Episode 034: WAELDER

Making It · 28 Aug 2015 · 1h 00m

What this episode covers

Guest David Waelder discusses his journey from attending the School of Visual Arts to working in Jimmy Diresta's shop and launching his own YouTube channel, emphasizing how video serves as a 'live resume' for skilled trades. Jimmy Diresta recounts the stressful logistics of building a modular roof deck for Leonardo DiCaprio in one day, highlighting the physical challenges and tight deadlines of high-end residential work. The hosts also cover their current projects, including Bob Clagett’s restoration of a vintage Petco draw knife and David Picciuto’s walnut coffee table, while discussing the maker community and upcoming events like WIA.

Mentioned

Companies
Petco, Adafruit, Toybacker
Products
GoPro, Neopixel, Dirty Money, Tragic Cash, Junkyard Wars, Darth Punk
Also
David Waelder, David Picciuto, Leonardo DiCaprio, WIA, School of Visual Arts, The Pick Boy, Welding Tips and Tricks, Big Think

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Shop Talk Live · 57m

    STL354: Go and Do the Thing

    Erik Curtis, a furniture maker and YouTuber based in Philadelphia, joins Shop Talk Live to discuss the realities of running a woodworking business, teaching, and creating content. Curtis and hosts Amanda and Vic explore the myth of the solitary furniture maker, arguing that modern makers must diversify through teaching, writing, and media to sustain their craft. They debate the role of YouTube in woodworking, distinguishing between entertainment-focused channels and those that provide substantive technical education, while addressing the accessibility of high-end tools versus the necessity of skill. The conversation also covers design philosophy, emphasizing the importance of grain selection, proportion, and stripping away excessive ornamentation to achieve clear, functional aesthetics.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 11m

    STL339: The Woodshop is a Play Room

    Robby Simon, a Black woodworker and designer from Atlanta, Georgia, shares his journey from a corporate career at Mailchimp to becoming a professional furniture maker. He discusses his apprenticeship with mentor Rebel Awaka, the influence of his WWII veteran grandfather, and how he integrates his cultural background into a unique design language. Simon explains his philosophy that woodworking is 'magic' rather than science, emphasizing accessibility and the importance of maker spaces for underrepresented communities.

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 00m

    STL250: Catching up with Ed Pirnik

    Ed Pirnik, the former senior web producer and creator of Shop Talk Live, joins host Ben Strainer to discuss the podcast's origins, including its early live-streaming experiments and the organic development of the host dynamic with Mike Pekovich and Matt Kenney. Mike Pekovich also appears to promote his new book and online course, 'Foundations of Woodworking,' which focuses on core joinery skills like mortise and tenon, dovetails, and dados. Pirnik reflects on his career transition from international photojournalism to woodworking media, his current projects including building a cherry cabinet and a custom Telecaster guitar, and the technical evolution of the show from manual RSS coding to third-party distribution.

  • Being an Engineer · 58m

    S2E41 The Hacksmith | James Hobson

    James Hobson, founder of Hacksmith Industries, explains how he transitioned from a mechanical engineering student to running a YouTube channel that builds functional prototypes of fictional items like the Iron Man helmet and Tesla Cybertruck. He details the company's growth from a solo hobbyist project to a 23-person team operating out of a 13,000-square-foot facility, highlighting the role of viral hits like the Captain America shield in driving sponsorship revenue. Hobson also discusses the technical challenges of building the Alien Power Loader, the importance of in-house manufacturing tools like fiber lasers, and his philosophy on self-taught engineering.

  • How I Built This · 41m

    HIBT Lab! Hevesh5: Lily Hevesh

    Lily Hevesh, creator of the Hevesh5 YouTube channel, explains how she turned a childhood hobby of domino art into a multi-faceted business, including launching a precision domino line with Spinmaster and starting an agency for large-scale projects. She details the technical challenges of manufacturing toppling dominoes, the decision to leave polytechnic college to pursue content creation full-time, and her strategic choice to prioritize her craft as a solo artist over scaling into a massive 'empire' structure. Hevesh also discusses her role as a judge on the Dutch TV show 'Domino Challenge' and her vision for bringing domino art into educational settings.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Making It. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.