How It's Made
Have you ever wondered how the products you use every day are made? How It's Made leads you through the process of how everyday products, such as apple juice, skateboards, engines, contact lenses, and many more objects are manufactured.
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Episodes
1. Saunas, Wheelchair Lifts, Dioramas
Selected wood is milled, joined and fitted with benches, heaters and controls to create home saunas. Steel platforms, drive mechanisms and safety systems are assembled into wheelchair lifts, while miniature structures, figures and carefully modelled landscapes are combined to produce detailed dioramas.
2. Oil Lamps, Chocolate Mints, Underfloor Heating, Pillows
Metal or glass reservoirs are fitted with wicks, burners and protective chimneys to create oil lamps. Mint-flavoured centres are formed and coated with chocolate; heating cables or tubing are arranged beneath flooring to provide radiant heat; and fabric covers are sewn, filled and finished as pillows.
3. Upright Pianos, Flags, Wet/Dry Vacuums, Medieval Axes
Wooden cases, soundboards, strings, keys and intricate action mechanisms are assembled and regulated to create upright pianos. Fabric is printed or sewn into flags; motors, filters and collection tanks are combined in wet/dry vacuums; and forged steel axe heads are hardened, sharpened and mounted on wooden handles.
4. Skeletal Replicas, Ice Buckets & Servers, Dining Chairs, Inground Pools
Moulds taken from anatomical models are used to cast individual bones, which are finished and articulated into skeletal replicas. Metal vessels are shaped and insulated to make ice buckets and serving pieces; wooden components are cut, joined and upholstered as dining chairs; and excavated sites receive structural shells, plumbing and finishing materials for in-ground pools.
5. Automatic Sliding Doors, Gin, Firearms Restoration
Glass door panels are mounted on powered tracks and connected to sensors and safety controls to create automatic entrances. Neutral spirits are redistilled with juniper and other botanicals to produce gin, while historic firearms are dismantled, cleaned and repaired before their metal and wooden surfaces are carefully restored.
6. Scuba Lights, Interchangeable Sandals, Race Car Simulators, Fibreglass Doors
Powerful lamps and batteries are sealed inside pressure-resistant housings to create lights for underwater use. Replaceable uppers are fitted to reusable sandal soles; controls, displays and motion systems are assembled into realistic race-car simulators; and reinforced fibreglass skins are moulded around insulating cores to produce durable doors.
7. Wood Windows, Woven Cashmere Fabric, Plastic Recycling Machines, Architectural Glass
Seasoned wood is cut and joined into window frames before receiving glazing, seals and operating hardware. Fine cashmere fibres are spun and woven into fabric; shredders, separators and processing equipment are assembled into plastic-recycling machines; and large glass panels are cut, treated and finished for architectural use.
8. Gas Barbecues, Mattress Pads, Ear Prostheses
Metal fireboxes are fitted with burners, valves, cooking grates and ignition systems to create gas barbecues. Layers of padding and fabric are quilted and edged into mattress pads, while moulds and colour-matched silicone are used to produce lifelike prosthetic ears for individual patients.
9. Recycled Skateboards, Braided Pastry, Construction Trailers, Vises
Reclaimed material is processed, shaped and finished into new skateboard decks. Strips of filled dough are interwoven and baked into braided pastries; steel chassis receive insulated walls, utilities and fitted interiors to become construction trailers; and cast-metal bodies are machined and assembled with sliding jaws and screw mechanisms to make vises.
10. Plasma Gems, Special Effects Snow, Piano Restoration
Discarded glass is melted and reshaped into colourful decorative gems. Paper, polymers and other lightweight materials are processed into convincing artificial snow for film and television, while an ageing piano is dismantled so its case, soundboard, strings, keys and mechanical action can be repaired and restored.
11. 3-Wheel Electric Bikes, Skin Cream, Patio Heaters, Wood Spoke Wheels
Three-wheeled bicycle frames are equipped with electric motors, rechargeable batteries and control systems. Oils, water and active ingredients are emulsified into skin cream; burners and reflectors are assembled into outdoor patio heaters; and shaped wooden hubs, spokes and rim sections are joined into traditional wheels.
12. Old West Holsters, Underwater Video Housings, Soy Beverages, Pet Nail Trimmers
Thick leather is cut, moulded, stitched and decorated to produce holsters patterned after those of the Old West. Camera enclosures are machined, sealed and pressure-tested for underwater filming; soaked soybeans are ground, cooked and filtered into beverages; and sharpened steel blades are assembled into pet nail trimmers.
13. Wood Garage Doors, Sand & Salt Spreaders, Animatronic Dinosaurs
Wooden sections are cut, joined and finished before being fitted with hinges, tracks and lifting hardware to create garage doors. Hoppers, augers and rotating mechanisms are mounted on vehicle frames to distribute sand and salt, while sculpted skins are installed over articulated mechanical frameworks to produce moving animatronic dinosaurs.
Episodes
