How It's Made
13 episodes
Footballs, Electric Guitar Amplifiers, Marbles, Airplane Propellers
Leather and synthetic panels are cut and assembled into footballs, electronic components are installed in electric-guitar amplifiers, molten glass is formed into marbles, and laminated wood is shaped and balanced into airplane propellers.
Engine Blocks, Jawbreakers, Drum Shells, Drums
Molten metal is cast and machined into automobile engine blocks, layers of flavored sugar are built up to make jawbreakers, laminated wood is formed into drum shells, and shells, hardware and drumheads are assembled into finished drums.
Lighters, Fossils, Hockey Pucks, High-Pressure Cylinders
Metal and plastic components are assembled into disposable lighters, fossils are carefully exposed and prepared for study or display, rubber is compressed and vulcanized into hockey pucks, and heavy steel is formed and tested to make high-pressure cylinders.
Balloons, Wallpaper, Frozen French Fries, Incandescent Light Bulbs
Liquid latex is molded and cured into balloons, printed paper receives coatings and patterns to become wallpaper, potatoes are cut, partially cooked and frozen into French fries, and glass bulbs, tungsten filaments and electrical contacts are assembled into incandescent lamps.
Matches, Carousel Horses, Fine Porcelain, Automobile Fuel Tanks
Wooden sticks are treated and tipped with combustible compounds to make matches, figures are sculpted and finished into carousel horses, refined clay is shaped, glazed and fired into fine porcelain, and metal or plastic is formed into automotive fuel tanks.
Glass Cookware, Soap Bars, Steel Drums, Firefighter Uniforms
Heat-resistant glass is pressed and tempered into cookware, fats and other ingredients are blended and formed into soap bars, sheet steel is shaped and welded into industrial drums, and flame-resistant fabrics are cut and sewn into firefighter uniforms.
Crayons, Wooden Kayaks, Lawnmowers, Gold Chains
Wax and pigments are blended and molded into crayons, thin wooden strips are joined and finished into kayaks, engines and cutting assemblies are installed in lawn mowers, and gold wire is formed, linked and soldered into chains.
Inflatable Safety Devices, Braille Typewriters, Carbon-Fiber Cellos
Durable coated fabrics are cut and sealed into inflatable safety equipment, specialized keys and embossing mechanisms are assembled into Braille typewriters, and composite materials are molded and finished into carbon-fibre cellos.
Carbon-Fiber Masts, Fortune Cookies, IMAX Projectors, Roller Chains
Layers of carbon fibre are formed and cured into lightweight sailing masts, folded cookies are baked around printed fortunes, large-format optical and mechanical systems are assembled into IMAX projectors, and steel links and pins are combined into roller chains.
Firefighter Helmets, Nautical Compasses, Packaging Tubes, Hand Saws
Impact-resistant shells and protective liners are assembled into firefighter helmets, magnetized components are balanced inside nautical compasses, layers of paperboard are wound into packaging tubes, and steel blades are cut, toothed and fitted with handles to make hand saws.
Halogen Bulbs, Cellulose Insulation, Aluminum Ladders, Bamboo Fly Rods
Quartz envelopes, filaments and halogen gas are combined into light bulbs, recycled paper is treated and processed into cellulose insulation, aluminum rails and rungs are assembled into ladders, and carefully selected bamboo strips are joined and finished into fly-fishing rods.
Drill Bits, Photo Booths, Stamps
Hardened steel is shaped, fluted and sharpened into drill bits, cameras, lighting and printing systems are installed in automated photo booths, and designs are engraved or molded into rubber stamps.
Yacht Wheels, Braided Rugs, Automobile Thermostats, Chisels
Wood is laminated and finished into yacht steering wheels, fabric strips are braided and sewn into rugs, temperature-sensitive components are assembled into automotive thermostats, and steel blades are forged, hardened and sharpened into chisels.