Hardware Podcasts

492: The Gap

Making It · 1 Aug 2025 · 1h 06m

What this episode covers

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the 'gap' between the idealized vision of a project and the physical reality of building it. Jimmy details his progress on a Woody station wagon conversion and a hexagonal aluminum solar table, while David explains his process for creating a kumiko-patterned wall cabinet from a thrift store table. The hosts also touch on the challenges of DIY building permits and the importance of iteration in design.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
JT Woodworks, YKK, Harbor Freight
Products
Woody
Tools
Fusion, Procreate
Also
Kumiko, Pask Makes, Anne of All Trades

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • 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

  • Thoroughly Considered · 46m

    18: No Cool Cheap Screwdrivers

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost of Studio Neat discuss the launch of their new product, The Material Dock, an adjustable charging stand for iPhones and Apple Watches made from walnut and molded cork. They detail the manufacturing challenges, including supplier failures and a lightning strike on their local woodshop, and explain design decisions such as including a screwdriver and using 3D printed internal parts. The episode also covers the creation of a viral marketing video using post-Steve Jobs keynote footage and their strategy for selling directly to consumers.

    Industrial & consumer product designPrototyping & iteration
    7 chapters

  • Shop Talk Live · 1h 15m

    STL 324: Bridging creativity and technicality

    Furniture makers and teachers Larissa Huff and Adrian Ferrazzutti discuss their workflows, focusing on how they use small-scale box making and rapid chair prototyping to explore techniques and designs without the pressure of large commissions. They detail specific construction methods, including veneered box joints, spiral sprout box bending, and the balance between artistic intent and practical manufacturing constraints. The hosts then answer listener questions regarding the mechanical strength of double-pinned mortise and tenon chair joints and creative solutions for eliminating tear-out on sliding table saws.

    Prototyping & iterationMaterials & manufacturing processes
    6 chapters

  • Shop Talk Live · 57m

    STL 105: Why We Build What We Build

    Host Tom McKenna and editors Mike Pekovich and Matthew Kenny discuss their current home shop projects, including Pekovich's drop-front desk and Kenny's sugar bowl, while answering listener questions on tool selection, scraper usage on black acacia, and joinery for tapered legs. The hosts share their all-time favorite tools of the week—Kenny's jam chuck, Pekovich's routing jigs for half-mortise locks, and McKenna's Record block plane—and address wood color changes in cherry and juniper.

    Mechanical engineeringMaterials & manufacturing processes
    10 chapters

  • Thoroughly Considered · 45m

    25: Q&A

    Tom Gerhardt and Dan Provost, founders of Studio Neat, answer listener questions about their backgrounds at Frog Design and Potion, their transition from side hustle to full-time business, and their philosophy on maintaining a small, agile company. They discuss specific product challenges, such as the physics of the Neat Ice Kit, the limitations of CAD simulation for simple mechanisms, and the frustration with the AirPress packaging. The conversation also covers their marketing strategies, the tension between transparency and secrecy in product development, and their experiences managing Kickstarter backer expectations.

    Crowdfunding & preordersStarting a product company
    10 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.