Adam Savage Upgrades His Lab Oven!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Why does Adam need a laboratory oven in his workshop? Adam explains the origins of this unique tool he makes use of on a regular basis, and implements a long-awaited upgrade to its front door: installing a digital temperature readout. But where’s the best place to install the new thermocouple? Shot…

The State of Mixed-Reality Gaming in 2024

From Adam Savage’s Tested. We go hands-on with Laser Dance, Starship Home, and other mixed-reality games shown at this year’s Game Developers Conference! With both the Meta Quest 3 and Apple Vision Pro now in the hands of gamers, we chat with developers about how they’re implementing mixed reality and hand-tracking technologies across each platform.…

Adam’s Shop Improvements That Were DUDS

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What is Adam Savage’s favorite gradual shop improvement, and whose workshops have impressed him? How can shop ceilings best be utilized, and what’s a shop infrastructure improvement Adam made that was a dud? In this live stream excerpt Adam answers these questions from Tested members @lo pro java, @ianrigby7395, Michael Schnell,…

Adam Savage Builds a Magic Prop Knife!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam builds a prop knife worthy for a magician friend that, unlike every knife he’s seen previously as magic props, is actually worthy of stage presence. Its particular shape and dimensionality is inspired by iconic dive knives, making this a fun replica machining project. Adam also gives a primer on precision…

The Original Ten Commandments Props!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. In our final video previewing props and film artifacts from this week’s Propstore Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, Adam checks out two epic props that feel larger than life: the sword of Darkness from Legend (1985) and the titular tablets from Cecil B. DeMille’s The Ten Commandments (1956)! Adam scrutinizes the sculpt…

Does Adam Savage Get Anxious Using Some Tools?

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What are the various saws (table saw, band saw, chop saw, circular saw, and the like) used for besides the obvious? Has Adam Savage ever struggled with anxiety around scary tools? Adam answers these questions from Tested members Vickie Bligh and David Marden, whom we thank for their support and questions!…

Tools That Disappoint Adam Savage

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What machines would Adam Savage add to his shop if he had more room? Is any part of Adam’s shop designed out of spite? What tools have disappointed Adam, and which do their job REALLY well? Adam answers these questions submitted by Tested members @C2Lawson, James The Cyclist, Luna Replicas and…

Adam Savage Upgrades His Sewing Machine!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam’s beloved Sailrite sewing machine gets a minor upgrade with a custom-sewn fabric cover and lighting bank to keep this workbench at the ready for any cut and sew projects. It’s a straightforward infrastructure build for the most part, but then the cutoff grinder gets put to use… Air Belt Sander:…

Personal Tragedy’s Effects on Creativity

From Adam Savage’s Tested. When Adam Savage makes props in his shop, is he doing it for money or out of passion for the source material? Does Adam have any advice for a maker is struggling after losing his wife of 34 years to cancer? In this live stream excerpt, Adam answers these questions from…

The Puzzle Orb Prop From Cabin in the Woods!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. We’re always excited to find film props that have actual mechanical functionality built into their design, so Adam was thrilled to check out the Hellraiser-inspired puzzle orb as seen in The Cabin in the Woods. Even though it was only briefly seen in the film, its panels are intricately detailed and…

Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Polyhedron Compound With Matt Parker!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Watch @standupmaths complementary video: "The Many Cubes Hidden Inside a Dodecahedron" here: https://youtu.be/oTWeuyDMgwo After lulling Adam Savage into a "false sense of plausibility," our friend, mathematician Matt Parker of @standupmaths and @numberphile, is BACK! This time, he’s brought along his dream project of creating a compound of five tetrahedra (aka a…

What Adam Savage Loved (and Hated) About M5

From Adam Savage’s Tested. How does Adam Savage balance his workspace with creature comforts? Did Jamie’s shop infrastructure practices influence Adam’s own, and was there anything he loved or hated about M5? Does Adam plan to rework his loft? In this live stream excerpt Adam answers these questions from Tested members @philredbeard, @josieMayday and @DFriendly.…

Apple Vision Pro In-Depth Review!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. It’s finally time to break down and analyze the technology and experiences of Apple Vision Pro in our comprehensive review. One month after its release, we’ve learned so much about what Apple calls Spatial Computing, uncovering interesting design choices and finding the utility in this $3,500 headset. Here’s a demonstration, discussion,…

Should You Start a YouTube Channel?

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What kept Adam Savage comfortable while filming MythBusters in harsh conditions? As someone who has transitioned from TV to Internet, what advice does Adam have to anyone wanting to start a YouTube channel … and why is he still removing labels from products? In this live stream excerpt, Adam answers these…

R2-D2’s Original Droid Blueprint!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. The art and production design of Star Wars has been so influential to modern science fiction aesthetic, so Adam is thrilled to encounter some original production blueprints and sketches from the making of Episode IV. A page of R2-D2’s original build blueprints allows Adam to examine how the iconic astromech evolved…

The Weirdest Thing MythBusters Ever Built

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Was there a particular MythBusters build that Adam Savage looks on fondly now for either its form or its execution? Has weather ever affected Adam’s delivery date on a project? How is having a "hardware store" in the shop working out? In this live stream excerpt, Adam answers these questions from…

What Happened to C-3PO’s Original Costume?

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam gets up close to some very special pieces of Star Wars history: C-3PO costume pieces that are part of Anthony Daniels’ personal collection, going up for auction in the upcoming Propstore Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. It’s a rare chance to examine the intricacies of how this costume was fabricated and…

Quit Taking It Personally

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Does Adam Savage have advice for managing the aftermath of a bad job that you didn’t have influence over? Have you ever had a client that’s kinda annoying, but somehow doesn’t annoy you enough to drop them? When you can’t delivery on a deadline, how do you approach the client without…

Finding Peace After Losing Huxley

From Adam Savage’s Tested. "I have a perfect work related opportunity, but worry that anxiety could get in the way. Have you any advice for facing the anxiety so the opportunity isn’t lost?" "Recently my dog Scooter passed away. I know everyone grieves differently, but what helped you find peace when Huxley passed?" In this…

Adam Savage Built This in a CAVE!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Let’s revisit on of Adam’s all-time favorite cosplays! In preparation for an event he’s hosting at the cave, Adam rolls out his Iron Man Mark 1 armor out of storage and finds a new home for it in the revamped workshop. How does this armor stand up on its own for…

Original Blade Runner Filming Model!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam gets up close with a filming miniature from the original Blade Runner–the first spinner you see in the opening of the movie! Thought to be long lost after production, it’s part of the upcoming Propstore Entertainment Memoriabilia Live Auction alongside 1700 other pieces of film artifacts and costume. In addition,…

Adam Savage’s Rebuilds His Royal Sceptre!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam continues to be obsessed with not only the crown jewels, but also all the jewelry-cutting techniques he’s had to learn to build his replicas. Today, he attempts a rebuild of the Royal Sceptre (aka Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross) using new reference he’s researched, brass-cutting skills he’s practiced, and the institutional…

Should You Quit Your Job?

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What’s the most acceptable way to share critique? Has Adam Savage ever become aware of a flaw of his due to someone else pointing it out? How do you choose the right time to leave a job? Adam answers these questions from Tested members Heracles, Silver Defender, oldbutnotdead1 and Boofaca. Join…

Adam Savage’s New Mini Pry Bars

From Adam Savage’s Tested. In this edition of the Tested mailbag, Adam adds two new mini pry bars to his workshop collection, gifted to him by a viewer who claims they’re the best of their kind in the world! The first is a 9" flat pry bar that has one side ground down to be…

Is Your Workplace Toxic?

From Adam Savage’s Tested. How do you avoid being the type of supervisor you hated when you started out? How do you know if you have a toxic work environment (and whether it’s your own fault)? How do you deal with the folks who are TOO helpful? In this live stream excerpt, Adam Savage answers…

Adam Savage’s Alligator Clip Leads Problem

From Adam Savage’s Tested. While Adam is by no means an expert in electronics, he’s done his fair share of wiring up lights and simple circuits to his projects. But one electronics tool he’s always bumped on is the simple alligator clip lead. Adam talks through his collection of clip leads and wonders why their…

Adam Savage’s Mystery Tool Mailbag

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Tested viewer Victor sent Adam this interesting hand tool he found while holiday shopping late last year, and Adam attempts to deciper its original purpose. Any guesses as to what it is and how it operates? Let’s see if Adam’s deduction is close to being correct! Shot by Adam Savage Music…

Stories From ILM’s Former Soundstage

From Adam Savage’s Tested. What does a magic trick have to do with the house implosion in Poltergeist? On which movie did CA glue (aka "superglue") replace five-minute epoxy in modelmaking? What was George Lucas’ main directive to his team at ILM? On the historic 32TEN (formerly ILM) sound stage, special effects artists Lorne Peterson…

Adam Savage’s One Day Builds: Drawer Dividers!

From Adam Savage’s Tested. Adam comes into the shop during the weekend for a quick build of custom drawer dividers for his kitchen. As Adam and Mrs. Donttrythis have been experimenting with dehydrating foods and ingredients, they have newfound need for small container storage–a perfect opportunity for a simple home infrastructure build! Bar Tartine: Techniques…