile design.
vermontsales.co.za It pairs effortlessly via the HDMI Arc cable, Bluetooth or USB.
RRP R1 699
sony.com/za

THE MEATSTICK

PICTURE THIS: Your guests are arriving soon, and you’re hoping
to serve roast lamb that’s cooked to perfection… The heat is on!

There might be pressure, but your stress levels are normal, because
you’ve got a nifty little assistant called The MeatStick helping to keep
you in complete control of the situation. It’s a wireless and waterproof
food thermometer that monitors the internal temperature of your
dish, as well as the external temperature (up to 100°C and 300°C
respectively). This data is fed, via push notifications, to your iOS
or Android device, letting you focus on the important things, such
as socialising with your guests.

To use, it’s simply a matter of inserting The MeatStick into your dish
and setting up the parameters on the app. Place the food (including the
device) into the oven, and The MeatStick will notify you when to adjust
the temperature, or when it’s ready. It boasts a 24-hour battery life,
meaning you can cook almost anything in most appliances.
RRP from R1 300
chad-o-chef.co.za; 011 668 1910

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 53

PRODUCTS

FJÄLLRÄVEN

VIDDA PRO TROUSERS

IT’S ODD HOW sometimes, when you try
on a new item of clothing, it fits perfectly
and makes you feel so comfortable that it’s
as though you’ve been wearing it for years.

These highly durable longs, from tried-and-
tested Swedish brand Fjällräven, offer up
that exact experience.

They’re reinforced in all the right places
– your knees, and your butt – and the water-
resistant and windproof G-1000 fabric
feels tough and long-lasting. There are
six pockets (you can never have too
many), in different shapes and sizes,
for items such as your pocketknife,
compass, lighter, maps, cellphone,
wallet, and more. The circumference
of the ankle cuffs is adjustable, and

there’s a built-in hook down there to
fasten over your boot laces, helping
keep sand and dirt on the outside.

Whether you’re doing DIY work
around the house, or trekking 30 km
on a trail, the Vidda Pro Trousers
will help you to get the job done.
RRP R2 859
arcticfoxafrica.com

54 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

TEXT:TIANA CLINE, LUKE FOLB, MARK SAMUEL, GRANT SPOLANDER; PHOTOGRAPHY: FREEPIK, COURTESY IMAGES HUAWEI THE BOMA
WATCH BRAAI
GT 2e
SOUTH AFRICANS LOVE braaiing together, and the
HUAWEI’S NEWEST wearable is Boma Braai is one of the better-designed free-standing
lightweight (40 g), water-resistant, options out there. It’s accessible from all angles, pretty
comfortable and tracks everything much giving everyone a chance to get in on the braai
you would expect it to … and then action (why leave it all up to one sorry soul?).
some. From sleep to stress; there’s
even built-in breathing exercises Aside from the social advantages, it has a sturdy
and the ability to measure your 8 mm-thick cooking surface, with excellent heat-
blood-oxygen saturation levels. retention properties. There’s a large, central aperture
that allows you to add wood while you’re cooking –
You also don’t need a Huawei perfect for carrying on with the festivities uninterrupted.
smartphone to use it – the GT 2e
works beautifully as long as you’ve Depending on your decor preferences, it comes in satin-
downloaded the free Huawei Health black mild steel, or rustic COR-TEN steel. The external surface oxidises
app. The initial set-up really is a breeze naturally, enhancing the appearance over time (and your braai area); the
and customisation is simple, using the infused copper makes it ideal for coastal applications, creating a barrier
bright touchscreen. Adjust notifications’ against the elements and extending the life of your braai.
buzz strength – do you prefer raise- RRP from R15 000
to-wake or to keep the face display chad-o-chef.co.za; 011 668 1910
always-on? It’s all up to you.
PHILIPS ONEBLADE
Included features such as the
weather, a torch, timer, real-time SHAVING CAN EITHER be a pain (literally), or no big deal, and it’s likely to be
notifications, and alarm are all the latter if you’re tackling the task with a Philips OneBlade. Men’s face shapes,
accounted for – but the fact that it
can automatically track any exercise beards and skin types all differ, so using a shaver that’s versatile is important.
you’ve started is really nifty. There The OneBlade is battery-powered (and also rechargeable, with up to
are 85 custom-workout modes, and if 45 minutes of continuous use), waterproof (for wet- or dry use), and
you’re on a bike or going for a run, you ergonomically designed for easy handling. Give yourself a trim
can see in-depth data (such as distance, (using the 1-, 3- and 5 mm stubble combs), flip it on its edge for
cadence and calories burnt) on the app. precise edging, or shave in a conventional way (though not
Connect Bluetooth headphones if you as close as normal razors, thereby reducing
enjoy training to music, storing your skin discomfort). You should get up to
tunes on the internal storage. Did we four months’ use from a single blade.
mention the two-week battery life? RRP R799
takealot.com
RRP R3 499
NATIONAL LUNA
huaweistore.co.za 1A INTELLIGENT
BATTERY CHARGER

REDUCED BATTERY LIFE is common in stationary vehicles,
including caravans, trailers, boats, and motorcycles. Batteries
need maintenance to survive, and the longer they’re neglected,
the shorter their lifespan.

Many people mistakenly buy ‘trickle chargers’ to maintain their
vehicle’s battery, but these units can cause permanent damage if left
connected. This is why the use of a multistage charger is critical to battery health,
performance, and long-term maintenance.

The National Luna 1A Intelligent Battery Charger is specially designed for both 6 V
and 12 V battery-maintenance applications. And thanks to its ‘float-charge’ feature, it
can be connected to your vehicle’s battery for an indefinite period, keeping your boat,
caravan, trailer, bike or vehicle battery in top condition, thereby increasing its lifespan.
RRP R699
nationalluna.com; available at Outdoor Warehouse stores

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 55

ADVERTORIAL

EPSON

MONO ECOTANK M2170

THIS THREE-IN-ONE EcoTank is a The EcoTank has both USB and WiFi
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with the included black ink.
Every Mono EcoTank printer
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It’s slick and compact (375 mm
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For more great deals visit FNB Connect at https://www.fnb.co.za/fnb-connect/shop.html

Injured
athletes lost what

they loved.

BY JAM ES LYN CH
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE SMITH

58 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

Left: Roy
Tuscany rides

a waveski.
Below: On 22

May 2019,
surfers attend

a High Fives
Foundation

workshop
near San
Clemente, CA.

These boards

bring it back.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 59

ALMOST EVERY WAVE IS OVERHEAD WHEN YOU’RE LYING 1

prone on a surfboard, but these waves? They tower four to six They helped him turn, carve, and decelerate as he made his
feet above the 13 riders on the water. The group – many of them way down the mountain. ‘Adapt and overcome,’ he says.
first-time surfers – chatter nervously while gripping their boards.
Then, a ‘Get pitted, bro!’ erupts across the water from a smiling With skiing conquered, he turned to other sports. Soon he
Roy Tuscany. He sits on a board, paddle in hand, ‘sharing the was mountain biking (he tied the front of his bike to the seat
stoke’ as he calls it. With every incoming set, every aborted ride post of a buddy’s bike and the friend would pull him up hills),
in, every crash into churning foam, Roy doles out congratulations fly fishing, and playing sled hockey. To surf, he learned to use
and high fives. a waveski, a specialised board propelled by a kayak paddle. But
he wanted more. ‘It just hit me, I needed to pay it forward.’ He
The surfers are from all over the country. The ocean outside San wanted to help a large group of people, the way others had helped
Clemente is just another stop on a much larger journey. Somewhere him. So he went to a bank with a Social Security cheque and a little
along the way, each of them experienced a traumatic injury, often bit of raised money, and started his foundation High Fives. The
to the spinal cord or head, sometimes a wound from war. Now organisation’s aim is to help athletes get beyond their physical
they’re returning to sports – and Roy is right there with them. barriers from life-changing injuries. Often, they’re at the bedside

It’s been more than a decade since the aspiring pro skier
launched 130 feet (40 m) off a 100-foot (30 m) ski jump at
Mammoth Mountain in California. He burst his T12 vertebra
and had two plates, two rods, and eight screws put on each side
of his spine. In an instant, his days of competitive skiing and
coaching were over, his plans for the future to work as a mason
gone, along with his mobility from the waist down. But his local
community in Truckee, California – colleagues from Sugar Bowl
(the resort where he worked) and families he coached – as well as
friends from his home state of Vermont stepped up to help. After
two years, people had chipped in more than $85 000 for Roy’s
medical bills. ‘All I had to worry about was recovering,’ he says.
And thinking about how he could get back to skiing.

After nine days in the ICU and 43 days of in-patient rehab,
Roy headed home, having relearned to walk with the help of two
arm crutches. He still had months of physical therapy to go. Just
23 months after his injury, he headed to the mountain, jammed
his feet in boots, pointed his skis downhill – and fell, over and over
again. But he persisted. He learned to use outriggers, small skis
about 30 cm long that fit on to the end of specialised ski poles.

60 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

2 Anatomy
of a
4
waveski
3
1
5
Wheeled trolleys help
of injured athletes within 24 to 48 hours of an accident, peer the athlete get the
mentoring and providing a support network.
waveski into the water
ROY ISN’T THE ONLY SUPPORT IN THE WATER TODAY. but pop off in the

Two High Fives employees and six volunteers bob between waves shallows to maintain
and stand on the shore. They’re ready to help if something goes the performance
wrong, but otherwise they stay back. The goal, says Roy, is to have of the board.
the athletes ‘doing it 100 per cent on their own’. A few surfers ride
flat on their stomachs on a regular surfboard, but others sit on 2

popularmechanics.co.za The seat well and seat
back of the waveski keep

the rider in place and
allow them to control the
board with their hips and

torso. A deeper seat
makes the waveski more

stable, but sacrifices
manoeuvrability.

3

A lap belt secures the
rider and allows them
to use their paddle to
propel and manoeuvre

the waveski.

4

The athlete uses a kayak-
style paddle to get up to
speed and catch waves.
It’s leashed to the board
in case the rider takes a
spill and loses their grip.

5

Like the seat well,
foot wells are
reinforced with

fibreglass and epoxy
resin for durability.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 61

Clockwise from top left: Roy Tuscany is a constant source of encouragement and
fun during High Fives’ camps; Tommy IV helps Vanessa Cantu learn to manoeuvre a
waveski; Tyler Turner takes a break on the beach; Wheeled trolleys help get surfers
to the water; Jeff Easter and Jeff Andrews head out of the water; Adaptive surfer
Charles ‘Chaka’ Webb tries out a standard board; Athletes Vanessa Cantu and
Derrick Ross bond during a break from the waves.

62 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

custom-made waveskis. Many of the waveskis,
including Roy’s, are designed and hand-shaped by
Ian Macleod, owner of Macski Surf Gear. He starts
with a large block of 700 g EPS (expanded polystyrene)
foam. Using templates designed to work with the
individual athlete’s height, weight, and ability level,
he cuts the basic waveski shape with a hot wire. The
shaping is done by hand; it includes contouring in
bottom channels, Vs, or concaves, and rounding off
the top. Ian blends in the side rails, a seat, and foot
wells. Finally, three to five fin boxes are added to help
the waveski carve and turn on the waves. The board’s
final design and shape have a huge effect on the ride.
A wider board is more stable, but slower; a deeper seat
also adds stability, but it limits an athlete’s ability to
manipulate their hips and torque their upper body
to manoeuvre a tight turn.

Ian coats the finished EPS-shaped board in two
layers of fibreglass (adding extra to the seat and foot
wells for strength), then seals it with epoxy resin.
A waist belt and foot strap keep the rider secure and
let them use their paddle to propel and manoeuvre the
waveski. The waveskis aren’t cheap, starting at close to
$2 000 apiece, but High Fives gives grants to athletes
to buy the specialised gear, and cover other expenses,
such as massage therapy, that insurance won’t. In 2019,
they had already given out more than 121 grants. The
foundation covers all the costs of athletes’ travel to
one of their camps, too (they also have fly fishing,
biking, and skiing trips). High Fives can accept about
half the applicants they currently receive, but they’re
hoping to do more. ‘By introducing sport back to these
individuals, you’re creating community,’ says Roy. ‘You
create connections, conversation. You provide joy.’

AS THE SUN APPROACHES THE HORIZON, MARKING

the end of a perfect day, the athletes paddle in, smiles
across their faces. Today, they surfed. They gather on
the shore for a meal. A campfire has been built nearby.
Sitting around it they reflect on the day, and on all they
have in common. ‘You see people come out of their
shell. Maybe they’re not sure who they are anymore.
They thought their injury defined them; now they see
it doesn’t. Something’s been holding them back and
now you get to see who they are as a person,’ says
Roy. Over 10 years, High Fives has done that for
237 athletes from 32 states, and the organisation
is growing every year. ‘Healing can happen, you can
move forward’.

After the camp, the athletes board planes, itching
for the next camp, ready to get back out there. Roy
heads home; there is still plenty of work to be done.
He and his girlfriend Alana Nichols recently added
one more to their community, son Gunner. It’s
another adventure, and the stoke is high.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 63

PROVISIONS he

BEST BURGER

ow to make t/ BY PM FOODTEAM /
H

ULTIMATE
BURGER

64 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

What you’ll need:

THE U LTIMATE BU FOR THE
CARAMELISED ONIONS
Prep time:
3 tbsp vegetable oil
30 minutes 3 red onions, sliced
1 tbsp brown sugar
Cook time: 1 tsp balsamic vinegar

35 minutes FOR THE PATTIES
1 kg beef mince
Makes: ½ cup raw oats
2 eggs, beaten
4 mega burgers (or 6 medium-sized) ½ onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
Difficulty: 1 tbsp Worcester sauce
1 tsp mixed dried herbs
Easy ½ tsp paprika
RGER ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
6 slices cheese

TO SERVE
1 tbsp sriracha sauce
½ cup mayonnaise
6 hamburger rolls, cut
in half and toasted
2 baby gem lettuce,
leaves picked
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes,
drained and sliced
6 pickles, sliced
2 red chillies, sliced

STEPS TO SUCCESS

1For the caramelised onions, heat the oil over low heat and fry
the onions until golden and caramelised, for about 20 minutes.

Add the sugar and balsamic vinegar, and cook while stirring for

another 5 minutes.

2 For the burger patties, place all the ingredients, except cheese,
in a bowl and mix until combined. Use your hands to really mix the

ingredients together for another 1–2 minutes, until everything is

incorporated into one mixture. Form the mixture into 4 large-sized

patties – or 6 medium-sized, depending on your hunger levels.

3Lightly oil a frying- or griddle pan over medium heat, and then
cook the burger patties for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for a further

2 minutes on the other side.

4Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger patty, cover with
a lid and cook until the cheese is melted and the patty is cooked

to your liking.

5To serve, mix the sriracha and mayonnaise together in a bowl
and spread evenly over the bottom half of each roll. Top with

lettuce, sun-dried tomatoes and a sizzling-hot burger patty.

6Top it off with sliced pickles, a spoonful of caramelised onions
and extra chilli for a little extra zing.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 65

PROVISIONS MOTHERLESS MEAT
While vegan or vegetarian
BEST BURGER alternatives to meat have been
around for ages, in recent years a
BURGER substitute grown from real animal
VARIATION 1 cells has been the mission of some
scientists. Motherless meat, or
1 brown bread roll alternatively ‘cell meat’, is quickly
1 burger patty, cooked becoming a favourite among some
1 tsp wholegrain mustard meat lovers who consider this
½ tomato, sliced substitute a more environmentally
Pinch sea salt conscious option.
Cell meats are made by placing
In-udletpimthaltoeobkuartgethre: Part 1 the stem cells of an animal on a
‘scaffolding’ created for that specific
The patty muscle. For beef, these stem cells are
harvested from live cows and only
When making a burger patty, you want a small amount of cells are needed
it to be both delicious and juicy. Choose to initiate the growth catalyst.
beef mince with around 15–20 per cent The scaffolding is the substance
fat, as it’s the fat that provides the meat from which the motherless meat
with flavour and the all-important stem grows. The scaffolding needs
moisture when frying. to be either edible or discardable,
The onion and garlic adds delicious depending on the type of meat
flavour to the mince, but these bulky grown. Cells attached to the
ingredients can cause the patty to fall scaffolding are then submerged in
apart when cooking. To prevent this, a growth medium, replicating the
add an egg to bind the ingredients. environment of the specific animal.
It’s said that breadcrumbs were originally If it’s a muscle such as a fillet being
added to ground beef when fresh meat created, the scaffolding needs to
was hard to come by. They acted as be edible, as the muscle encloses it.
a cheap filler, allowing cooks to feed However, for the ground beef version
more people for less money. These days, of cell-based meat, the scaffolding
breadcrumbs are more than just fillers… doesn’t need to be edible, as it is
They act like sponges, absorbing a lot of harvested from the scaffolding.
the moisture and flavourful juices in the It’s undeniable that, as science
mince mixture. These juices are retained advances, the meat-alternatives
in the patty when frying, resulting in market will grow exponentially,
a flavour-filled, sumptuous patty. Oats with substantial effects on the
perform a similar function – they’re also current meat industry.
a more popular pantry staple, and have
added health benefits. popularmechanics.co.za
Add paprika, Worcester sauce and dried
herbs to flavour the patty. The Worcester
sauce adds an interesting depth of flavour
that complements the meatiness of the
patty, while the paprika imparts a hint
of smokiness. //

66 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

BURGER BRIEF HISTORY OF
VARIATION 2 THE HAMBURGER

1 hamburger bun, toasted Pretty much ever since humans have
1 burger patty, cooked been herding cattle as a source of
2 tbsp cream cheese food and resources they have been
2 slices bacon, fried producing ground beef. The form,
¼ avo, sliced shape, and texture of the ground
Pinch chilli flakes beef has changed quite a bit over
time and from region to region.
In-udletpimthaltoeobkuartgethre: Part 2 It’s interesting to note that, by the
beginning of the 15th century, it
The bun was a valued delicacy throughout
Europe and generally consumed
The PM food team’s pick for the ultimate by the upper echelons of society.
burger’s best bun is a bakery-style seeded In poorer communities, ground
brown bread roll. beef recipes were made from
Ideally, the bun should have a soft middle the cheaper cuts of meat, usually
that easily moulds around the patty and mixed with some additional fat
fillings, and doesn’t present an obstacle and occasionally extra cartilage.
when taking a big bite. It should also The meat wasn’t usually grounded
absorb some of the juices and sauces, into mince, but cut into extremely
in the process helping to enhance the small pieces by hand. It wasn’t until
flavour of the burger. the 19th century, when the hand-
The crust of the bun needs to be slightly cranked meat grinder was invented
crispy, encasing the fillings well and by Karl Drais, that beef was ground
preventing the entire burger from falling into the long, thin strands that we
apart while you eat it. Brown bread makes know today.
you feel as though you’ve had a satisfying Though the evidence isn’t clear, it’s
meal, and has the added benefit of extra been said that the name ‘hamburger’
fibre. The seeds add flavour and texture. has its origins in Hamburg, Germany,
A few other tasty roll options include the though there are many other claims
basic soft hamburger bun, ciabatta rolls, to the contrary. In the 19th century,
paninis, brioche buns and, if you’re feeling beef from German Hamburg cows
even more adventurous, garlic bread. // was minced and mixed with garlic,
onions and seasoning to form
popularmechanics.co.za patties. These were called Hamburg
steaks and were valued for their
quality. When German immigrants
fleeing political revolutions in their
own country started arriving in
America, they brought with them
the recipe for Hamburg steaks.
Subsequently, many of these
immigrants opened restaurants
and offered this as a popular (yet
quite expensive) item on the menu.
The hamburger that we know and
love today is generally credited to
Walter Anderson and Edgar Ingram.
They developed a special hamburger
bun in 1916 and opened White Castle,
the world’s first burger chain, in
Kansas in 1921.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 67

PROVISIONS BURGERS OF THE FUTURE RECIPES & STYLING: KATETURNER; STYLING ASSISTANTS: BRYAN BIGGS & DYLAN NORTON
Despite the global drive to reduce PHOTOGRAPHY: SAMANTHA PINTO/HMIMAGES.CO.ZA; PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT: K-LEIGH SIEBRITZ
BEST BURGER greenhouse emissions and to move
away from large-scale commercial
BURGER cattle farming, humanity’s desire for
VARIATION 3 meat is predicted to increase over the
coming years. This predicament has
1 small ciabatta roll, heated prompted the search for innovative,
1 burger patty, cooked environmentally friendly solutions.
½ cup sliced mushrooms, cooked
Handful basil leaves The most commonly promoted
½ wheel feta, crumbled alternatives are vegetarian- or vegan
1 garlic clove, sliced and fried substitutes to meat, consisting primarily
of soy, potato or wheat protein, and
In-udletpimthaltoeobkuartgethre: Part 3 various legumes and other vegetables.
For now, these remain one of the most
The toppings affordable alternatives.

Sriracha mayo: We included sriracha mayo The Impossible Burger (impossible
because of its creaminess and touch of spice. foods.com) and its various competitors
Sriracha mayo is slightly sweet, spicy and is another hot topic. These meatless
tangy, with a hint of garlic. The viscosity burger patties that are made from plants
of the mayo allows it to seal the bottom contain an enzyme called ‘heme’, which
half of the bun and stay in place while you gives them the bleeding characteristic
add the rest of your toppings. The flavour and taste of real meat. However, even
is quite neutral and doesn’t overpower the in the US, where a higher demand
rest of the flavours, as is sometimes the exists, the brand is still struggling to
case with tomato sauce. break into the commercial market.
Lettuce: Adds freshness and crunch. In For now, South Africa doesn’t seem
addition, it acts as a barrier, protecting your to have the infrastructure or market
roll from absorbing all the juices of the burger, to support this. (A stukkie vleis seems
preventing it from becoming a soggy mess. like the preferred choice, for now.)
Sun-dried tomatoes: The flavour of sun-
dried tomatoes is a lot more concentrated While most meat lovers may not be
than fresh tomatoes, giving a wonderful swayed to meat-free alternatives, they
and intense burst of flavour. They contain might be willing to consider meat that’s
less water too, which means no dribble of grown from animal cells. This is where
tomato juice down your chin when you take motherless meat (see more on page 66),
a bite. Be sure to use sun-dried tomatoes otherwise known as lab-grown meat,
packed in oil as these are softer and can be comes into the picture. And it’s just
used as is without rehydrating. that: meat that never had a parent.
Pickles: These are a classic ingredient on
any sandwich or burger, but have you ever Insect protein has been working its
wondered why? The sharp tang and acidity way into the meat-alternatives market,
of the pickle works as a palate cleanser, too. Many countries have been using
allowing you to appreciate the flavour insects as a source of protein for
of the rest of the ingredients. decades, and it makes sense to
Caramelised onions: Onions are naturally implement this more widely. For
sweet and, when cooked over a low heat with now though, the insect-protein
some sugar and vinegar, become wonderfully sector remains small.
caramelised and a great complement to the
umami taste of the burger. The concept of tomorrow’s burger
Chilli: Included purely for those who enjoy might lie in asking why, in spite of
a bit of a zing in their meals. // the simplicity of its ingredients, the
hamburger remains such an important
68 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 item in the culinary world? It seems,
aside from its deliciousness, there’s
a nostalgic connection, and it evokes
memories of good times and certain
experiences. For the sake of planet
Earth, perhaps the answer can be found
in forming new emotive connections
with alternative meat sources.

popularmechanics.co.za



PROVISIONS

THE BUN FOOD STYLING: JULISSA ROBERTS; PHOTOGRAPHY: RALPH SMITH
SCIENCE Brush it with
OF THE clarified butter,
PERFECT the butterfat you
BURGER get when you melt
unsalted butter and
Here’s how to optimise skim off the foamy
taste and texture to milk proteins. Then
elevate any burger, toast it in a pan or
according to Chef Daniel on a flat grill. That
Wilson, author of The caramelises the
Burger Lab: The Art and bun and steams
Science of the Perfect the bread, which
Burger and founder of allows the bun to
the Australian burger compress around
chain Huxtaburger: the ingredients.
Toasting creates
PICKLES a crisp barrier so
These are an that the sauces
essential part and meat juices
of a burger. They don’t make the
add acid, which bun soggy.
helps counteract
the fattiness of LETTUCE
the meat. AND
TOMATO
MEAT These add
Use the best beef freshness and
you can, and do counteract the
not adulterate it richness of
with fillers and the patty.
spices. You want
to taste the meat. CHEESE
I add only salt and A slice of cheddar
pepper and prefer is best. ‘American’
grass-fed beef that’s cheese is not real
80 per cent lean and cheese and should
20 per cent fat. Fat never be used.
keeps meat moist
and helps raise the SAUCES
temperature while Use only tomato
cooking, which sauce, mustard, and
promotes the mayonnaise. This
Maillard reaction trio adds sweetness,
(browning) and acidity, richness,
caramelising. and flavour. Put
on a little bit more
than you think
you need.

EAT IT Grab the burger by placing your fingers underneath the bottom and your thumbs on the top, and then bring it to your mouth
UPSIDE in an arc. ‘It’s the most comfortable way to eat a burger,’ says Daniel. ‘To me, thumbs under the bottom and pulling towards
you seems unnatural. Whichever you prefer, just embrace the mess of sauce running down your forearms and enjoy!’
DOWN

70 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

STATIONERS

1 5 F l a t R o a d , R y l a n d s , C a p e To w n , 7 7 6 4
Te l : 0 2 1 6 9 1 3 5 2 2 | F a x : 0 2 1 6 9 1 7 8 4 0
a dmin @ a a a st a t io n er s . c o . z a
www . a a a st a t io n er s . c o . z a

PROVISIONS

10 3 Turn up the heat on a gas grill to burn 8REVERSE
off as much grease and food particles SEAR ON A
HACKS CLEAN as possible before cooking; otherwise CHARCOAL
EVERY YOUR you’ll get a rancid flavour from the CHIMNEY
GRILL burning grease. Clean the underside STARTER
GRATES of your grill grates, too, where greasy
crud tends to hide. The best grill scraper ‘You’ll get a serious
is also cheap and safe – a wadded up piece crust on a big steak,’
of aluminium foil. It won’t leave behind says braai expert Jess
the dangerous wayward metal bristles Pryles. Slow-cook the
from grill brushes that can stick to food. meat until it reaches an
internal temperature of
G R I L L- 4TAKE YOUR 6GRILL 52°C. Meanwhile, fill a
TIME TO PERFECT chimney starter halfway
MEISTER FLAVOUR MEAT CHICKEN with charcoal, and light.
WITH SMOKE BREASTS Wait for the coals to ash
SHOULD over. Place grill grates over
‘Meat absorbs aromas, Ever cut into a grilled the top. Using tongs, place
MASTER but it takes a lot of time, chicken breast only to your steak on the grates,
hours, for smoke to find the centre uncooked and cook a minute per side.
1 CONTROL YOUR penetrate meat well,’ even though the edges
TEMPERATURE says food scientist are nicely grilled or even 9DOUBLE UP
Jonathan Deutsch. charred? That’s because ON TOOLS
It’s the most critical rule for Best wood chips to their teardrop shape
cooking outdoors on gas. And smoke: apple, cherry, makes them difficult To prevent contaminating
the only way to nail it is with hickory and walnut, and to cook evenly on a gas your cooked meat with raw
a meat thermometer. ‘A gas mesquite, which imparts grill. Here’s the solution: germy juices, designate one
grill is really an outdoor oven a distinct flavour. Pound the breast flat with tool for raw meat, the other
with a lousy thermometer,’ the bottom of a cast-iron for cooked.
says Meathead Goldwyn 5DIMPLE frying pan (cover the
of AmazingRibs.com. ‘Get YOUR meat with plastic wrap 10
some duct tape and cover BURGERS before pounding to
that built-in thermometer.’ prevent raw juices ‘GRILL’
Then buy the best digital To cook a burger patty to from splattering on BURGERS IN
thermometer you can afford perfect doneness, dimple kitchen surfaces). A CAST-IRON
(see The MeatStick on page 53). it. Form the two-cm- FRYING PAN
It’s the most accurate way to thick burger and make a 7PAT MEAT
control temperature. ‘You deep depression in the WITH Burger-meisters like Bobby
can’t actually tell if meat is centre with your thumb, A PAPER Flay and George Motz cook
cooked by cutting into it or celebrity Chef Bobby Flay, TOWEL on a flat-top grill because the
touching it,’ says Meathead. owner of Bobby’s Burger direct conduction of heat
‘That’s a good way to send Palace, recommends. ‘Dry food surfaces brown creates an excellent brown
grandma to the hospital.’ Burgers tend to puff up better,’ says Meathead. colour and caramelisation
under heat, which can ‘That’s why I’m not a on the patty, and the fat
cause uneven cooking, big fan of marinating; helps cook the burger and
leaving the centre raw. moisture on the surface keeps it moist. You can
The dimple prevents that. of meat creates steam mimic a flat-top on your
and prevents browning.’ grill by using a cast-iron
2 Take a pitcher of hot water and pour it slowly If you aren’t marinating, frying pan coated with
NEVER over the top of your gas cylinder. The water will he suggests patting the a little cooking oil.
RUN OUT warm the metal where the cylinder is empty food dry before placing
OF GAS while the metal next to the liquid gas will stay it on the grill. Then
cold. Now, slide your hand down the side of apply a fine coat of oil
the cylinder: The spot where hot meets cold to promote browning.
tells you the liquid-gas level. (It helps to keep
a backup cylinder, too. You don’t want to run
out of gas in the middle of cooking.)

72 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

100% OF
AUTHOR PROCEEDS
WILL BE DONATED

TO BREADLINE
AFRICA

READERS DISCOUNT OF R100 QR CODES LINK EVERY RECIPE IN
https://foodiesofsa.myshopify.com/ THE BOOK TO THE VIDEO ONLINE.
TRY ONE NOW!
CODE: FOODIESVIP
SIMPLY SCAN THE CODE
AND GET COOKING!

*ALL IPHONE AND MOST ANDROID DEVICES SCAN
BY HOVERING STANDARD CAMERA APP OVER QR CODE.

DRINKS
/ BY AARON GOLDFARB /

Trust us,
infusing
whisky is
delicious

T HERE’S A PHASE 12
college students go
through where they 3 4
decide cheap, clear
liquor needs an TWO (MOSTLY) (1) Use kitchen shears to cut glass or a stainless-steel
upgrade. But what, FOOLPROOF FAT the bacon strips into 2 cm container and stir until it
really, can an aspiring WASHES TO GET pieces. Cook over low to dissolves. (3) Allow the
dorm-room mixologist do with YOU STARTED medium-low heat until all mixture to infuse, uncovered,
a non-discerning palate, limited the fat has been released at room temperature for
funds, and not enough time? Ah THE WHISKY and the bacon is fully crisped. about 4 hours, then cover
yes. Infuse. Just throw Skittles 750 ml bottle of Remove the bacon and try to and place in the freezer
or frozen blueberries or any mid-level whisky filter out the little bacon bits for 2 more hours. The fat
other easily accessible sweet or bourbon that have been left behind. will have risen to the top.
accoutrement into the plastic THE FAT (As anyone too lazy to clean (4) Skim that off and strain
bottle and wait. The resulting 4 to 6 strips the morning’s bacon frying the rest of the whisky
concoction is probably awful. of hickory- pan knows, bacon fat will through a cheesecloth.
It will be consumed anyway. smoked bacon eventually solidify. Once it You will have lost a good
does, you can store it almost few millilitres, so the yield
Don’t be ashamed if you went indefinitely.) (2) Combine should be about 680 ml.
through that phase. You may about 30 ml warm bacon fat Funnel it back into the whisky
now have disposable income to with the whisky in a mixing bottle and explicitly relabel it.
buy fancier bottles, but that does
not mean you should quash that popularmechanics.co.za
adventurous spirit – you know,
the same one that drove you to
throw Pop Rocks into Smirnoff.
Harness that desire to meddle
with your liquor cabinet and
you can create some truly wild
and delicious drinks. With the
proper guidance, of course.

The best way to start your
adult infusing journey is with
whisky, a complex and resilient
spirit that pairs so well with equally
bold, complex flavours such as,
say, meat. But don’t just drop
some ground beef into a bottle
of Jim Beam and call it a day. To
infuse whisky with more ambitious
foodstuff, you’re going to need to

74 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020

learn a tricky tactic called ‘fat THE WHISKEY 1
washing’ – first detailed in a 2007 750 ml bottle of Kentucky
Food & Wine article by top-notch bourbon whiskey 2
booze writer Nick Fauchald. 3
THE FAT
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAKOTA GAMBILL Fat won’t dissolve in most 2 cups peanut butter 4 / Once that is the case,
liquids, but it will dissolve in skim the fat off the top, then
alcohol. Freezing that mixture (1) Melt the peanut butter strain the rest of the whisky
until the fat resolidifies, then in a saucepan over medium through a cheesecloth to
straining it off, completes the heat. Mix with the whiskey. eliminate all the solids that
process. This is the only way to Freeze overnight. The peanut are still lingering behind.
infuse a spirit with the flavours butter will sink to the bottom
of, say, brown butter or hazelnuts of the container. (2) Skim the 5 / Put the infused whisky
or, yes, meat, without leaving any translucent whiskey off the back into the original bottle
chunkiness or greasiness behind. top and strain the remaining and store in the fridge to
mixture through coffee filters keep fresh.
I recommend using a full bottle to extract the rest of the whiskey.
for any infusion. You don’t want (3) Repeat, leaving again in
to make too small a batch. You the freezer overnight, then
also lose a bit in the process, so skimming and straining until
I wouldn’t necessarily infuse a the desired clarity is achieved.
really pricey whisky. Look for R200 Another method of peanut-
to R300 spirits. Or buy a bottle of butter washing that has
the really cheap stuff to practise gained popularity recently
with – the higher-proof, the better. is based on a perfume-
making technique called
Anything that has soluble fats effleurage. You spread the
can be fat-washed, from bacon to peanut butter across a rimmed
Nutella. There’s really no right or baking sheet, then briefly pour
wrong with infusions. When you the whiskey over the top before
have an idea, and there’s no recipe dumping the whiskey back
online, just follow your gut. But in into a serving vessel.
general, these steps will give you
a drinkable, properly fat-washed Excerpted from Hacking
finished product. Whiskey: Smoking, Blending,
Fat Washing, and Other
1 / Choose the ingredient(s) you Whiskey Experiments,
wish to infuse. Duck fat, avocado 2018, Dovetail.
oil, peanut bars … go wild! Of
course you might not simply be 3 / Afterwards, put the entire
able to buy, say, duck fat, in which container in the freezer for as little
case you will have to render your as 12 hours but quite possibly for
own. In other words, cook a duck, a couple of days. It really depends.
and instead of tossing the grease You’re waiting as long as it takes for
left in the pan down the sink and the oils from the fat to freeze and
upsetting your landlord when separate from the alcohol – because,
you clog up their pipes, use it remember, alcohol can’t freeze. The
for your fancy whisky infusion. alcohol left behind will be infused
with the flavour of the fat, and the
2 / Add liquefied fat (hot, if texture might be a tad thicker.
possible) to whisky at around
a ratio of 30 ml per 750 ml bottle.
If you can, do this in a container
that allows more surface-area
contact between the alcohol
and the liquefied fat. Let the
ingredients infuse for several
hours at room temperature.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 75

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE

WOODWORKING

76 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

DIY

PROJECT

2 OF 3

Many of us are experiencing a period of
self-reinvention, so what better time is there
to begin a challenging woodworking project?
In part two of our tool-building series, we
guide you through the steps of creating
two wooden try squares.

/ BY TOBIAS LOCHNER; TECHNICAL: MATTHEUS ODENDAAL /

F IRST OFF, some good news, because we all need more of that in
our lives. Traditional Roubo wooden try squares are quite easy
to make, use very little wood, and will serve you well for many
years. Custom wooden try squares have several advantages over
modern metal- and wooden squares – they’re quick and easy to
make, simple to true up, can be made in any size you wish, and
will never rust.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

The name ‘try square’ is actually a much later iteration of ‘truing square’,
in the same way as the ‘try plane’ is an iteration of ‘truing plane’.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 77

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE

WOODWORKING

Our squares are Roubo reproductions. Left: Drawing of MACASSAR
André Jacques Roubo was an extremely an 18th-century EBONY
accomplished French cabinetmaker try square from
working in the mid 1700s in Paris, and L’Art Du Menuisier, (Diospyros celebica)
was one of the very few craftsmen of by Andre Jacques
his time to write and illustrate books Roubo. Macassar ebony is endemic to the
on woodworking practice and tooling. island of Sulawesi in Indonesia and
His works have dramatically helped to This series of woodworking build articles is also known as Amara ebony or
enlighten woodworkers the world over is the perfect opportunity to revisit the hand striped ebony. The heartwood has
about our craft, thanks to the wonderful tools and practices of yesteryear, so why a dramatically striped appearance
efforts of Roy Underhill, Christopher not grab a few of those really special pieces with a yellow- to reddish-brown
Schwarz and others bringing his works into of wood that you’ve been saving for a rainy body, featuring darker brown-
the light of the 21st-century woodworking day and get building? or black striping. The sapwood is
workshop. Roubo’s most famous and sharply demarcated and is pale gold
fascinating written works are L’Art Du For our builds, Seamus and Brendan in colour. The grain is usually straight
Menuisier and Le Menuisier En Bâtiment: Harcourt-Wood from Rare Woods SA or interlocked, and the timber has a
Description Des Arts Et Métiers. (rarewoods.co.za) have graciously come fine, uniform texture with remarkable
on board and donated absolutely gorgeous natural lustre. Extremely sharp and
In the 18th century, it was expected and very rare East Indian satinwood and well-tuned tools are required to
of craftsmen to make many of their own truly exquisite Macassar ebony. If you work this very special species,
hand tools including try squares, marking haven’t yet worked with these species, but the rewards are inspiring.
gauges, clamps and hand screws, winding you’re missing out. Rare Woods has
sticks, story sticks, workbenches, hand recently opened its online shop to South
planes and scratch stocks, among plenty Africa, so now, no matter whether you
others. Roubo’s drawings and detailed live in Cape Town, Koekenaap or Kathu,
descriptions have helped the modern you have access to the very best in local
woodworker greatly in the understanding and international timber species. Rare
of traditional 18th-century woodworking Woods will also courier any order over
tools and methods. R1 000 to your workshop door for free.

EAST INDIAN
SATINWOOD

(Chloroxylon swietenia)

Native to southern India, Sri Lanka
and Madagascar, and also known
as Ceylon satinwood, this is the true
satinwood and is the sole species
in the Chloroxylon genus. Besides
being botanically solitary, East Indian
satinwood has a unique combination
of hardness, very fine texture, natural
lustre, a beautiful ripple grain figure
and unsurpassed colour.

78 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

PROJECT 2:

A PAIR OF
TRADITIONAL
WOODEN
ROUBO TRY
SQUARES

Whether we are power-tool- and machine
warriors, hand-tool purists, or a hybrid of
both, we all use try squares in our work-
shops. (I have eleven at last count, and
will now be adding a few more!) Using
quality tools on a daily basis that we’ve
created from scratch with our own hands
is exceptionally comforting, rewarding and
immensely satisfying.

These try squares are quite easy to build
and I suggest you find some really special
knot-free wood for the purpose.

Using quality MATERIALS
tools that we’ve
created with our » Large try square: One piece
of stable timber for your stock
own hands is (the thicker base of the square).
exceptionally Length: 240 mm; width: 50 mm;
thickness: 24 mm.
rewarding.
» Large try square: One piece
popularmechanics.co.za of stable timber for the blade.
Length: 380 mm; width: 70 mm;
thickness: 8 mm.

» Small try square: One piece
of stable timber for your stock
(the thicker base of the square).
Length: 150 mm; width: 32 mm;
thickness: 18 mm.

» Small try square: One piece
of stable timber for the blade.
Length: 248 mm; width: 46 mm;
thickness: 6 mm.

» Ideally, the thickness of your
stock should always be three
times thicker than the blade of
your square.

» I suggest using a combination
of contrasting light- and dark
timber, using the dark for the
stock and the light for the blade.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 79

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE PROCESS

WOODWORKING STEP 1: STOCK PREPARATION

TOOL LIST As we did with our previous build, begin by cutting all of
your workpieces to size and four-squaring them. Don’t
The joint that connects the stock concern yourself yet with squaring up your end grain.
to the blade of your try square is Ensuring all faces and sides are the correct dimensions
a bridle joint. This is a variation of and are 90° to each other is all you need to do to start.
the traditional mortise and tenon
joint that is open on one side. As in STEP 2: TEMPLATES
our project in the last issue, you can
build your square with either power I suggest that you make templates for the ogee profiles
tools, hand tools, or a combination out of hardboard, MDF, thin cardboard, plastic, acrylic or
of both. I prefer to build these types Perspex. Both Mattheus and I prefer to use clear, 2 mm-
of projects with hand tools for many thick acrylic as it’s simple to shape, keeps a clean profile,
reasons: These are traditional hand is mostly transparent and is hard-wearing against repeated
tools and were historically built by use, however any stiff, easy-to-shape material will do the job.
hand; the process also enables me
to practise and hone my hand-tool LARGE ROUBO TRY SQUARE PLAN VIEW
skills; and I achieve the sheer
satisfaction of having created 8 mm 380 mm
the tool entirely by hand.
60 mm 10 mm 70 mm 10 mm
» Marking/cutting gauge 5 mm
» Marking knife 190 mm 70 mm
» Steel ruler, 600 mm 50 mm
» Mechanical pencil, 0.5 mm 4 mm Plan view
» Japanese Kataba saw or 250 mm

Western tenon saw 5 mm 5 mm
» Mallet
» Jack plane 40 mm
» Smoothing plane
» Shoulder plane 5 mm 5 mm
» Bevel-edge bench chisels 25 mm
» Coping saw 24 mm
» Self-made profile templates 15 mm
» Try square (you need one to
Side view
build one!)
» Low-angle spokeshave LARGE ROUBO TRY SQUARE BLADE-END PROFILE
» Cabinetmaker’s rasps
» French curve set (plastic) 10 mm
» Cabinet scraper
70 mm 55 mm
80 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020
70 mm 55 mm

LARGE ROUBO TRY SQUARE STOCK-END PROFILE

5 mm 50 mm
25 mm

40 mm 5 mm
5 mm

Above: Dowel pins cut into the end-grain of a maple offcut 15 mm
using Veritas Tools’ 6 mm and 8 mm tapered plug cutters.
Below: Laying out the Macassar ebony stock of the try STEP 3: CUTTING THE 90°
square with a Veritas Tools wheel-style marking gauge. BRIDLE JOINT

PROJECT DOWNLOADS The choice is yours whether you decide to cut your end
profiles or your bridle joint first. For our build, we chose
Head to popularmechanics.co.za/category/how- to cut the two sections of the joint first.
to-make to get copies of this project’s drawings.
According to the CAD drawing, lay out your joint with
popularmechanics.co.za a marking gauge, ensuring the blade cut-out is accurately
centred across the thickness of the stock. If you’re using
dark wood for the stock, it’ll be easier to see and follow your
cutting lines by first applying 3M blue masking tape to the
joint areas, then marking out your cut lines and peeling away
the tape from the areas of the timber that will be removed
for the joint. Make sure your cutting lines are crisp and
well-defined – it will pay off handsomely in the creation
of the joint. The thickness of the blade will be the width of
the housing in the stock. It’s advisable at this stage to leave
the blade slightly over thickness and to work the housing
in the stock to the absolute cutting lines. Keep checking for
flatness and squareness within the housing as you progress.
Once you’re happy that the housing is perfectly square
and accurately finished, reduce the thickness of the blade
gradually with a finely set hand plane until it can fit snugly
and squarely into the housing in the stock.

Make sure your
cutting lines
are crisp and
well-defined.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 81

PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE SMALL ROUBO TRY SQUARE PLAN VIEW

WOODWORKING 248 mm

82 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 6 mm 40 mm 8 mm 34 mm
6 mm 46 mm

4 mm

6 mm Plan view 34 mm

32 mm 150 mm
18 mm

4 mm

4 mm 32 mm
4 mm

18 mm 4 mm
6 mm

Side view

SMALL ROUBO TRY SQUARE STOCK
AND BLADE-END PROFILES

32 mm 8 mm
4 mm 34 mm

46 mm

4 mm 24 mm Blade profile 4 mm
4 mm 34 mm
18 mm
6 mm 4 mm

Stock profile

STEP 4: PROFILING THE ENDS
OF THE STOCKS AND BLADES

Following the graph-paper drawings, create
your templates for the end profiles. These are
traditional ogee in style and were widely used
by 18th-century toolmakers.

STEP 5: TAPERING THE BLADES

This is the only slightly difficult part of the process. The
blades need to taper in thickness from where the stock
meets the blade at the inner apex, down to the tip. The
reason for this tapering is that, by doing so, you’ll expose
more sheared end grain and therefore will dramatically
reduce seasonal movement in the blade. (I have tried it
and it really does work!)

Left, top to bottom: Laying out the bridle
joint in the stock; Cutting the bridle-joint sides
with a tenon saw; Inserting the maple tapered
dowels into the assembled and glued bridle joint.

popularmechanics.co.za

STEP 6: DRY ASSEMBLY AND GLUE UP IN THE NEXT ISSUE:

Once you’re satisfied with all of your individual parts and We guide you through the process of
your joints, practise your assembly at least once without building a pair of traditional winding sticks.
glue. This might sound somewhat pointless, but you’ll These deceptively simple tools are used to
thank yourself more than once. We used traditional hide sight down the length of a board to check
glue for our assemblies, as this is exactly what Roubo and
his contemporaries would have used. However, any modern whether it’s twisted, or whether it’s flat.
PVA type of adhesive will work well.
RARE WOODS
STEP 7: TRUING UP THE SQUARE SOUTH AFRICA

When your assemblies are finished, it’s time to ‘square up’ Based in Epping Industria in Cape
your try squares. This is easily accomplished with a shooting Town, with a branch in Knysna, Rare
board with a 90º fence and a shooting plane, or by placing the
try-square stock against a sheet of wood with an accurately Woods has more than 8 000 m³ of
jointed edge, and drawing a thin line on the sheet along the timber available, spread across over
blade edge. Flip the square over and repeat the process,
drawing a second line about 1–2 mm away from the first 120 domestic- and exotic species.
line. You’ll quickly see if there is any difference in parallelism You can order your timber online at
between the two lines. It’s then a quick process to trim the rarewoods.co.za and it’ll be delivered
blade edge with a hand plane and retest with two new lines by courier to your workshop door
until they are absolutely parallel.
– it couldn’t be simpler.
STEP 8: FINISHING THE SQUARES
PHOTOGRAPHY: HENK VENTER BPM
As with the English layout-square build in Project 1, the finish TOOLCRAFT
that you apply is entirely your choice. Boiled linseed oil (BLO),
poly-wax sealers, varnish or Danish oil will all work well. We Visit toolcraft.co.za to search through
chose to finish our traditional Roubo try squares with BLO a wide range of woodworking tools.
and clear paste wax. Your purchases will be delivered to
your door, no matter where you
Top right: Dry testing the bridle live in South Africa.
joint assemblies for perfect fitment.
Above: As the boiled linseed oil is
applied to the stock, the beauty of
the Macassar ebony shines through.

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 83

DRIVING

PM GARAGE

Opinions on cars we’ve driven

Jeep

/ Compass TrailHawk

FIGURES

3-year/100 000 km
warranty

3-year/100 000 km
service plan

From R604 705
jeep.co.za

NOW THAT air exceptionally rare. It’s gutless was a trail-rated Jeep after all. easily a grade-three route with
travel is more on-road – it really feels ancient, Few seemed reassured, though. sections edging towards grade
perilous than mechanically speaking. However its 4×4 credentials do four. Selecting Rock mode and
locking yourself speak volumes: a 30° approach 4WD Lock (diff lock) on the
in a tanning bed There’s also little to suggest angle, breakover of 24.4°, and Selec-Terrain system soon had
while inhaling a it’ll conquer a 4×4 track, which departure of 33.6°. The Trail- the Jeep climbing like a little
can of CFCs, you was worrisome considering our Hawk is 30 mm higher off mountain goat. The 2.4-litre
will need to get used to driving plans in Wilderness. The mission the ground than the standard naturally aspirated four cylinder
everywhere. But rarely does a was simple: navigate the Louvain model, making it 216 mm, and (which is hardly high-tech) may
car make us question our sanity Oxwagon 4×4 trail, a route that the low-range transfer case has only deliver 129 kW, but it’s
and want to call off the whole connects the upper Langkloof a brilliant 20:1 crawler gear. perfect in this environment,
drive… Just for a moment, Valley with the Seven Passes lending linear power delivery
though, the Jeep Compass Road in Wilderness. The owner The trail started easily to throttle input, allowing
TrailHawk was that vehicle. encouraged us to tackle the trail enough, light climbing on for exact speed control over
It happened somewhere from the ‘farm side’ down to old forestry tracks that criss- dangerous, jagged rocks. After
outside Caledon on Route 62. Wilderness, and not vice versa crossed the valleys of the the disappointment on tar, the
Plodding along at 110 km/h, as we’d intended. We assured Langkloof. Forty minutes in Compass TrailHawk outdid
the Compass sat unerringly at him we’d be fine – our vehicle and the rocky track started; itself in the wild. You will be
3 500 rpm. It has a nine-speed challenged to find a better new
automatic gearbox, but so pain- Selecting Rock mode soon off-roading SUV at the price; as
staking and poorly judged are had the Jeep climbing like the TrailHawk name suggests,
its shifts that watching paint it’s simply brilliant on a trail.
dry would be more indulgent. a little mountain goat. But you’ve been warned about
Its forays into ninth gear are its on-road manners.

84 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

Toyota

/ Corolla Sedan

FIGURES

3-year/100 000 km
warranty

6-year/90 000 km
service plan

XR from R433 700
toyota.co.za

TEXT: RAY LEATHERN; PHOTOGRAPHY: MOTORPRESS, QUICKPIC; ILLUSTRATION: MHLANGULI GCOBO IT’S HARD TO imagine It looks magnificent; to the tarmac – exactly where
a time before the Corolla we’re convinced it ought to be.
Sedan existed. Indeed, it’s the best-
for whatever reason, the There’s an unstressed 2.0-litre
humble Corolla rose to proportioned car of its under the bonnet – the mill does
the top and became the sort on sale today. duty in the new RAV4 too; while
de facto choice for more it’s not the most characterful
than 45 million wanting family of luggage space. Could it be for many years to come. four pot out there, it churns out
wheels. Does that secretly any more in order? ’Course not, To keep with the times, usable, reliable performance. Our
make it dull? Yes, it does, and it’s a Corolla. Toyota has also shoehorned XR boasted a six-speed manual
the new one is no different. a lot of worthwhile semi- gearbox, which, like the motor,
No matter whether you try That’s not to say Toyota autonomous tech into the XR is more workmanlike than
it quick, slow, aggressively, has overlooked the important test unit we drove, including anything else. The clutch bite
relaxed, forwards, backwards, emotive stuff, because it looks adaptive cruise control, blind- point isn’t that well defined, nor
in its various drive modes … magnificent; we’re convinced spot monitoring and lane- the gates between gears, but,
it remains exactly the same it’s the best-proportioned car departure assistance. having said that, we still prefer
– every inch an unflappable of its sort on sale today. The it seven days a week over the two-
Toyota Corolla. interior is a study in timeless Under the skin, there’s a pedal CVT alternative. Ugh!
Even the specs are a study design and familiar materials, new double-wishbone rear
in correctness: 2.0-litre petrol, just like those found in the suspension, which gives a Despite appearances, the
125 kW/200 Nm, 6.5 L/100 km, Corolla Hatch. It’s a great place wonderfully smooth ride and new Toyota Corolla lacks
150 g/km, 0–100 km/h in 8.0 to be today and will remain so keeps the tail nicely connected outright driver appeal. But
seconds, 200 km/h top speed, that’s just as it should be –
seating for five and 470 litres the Corolla is 100 per cent
the way it is, for better or
worse, till death us do part.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 85

DRIVING

SIM RACING

/ BY R AY LEATHERN /

86 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

South African racing driver David Perel is also a sim-racer
extraordinaire. With this form of racing’s meteoric rise, in
the time of COVID-19, PM managed to catch up with him
to ask where the world of virtual motor racing is headed.

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 87

DRIVING

SIM RACING

David Perel recently competed as an official IMULATORS ARE while he, rather modestly, describes
Ferrari works driver in the Virtual 24 Hours himself as a ‘handy sim racer’, he’s
of Le Mans sim race sanctioned by the FIA for racing drivers in fact just established the Coach
World Endurance Championship. what treadmills are Dave Academy with the aim
for runners. It’s not ‘to improve the race craft and
88 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 quite the real thing, knowledge of sim racers through
but at least you’re coaching by a professional racing
running,’ is the driver.’ Within just 12 hours of
tweet permanently pinned to the launching, the academy was
top of David Perel’s Twitter feed. oversubscribed with hundreds
Although it was posted back in of applicants, and he needed to
2018, way before the outbreak implement a waiting list. Basically,
of the coronavirus, the statement’s his stock in the virtual-racing world
true gravitas has only multiplied has blown up and, by extension,
in light of world motor sport’s so has his standing in real-world
unprecedented lockdown this year. motor sport.
Since March and the beginning of
the COVID-19 shutdown, sim It all started for him at age 12,
racing has enjoyed a massive playing a Formula One game on
increase in popularity and has PlayStation – he realised he could
become a necessary adjunct for use gaming to learn racetracks from
sponsors seeking new outlets for around the world. Three years later,
exposure while real-world racing he got a roughed-up kart to compete
was off the table. in the Western Province regional
South African David Perel is a championship and stuck to using
three-time Blancpain GT Champion, Gran Turismo to keep his reactions
two-time Spa 24-Hour winner and fresh and improve as a real-life
Ferrari GT racing driver for the racing driver. At first, he describes
Italian-based Rinaldi and Kessel the process as ‘a disaster’, as he
Racing teams. Yeah, for real! But tried to transfer an unrefined style
he’s the first to admit his success from the digital world into the real
is rooted in the virtual world. And one with real laws of physics and

popularmechanics.co.za

real consequences. But with Perel credits his talent in
practise, he eventually ironed sim racing as crucial to making
out the kinks and figured out the transition from a karting
how to transfer the gaming ‘has-been’ to real-life GT racing
experience into reality. driver without any actual prior
experience and practise.
After the money for karting
ran out, when he peaked at sixth And he’s not the only
place in the Rotax MAX World one: Lucas Ordóñez and
Championship, he continued Jann Mardenborough, both
playing Gran Turismo and was of them products of the Nissan
excited when the Nissan GT GT Academy from which Perel
Academy was announced – was so cruelly excluded, have
an online competition whereby each won at the highest level in
the winner would get a factory GT cars coming from gaming.
contract with Nissan in the FIA Years later, Perel did get his
GT Championship. Perel took the revenge when he overtook
challenge seriously and, in 2010, the factory Nissan GT-R GT3
qualified fourth out of one million driven by GT Academy-winning
entrants. One million! However, driver Ordóñez, at the Paul
the phone call to progress to the Ricard Blancpain Endurance
knockouts never materialised Series 6 Hour, in his Kessel
because South Africa was not Ferrari 458 GT3. Payback is
eligible to qualify for the finals. oh so sweet!

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 89



DRIVING

SIM RACING

1. The overall cost to
participate is at least
100-times cheaper
than the real thing.

2. You get unlimited
laps on all the best
tracks in the world.

3. Racers have no
excuse of inferior
equipment; the
playing field is level.

4. More than in real
motor sport, it’s
down to the skills
of the driver to
make a difference.

5. At least 80 per cent
of the fundamentals
of driving can be
learned and refined
in sim racing.

Above: While a competitive sim-racing rig isn’t cheap (check out our
shopping list on page 92), in virtual racing, if you overcook it and crash,
you can simply hit reset.
Right: It’s not just pimply teenagers playing e-sports these days. All major
manufacturers use state-of-the-art simulators, such as this one from BMW.

Now, as sim racing enters a of personal experience, ‘If you’re
new era in the time of corona- fast there [in virtual racing] … you
virus, e-sports events garner huge will be fast in the real world, too.’
prize money, and there’s a keener
interest than ever from teams who But what about the fear factor of
are looking for new talent, and piloting a real racing car at break-
young dreamers are taking their neck speeds? It’s a fair question,
online efforts much more seriously. says Perel, and the first time he
went through Eau Rouge at the
Having experienced both worlds Spa-Francorchamps circuit in
at the highest level, Perel reports Belgium in real life, he remembers,
that the differences are not as he was as white as a ghost, ‘shaking
big as you may think. ‘In fact, sim like a bartender mixing his first
racing is probably the only e-sport Martini!’ But he got over the
that can transfer to real life, as the sensory overload and has since
controls and inputs are largely conquered legendary tracks such
identical,’ says Perel. ‘You have to as Spa, Kyalami, Suzuka and Imola.
apply the same fundamentals to Fear will always be a factor but it’s
your driving in both the online- and not the defining one for a fast racing
real world and, more importantly, driver with talent. Skills that are
you are racing against other people important are calmness under
and not AI robots.’ pressure, finesse with a wheel and
pedals, and an ability to anticipate
Especially now, sim racing and react as quickly as possible.
has become a truly viable way to
get yourself into a real-life racing ‘I still rely on my simulator on
car. Perel recommends all young a daily basis, dedicating several
drivers with potential should delay hours a day to improving my
karting and try cracking it in the concentration, temperament,
sim world, too. As Perel says, braking and steering techniques,
speaking with the confidence and learning about set-ups,’ says

popularmechanics.co.za SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 91

DRIVING

SIM RACING

Perel. ‘The more I use it, the more
I improve in the real world.’

Many people are surprised
when they see a sim racer beat
a real racing driver in an e-sports
tournament. But, with the low
cost of entry, a level playing
field between the drivers, and
opportunities to win big prize
money or factory racing contracts,
Perel predicts that within 10 years
we could see the very first sim racer
reach the heights of Formula One.
With the unique situation created
by the coronavirus pandemic, it
is possible that we’ve arrived at a
turning point in motor sport, and
it’s only a matter of time before
a virtual racer makes it big in the
real world. The question is, will it
be you who breaks the mould?

1. ENTRY-LEVEL 2. GETTING INTO IT SCREEN PEDALS PHOTOGRAPHY: BMW, DAVID PEREL
COCKPIT COCKPIT » 24” Samsung Curved » Thrustmaster T-LCM Pedals,
» Playseat Evolution, » Playseat Evolution,
Display, ±R3 000 ±R10 000 (imported)
±R6 500 ±R6 500
3. PRO LEVEL PC PROCESSOR
WHEELBASE AND PEDALS WHEELBASE AND PEDALS COCKPIT » Intel i9-9900k GeForce RTX
» Thrustmaster T150, » Thrustmaster T300, ±R7 500 » Playseat F1, ±$1 000 +
2080 Ti GPU, ±R42 000
±R4 300 HANDBRAKE AND SHIFTER shipping (imported)
» Thrustmaster TH8A Shifter, SCREEN
OPERATING SYSTEM WHEELBASE » 3× 27” Samsung Curved
» PlayStation 4, ±R7 000 ±R4 500 » Thrustmaster T-GT, ±R17 000
Display, ±R4 500 each
SCREEN PC PROCESSOR HANDBRAKE AND SHIFTER
» 24” Samsung Display, » AMD Ryzen 5, » Thrustmaster TSS *Prices are estimates and subject
to change.
±R2 000 ±R12 000 Handbrake, ±R5 500

92 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2020 popularmechanics.co.za

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