# 531: Using My Bad Finger... For Good.

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2026-07-31
- Length: 1h 00m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss their current projects, including Diresta's leather chair and boat building, Clagett's climbing wall and Karmann Ghia restoration, and Picciuto's recasing of a temperature monitor. They engage in a deep conversation about the creative constraints they place on themselves, such as minimum complexity thresholds for YouTube content, the pressure of sponsorships, and the importance of letting go of perfectionism to focus on the journey of making. The hosts share personal breakthroughs, such as Diresta using his injured finger for pottery and Clagett finding success with simple metalwork, emphasizing that audience value and personal enjoyment must coexist regardless of project scale.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=1) Introduction: Weather updates and current projects
- [3:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=184) David Picciuto's Lake House and Temperature Monitor Recasing
- [7:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=469) Jimmy Diresta's Woven Chair and Boat Building
- [17:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=1027) Diresta's Pottery Breakthrough and Using His Bad Finger
- [26:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=1562) Clagett's Climbing Wall and Shop Organization
- [29:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=1760) The Complexity Threshold and Self-Editing
- [35:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=2121) Karmann Ghia Metalwork and Audience Value
- [46:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=2770) YouTube Algorithm, Style, and Art and Fear
- [54:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good#t=3256) Patreon Shoutouts and Weekly Recommendations

## Topics

- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Founder wellbeing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/founder-wellbeing)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Nemo Gould (other)
- Evan's Workshop (other)
- Levi.sct (other)
- Total Boat (company)
- Maker Camp (other)
- Huckleberry (product)
- Lucky Boy (product)
- Karmann Ghia (product)
- DeWalt (other)
- CNC (other)
- Art and Fear (other)
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [439: Ditches and Psychology](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-01-06-439-ditches-and-psychology) (Embedded.fm)
- [Finishing Prototypes with Zack Freedman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2021-07-19-finishing-prototypes-with-zack-freedman) (The Amp Hour)
- [STL354: Go and Do the Thing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2025-11-14-stl354-go-and-do-the-thing) (Shop Talk Live)
- [279: The Creative Process: Building Relationships and Businesses That Last, Live from The Argo in Milwaukee, WI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-03-17-279-the-creative-process-building-relationships-and-businesses-that-last-live-fr) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [S1E42 What you can accomplish if you budget one hour a day towards your purpose. #CADModelOfTheDay author, Rob Maldonado, CSWE](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-09-s1e42-what-you-can-accomplish-if-you-budget-one-hour-a-day-towards-your-purpose) (Being an Engineer)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2026-07-31-531-using-my-bad-finger-for-good. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.