How It's Made
13 episodes
Magnets, Cooked Ham, Silver-Plated Teapots, Crash Test Dummies
Metal alloys are magnetized and finished into permanent magnets, pork is cured and cooked into ham, formed metal teapots receive a decorative coating of silver, and instrumented human models are assembled for use in automotive crash testing.
Curling Stones, Refrigerators, Aluminum Baseball Bats, Opalescent Glass
Dense granite is cut and polished into curling stones, insulated cabinets and refrigeration systems are assembled into household refrigerators, aluminum tubing is shaped and strengthened into baseball bats, and specialized glass mixtures are formed into opalescent decorative glass.
Levels, Hot Dogs, Abrasive Grains, Sandpaper
Metal or plastic bodies are fitted with calibrated spirit vials to make levels, prepared meat is seasoned and filled into casings to produce hot dogs, minerals are crushed and graded into abrasive grains, and those grains are bonded to flexible backing to manufacture sandpaper.
Ice Cream Treats, Wooden Golf Clubs, Aircraft Wings, Car Battery Recycling
Ice cream is molded and coated to make frozen treats, selected hardwood is shaped and finished into traditional golf clubs, structural components and exterior panels are assembled into aircraft wings, and used automotive batteries are dismantled so their lead, plastic and acid can be recovered.
Automotive Fuel Pumps, Cricket Bats, Change Machines, Ductile Iron Pipe
Electric motors and pumping components are assembled into automotive fuel pumps, willow is pressed, shaped and fitted with handles to make cricket bats, coin-recognition and dispensing mechanisms are installed in change machines, and molten ductile iron is cast into strong pipes.
Wooden Barrels, Fire Hydrants, Automotive Seats, Cathode Ray Tubes
Curved wooden staves are fitted with metal hoops to create barrels, cast metal bodies and valves are assembled into fire hydrants, steel frames, foam and upholstery are combined into automotive seats, and glass envelopes and electron-gun components are manufactured into cathode ray tubes.
Stainless Steel, Football Helmets, Resin Figurines, Laboratory Glassware
Iron is alloyed with chromium and other elements to produce corrosion-resistant stainless steel, molded shells and protective padding are assembled into football helmets, liquid resin is cast and decorated into figurines, and heat-resistant glass tubing is shaped into laboratory equipment.
Fire Extinguishers, Doughnuts, Shock Absorbers, Banjos
Metal cylinders are formed, tested and filled to create fire extinguishers, rings of dough are fried and finished into doughnuts, pistons and hydraulic components are assembled into automotive shock absorbers, and wooden rims, stretched membranes and strings are combined into banjos.
Dress Forms, Boat Propellers, Duvets, Faucets
Molded body sections are covered and mounted to make adjustable dress forms, metal is cast and precisely machined into boat propellers, insulating filling is enclosed in stitched fabric to produce duvets, and cast bodies, valves and handles are assembled into faucets.
Bronze Bells, Wooden Airplane Propellers, Charcoal Briquettes, Gas Log Fireplaces
Molten bronze is cast and tuned into bells, laminated hardwood is shaped and balanced into airplane propellers, powdered charcoal is compressed into uniform briquettes, and ceramic logs, gas burners and control systems are assembled into decorative fireplaces.
Pocket Knives, Soapstone Products, Electric Pole Transformers, Traditional Snowshoes
Steel blades and folding mechanisms are fitted into pocket knives, soft soapstone is cut and polished into decorative and functional objects, electrical windings and insulated cores are assembled into pole-mounted transformers, and wooden frames and woven webbing are fashioned into traditional snowshoes.
Steel Shipping Drums, Police Whistles, Miniature Train Cars, Glass Blocks
Sheet steel is rolled, welded and sealed into shipping drums, metal chambers are formed and tuned into police whistles, small-scale components are molded, painted and assembled into miniature train cars, and pressed sections of molten glass are fused into hollow building blocks.
Ice Cream Cones, Tent Trailers, Shoe Polish, Pliers
Sweet batter is baked and rolled into ice cream cones, collapsible frames and furnished enclosures are installed on trailers for camping, waxes, dyes and solvents are blended into shoe polish, and steel is forged, machined and fitted with grips to make pliers.