Patrick Campanale
- Founder, Created Workshop
- None, Other
As seen in:
MSN,
Yahoo Life,
9to5Mac,
Flipboard,
How-To Geek,
9to5Google,
Electrek,
NewsBreak,
9to5Toys,
DroneDJ
and
Christian founder, building @unbrellaapp and @LaserWorkshopHQ. Senior author @howtogeek. Previously @9to5toys. Pitches: patrick@patrickcampanale.com.
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Patrick Campanale
My $2 humidity sensor is the best 3D printing upgrade I've made
There are many ways to tinker with 3D printers. You can mod the software, add extra lights, build filter boxes, and so much more. What if I told you that I decided to buy a simple $2 humidity sensor before doing anything else to my 3D printer—including buying extra filament? Here's why a humidity sensor is important in my 3D printing setup. Add How-To Geek on Google Add as Preferred Source Follow on Google Discover Wet filament costs more than the sensor does A cheap spool of filament is about $12.
3 Raspberry Pi projects to try this weekend (October 23-25)
Are you looking for a fun weekend project with your Raspberry Pi? I recently picked up a few extra Pis for my homelab, and instantly started spinning up new things just for the fun of it. Here are three projects that you can have up and running before Monday arrives. Brand Raspberry Pi CPU Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) With the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, you can create all kinds of fun projects, and upgrade gadgets around your home. Alternatively, install a full desktop OS and use it like a regular computer.
A $50 thin client and a NAS make a better first homelab than one big server
Are you wanting to start building out your homelab, but aren't sure where to start? The best approach that I've found is separating your services from the beginning with a two-system setup. Thin clients are cheap and readily available basically everywhere, and it's not hard to find a NAS, either. So, if you're wanting to kickstart your homelab setup, try the two-tier approach I lay out below.
My Bambu Lab printers were already fast, but this upgrade made them smarter
I absolutely love my Bambu Lab 3D printers—but they could be a lot better. Not in hardware. I think the hardware is fantastic. But the software that runs the printers could use a lot of work. Thanks to the open source community, my Bambu Lab 3D printers got a free upgrade that made them a lot smarter.
Local AI finally got close to the cloud for me, and this loud little cube is why
I have long been intrigued by locally-run AI models, but I've never had the hardware to do it—until now. The Cephalon Lucy Max is a small cube-shaped mini PC and NAS combo that delivers AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip with 128GB of RAM, and it's actually capable of running some pretty impressive local models. So impressive that it almost got me to ditch my cloud AI subscription.
7 bizarre things you can power with Milwaukee batteries (even if you probably shouldn't)
Milwaukee batteries are actually quite versatile. While you might think they can only run power tools, you can actually do a whole lot more with them. Here are six genuinely odd (yet super useful) things that you can definitely power with Milwaukee batteries—and one that you probably shouldn't do.
Your 'dead' Ryobi battery might not be dead after all
It's just the understood thing that if your Ryobi battery has four flashing lights, it's dead and it's time to buy another. What if I told you that wasn't the case? There are actually a few things to try to bring a "dead" battery back to life—and one basically involves performing surgery on the battery. Here's what the lights actually mean, why it happens, and what you can do before recycling that "dead" battery and buying a new one.
5 jobs where my Milwaukee M12 tools beat the 18V kit I was saving for
When I bought my Milwaukee M12 tools, I thought they would just be something to hold me over until I eventually got 18V tools. However, after using them for years, I realize that there are simply some jobs that are better suited for 12V tools over 18V tools, and I'm so glad that I bought the M12 kit when I did instead of waiting to just buy 18V tools.
Low effort Claude built a usable website in 90 seconds, and max only made it a little better
Published Oct 19, 2026, 10:30 AM EDT I've long wondered what the different reasoning efforts of an AI model actually change when doing things like making websites, so I decided to try the same website prompt on every Opus 5.5 reasoning level. The results genuinely surprised me. Every site got the same prompt I wanted to be fair with this test, so I had Claude write the prompt that it would use. I explained what type of site I wanted, and it gave me the prompt (included at the end of this post).
I skipped Bambu's cloud with 3 open-source tools, and I can still check prints from anywhere
Bambu Lab might be one of the best 3D printer brands out there in my opinion, but that doesn't mean I agree with every decision it makes. That's why I've deployed these three open-source utilities to help me take back control of my printer—and I think you should do the same.
I wish I'd discovered this ultra-simple file server a long time ago
Are you looking for the easiest way to launch a file server for either internal or external access? Copyparty is what you’ve been looking for. With the ability to launch with zero configuration, Copyparty gets you a file server up and running in seconds. What Is Copyparty? I love living in the modern open source age. There seems to be easy-to-configure software for just about everything these days. Copyparty is one such piece of open source software I wish existed many years ago.
Your SBC project needs a low-torque drill, and Milwaukee's M12 lineup has one
You might think that Milwaukee's M12 lineup is only for DIYers or woodworkers—and those people can definitely benefit from Milwaukee's compact tools. But, did you know that it's also an ideal power tool line for electronics and single-board computer hobbyists? Here's why you should check out Milwaukee's M12 lineup for your next electronics DIY project.
Mixing Milwaukee and Ryobi works if you stick to one simple rule
Picking a tool platform is almost more difficult than picking what house to buy. For some reason, it feels very permanent. However, two tool platforms can definitely coexist. I run both Milwaukee's M12 and Ryobi's 18V ONE+ platform in my workshop, and this is how I make the distinction of which tools I use for what job.
A $50 used mini PC is the only homelab starter kit you need
Stop thinking that you have to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to get started with self-hosting. If I were starting from scratch today, this is the homelab starter kit I would build for just $50. I wouldn't start with a rack server again Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek My first personal homelab machine that I bought was a used rack-mount server—the Lenovo RD440 70AF to be exact. This monster of a machine was definitely more than I needed, but it served me well for over half a decade.
GEEKOM makes laptops now, and this one punches well above its price
You might recognize the GEEKOM name from the mini PCs the brand makes. But, did you know that GEEKOM also makes laptops? I've spent the past few months with the GEEKOM GeekBook M16 and I have to say—I'm impressed. Operating System Windows 11 Pro CPU Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16 cores, 22 threads, up to 5.1GHz) GPU Intel Arc graphics (integrated) RAM 16GB LPDDR5 (soldered) GEEKOM's GeekBook M16 laptop is the perfect laptop for your daily tasks.
Auto-updating Docker containers is a trap you're setting for yourself
Automatically updating your Docker containers might sound like the peace of mind you've been wanting—it's anything but that. I tried auto-updating Docker containers in my homelab, and it ended in disaster one too many times. Here's what happened and how I run Docker in my homelab now. Auto-updating containers is something that I have wanted for years Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek Credit: David J.
Stop using Docker and try one of these 4 alternatives instead
Are you looking for an alternative to Docker that’s fully open source and doesn’t have any vendor-lock in? Well, there are four tools that you can use which are completely free of Docker’s influence. Each tool has its own pros and cons, but thanks to the open source community and the Open Container Initiative (OCI), you’ll still have a large pool of containers to use, even without direct Docker integration. Podman Podman is probably one of the best Docker replacements around.
5 off-grid mesh builds that go way past texting, starting with a $30 board
Off-grid mesh networking is something that I've never really thought a whole lot about, but it has gotten much more intriguing to me lately. You can actually do a lot with off-grid mesh networking, way more than just messaging. Here are some projects that you can build with mesh-capable microcontrollers, and the third one definitely is my favorite.
5 lightweight services you can self-host on a Raspberry Pi
If you have a spare Raspberry Pi sitting around unused, it’s time to put it to work. While you can go all-out and build elaborate contraptions with Pis, here are five lightweight services that you can self-host on your spare (or aging) Pi without spending any extra cash on accessories. Brand Raspberry Pi CPU Cortex-A72 (ARM v8) With the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B, you can create all kinds of fun projects, and upgrade gadgets around your home.
These 5 home projects get easier with a jailbroken Kindle
That spare Kindle you retired after upgrading doesn’t have to sit in a drawer. Jailbreak it, and the same e-ink screen can power five different projects, ranging from helping with appliance repair to telling you whether the weather is good enough for painting outside or not. Appliance and other repairs Credit: Pila Energy Credit: Samsung Credit: Toshiba Have you ever been working on an appliance only to realize you need the manual and have no idea where it's stored?
Your phone is secretly connecting to your neighbor's ISP hotspot—and ruining your signal
Major cable providers often broadcast a second network from an ISP-provided router, and you might not even realize it's happening. These secondary networks might not detract from a home's primary network, but they can definitely give your phone a bad connection. Here's what's going on and how you can fix it. Many ISP routers broadcast a public hotspot Have you ever noticed that, in addition to your own Wi-Fi network, there are other "branded" networks in your home?
This tiny Dygma keyboard sits right on top of my laptop, and I love it
I've been a fan of Dygma's keyboards since their very first Raise keyboard. I have used a Dygma Raise or Raise 2 for the better part of five years now, so when the opportunity came about to try out the Sonsei, I jumped at it. This uniquely portable columnar keyboard surprised me in quite a few ways. But, at the end of the day, I really love this little keyboard, even though there's a big learning curve.
How OrcaSlicer's built-in calibration took my 3D prints to the next level
So, you have a 3D printer, but you’re not super happy with the results of your prints. Well, have no fear! Tuning your printer used to require searching for and downloading tons of models, but OrcaSlicer is here to save the day. Follow me as I walk you through all the steps you’ll need to completely dial in your printer for near-perfect prints every time. Why Choose OrcaSlicer? There are many slicers out there, and your 3D printer might even have one that it came with.
4 essential DeWalt power tools that are still built in the United States
Are you wanting to buy some power tools that are made in the USA? You'll be hard-pressed to find them among the main companies. DeWalt, however, does have a handful of power tools that are still built in the United States, though one does come with a caveat. "Made in USA" comes with fine print With some products, the "Made in the USA" label means that the whole product was created here in the USA from start to finish. With DeWalt, that's not necessarily the case.
4 overlooked Hyper Tough tools that make name-brand prices look silly
Did you know that Walmart makes power tools? Hyper Tough is Walmart's in-house brand, and like most things at Walmart, it's fairly affordable. However, many tools are overlooked, so here are four affordable Hyper Tough tools released in 2026 that you might want to add to your DIY toolkit. Hyper Tough made its own version of the viral mini blower I've seen the viral mini blower on so many Reels, but Hyper Tough actually made its own version.
UniFi vs. eero: There's only one good option for homelabbers like me
There are two big players in the home networking space—eero and UniFi. They both target different audiences, and I have extensive experience with both. I've chosen UniFi to run my homelab because, at this point, it's the only good option out there for my needs. Here's why I use UniFi and why I left eero in the dust. Eero is a great plug-and-play system The first networking system I ever purchased was eero Pro back in 2017. I loved my eero Pro setup.
3 Self-hosted alternatives to Google Photos
Are you ready to ditch Google Photos and self-host your own photo server? There are a number of ways to go about doing that, allowing you to store your pictures without giving Google the rights to crawl through them all. Whether you already have a storage server running at your home or you’re looking to get started, here are three self-hosted alternatives to Google Photos. I've ordered them from easiest and most basic to most advanced and fully-featured.
I tested Ugreen's most powerful 8-bay NAS, and it made me appreciate the cheaper model more
If you're looking for a large-capacity NAS for your home or small business, there aren't a ton of choices out there. Ugreen recently upgraded its DXP8800 series with an all-new Ultra model, featuring a new processor and a higher RAM capacity. Is it worth the upgrade? It might be difficult to tell.
Ryobi vs. Craftsman vs. Hyper Tough—Which store brand power tools are best?
Are you curious about how Ryobi, Craftsman, and Hyper Tough tools compare? My answer may surprise you, but here's how each store brand power tool stacks up against the others. Ryobi is Home Depot's go-to tool brand When it comes to power tools, Ryobi is probably one of the first brands that comes to mind.
5 essential and affordable Ryobi power tools for renters
Are you looking for some affordable DIY power tools to tackle simple projects in your rental? These Ryobi tools are perfect for just that. From drilling and driving to refinishing furniture, here are five essential, affordable Ryobi power tools you should consider picking up. Everyone needs a good drill and driver When my wife and I were renting our first apartment, I did what all DIYers do — got a full tool kit with all sorts of tools.
The 9 tools every DIY mechanic needs—and why a 10mm socket isn't one of them
Want to tackle some DIY car repairs? Well, having the right tools can make or break the experience. Here are the nine essential tools every DIY car repair kit should include, and why each one matters. Socket and wrench set The heart of all car repairs centers on three things: a socket set, a wrench set, and plenty of 10mm sockets. If you don't understand why 10mm sockets are so important, don't worry; you will soon.
I turned a Raspberry Pi into an automated hard drive testing station that messages my phone
I got tired of randomly finding out a hard drive I thought was good wasn't actually good, so I built a tool to automatically benchmark and test my drives before I trust them with my data. Here's what I built and how you can use it to make your homelab more reliable. Why I benchmark and test drives before trusting them As someone who is reviewing computers, NAS systems, servers, and other homelab equipment a lot, I have a lot of hard drives. The thing is, that's not really a change for me.
Lenovo’s Yoga 9i makes a case for paying more for build quality
Lenovo's latest premium laptop, the Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition 14, boasts a lot of premium features. From its all-metal chassis (with polished edges around the bottom case) to the extremely nice OLED panel, here's why I think this is the Windows laptop to get in the sub-$2,500 price range.
I expected UV printing to be complicated. The xTool O1 Omni proved me wrong
xTool has long been a big player in the personalization space, focusing primarily on lasers. Eventually, xTool released some lasers with CMYK inkjet print heads on them. However, earlier this summer, xTool launched the O1 Omni, its first UV printer, and I've spent the past few months with it. Here's why I think the xTool O1 Omni is a complete game-changer for small businesses.
5 surprisingly useful jobs your Milwaukee batteries have outside the workshop
Did you know that you could use your Milwaukee M18 battery to power a fridge on the job site? What about using an M12 battery to stay warm with a powered jacket? Here are five fun things you didn't know you could use your Milwaukee batteries to do.
5 Ryobi products so rare they've become collectables
Ryobi has made power tools for decades, and while some have become industry stalwarts, others are now relics of the past and collectibles. Here are five unique Ryobi tools so rare you'll only see them in a collector's house — and the third one down is my favorite. One+One dual-battery miter saw RYOBI has been making 12V, 18V, and even 40V tools for quite some time. But did you know they also made 36V tools for a short time? Well, they kinda made 36V tools.
The cheapest Raspberry Pi you can buy today (and 6 subscriptions it can replace)
Do you want to start replacing subscriptions with your own self-hosted services? The Raspberry Pi might be a good place to start, especially since you can pick one up for just $35. Here are six subscriptions a Raspberry Pi 3 B can replace, and how much you'll save per year if you do it. The cheapest Pi you can buy today was released...nearly 11 years ago When I started writing this article, I already had in my mind that I would make it about the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W.
3 hobbies that become almost free once you own this tiny $200 3D printer
3D printing is easier to access than ever, and part of that is because great printers are cheaper than ever. The best part of 3D printing is that it can actually enhance other hobbies in ways you might never expect, so here are three hobbies that 3D printing can make nearly free once you buy the printer itself. What printer should you buy? When it comes to what 3D printer to buy, there used to be just one option I'd recommend: Bambu Lab.
Lenovo’s tiny desktop can be powered with a USB-C charger and averages 91 FPS in Forza Horizon 5
It seems that 2026 is the year that PCs shrink, and I'm fully on board with that. The Lenovo Yoga Mini Gen 11 is a system I didn't expect though. With an overall size right around that of an MX Master mouse, and enough power to actually handle some decent gaming, this mini desktop might be my favorite mini PC of the year.
I built a YubiKey clone for $6 using an ESP32, and it actually works
Have you ever wanted to test out hardware authentication for passwordless logins? I know I have, but I'm too cheap to spend $30 on a Yubikey. Instead, I decided to take a $6 ESP32 I already had in a drawer and see if I could replicate the YubiKey experience, and I'm surprised by how easy it was. What is an ESP32, and how does it replace a YubiKey? If you've never heard of the ESP32, it's a small microcontroller designed by Espressif. Many companies make them, and they're all relatively cheap.
Bring back radio knobs and home intercoms with these Raspberry Pi builds (October 2 - 4) Original
Are you looking for some fun hardware-based projects to try with your Raspberry Pi this weekend? Well, then I have the projects for you! Today, I'll show you how to make an internet radio with a tuning knob, a home intercom system, as well as a backyard scoreboard for get togethers.
I used nearly 2.5TB of data just to find out that my backups were slowing down my network
For over three months, I have been running 12 speed tests per day every single day. It's added up to over 1,200 tests spanning over 100 days, using nearly 2.5TB of data. What did I learn from this endeavor? Actually, way more than I imagined I would.
The $50 PC that's quietly replacing Raspberry Pis in homelabs
While the Raspberry Pi used to rule the kingdom of low-cost homelab hardware, that arena is now dominated by thin clients. They're cheap, powerful (comparatively), and easy to find.
Before you turn an old laptop into a NAS, check these 3 BIOS settings first
There are a few things you should double-check before turning a laptop into a NAS. While you definitely can just do it, these three BIOS options are definitely worth double-checking before diving down the rabbit hole. Make sure it boots from the right drive Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Using your laptop as a NAS will mean that you need to boot from a very specific drive or partition, depending on how you set it up.
After losing my camera on a bus, I made this hidden AirTag mount for $0.51 so it couldn't happen again
One time when I was on a work trip years ago, I left my camera on a bus and never saw it again. I have since decided that would never happen again, so I 3D printed an invisible AirTag lens cap that simply attaches to my camera so I never have to worry about losing it ever again. Here's how I'm planning to keep my camera secure, and some other options you could consider if you don't want to use a 3D-printed lens cap.
Don’t judge a USB-C cable by its wattage alone—here's what to look for instead
I love USB-C, but I also hate USB-C. We're in a weird relationship. But one label is the most frustrating of all — wattage. You see, it's entirely possible to have a USB-C cable that charges your device at 240W, but only moves data at 480Mb/s, so here's what you should look for instead. Wattage is only indicative of a single performance metric When I got my first USB-C MacBook Pro back in 2016, I expected a lot from the included cable.
Four NVMe slots and 14 simultaneous transcodes make this NAS hard to ignore
I've spent the past few weeks using the Asustor Lockerstor 2 Gen2+ NAS, and it is definitely a different experience than I'm used to. Focusing more on security and enterprise-grade features, this NAS is a great fit for small/medium businesses or enthusiasts, but it might not be the right choice for someone just starting out with homelabbing or self-hosting.
Your favorite hobby is a lot cheaper with a 3D printer
Are you looking for a good excuse to buy a 3D printer? What if I told you that owning a 3D printer could make other hobbies you're interested in way cheaper? Here are six hobbies that 3D printing can make cheaper (and better). RC cars, planes, and boats Credit: FADY | MakerWorld I have a good friend who was super into RC cars for a while, and the amount of money he spent on accessories for his car was astounding. With 3D printing, though, you can simply make your own.
Your next Sony camera upgrade could should from a 3D printer
Published Sep 23, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT A new lens might be tempting, but a new lens isn't always what you need. Lenses can cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. For under $600, you can buy an amazing 3D printer that will help you upgrade your Sony camera setup in ways a new lens never could. You can make the camera fit your hands Credit: Allachdorfer / MakerWorld Credit: Allachdorfer / MakerWorld Credit: Allachdorfer / MakerWorld Credit: Slava Z.
The one tool that makes every homelab easier to manage
Have you heard people talking about Docker but have no idea what it is or if you need it? Docker is a fantastic tool that I think belongs in every homelab—here’s what Docker is, and why it is the one tool that makes my homelab easy to manage. What is Docker? Credit: Dibakar Ghosh | How-To Geek Credit: David J. Buck / How-To Geek Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek Credit: Dibakar Ghosh | How-To Geek Credit: David J.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Patrick
Contact Patrick, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack