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One of the things that’s interesting about looking at workshops is the “shop-smell” and how it seems to tell you a lot about a project/company. I remember walk
by new299 5y ago
One of the things that’s interesting about looking at workshops is the “shop-smell” and how it seems to tell you a lot about a project/company.
I remember walking into the workshop at one well funded startup , and seeing they were using dollar store screwdrivers. Practically speaking, for what they were doing you could say it didn’t really matter. But it was also sitting next to a piece of equipment that was never used, and cost $50000.
I wouldn’t say it’s always the case, but it left me with a poor impression and a feeling that something was off.
Later this did indeed turn out to be the case.
- leahbarton 5y agoCan we get some more details please...
- new299 5y agoProbably not in a public forum. But if anyone wants to reach out, it’s always fun to chat (contact info in profile).
- CapitalistCartr 5y agoI use hand tools, including screwdrivers, daily in my job. So they are good ones that grab the screw and feel comfortable. My tools are made by commonly recognized names. Anyone that uses hand tools frequently should know why dollar store tools are a poor choice. I'd take it as a bad sign, too.
- new299 5y agoYep, they weren’t directly assembling prototypes but still… probably using on a daily basis. It’s interesting though. Watching this video you see the CNC mill and think wow that was probably expensive and likely didn’t get a lot of use, but would have been fun (which they confirmed). But the relatively inexpensive drawer of screws really was something you look at and say: a) oh wow, I want and would use that. b) this person really had a use for this, thought and cared about what they were doing. All these little things, and the stories they tell are fascinating to me.
- soneil 5y agoI see this a lot when it's things you can compare on paper. The difference between a $200 lathe from banggood and an actual machine-shop lathe is pretty obvious even if you've never used one. But the difference between a dollar store screwdriver and my weras .. you can't really compare them on paper, you actually have to use it. And that's when it gets interesting to see what choices they made.