Hardware Podcasts

Episode 223: Efficiency and batarangs

Making It · 9 Aug 2019 · 1h 01m

What this episode covers

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss workshop efficiency and specific projects. Jimmy Diresta details building a plasma-cut batarang for a fan and installing BAF ceiling fans, while Bob Clagett describes a modular closet organization system using IKEA tracks and maple plywood. David Picciuto explains his workflow for a new hinged bike rack and the team's broader strategies for production efficiency, including batch processing, redundancy, and bottleneck identification.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
IKEA
Products
BAF, Synology
Also
Brett, Aaron Draplin, Skillshare, Blake Weber, Threadbanger, Free Solo, The Dawn Wall

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Thoroughly Considered · 38m

    57: Mashed in the Gears

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the assembly of the Apollo Pin, noting that hiring part-time help from a family nanny alleviated a bottleneck where manual assembly was stifling new product development. They detail the iterative design revisions to the mechanism and PVD finishes, which improved consistency and reduced reject rates compared to the original Mark One. Myke Hurley updates listeners on the Theme Journal System, explaining the stress of managing inventory, unexpected sell-outs, and supply chain delays caused by the Lunar New Year and coronavirus, while highlighting the unique challenges of scaling paper product manufacturing.

    Scaling productionManufacturing partners & offshoring
    6 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 51m

    120: Imbue All of the Choices

    Dan Provost of Studio Neat discusses his completed custom Stratocaster-style guitar build, detailing the woodworking, finishing, and hybrid design choices. He and co-host Tom Gerhardt review the ongoing production status of the Keen pen, noting supply chain delays but positive early user feedback. The conversation shifts to Studio Neat's strategic pivot toward a 'new lean' operational model, leveraging AI to maintain product opinion and quality without excessive headcount. Finally, the hosts debate the future of all-in-one computers versus modular setups in an era of ambient computing.

    Scaling productionAI & machine learning
    6 chapters

  • Shop Talk Live · 53m

    STL277: When good enough is good enough

    Amanda Russell, known as the 'Sawdust Woman' and former assistant to high-end furniture maker Phil Morley, discusses the mental shift required to balance custom craftsmanship with production efficiency. She details her approach to material selection, resawing techniques, and the strategic use of jigs, shapers, and pan routers to maintain quality while meeting deadlines. Russell also shares insights into her tool kit, teaching experiences at Austin School of Furniture, and her future plans for small-batch production and education.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIMaterials & manufacturing processes
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 47m

    283: From Craft to Manufacturing: How Crafted Glory’s Kwadwo Som-Pimpong Is Scaling a Furniture Business While Working the Night Shift

    Kwadwo Som-Pimpong, founder of Crafted Glory, explains how he scales a luxury furniture business while working 10-hour shifts as a fabrication supervisor at Eaton. He details three strategies for managing limited shop time: using a clipboard for time tracking to inform pricing, leveraging Claude AI for end-of-day reflection, and strategic networking that turned a single Instagram photo into multiple interior design projects. Som-Pimpong also discusses the Echoes of the Forest project, creating furniture from trees uprooted by Hurricane Helene, and applying industrial manufacturing principles like 5S and standard operations learned from Hellman Chang's to his craft practice.

    Scaling productionIndustrial & consumer product design
    9 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 35m

    71: Glue Flange

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the launch of the Panopad and Totebook Mini, detailing the design decisions behind the Panopad's sticky-note mechanism and the Totebook Mini's specific dimensions. They provide an update on the Mark Two pen production, explaining the labor-intensive polishing and PVD coating processes that will result in a staggered shipping schedule. The episode concludes with a nostalgic reflection on the 'iPods for free' pyramid schemes of the early 2000s and the cultural shift in technology usage.

    Industrial & consumer product designScaling production
    7 chapters

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.