Please do some research on the controversy behind betterhelp, and consider not supporting their business in future. They have been known to sell your most private data about therapy to advertisers and other corporations, and they have hired underqualified therapists and they do not pay them well.
Quick reminder to other viewers - BetterHelp is being pursued by the FTC for illegally sharing customer data, truly grotesque in the context of an app targeted at some of the most vulnerable members of the population.
Do be aware, there are many levels he can engage with engineering on. I say this because wasted 8 years at university because I didn't know what an engineer actually was when in reality, I shouldn't have been at university. What I really wanted to be (from the age of 6) was a draftsman, which required an education at a trades school not a university. Because I didn't know the name of the profession and no careers advisor knew of the profession, I set off down the wrong path repeatedly and wasted my time. Essentially you have (but not limited to): The makers: Fitter & turners (Machinists), fabricators and CNC operators (Xyla's channel focus) The fitters: Technician, mechanic and electrician. The assistants: Draftsman, CNC programmers, para-professional engineer The professional engineers: Electrical, mechanical, civil and mechatronic engineers. Each tier has a job and you always have the option of working up and having your employer expand on your training when you are ready. I hope this is helpful, because this is what I would've wanted to hear when I was choosing my electives in middle school.
Oh yeah we all had the problems and hit those roadblocks in different ways. Sometimes in the quiet hours alone on the computer, or, in the high pressure work environment, or, the day before a big project was due. But we all have to tackle those speed bumps and sail over the low spots.
I've been doing product design for 15 years now, everyone has that problem. I've had to use a Dremel to cut through 3/4 layers of a PCB to fix an issue, and that was designed by someone with decades of experience.
Oh how I miss the days when Search Engines were worth a damn for technical subjects. I spend an ungodly amount of time knowing that somebody out there has likely documented the solution to the problem I face while being unable to find it.
When I moved to the first apartment I owned, I wanted to make some cosmetic changes in the kitchen, change the door pulls etc. I get the pulls I like, measure the distance between mounting holes, mark it carefully on the door, and drill. It's skewed. I do another one; the holes don't match. I don't even remember what was wrong with the third one, but at that moment I broke down and called my father. He comes over, looks at the handle, and drills the perfect holes freehand. I'm still not as good as he is, but at least I can now drill straight. Got 10-15 years more time to practice.
As a metal fabricator/welder and boat/aircraft and drone designer I would suggest for anyone that wants to work as a maker, that when shopping for protective masks/respirators to go to an OSHA Certified doctor to get fitted for a respirator. it's much easier knowing what size you are actually able to use for better protection than buying 8 different ones that don't actually fit your face and doesn't protect you from fumes or dust particles.
As a retired plumber/ pipe fitter of over 48 years who has inhaled everything from asbestos, concrete and cast iron dust and everything in between. Often with less than a wet bandana the old timers would laugh at. I concur.
Any qualified medical personnel can certify a fit test. Often nurses review medical evaluations. Look up fit testing in your area. Look up companies that have fit testing services. Make sure they are NIOSH approved. Companies that fit tests will either have a person on staff or have you fill out an online medical form. After you pass a medical evaluation they should be able to fit test you to a specific model and size of respirator. @@Rickmakes
Xyla, I am basically a version of you 45 years into the future, My list of the top ten things one should know is identical to your list. Your influence and mentoring are spot on and wonderful for those in your tribe that want to pursue the same projects as you. There is nothing better than creating. Its what makes us human. Thank you for all you do in you quest to create cool things. You rock!
Seeing you wearing and talking about PPE is so important. Creators like you, and Alec Steele, and Evan and Katelyn wearing proper face masks are such great role models for new makers. I love Adam Savage and Colin Furze, but they are *so* bad about PPE, Adam does so much grinding and cutting without proper safety glasses, and Colin recently had a rock fall on the back of his head, but still doesn't wear a hardhat while digging.
It's usually the older generation, no one ever taught them to use PPE and they're not used to it. I work in a small machine shop, the things I have seen... One time we had three gruesome hand injuries in a single month, that wasn't fun
Boy, I was working on a construction site in Florida in the summer and was helping unload a truck. I was sweltering and thought that nothing could possibly fall on me in here so I took off my hard hat. Not 2 minutes later I got conked on the head, walked over and put the hat back on and never took it off after that while on site ever again.
I am an engineer, a maker and a pilot, Therfore I LOVE your channel. I really like how you said that it just takes practice AND everything can be fixed. I often said, “when you have made as many mistakes as I have, you get really good at fixing them.”
The thing about Point 1.0 / 1.5 is that at some point accumulated stuff can become an impediment. There is joy in the "finding" and joy in the "using", but not necessarily joy in the "storing". And regarding tools - buying used is certainly a strategy, but please please please also consider supporting your local tool library. I volunteer for a tool library - a place where a membership can be purchased and then tools borrowed as required - no need to buy tools for that one-time project (aka "build a deck"), no need to buy specialty tools like a jointer or a thickness planer, plus the added bonus of being a member of a diverse and supportive community!
That sounds awesome! I have a makerspace near me, but for anything other than their laser cutter, if I need something more than a couple of times it becomes a hassle to have to drive there with everything. A tool library sounds great, I wish there were more of them.
Point #8.1 = STOP. If something feels unsafe or if your gut is acting up or if your attention is wandering then STOP. Take a step back and figure out what you're doing wrong, or forgetting or what's bothering you. Hit up google or youtube or ask a friend or whatever you need to do to know that you're using the best practices that you can to ensure safety. If you're tired, stop, go take a walk around the block or eat something, get some fresh air and a glass of water and take a nap if you're tired enough. The number of times that I've screwed up, hurt myself or damaged something in the shop can directly be correlated to the number of times I've ignored my gut or pushed forward doing something while I was tired or distracted.
That last point especially. I love the phrase "Comparison is the thief of joy". When I finally realized the truth of that statement it was actually super empowering. Realizing that it's perfectly fine for me to not be as good a woodworker (or whatever skill) as that other person. Most of the time it's because they have been doing it much longer. Or if not, it just means they have more innate skill and that's also something I have no control over. The only comparison you should be making is to your past self. Strive for improvement, not perfection, and your life will be so much happier and fulfilling.
You are a major inspiration to me and a ton of other girls going into STEAM fields. Also, one thing I say a lot is "I do dumb stuff smart", meaning that if I'm going to do something sketch I'll make sure it's as safe as possible, and that I know exactly what could go wrong if/when it does
yes!! I love this! I jokingly call them my sins ("stay back for a sec, im gonna commit some table saw sins") but only when I know how to position my body and hands so the only real damage will happen to property not people, and I'll only commit sins if theres someone else around to call for help in an emergency haha
@@xylafoxlin That is a good way of describing it! After a while you get to understand the dangers and how to mitigate them. I tell the younger engineers I work with - don't be afraid of the danger - respect it. I treat the high voltage equipment at work with the same respect as a table saw or nail gun.
PPE is so important! I was stupid in my younger years and never bothered with ear defs, now I have such bad tinnitus it's hard to sleep at night. You don't understand how permanent permanent really is until it's too late
yeah I worked as a groundskeeper for a couple of summers, but had got good safety training in some warehouses before I started. I always wore my PPE and the other dudes would make fun of me for being mr. safety. but honestly the longer you live the more the little things add up, it's totally worth wearing the PPE!
As someone with at least 3 different kinds of tinnitus, wear your freaking hearing protection! They make musicians earplugs that don't make stuff sound all muffled for like $20. (not for stuff like gunshots though, you'd need digital ones for that, which are pricey unfortunately)
Math is hard. I told our chief engineer that I could have been an engineer - but I suck at math. For some reason, she thought that was the funniest thing. Then she told me something I'll never forget: "Most engineers aren't really that good at math. We get good at knowing which formulas to use for a specific application, then we keep working a it until we figure it out. Then we get our fellow engineers to double check our work." Thanks, Beth. That would have been handy information to know, say, 40 years ago when I was in high school.
Wow, I know that crappy dust mask well, I've seen so many UA-camrs push them and I have seen ZERO people post updates that they're not great and apparently screwed you up! Good luck in your new shop, can't wait to see what you build!
For respirator I highly suggest a PAPR (Positive Air Pressure Respirator). It does the same job but much more comfortable and does not need tight seals. They are unfortunately expensive, but if you use it often well worth it.
as a heavily bearded man with a strong emotional attachment to my beard, I intend to buy a PAPR for myself before I get too into making again. I don't wish to require a cleanshaven chin to protect my lungs.
Also this is a place where one of the other tips comes in handy. I bought a nice 3M Adflo one at a electrical-installer-company liquidation auction for $180. :)
Funny story about point number 1. I live out in the country. Super rural. EMS/police response over 30 minutes. The closest meaningful hardware store is about 45 minutes away. We fix all of our own shit out here, and most of the time it's farm implements and stuff. Lots of welding and metal fabrication. Anyways, a new family moved into the community, and I overheard all of the neighborhood kids spreading the most country bumpkin gossip of all time. They were all in absolutely awe that the new neighbor girl's dad didn't have a scrap metal pile. I gently corrected my daughter that gossiping about someone is wrong, and that making fun of them for something they do or do not have is wrong as well, but in my mind I was bustin' out laughing 'cause if that isn't the most hill billy thing I've heard in forever I don't know what is.
As a 30-year safety professional who works in the Heavy Civil Highway, Bridge, and Tunnel industry, I really appreciate your advice to your viewers about PPE and taking the time to learn safety. I have unfortunately seen what happens when people do not take safety seriously. Lives and families can be ruined in a flash. To your viewers . . . If you don't care about yourself, work safely for you family and loved ones. Like Xyla-they care!
Thank you for this. Our daughter is now a new ME in Aerospace and our son is a Junior in High School also pursuing engineering. Your points reinforce many we/I have made but in a more relatable fashion - and so true. Especially the last one on experience. Best of luck to you and keep moving forward (Meet the Robinsons family’s favorite)
Really happy to hear you've moved into a new shop - was sad to hear about the loss of the lease on the last one one but glad to see you back and making stuff again. Looking forward to your future projects, from down under!
One of the best investments I ever made in my workshop, was a pair of Rx safety glasses. Makes it so easy to just get in the habit of swapping out my regular glasses or Rx sunglasses at the door with my safety glasses whenever I enter the workshop. The ones I got are from Wiley, and they are super comfortable, and have a removable strap that can keep them from falling off, but loose enough to not fog up. Love them so much
The "tools are made to be used" applies to lots of the projects built as well. Use them! My wife does quilts, but makes sure that everyone she makes one for knows that they washable, and are expected to be used, especially the baby quilts! Use it, get it dirty, wash it, love it!
The "you can get other people's scraps" point is such a good one. I got a huge box of amazing hardwood veneers and pieces of rosewood from a retiring luthier, and a bunch of beams that had been used for shipping from another guy that turned out to be Jarrah. I've also gotten excellent large chunks of Baltic birch plywood that were waste pieces from a CNC shop. They were too small to be worth using in the production shop, but perfectly fine for my stuff. Oh! I also got a bunch of 12"x7"x3/4" MIC-6 aluminum plates from a different CNC shop! That was a great find. Seriously, scraps can be amazing. Just don't be afraid to also buy new material. You have to consider time cost as well. Sometimes saving money by using lots of small scraps isn't worth it compared to the time saved by buying one full sheet of ply. You just have to balance all those choices.
I really appreciate that you emphasized safety so much. I feel like way too many people wear their recklessness like a badge of honor and brag that they've never had any issue doing *insert potentially dangerous task* in the past so why wear the gear? Accidents happen so quickly and so unexpectedly that taking the extra seconds you need to gear up PPE is always worth it so it's great that you made a point to mention it and encourage safe behavior.
My favorite shop safety purchase has been prescription safety glasses. They are worth every penny if you wear prescription eye-wear. U don't have to think, just put them on when you get in the shop and leave them on.
Great advice! Fitzee's Fabrications, another UA-cam channel, invariably starts out by pulling a piece of steel out of his scrap pile, often from metal cabinets or shelves. Start with sets of cheap tools, Harbour Freight or your local equivalent. The ones you use the most will wear out or break first. Replace them with high-quality pieces as you go. (Sometimes, given the way things are priced a single failure may justify a small set, rather than just replacing the broken one.) Over time, you'll aquire a quality set of the things that matter.
Congratulations on your new space. Looking forward to the full tour and story. Great advice also. Even if you're a weekend warrior - invest in tools! I FINALLY bought a good wet tile saw after about a dozen tile jobs. No more borrowing shitty ones or renting.
Great list 👍 Regarding point 10, I have a saying : “Experience is being able to say ‘I think I’ve screwed up like this before’” Do the practice, make the mistakes, and you’ll recognize the bear traps in future projects.
Dear Xyla, You possess Kindness, Knowledge, Skills, and a great desire to share with others. In addition to expounding the notion to keep on designing and building! God Bless You!!!!!
I am new to your channel and just want to say how nice it is that you explain your safety philosophy. There are so many craft people out there that do not even mention safety or just mention it in passing like "where a mask" etc. This made me smile. Good Job!
I’m currently standing in my workshop at the very deepest low point of a build in the process of going wrong 😅 so this was just what I needed to watch! Back to it! Thanks, Xyla
My top tip would be "Learn how (and when) to buy cheap tools". Some stuff is worth spending top dollars on... like the sander here. I'm more into metal fab, 99% of my projects will see a drill at some point, so I got a good one. But then there's stuff where it's OK to buy cheap. Stuff you'll use once, stuff that will get damaged or modified, those are OK to buy cheap. And my safety tip : Make using PPE easier than finding an excuse. I keep my safety shoes on the garage doormat. This way, it'll take longer to look at them, rumble for 5s about "how small of a job i'm doing today", then walk around, rather than the heel rub things to get shoes off and get into the safety boot. I bought a (quite pricey) face shield with integrated earmuffs and keep it next to my power tools. Everytime I grab a power tool, it take me less time to put on a face shield and hearing protection than it would take for me to bargain with myself about "it's just 3 holes, don't bother with eyes/ear protection"...
Cool tips. Thanks. I would also say, learn to use hand tools such as chisels, planes, spokeshaves, hand drills, saws, hammers, screw drivers, spanners, etc, before you replace their utility with power tools. Practising hand/eye coordination and getting to know how tools behave in different situations as well as getting an engineer's instinct for the properties of materials as they are hand shaped/formed is a fundamental foundation for making stuff. Sure, I reach for my power socket driver to loosen nuts quickly but I don't trust it to tighten mission critical components because it's brutal and has no finesse. By hand gives great feedback; you can feel if a nut is resisting or not seating. Rock on!
100% agreed. I've recently started going back to hand tools more and more frequently because I've decided taking more time to get more precision and finess is worth it.
Another great point, pick up a torque wrench (or better yet, make friends with someone who has a torque wrench) A lot of times it probably won't matter, but even then I like knowing exactly how much it doesn't matter heh. I love my impact, but seeing someone use it to tighten a cylinder head gasket was kinda horrifying.
@@Lizlodude A torque wrench is good and i've always had one, but getting the feel in your hands of appropriate torque for standard bolt/thread sizes - M4, 5, 6, and 8 gives a very good ball park torque. Just yesterday I forgot to tighten the locking nut on my torque wrench and when it didn't click at 30fp I noped out and decided the bolt was tight enough, which without hand knowledge could have ended badly. I haven't stripped a thread since I was about 11 years old.
Preach it! Fantastic advice, every word. There are makers, tinkerers and old farts like me everywhere. Everywhere! Greyhaires like me, who would love to instill the deep love - of creativity and the appreciation for the many mediums, tooling, skills, the beauty of the fading arts and crafts, etc. Long live The Makers! No doubt you have inspired many makers to pick up a tool, rekindling an old or new desire to move. To look at something that needs doing, or a dream item you really want create, it takes courage to say out loud to yourself, yes, I can do that. I will do that, starting right now! I am grateful for your joy and honesty, your hard earned wisdom. Thank for all this. Most sincerely.
hi, safety professional here, great video! All respirators above a surgical mask (N95 and up) require an annual fit test (if this is your job). Fit tests can be qualitative or quantitative. for hobbyists, i recommend the less expensive qualitative fit test with a hood and bitrex/banana oil. This may seem excessive, but hearing Xyla's cedar sensitivity speaks volumes. Be safe out there!
Self-belief is the cornerstone of any endeavor. Often, while immersed in a complex task, I encounter doubts like, "Oh, man, I'm not sure I can manage this/complete this/solve this," but I persist by trusting myself. This approach invariably leads to a gratifying sense of achievement. The remarkable thing is how much you can accomplish by confronting and overcoming your fears. Moreover, each time you surmount a challenging obstacle, it bolsters your confidence for future challenges. Your channel is outstanding because you approach a diverse range of projects with confidence, even when it's a new experience for you. Impressively, the results are consistently great! -Sean
Absolutely bang on the mark with all 10 points! I can relate to all of them with as an engineer, Aircraft designer / builder and now Industrial designer.(and with industrial hearing loss...) Proud to be a Maker!
This is probably the best "things you should know about making" list I've ever seen. #3 especially is probably the most important thing anyone can internalize.
I would encourage people to compare themselves to others. How else will you know how you're doing? How else will you learn to be better? How else will you discover how much you have progressed? It's OK to not do well as long as you learn from it, and most importantly, encourage yourself. And sometimes you just need to accept that some tasks you may never excel at, and that's not the end of the world either. You can still enjoy the work and the accomplishment.
I'm not an engineer, I just build stuff I need, build cedar strip canoes, restore antique wood canvas canoes and learn everything by reading and doing. I am 62 going on 63 woman in Canada retrofitting my travel trailer to have a video editing workstation for my YT channel stuff. I am horribly alllergic to white cedar and now spruce after 40 years of not using any dust masks and smoking 42 years. (quit May 2020).
It's trite, but the saying "comparison is the thief of joy" is usually true. Be inspired by others rather than negatively comparing your progress to theirs, especially while you're learning a new skill! :)
The first three hit very deeap for me as and artis who works in alot of diffrent media and with alot of metarials. What held me back was the idea I need fancy tools but i learned you can do alot with just basic hand tools. It will take longer but it teaches you basic skills that will make you a better maker when you get that exspesive tool.
I love the last one especially. I had a breakthrough this last week as a junior working on a personal project. I'm designing a camera robot to handle the more complex shots I want to integrate into my video-making process. While sketching out some initial designs, I started trying to figure out how big of a motor I would need to ensure reliable and stable motion. It was in that moment I realized that after 3-ish years of schooling, I actually knew exactly how to do that. I knew I was using a pulley system and that the pulley would have a set diameter. Based on that diameter and the total payload mass I could derive the torque required to move that payload with an added safety factor. Based on the required torque, I then could convert that into a gearing ratio for the motor and make my purchasing decision. But it took a lot of time and practice to get to that point. Looking back, I can see so much of my personal projects within my ability to complete that seemed so daunting before.
+1 on the Eclipse mask. I got mine after Michael Alm recommended it in one of his videos and it's been transformative in terms of the amount of time I can spend in the workshop before getting sick with dust exposure.
This is legit one of the better yt vids I've seen in a long time. First class advice thats not trying to sell me something. Its not another builder vid of let me show you how I use this half million dollar machine to make a thing. Top notch vid Xyla 👍 like oldschool youtube quality, when ppl made vids based on passion, instead of clickbait or virality or sales.
tbh sander would be my number two, number one tool is definitely a good rotatable vice. having sth to fix your workpiece is such a gamechanger, guess it depends on what you build though :)
I had an art teacher, in 5th grade, that told me that there are no mistakes creating, only new directions...Ive used this mentality in much of my life.
You remind me of one time when I was in high school and there was this very talented artist creating a pen and ink design of a blacksmith (no idea why, just bear with me) and most of the way through, he was dissatisfied with it so he tossed it towards the garbage can across from his table but it instead landed in a sink someone had used to rinse out paint brushes. Annoyed, he went over there to fish it out but the paint from the prior rinsing bled into the back of the picture. Fortunately, it was a mess of red, yellow, and orange paint. The result was he had accidentally colorized the blacksmith's forge with this blend of color that made it pop. So yes, mistakes turn into new directions.
I worked with a guy who never said the word problem. Everything was an opportunity. If you went to him and said we have a problem he would answer with let’s take a look at this opportunity. It is not easy but I really strive to be like him. People like that makes you a better person all around.
@@DavidVerch man, I'd hate to have this guy on the NASA Apollo 13 flight. "Houston, we have a problem." "Hold on there, this looks to be more of an opportunity." "Uh, Houston, we just had an oxygen tank blow up on us, we're low on air, and we're not sure if we have enough fuel to get back home...."
This is an excellent video. I appreciate seeing your struggle and knowing that the things I'm leaning as a maker are common problems and I'm not alone.
OK just to show where I am looking from, I am a retired professional engineer (EE) who has been making stuff both for work, for personal entertainment, just cause it needed fixing. From that background I think this is the best video you have ever made. And I see all your videos as some of the best I have ever seen.
Loved the video, really inspired me to get into my workshop today!! I would like to say the counter point to “there’s always a fix” is “the best you can do vs good enough” which is a video Tyrell knifeworks made. Then again, knifemakers don’t make mistakes, we just make shorter knives…
Thank you so much for calling out the bad products. UA-camrs are always afraid of this but this is the most important thing that we can get out of a recommendation. Thank you so much I’m a big fan of your work
My daughter (who’s super young) loves building and fixing things. She always sitting by my side when I do projects. When she’s a little older I’m hoping to direct her to your channel. Love what you do. Please keep it up. For the record my daughter is 4 and she sits there handing me tools and asking me questions about how things works. Her dream (at least for now) is to be a robotics engineer.
Thanks for the sander tip. FWIW, it's not that I needed it, but it's exactly what I've been telling beginners for years. They want to spend their money on something cooler, so it's helpful to have somebody else say it too. I get a similar response to a tip I give beginning photographers, which is buy a good tripod. Human's simply aren't very good at learning from other people's mistakes.
I was a blinds fitter for a few years, without any previous education or practice and I learned to use tools. At first the wrong way, especially with screw drivers and bits. I did almost all types of screws with two or three screw drivers. It took me years to realize using the right tool for the job makes work just so much easier and also safer. Today I still occasionaly use what I have at hand, but most of the time I just go get the rigjt one. Very good tips, I wish you all the best for the future.
Xyla, these practical and spiritual principles on being a maker are truly complete gems. Thank you for sharing these. You are an inspiration to all of us who watch you on UA-cam. I will be applying your lessons personally in my own projects. Kudos to your commitment and dedication to your craft and to your journey as a maker on UA-cam!!
Self confidence is a HUGE game changer. Fortunately, for me, collecting offcut materials and buying used tools are exactly how I got started. Another big one is knowing when to ask for help, and acknowledging you don't know how to do something. I know more people who have gotten hurt or ruined projects when they did not ask for help or advice.
For your #6 item, you could expand that friend/community network to include people with SKILLS as well as tools. Another one (that maybe I missed) is: Don't be too proud / afraid to ask for help when you get in over your head.
Love it .Yes. Practice. I'm a retired engineer and I still think about all the simple skills I have that are 2nd nature. Failure is part of the process. Even driving down the road requires constant adjustments to your speed and direction. Another great, fun video.
Learning to be bold enough to go up to someone and ask them if you can use a tool or ask for their advice will open up a new world for you. Most creators love talking about their tools and projects and many love sharing what they have learned. It's how I actually made many friends after in my 30's. People are generally really nice. For the last few years I've been traveling around the world for my job and mine involves going to remote areas and 99% of all people you meet are amazing. The world over. When I started this job I only traveled a little bit to countries near by (EU) but traveling to many countries that are displayed as "bad" in our media are full of kind and generous people. Anyways, I'm rambling. Go talk to that weirdo with the tool you need.
I use a RZ style mask before but it has different changeable filters for different things. Using a cheap dust mask for sanding I could taste the wood or plaster after. Not with the RZ style one I have with n90 filter.
Thank you. I listened to your story while finishing up a stool that has gaps and minor wonkiness. At the end of the day I stretched myself to build it and my dad will still love it. Thanks again!!
i feel the first one. for me it was kinda the other way around, everything was always there, my workshop has literally been used (even tho it moved location within the same building a couple times) since the 1860 by my family. then a couple years ago we got flooded (not to bad i guess, no living spaces, but workshops, garages, storage space etc.) and all of a sudden all the materials for daily tasks where gone, we lost a surprisingly small part of tools, but tons of wood scraps, posts, planks, boards, fabrics, foams, rubber and all other sorts of materials had to go and all of a sudden i found myself making trips to get the tiniest pieces of wood. Thats when i started to realize how valuable all those leftovers are for everyday projects
As soon as you started talking about learning the violin, I started wondering about if you were a TwoSet fan as well, lo and behold, you dropped the practice 40H line and I got all fuzzy :)
#11: Good things happen slowly; bad things happen fast. Slow down. Be patient (like Xyla already mentioned). #12: Estimate your cost to build a project. Make sure you have 3x that much. And if you think you will only need to make x trips to gather your materials, you will make 2x or 3x trips. One specific safety rule that's super important: When using power tools, don't wear loose clothing. Do tie your hair back and maybe even put it under a hat.
Great video! Sage knowledge. Back in the mid 1970s I started working at a sheetmetal company in Duluth, MN. The things these guys could make from scratch was truly mind-boggling. One of them told me one day is that a craftsman/craftsperson is a person who can hide his mistakes well. The best advice I've ever been given. :)
Yeah, number ten never gets enough attention. There's no such thing as natural talent or innate ability. All skills are earned with time and HARD WORK.
what you have shared in this video is so on point. the story at the end is something everyone who is struggling with a thing should listen to before giving up. such great advice from someone so young.
You know xyla, I just started a new job in aerospace composites. Today the first part from a kit I designed came out of the oven and it didn't fit during lay up. The techs had to patch every layer. I just want to say thank you I needed to hear number one. You're great 😊.
One of my favorite bits of advice is "make garbage." That is, don't be afraid to make something that isn't top notch, especially at the beginning. You gotta be bad before you can get good. So be bad boldly.
Thanks for the tips Xyla, the last point about not comparing yourself to others and the essential need for physical practice, is golden. Also, great to highlight the importance of quality PPE and it's effect on your attitude to using it - after investing in proper face masks I've never looked back, and conversely I think back to being a young lad where my grandfather's skin on his hands was so calloused and hard from years of being a sailor/trucker/postman in the cold and wet without gloves or protection, that the skin on his fingers would just 'pop' open for no reason - very disconcerting as a child and as an adult I realise it was very preventable too.
Love how #10 (skill building) relates back to #1 (accumulating maker stuff). This is such an inspiring list. Tools, materials, skills, practice ... the more one tries, and more projects have worked on, the easier things get. Not trying is the worst skill. Awesome call out to making personal safety a top priority.
I think you nailed the list 👍🏻 Been giving similar advice to friends starting out modelmaking and training at work, great to see it well presented on UA-cam. 11. Have fun 😉
Thank you for this excellent video! Something you didn't mention in the video, but you do a very good job of: Tool Organization is very important! It doesn't matter what you have for tools and safety gear if you can't find it. My take on a couple of your points: - Buy the best tools you can afford - you can upgrade as your skills and income improve. - Safety equipment - you are absolutely correct - buy the best equipment on the market - it is ALWAYS worth the money spent to keep yourself healthy! Also, don't start a project that needs new safety equipment until you have it. - Always keep a set of "disposable" tools - they're worth it for when you just know you need to do something that will ruin them. An easy way to do this: KEEP your starter tools! Also, buy used tools. It never hurts to have extras of hand tools.
I love seeing how many people came down here to emphasize the importance of PPE! I always put on my safety glasses the second I step in to my shop. I probably would have lost an eye using a pair of pliers a couple years back had I not been wearing them, its so easy to underestimate hand tools the we consider safe. Also if you're tired or not in the right headspace for work please don't just push through it, thats when accidents happen. Take a break and come back to it later
This is great.. as someone who has tinkered all my life of how things work, and putting them back together (mainly with cars/motorcycles) I agree with all of this. be open to share, never be afraid to ask, share your knowledge or mistakes so the next person doesn't do that, and the ware stuff that you feel comfortable in is exactly it. if it doesn't fit, feel right etc, you are less likely to do it that way or wear something. I use this practice with motorcycles :) .. will definitely point people to this.. also so looking fwd to your new shop and I do hope you kept in touch with your last neighbors to maybe offer them to come over once in a while to continue to grow those curious minds. cheers.
I have been woodworking for the last 30 years, and photography for the last 10, and leather working for the last 3, and doing needle work for 5 and 3d printing for a couple days... Always learning new stuff... always in my shop, or as much as I can. People, just go out there and DO something, anything... learn!
Thanks for your point about safety. I'm not a maker yet, and what I do want to make is super basic, but I have a long list of injuries from unsafe work practices. I tell younger people that they will save themselves years of pain with a little bit of planning and thought.
#10 was just gold. Sometimes hard to shake off frustration but just thginking "well I'll try again" makes progress and leads success. Thanks for the motivation.
You can go to betterhelp.com/xyla for a 10% discount on your first month of therapy with a licensed professional specific to your needs.
Please do some research on the controversy behind betterhelp, and consider not supporting their business in future. They have been known to sell your most private data about therapy to advertisers and other corporations, and they have hired underqualified therapists and they do not pay them well.
ugh - please check the news on them . . . not the right place to work with
Quick reminder to other viewers - BetterHelp is being pursued by the FTC for illegally sharing customer data, truly grotesque in the context of an app targeted at some of the most vulnerable members of the population.
Betterhelp sells your medical data, be careful.
Yeah. I'd heard they take a lot of your info and sell it on.
My son wants to be an engineer because of you. You rock lady
Do be aware, there are many levels he can engage with engineering on.
I say this because wasted 8 years at university because I didn't know what an engineer actually was when in reality, I shouldn't have been at university. What I really wanted to be (from the age of 6) was a draftsman, which required an education at a trades school not a university. Because I didn't know the name of the profession and no careers advisor knew of the profession, I set off down the wrong path repeatedly and wasted my time.
Essentially you have (but not limited to):
The makers: Fitter & turners (Machinists), fabricators and CNC operators (Xyla's channel focus)
The fitters: Technician, mechanic and electrician.
The assistants: Draftsman, CNC programmers, para-professional engineer
The professional engineers: Electrical, mechanical, civil and mechatronic engineers.
Each tier has a job and you always have the option of working up and having your employer expand on your training when you are ready.
I hope this is helpful, because this is what I would've wanted to hear when I was choosing my electives in middle school.
I feel like that is kind of your job? Not some random youtube personallity
@@etch3130 What? Our kids can't find inspiration outside the family?
@@etch3130
Yes, because role models don't exist. (Sarcasm)
@@etch3130 My dad was a well loved postman and loved to fish. I'm an industrial designer/artist and love to fish, so..... *shrugs*
"How come no-one has this problem?"
As you now realise... *everyone* has had these problems. It's just part of the process.
Oh yeah we all had the problems and hit those roadblocks in different ways. Sometimes in the quiet hours alone on the computer, or, in the high pressure work environment, or, the day before a big project was due. But we all have to tackle those speed bumps and sail over the low spots.
I've been doing product design for 15 years now, everyone has that problem. I've had to use a Dremel to cut through 3/4 layers of a PCB to fix an issue, and that was designed by someone with decades of experience.
Oh how I miss the days when Search Engines were worth a damn for technical subjects. I spend an ungodly amount of time knowing that somebody out there has likely documented the solution to the problem I face while being unable to find it.
Everyone has the moment when they realize that. At least Xyla got a good story out of it.
When I moved to the first apartment I owned, I wanted to make some cosmetic changes in the kitchen, change the door pulls etc.
I get the pulls I like, measure the distance between mounting holes, mark it carefully on the door, and drill. It's skewed. I do another one; the holes don't match. I don't even remember what was wrong with the third one, but at that moment I broke down and called my father.
He comes over, looks at the handle, and drills the perfect holes freehand.
I'm still not as good as he is, but at least I can now drill straight. Got 10-15 years more time to practice.
As a metal fabricator/welder and boat/aircraft and drone designer I would suggest for anyone that wants to work as a maker, that when shopping for protective masks/respirators to go to an OSHA Certified doctor to get fitted for a respirator. it's much easier knowing what size you are actually able to use for better protection than buying 8 different ones that don't actually fit your face and doesn't protect you from fumes or dust particles.
Fit testing is incredibly important!
As a retired plumber/ pipe fitter of over 48 years who has inhaled everything from asbestos, concrete and cast iron dust and everything in between. Often with less than a wet bandana the old timers would laugh at. I concur.
How do you find a doctor like that?
@@Rickmakes just google OSHA respirator fit testing. You'll get several links and probably several medical clinics ear you that offer the fit tests
Any qualified medical personnel can certify a fit test. Often nurses review medical evaluations. Look up fit testing in your area. Look up companies that have fit testing services. Make sure they are NIOSH approved. Companies that fit tests will either have a person on staff or have you fill out an online medical form. After you pass a medical evaluation they should be able to fit test you to a specific model and size of respirator. @@Rickmakes
Xyla, I am basically a version of you 45 years into the future, My list of the top ten things one should know is identical to your list. Your influence and mentoring are spot on and wonderful for those in your tribe that want to pursue the same projects as you. There is nothing better than creating. Its what makes us human. Thank you for all you do in you quest to create cool things. You rock!
Seeing you wearing and talking about PPE is so important. Creators like you, and Alec Steele, and Evan and Katelyn wearing proper face masks are such great role models for new makers.
I love Adam Savage and Colin Furze, but they are *so* bad about PPE, Adam does so much grinding and cutting without proper safety glasses, and Colin recently had a rock fall on the back of his head, but still doesn't wear a hardhat while digging.
Colin also wasn't wearing his safety tie at the time.
It's usually the older generation, no one ever taught them to use PPE and they're not used to it. I work in a small machine shop, the things I have seen... One time we had three gruesome hand injuries in a single month, that wasn't fun
You think that's bad, you should see the welding and cutting the guys do that are working on Colin's old BMW. No helmet, no mask, no shield...
@@williamsburgasylum Ow! My eyes feel gritty and my face is hot just reading that!
Boy, I was working on a construction site in Florida in the summer and was helping unload a truck. I was sweltering and thought that nothing could possibly fall on me in here so I took off my hard hat. Not 2 minutes later I got conked on the head, walked over and put the hat back on and never took it off after that while on site ever again.
Hi Xyla, Everyone here.
Hey VSauce, Micheal Here
I am an engineer, a maker and a pilot, Therfore I LOVE your channel. I really like how you said that it just takes practice AND everything can be fixed. I often said, “when you have made as many mistakes as I have, you get really good at fixing them.”
The thing about Point 1.0 / 1.5 is that at some point accumulated stuff can become an impediment. There is joy in the "finding" and joy in the "using", but not necessarily joy in the "storing". And regarding tools - buying used is certainly a strategy, but please please please also consider supporting your local tool library. I volunteer for a tool library - a place where a membership can be purchased and then tools borrowed as required - no need to buy tools for that one-time project (aka "build a deck"), no need to buy specialty tools like a jointer or a thickness planer, plus the added bonus of being a member of a diverse and supportive community!
That sounds awesome! I have a makerspace near me, but for anything other than their laser cutter, if I need something more than a couple of times it becomes a hassle to have to drive there with everything. A tool library sounds great, I wish there were more of them.
Point #8.1 = STOP. If something feels unsafe or if your gut is acting up or if your attention is wandering then STOP. Take a step back and figure out what you're doing wrong, or forgetting or what's bothering you. Hit up google or youtube or ask a friend or whatever you need to do to know that you're using the best practices that you can to ensure safety.
If you're tired, stop, go take a walk around the block or eat something, get some fresh air and a glass of water and take a nap if you're tired enough.
The number of times that I've screwed up, hurt myself or damaged something in the shop can directly be correlated to the number of times I've ignored my gut or pushed forward doing something while I was tired or distracted.
That last point especially. I love the phrase "Comparison is the thief of joy". When I finally realized the truth of that statement it was actually super empowering. Realizing that it's perfectly fine for me to not be as good a woodworker (or whatever skill) as that other person. Most of the time it's because they have been doing it much longer. Or if not, it just means they have more innate skill and that's also something I have no control over.
The only comparison you should be making is to your past self. Strive for improvement, not perfection, and your life will be so much happier and fulfilling.
You are a major inspiration to me and a ton of other girls going into STEAM fields. Also, one thing I say a lot is "I do dumb stuff smart", meaning that if I'm going to do something sketch I'll make sure it's as safe as possible, and that I know exactly what could go wrong if/when it does
yes!! I love this! I jokingly call them my sins ("stay back for a sec, im gonna commit some table saw sins") but only when I know how to position my body and hands so the only real damage will happen to property not people, and I'll only commit sins if theres someone else around to call for help in an emergency haha
that's a great way to put it. Might have to steal that one.
@@xylafoxlin That is a good way of describing it! After a while you get to understand the dangers and how to mitigate them. I tell the younger engineers I work with - don't be afraid of the danger - respect it. I treat the high voltage equipment at work with the same respect as a table saw or nail gun.
@@xylafoxlin Having cut pipe on a table saw, I can confirm that is a sin (Also there is a dent in the fence. The wooden one, not the table saw fence)
PPE is so important! I was stupid in my younger years and never bothered with ear defs, now I have such bad tinnitus it's hard to sleep at night. You don't understand how permanent permanent really is until it's too late
yeah I worked as a groundskeeper for a couple of summers, but had got good safety training in some warehouses before I started. I always wore my PPE and the other dudes would make fun of me for being mr. safety. but honestly the longer you live the more the little things add up, it's totally worth wearing the PPE!
As someone with at least 3 different kinds of tinnitus, wear your freaking hearing protection! They make musicians earplugs that don't make stuff sound all muffled for like $20. (not for stuff like gunshots though, you'd need digital ones for that, which are pricey unfortunately)
Math is hard. I told our chief engineer that I could have been an engineer - but I suck at math. For some reason, she thought that was the funniest thing. Then she told me something I'll never forget: "Most engineers aren't really that good at math. We get good at knowing which formulas to use for a specific application, then we keep working a it until we figure it out. Then we get our fellow engineers to double check our work."
Thanks, Beth. That would have been handy information to know, say, 40 years ago when I was in high school.
That Ling Ling joke felt like a personal callout lmaooo I was just waffling about practicing my violin yesterday, get out of my head!
GO PRACTICE
Loving the twoset references, need crossover video pls loll
Wow, I know that crappy dust mask well, I've seen so many UA-camrs push them and I have seen ZERO people post updates that they're not great and apparently screwed you up! Good luck in your new shop, can't wait to see what you build!
I bought one, but returned it you can just look at the inside and tell there is no way that seals properly.
For respirator I highly suggest a PAPR (Positive Air Pressure Respirator). It does the same job but much more comfortable and does not need tight seals. They are unfortunately expensive, but if you use it often well worth it.
as a heavily bearded man with a strong emotional attachment to my beard, I intend to buy a PAPR for myself before I get too into making again. I don't wish to require a cleanshaven chin to protect my lungs.
Also this is a place where one of the other tips comes in handy. I bought a nice 3M Adflo one at a electrical-installer-company liquidation auction for $180. :)
Funny story about point number 1.
I live out in the country. Super rural. EMS/police response over 30 minutes. The closest meaningful hardware store is about 45 minutes away.
We fix all of our own shit out here, and most of the time it's farm implements and stuff. Lots of welding and metal fabrication.
Anyways, a new family moved into the community, and I overheard all of the neighborhood kids spreading the most country bumpkin gossip of all time. They were all in absolutely awe that the new neighbor girl's dad didn't have a scrap metal pile.
I gently corrected my daughter that gossiping about someone is wrong, and that making fun of them for something they do or do not have is wrong as well, but in my mind I was bustin' out laughing 'cause if that isn't the most hill billy thing I've heard in forever I don't know what is.
You're an asset to the community! Thanks for your frank, fun, and friendly character and help!
As a 30-year safety professional who works in the Heavy Civil Highway, Bridge, and Tunnel industry, I really appreciate your advice to your viewers about PPE and taking the time to learn safety. I have unfortunately seen what happens when people do not take safety seriously. Lives and families can be ruined in a flash. To your viewers . . . If you don't care about yourself, work safely for you family and loved ones. Like Xyla-they care!
Thank you for this. Our daughter is now a new ME in Aerospace and our son is a Junior in High School also pursuing engineering. Your points reinforce many we/I have made but in a more relatable fashion - and so true. Especially the last one on experience. Best of luck to you and keep moving forward (Meet the Robinsons family’s favorite)
Really happy to hear you've moved into a new shop - was sad to hear about the loss of the lease on the last one one but glad to see you back and making stuff again. Looking forward to your future projects, from down under!
One of the best investments I ever made in my workshop, was a pair of Rx safety glasses. Makes it so easy to just get in the habit of swapping out my regular glasses or Rx sunglasses at the door with my safety glasses whenever I enter the workshop. The ones I got are from Wiley, and they are super comfortable, and have a removable strap that can keep them from falling off, but loose enough to not fog up. Love them so much
The "tools are made to be used" applies to lots of the projects built as well. Use them! My wife does quilts, but makes sure that everyone she makes one for knows that they washable, and are expected to be used, especially the baby quilts! Use it, get it dirty, wash it, love it!
The "you can get other people's scraps" point is such a good one. I got a huge box of amazing hardwood veneers and pieces of rosewood from a retiring luthier, and a bunch of beams that had been used for shipping from another guy that turned out to be Jarrah. I've also gotten excellent large chunks of Baltic birch plywood that were waste pieces from a CNC shop. They were too small to be worth using in the production shop, but perfectly fine for my stuff. Oh! I also got a bunch of 12"x7"x3/4" MIC-6 aluminum plates from a different CNC shop! That was a great find. Seriously, scraps can be amazing. Just don't be afraid to also buy new material. You have to consider time cost as well. Sometimes saving money by using lots of small scraps isn't worth it compared to the time saved by buying one full sheet of ply. You just have to balance all those choices.
I really appreciate that you emphasized safety so much. I feel like way too many people wear their recklessness like a badge of honor and brag that they've never had any issue doing *insert potentially dangerous task* in the past so why wear the gear? Accidents happen so quickly and so unexpectedly that taking the extra seconds you need to gear up PPE is always worth it so it's great that you made a point to mention it and encourage safe behavior.
My favorite shop safety purchase has been prescription safety glasses. They are worth every penny if you wear prescription eye-wear. U don't have to think, just put them on when you get in the shop and leave them on.
Oh super good point!! I’ve been wearing contact lenses everyday since I was 12 and don’t even think about that anymore. Yes!! Good point
Great advice! Fitzee's Fabrications, another UA-cam channel, invariably starts out by pulling a piece of steel out of his scrap pile, often from metal cabinets or shelves.
Start with sets of cheap tools, Harbour Freight or your local equivalent. The ones you use the most will wear out or break first. Replace them with high-quality pieces as you go. (Sometimes, given the way things are priced a single failure may justify a small set, rather than just replacing the broken one.) Over time, you'll aquire a quality set of the things that matter.
Congratulations on your new space. Looking forward to the full tour and story. Great advice also. Even if you're a weekend warrior - invest in tools! I FINALLY bought a good wet tile saw after about a dozen tile jobs. No more borrowing shitty ones or renting.
Great list 👍
Regarding point 10, I have a saying : “Experience is being able to say ‘I think I’ve screwed up like this before’”
Do the practice, make the mistakes, and you’ll recognize the bear traps in future projects.
Thanks so much for the safety pitch and the call for self-responsibility.
Dear Xyla,
You possess Kindness, Knowledge, Skills, and a great desire to share with others.
In addition to expounding the notion to keep on designing and building!
God Bless You!!!!!
I am new to your channel and just want to say how nice it is that you explain your safety philosophy. There are so many craft people out there that do not even mention safety or just mention it in passing like "where a mask" etc. This made me smile. Good Job!
Love your name. Cool spelling and sound. Keep up the great work. Love watching you
I’m currently standing in my workshop at the very deepest low point of a build in the process of going wrong 😅 so this was just what I needed to watch! Back to it! Thanks, Xyla
My top tip would be "Learn how (and when) to buy cheap tools".
Some stuff is worth spending top dollars on... like the sander here. I'm more into metal fab, 99% of my projects will see a drill at some point, so I got a good one.
But then there's stuff where it's OK to buy cheap. Stuff you'll use once, stuff that will get damaged or modified, those are OK to buy cheap.
And my safety tip : Make using PPE easier than finding an excuse.
I keep my safety shoes on the garage doormat. This way, it'll take longer to look at them, rumble for 5s about "how small of a job i'm doing today", then walk around, rather than the heel rub things to get shoes off and get into the safety boot.
I bought a (quite pricey) face shield with integrated earmuffs and keep it next to my power tools. Everytime I grab a power tool, it take me less time to put on a face shield and hearing protection than it would take for me to bargain with myself about "it's just 3 holes, don't bother with eyes/ear protection"...
You are freaking awesome, I'm showing this to my son when he gets home from school. Totally inspirational stuff!
Cool tips. Thanks. I would also say, learn to use hand tools such as chisels, planes, spokeshaves, hand drills, saws, hammers, screw drivers, spanners, etc, before you replace their utility with power tools. Practising hand/eye coordination and getting to know how tools behave in different situations as well as getting an engineer's instinct for the properties of materials as they are hand shaped/formed is a fundamental foundation for making stuff. Sure, I reach for my power socket driver to loosen nuts quickly but I don't trust it to tighten mission critical components because it's brutal and has no finesse. By hand gives great feedback; you can feel if a nut is resisting or not seating. Rock on!
100% agreed. I've recently started going back to hand tools more and more frequently because I've decided taking more time to get more precision and finess is worth it.
Another great point, pick up a torque wrench (or better yet, make friends with someone who has a torque wrench) A lot of times it probably won't matter, but even then I like knowing exactly how much it doesn't matter heh. I love my impact, but seeing someone use it to tighten a cylinder head gasket was kinda horrifying.
@@Lizlodude A torque wrench is good and i've always had one, but getting the feel in your hands of appropriate torque for standard bolt/thread sizes - M4, 5, 6, and 8 gives a very good ball park torque. Just yesterday I forgot to tighten the locking nut on my torque wrench and when it didn't click at 30fp I noped out and decided the bolt was tight enough, which without hand knowledge could have ended badly. I haven't stripped a thread since I was about 11 years old.
Preach it! Fantastic advice, every word. There are makers, tinkerers and old farts like me everywhere. Everywhere! Greyhaires like me, who would love to instill the deep love - of creativity and the appreciation for the many mediums, tooling, skills, the beauty of the fading arts and crafts, etc. Long live The Makers! No doubt you have inspired many makers to pick up a tool, rekindling an old or new desire to move. To look at something that needs doing, or a dream item you really want create, it takes courage to say out loud to yourself, yes, I can do that. I will do that, starting right now! I am grateful for your joy and honesty, your hard earned wisdom. Thank for all this. Most sincerely.
stay away from better help, unless you don't care about the company selling your inner thoughts to Facebook etc
hi, safety professional here, great video! All respirators above a surgical mask (N95 and up) require an annual fit test (if this is your job). Fit tests can be qualitative or quantitative. for hobbyists, i recommend the less expensive qualitative fit test with a hood and bitrex/banana oil. This may seem excessive, but hearing Xyla's cedar sensitivity speaks volumes. Be safe out there!
you get to read the rainbow poem while wearing the hood and a friend sprays bitrex/banana oil into the hood to see if you can smell/taste it.
Self-belief is the cornerstone of any endeavor. Often, while immersed in a complex task, I encounter doubts like, "Oh, man, I'm not sure I can manage this/complete this/solve this," but I persist by trusting myself. This approach invariably leads to a gratifying sense of achievement. The remarkable thing is how much you can accomplish by confronting and overcoming your fears. Moreover, each time you surmount a challenging obstacle, it bolsters your confidence for future challenges. Your channel is outstanding because you approach a diverse range of projects with confidence, even when it's a new experience for you. Impressively, the results are consistently great! -Sean
Health and Safety is my day job - really happy that you talk about the importance of safety skills alongside making skills.
Absolutely bang on the mark with all 10 points! I can relate to all of them with as an engineer, Aircraft designer / builder and now Industrial designer.(and with industrial hearing loss...) Proud to be a Maker!
This is probably the best "things you should know about making" list I've ever seen. #3 especially is probably the most important thing anyone can internalize.
I would encourage people to compare themselves to others. How else will you know how you're doing? How else will you learn to be better? How else will you discover how much you have progressed? It's OK to not do well as long as you learn from it, and most importantly, encourage yourself. And sometimes you just need to accept that some tasks you may never excel at, and that's not the end of the world either. You can still enjoy the work and the accomplishment.
I'm not an engineer, I just build stuff I need, build cedar strip canoes, restore antique wood canvas canoes and learn everything by reading and doing. I am 62 going on 63 woman in Canada retrofitting my travel trailer to have a video editing workstation for my YT channel stuff. I am horribly alllergic to white cedar and now spruce after 40 years of not using any dust masks and smoking 42 years. (quit May 2020).
It's trite, but the saying "comparison is the thief of joy" is usually true. Be inspired by others rather than negatively comparing your progress to theirs, especially while you're learning a new skill! :)
Truly excellent video. The cedar dust sensitizing experience was an eye-opener.
The first three hit very deeap for me as and artis who works in alot of diffrent media and with alot of metarials. What held me back was the idea I need fancy tools but i learned you can do alot with just basic hand tools. It will take longer but it teaches you basic skills that will make you a better maker when you get that exspesive tool.
This was a wonderful video, and so many great tips that don't apply to just making, but learning/trying anything!
I love the last one especially. I had a breakthrough this last week as a junior working on a personal project. I'm designing a camera robot to handle the more complex shots I want to integrate into my video-making process. While sketching out some initial designs, I started trying to figure out how big of a motor I would need to ensure reliable and stable motion. It was in that moment I realized that after 3-ish years of schooling, I actually knew exactly how to do that. I knew I was using a pulley system and that the pulley would have a set diameter. Based on that diameter and the total payload mass I could derive the torque required to move that payload with an added safety factor. Based on the required torque, I then could convert that into a gearing ratio for the motor and make my purchasing decision. But it took a lot of time and practice to get to that point. Looking back, I can see so much of my personal projects within my ability to complete that seemed so daunting before.
+1 on the Eclipse mask. I got mine after Michael Alm recommended it in one of his videos and it's been transformative in terms of the amount of time I can spend in the workshop before getting sick with dust exposure.
It's been a rough month. I really needed to hear this.
Thanks Xyla. Your positivity is contagious.
Woo, new shop! And top tips! Hope the move proves to be a blessing in a cloak of inconvenience
This is legit one of the better yt vids I've seen in a long time. First class advice thats not trying to sell me something. Its not another builder vid of let me show you how I use this half million dollar machine to make a thing. Top notch vid Xyla 👍 like oldschool youtube quality, when ppl made vids based on passion, instead of clickbait or virality or sales.
tbh sander would be my number two, number one tool is definitely a good rotatable vice. having sth to fix your workpiece is such a gamechanger, guess it depends on what you build though :)
I had an art teacher, in 5th grade, that told me that there are no mistakes creating, only new directions...Ive used this mentality in much of my life.
You remind me of one time when I was in high school and there was this very talented artist creating a pen and ink design of a blacksmith (no idea why, just bear with me) and most of the way through, he was dissatisfied with it so he tossed it towards the garbage can across from his table but it instead landed in a sink someone had used to rinse out paint brushes. Annoyed, he went over there to fish it out but the paint from the prior rinsing bled into the back of the picture. Fortunately, it was a mess of red, yellow, and orange paint. The result was he had accidentally colorized the blacksmith's forge with this blend of color that made it pop.
So yes, mistakes turn into new directions.
My grandfather, who taught wood shop, used to say "Every carpenter makes mistakes, the skill is in what you do with them".
As Miles Davis famously said, "In jazz, there are no mistakes, just opportunities."
I worked with a guy who never said the word problem. Everything was an opportunity. If you went to him and said we have a problem he would answer with let’s take a look at this opportunity. It is not easy but I really strive to be like him. People like that makes you a better person all around.
@@DavidVerch man, I'd hate to have this guy on the NASA Apollo 13 flight.
"Houston, we have a problem."
"Hold on there, this looks to be more of an opportunity."
"Uh, Houston, we just had an oxygen tank blow up on us, we're low on air, and we're not sure if we have enough fuel to get back home...."
This is an excellent video. I appreciate seeing your struggle and knowing that the things I'm leaning as a maker are common problems and I'm not alone.
Miss Xyla, Yes you can fix any slip on your project, I dont consider them mistakes they are added character and personalization.
OK just to show where I am looking from, I am a retired professional engineer (EE) who has been making stuff both for work, for personal entertainment, just cause it needed fixing. From that background I think this is the best video you have ever made. And I see all your videos as some of the best I have ever seen.
Always love your energy. You make me want to actually go to my shed and build something!
Loved the video, really inspired me to get into my workshop today!! I would like to say the counter point to “there’s always a fix” is “the best you can do vs good enough” which is a video Tyrell knifeworks made. Then again, knifemakers don’t make mistakes, we just make shorter knives…
Thank you so much for calling out the bad products. UA-camrs are always afraid of this but this is the most important thing that we can get out of a recommendation. Thank you so much I’m a big fan of your work
As a woman in STEM your video is so inspiring! Thank you for sharing this
My daughter (who’s super young) loves building and fixing things. She always sitting by my side when I do projects. When she’s a little older I’m hoping to direct her to your channel. Love what you do. Please keep it up. For the record my daughter is 4 and she sits there handing me tools and asking me questions about how things works. Her dream (at least for now) is to be a robotics engineer.
Thanks for the sander tip. FWIW, it's not that I needed it, but it's exactly what I've been telling beginners for years. They want to spend their money on something cooler, so it's helpful to have somebody else say it too. I get a similar response to a tip I give beginning photographers, which is buy a good tripod. Human's simply aren't very good at learning from other people's mistakes.
I was a blinds fitter for a few years, without any previous education or practice and I learned to use tools. At first the wrong way, especially with screw drivers and bits. I did almost all types of screws with two or three screw drivers. It took me years to realize using the right tool for the job makes work just so much easier and also safer. Today I still occasionaly use what I have at hand, but most of the time I just go get the rigjt one.
Very good tips, I wish you all the best for the future.
Xyla, these practical and spiritual principles on being a maker are truly complete gems. Thank you for sharing these. You are an inspiration to all of us who watch you on UA-cam. I will be applying your lessons personally in my own projects. Kudos to your commitment and dedication to your craft and to your journey as a maker on UA-cam!!
Self confidence is a HUGE game changer. Fortunately, for me, collecting offcut materials and buying used tools are exactly how I got started. Another big one is knowing when to ask for help, and acknowledging you don't know how to do something. I know more people who have gotten hurt or ruined projects when they did not ask for help or advice.
The last two are the best, and most important in my opinion well done young lady, and BRAVO to you!
For your #6 item, you could expand that friend/community network to include people with SKILLS as well as tools.
Another one (that maybe I missed) is: Don't be too proud / afraid to ask for help when you get in over your head.
Love it .Yes. Practice. I'm a retired engineer and I still think about all the simple skills I have that are 2nd nature. Failure is part of the process. Even driving down the road requires constant adjustments to your speed and direction. Another great, fun video.
Learning to be bold enough to go up to someone and ask them if you can use a tool or ask for their advice will open up a new world for you.
Most creators love talking about their tools and projects and many love sharing what they have learned.
It's how I actually made many friends after in my 30's. People are generally really nice.
For the last few years I've been traveling around the world for my job and mine involves going to remote areas and 99% of all people you meet are amazing. The world over. When I started this job I only traveled a little bit to countries near by (EU) but traveling to many countries that are displayed as "bad" in our media are full of kind and generous people.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Go talk to that weirdo with the tool you need.
I use a RZ style mask before but it has different changeable filters for different things. Using a cheap dust mask for sanding I could taste the wood or plaster after. Not with the RZ style one I have with n90 filter.
Thank you. I listened to your story while finishing up a stool that has gaps and minor wonkiness. At the end of the day I stretched myself to build it and my dad will still love it. Thanks again!!
i feel the first one. for me it was kinda the other way around, everything was always there, my workshop has literally been used (even tho it moved location within the same building a couple times) since the 1860 by my family. then a couple years ago we got flooded (not to bad i guess, no living spaces, but workshops, garages, storage space etc.) and all of a sudden all the materials for daily tasks where gone, we lost a surprisingly small part of tools, but tons of wood scraps, posts, planks, boards, fabrics, foams, rubber and all other sorts of materials had to go and all of a sudden i found myself making trips to get the tiniest pieces of wood. Thats when i started to realize how valuable all those leftovers are for everyday projects
As soon as you started talking about learning the violin, I started wondering about if you were a TwoSet fan as well, lo and behold, you dropped the practice 40H line and I got all fuzzy :)
You're a gift to the community. I am so glad you're around for my growing daughter to look up and relate to.
#11: Good things happen slowly; bad things happen fast. Slow down. Be patient (like Xyla already mentioned).
#12: Estimate your cost to build a project. Make sure you have 3x that much. And if you think you will only need to make x trips to gather your materials, you will make 2x or 3x trips.
One specific safety rule that's super important: When using power tools, don't wear loose clothing. Do tie your hair back and maybe even put it under a hat.
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Great video! Sage knowledge. Back in the mid 1970s I started working at a sheetmetal company in Duluth, MN. The things these guys could make from scratch was truly mind-boggling. One of them told me one day is that a craftsman/craftsperson is a person who can hide his mistakes well. The best advice I've ever been given. :)
I love the satisfaction of having what I need to get the project done, fix this or that and create. Access is better than ownership.
Love your positive message, Xyla. You can't be an engineering Guru without massive amounts of experience. Love the Scrap Panda too!!
Life Lesson #10 - wow, that's a "keeper". It should be on a cast bronze plaque. Thanks! I will be sharing this video.
Yeah, number ten never gets enough attention. There's no such thing as natural talent or innate ability. All skills are earned with time and HARD WORK.
well if you follow the advice... you can learn to cast bronze and make it yourself :p
what you have shared in this video is so on point. the story at the end is something everyone who is struggling with a thing should listen to before giving up. such great advice from someone so young.
You know xyla, I just started a new job in aerospace composites. Today the first part from a kit I designed came out of the oven and it didn't fit during lay up. The techs had to patch every layer. I just want to say thank you I needed to hear number one. You're great 😊.
THANK YOU for talking about safety as a skill! I was a safety officer for 5 years and it kills me watching makers ignore safety on youtube.
One of my favorite bits of advice is "make garbage." That is, don't be afraid to make something that isn't top notch, especially at the beginning. You gotta be bad before you can get good. So be bad boldly.
Thank you for taking PPE and safety so seriously and sharing your experiences. I wish more UA-camr's did this .
Thanks for the tips Xyla, the last point about not comparing yourself to others and the essential need for physical practice, is golden. Also, great to highlight the importance of quality PPE and it's effect on your attitude to using it - after investing in proper face masks I've never looked back, and conversely I think back to being a young lad where my grandfather's skin on his hands was so calloused and hard from years of being a sailor/trucker/postman in the cold and wet without gloves or protection, that the skin on his fingers would just 'pop' open for no reason - very disconcerting as a child and as an adult I realise it was very preventable too.
Love how #10 (skill building) relates back to #1 (accumulating maker stuff).
This is such an inspiring list.
Tools, materials, skills, practice ... the more one tries, and more projects have worked on, the easier things get. Not trying is the worst skill. Awesome call out to making personal safety a top priority.
I think you nailed the list 👍🏻 Been giving similar advice to friends starting out modelmaking and training at work, great to see it well presented on UA-cam.
11. Have fun 😉
Thank you for this excellent video!
Something you didn't mention in the video, but you do a very good job of: Tool Organization is very important! It doesn't matter what you have for tools and safety gear if you can't find it.
My take on a couple of your points:
- Buy the best tools you can afford - you can upgrade as your skills and income improve.
- Safety equipment - you are absolutely correct - buy the best equipment on the market - it is ALWAYS worth the money spent to keep yourself healthy! Also, don't start a project that needs new safety equipment until you have it.
- Always keep a set of "disposable" tools - they're worth it for when you just know you need to do something that will ruin them. An easy way to do this: KEEP your starter tools! Also, buy used tools. It never hurts to have extras of hand tools.
I love seeing how many people came down here to emphasize the importance of PPE! I always put on my safety glasses the second I step in to my shop. I probably would have lost an eye using a pair of pliers a couple years back had I not been wearing them, its so easy to underestimate hand tools the we consider safe.
Also if you're tired or not in the right headspace for work please don't just push through it, thats when accidents happen. Take a break and come back to it later
This is great.. as someone who has tinkered all my life of how things work, and putting them back together (mainly with cars/motorcycles) I agree with all of this. be open to share, never be afraid to ask, share your knowledge or mistakes so the next person doesn't do that, and the ware stuff that you feel comfortable in is exactly it. if it doesn't fit, feel right etc, you are less likely to do it that way or wear something. I use this practice with motorcycles :) .. will definitely point people to this.. also so looking fwd to your new shop and I do hope you kept in touch with your last neighbors to maybe offer them to come over once in a while to continue to grow those curious minds. cheers.
I have been woodworking for the last 30 years, and photography for the last 10, and leather working for the last 3, and doing needle work for 5 and 3d printing for a couple days... Always learning new stuff... always in my shop, or as much as I can. People, just go out there and DO something, anything... learn!
that scrap panda shirt is absolutely adorable
So many new shops. So little time. I am trying to be funny, but you are so resilient. And I love it. You are amazing.
Thanks for your point about safety. I'm not a maker yet, and what I do want to make is super basic, but I have a long list of injuries from unsafe work practices. I tell younger people that they will save themselves years of pain with a little bit of planning and thought.
#10 was just gold. Sometimes hard to shake off frustration but just thginking "well I'll try again" makes progress and leads success. Thanks for the motivation.