Watch Adam Savage build a box

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Fri May 10, 2013 12:44 pm

I had this video playing while I was a telephone conference today. I didn't listen to the audio, but evidently he explains his ideas an process throughout the video. Anyway, even with just video, I thought it was a pretty interesting build.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tUHJnl8qPM

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Sat May 11, 2013 11:19 pm

heathicus wrote:I had this video playing while I was a telephone conference today. I didn't listen to the audio, but evidently he explains his ideas an process throughout the video. Anyway, even with just video, I thought it was a pretty interesting build.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tUHJnl8qPM

Heath, I was saving this one for wind-down time, and broke out the earbuds so that I could watch it without disturbing my lovely bride of 25 years. It appears to me that you lucked into the ideal viewing experience -- no sound, and lots of distractions.

The thing starts out with older Hollywood blond guy repeatedly waving a "Blade Runner" pistol directly at his younger Asian friend. From the context, it seemed to be a toy, but this is very bad practice nonetheless. On further inspection, the pistol looks real. The video is about making a box for it. Older blonde guy proceeds to slice up some plywood for the box, with no machine guards nor personal protective devices in evidence. Which plywood he then glues and power-staples completely freehand.

From all this, I must believe that OSHA would have a field day if they ever visited the prop-making department of a Hollywood movie studio. I am still a bit curious as to how the pistol box turns out. I watched long enough to determine that the planning and construction is third-rate at best, and just couldn't take any more. But I somehow still suspect that older blonde dude will make it look cool for a movie camera.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sun May 12, 2013 7:42 am

The older blonde guy is Adam Savage, one of the hosts of the TV show Mythbusters. The pistol is a prop replica from the movie Blade Runner. Adam also made the pistol, and it. It is just a non-working prop.

Adam has worked as a prop builder in Hollywood for many years and I think that takes a different approach than professional furniture making or hobbyist woodworking. Their approach is to build it fast, cheap, and make it look good for the few seconds and one angle it will be on film.

I admit I kind of skipped around the video as I was watching. I did go back and watch it with sound, but also skipped around a bit. Still found it and his process interesting. It is definitely not "fine woodworking" but I learned a thing or two.

fredsheldon · Post by **fredsheldon** » Sun May 12, 2013 9:41 am

Heath, It was good meeting you and your family yesterday. Thanks for the link to the video, it was very interesting. Also, thanks for the wood. I will put it to good use as bowls and pen blanks. I hope you get good use out of the jointer and your $75 SawSmith. I know you will have fun trying to put it all back together again

Gene Howe · Post by **Gene Howe** » Sun May 12, 2013 11:52 am

Heath,
Thanks for posting this fascinating 30+ minutes. It was very interesting to watch Adam's creative genius at work. His enthusiasm is contagious, isn't it?
As with most craftsmen, it appears he thoroughly enjoys every step of the process.
Yes, there were plenty of his methods and materials that didn't appeal to me, but what really counts is that his end result was gratifying to him. And, I'm guessing he really couldn't care less others think, anyway.
I only wish I had one tenth of his ability to visualize and execute each step of such a complex project from beginning to end.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sun May 12, 2013 1:28 pm

BuckeyeDennis wrote:Heath, I was saving this one for wind-down time, and broke out the earbuds so that I could watch it without disturbing my lovely bride of 25 years. It appears to me that you lucked into the ideal viewing experience -- no sound, and lots of distractions.

The thing starts out with older Hollywood blond guy repeatedly waving a "Blade Runner" pistol directly at his younger Asian friend. From the context, it seemed to be a toy, but this is very bad practice nonetheless. On further inspection, the pistol looks real. The video is about making a box for it. Older blonde guy proceeds to slice up some plywood for the box, with no machine guards nor personal protective devices in evidence. Which plywood he then glues and power-staples completely freehand.

From all this, I must believe that OSHA would have a field day if they ever visited the prop-making department of a Hollywood movie studio. I am still a bit curious as to how the pistol box turns out. I watched long enough to determine that the planning and construction is third-rate at best, and just couldn't take any more. But I somehow still suspect that older blonde dude will make it look cool for a movie camera.

You shoulda watched the whole thing!

A non-engineers's approach for sure!

Remember this is 'art'. If you saw the finished product you would understand that!

Yes it really looks good on camera. Only the lack of 'weathering' on the fake vinyl gives it away.

And if you think that hollywood blonde guy is 'weird', wait until his
'partner' shows up!:D

Speaking of which! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EV2qq2-Lck

joedw00 · Post by **joedw00** » Sun May 12, 2013 7:43 pm

JPG40504 wrote:You shoulda watched the whole thing!

A non-engineers's approach for sure!

Remember this is 'art'. If you saw the finished product you would understand that!

Yes it really looks good on camera. Only the lack of 'weathering' on the fake vinyl gives it away.
And if you think that hollywood blonde guy is 'weird', wait until his
'partner' shows up!:D
Speaking of which! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EV2qq2-Lck

After watching the whole thing I thought they might start it up, so we good hear how quite it was.

BuckeyeDennis · Post by **BuckeyeDennis** » Sun May 12, 2013 10:25 pm

heathicus wrote:The older blonde guy is Adam Savage, one of the hosts of the TV show Mythbusters. The pistol is a prop replica from the movie Blade Runner. Adam also made the pistol, and it. It is just a non-working prop.

Adam has worked as a prop builder in Hollywood for many years and I think that takes a different approach than professional furniture making or hobbyist woodworking. Their approach is to build it fast, cheap, and make it look good for the few seconds and one angle it will be on film.

I admit I kind of skipped around the video as I was watching. I did go back and watch it with sound, but also skipped around a bit. Still found it and his process interesting. It is definitely not "fine woodworking" but I learned a thing or two.

I must apologize ... I was tired and a obviously a bit grumpy last night. If Adam Savage has the talent to make that Blade Runner pistol, I could certainly learn a lot from him. I'll take another look at the video when less sleepy

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon May 13, 2013 11:07 am

I would like to get my hands on the the wood he used for the support block.
His description of it sounded like MDF with all the "bad" of MDF taken out.
I will start looking for this wood since I love MDF

frank81 · Post by **frank81** » Mon May 13, 2013 5:05 pm

I think the difference here is this - the MythBusters guys are good engineers and capable artists. The engineer and build objects that are appropriate to the physics they are going to subject it to, and then make it look good after its built. Which is fine because in their line of work that's all they should be doing, but its different than woodworking where you have to engineer for both physics and looking good from the start.