10 ms·

I tried to make something in America

14 points by geerlingguy 1y ago

xd 1y ago
A very relevant recent story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43692677 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43692677, the top comment especially. I'm not American, I'm from the UK, but it's the same in regard to putting value in to people.
- Zren 1y ago
  The video has covers how Tool and Die wages have dropped below the median wage. We're also importing the tools/molds from China and manufacturing the parts "in the US" instead of the reverse. I remember another Youtuber Linus Tech Tips creating their own injection molds in BC so that it would be harder for copycats. The entire Screwdriver isn't made in Canada though. The shaft and bits are made in China or somewhere else in Asia IIRC. The reason they were able to do that though is because there already existed an injection molding company nearby for them to work with though.
robocat 1y ago
A worthwhile video on the topic of making a product in the US - although the purpose of the video is overall commercial (to sell the grill scrubber they designed). Somewhat painful to watch: * he suspects he's been had by a supplier reshipping from China. But fortunately honest about it in video * has a sort of amateur feel - perhaps lack of experience developing a product. But great if you're an amateur. * it isn't clear whether the scrubber would work very well Favorite part: the 3D printed mold prototyping system
Zren 1y ago
It's neat finding out that his earlier video on stamping sheet metal and bending it into shapes was actually him doing research for the handle of this scrubber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzBE6vz5r0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzBE6vz5r0
vegetable 1y ago
I think his video makes it clear how hard it is to make something made-in-america--even this product isn't. On the product front alone, people would be making a decision to spend ~5-10x something made-in-notamerica. gains from trade is a fundamental idea that has proven to be mostly beneficial to the masses. suddenly claiming self-reliance yields freedom seems very politically aligned.

14 points by geerlingguy 1y ago

xd 1y ago

A very relevant recent story: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43692677 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43692677, the top comment especially. I'm not American, I'm from the UK, but it's the same in regard to putting value in to people.

Zren 1y ago
The video has covers how Tool and Die wages have dropped below the median wage. We're also importing the tools/molds from China and manufacturing the parts "in the US" instead of the reverse. I remember another Youtuber Linus Tech Tips creating their own injection molds in BC so that it would be harder for copycats. The entire Screwdriver isn't made in Canada though. The shaft and bits are made in China or somewhere else in Asia IIRC. The reason they were able to do that though is because there already existed an injection molding company nearby for them to work with though.

robocat 1y ago

A worthwhile video on the topic of making a product in the US - although the purpose of the video is overall commercial (to sell the grill scrubber they designed). Somewhat painful to watch: * he suspects he's been had by a supplier reshipping from China. But fortunately honest about it in video * has a sort of amateur feel - perhaps lack of experience developing a product. But great if you're an amateur. * it isn't clear whether the scrubber would work very well Favorite part: the 3D printed mold prototyping system

Zren 1y ago

It's neat finding out that his earlier video on stamping sheet metal and bending it into shapes was actually him doing research for the handle of this scrubber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzBE6vz5r0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDzBE6vz5r0

vegetable 1y ago

I think his video makes it clear how hard it is to make something made-in-america--even this product isn't. On the product front alone, people would be making a decision to spend ~5-10x something made-in-notamerica. gains from trade is a fundamental idea that has proven to be mostly beneficial to the masses. suddenly claiming self-reliance yields freedom seems very politically aligned.