How It's Made - Season 12

First aired: 1/7/2009 13 episodes

Episodes

1. Pneumatic Impact Wrenches, Cultured Marble Sinks, Plantain Chips, NASCAR Stock Cars

Aired: 1/7/2009

Metal housings, motors and hammer mechanisms are assembled into pneumatic impact wrenches, mineral-filled resin is molded and polished into cultured marble sinks, sliced plantains are fried and seasoned into chips, and specialized frames, engines and safety systems are assembled into NASCAR stock cars.

2. Jaws of Life, Artificial Christmas Trees, Soda Crackers, Ratchets

Aired: 1/14/2009

Hydraulic pumps and hardened metal tools are assembled into emergency rescue equipment, plastic foliage is attached to metal frames to make artificial Christmas trees, thin sheets of dough are baked into soda crackers, and gears and locking mechanisms are fitted into ratchet handles.

3. Thermometers, Produce Scales, Aircraft Painting, Luxury Chocolates

Aired: 1/21/2009

Calibrated sensing components are enclosed in thermometers, springs and weighing mechanisms are installed in produce scales, aircraft surfaces are prepared and coated with specialized paint, and premium chocolate is molded, filled and decorated by hand.

4. Carburetors, Air Conditioners, Sugar

Aired: 1/28/2009

Precisely machined passages, valves and floats are assembled into carburetors, compressors and heat-exchange components are installed in air-conditioning systems, and harvested sugar crops are processed and refined into crystalline sugar.

5. Combination Wrenches, Deli Meats, Golf Carts, Airships

Aired: 2/4/2009

Steel blanks are forged, machined and plated into combination wrenches, prepared meats are seasoned, cooked and sliced for delicatessen sale, electric drive systems and molded bodies are assembled into golf cars, and lightweight structures and fabric envelopes are combined into airships.

6. Carbon Fibre Car Parts, Hand Dryers, Recycled Polyester Yarn, Fleece

Aired: 2/11/2009

Layers of carbon fibre are molded and cured into lightweight automotive components, heating elements and blowers are installed in electric hand dryers, discarded plastic is processed and spun into recycled polyester yarn, and synthetic fabric is brushed and finished into fleece.

7. Police Badges, Muffins, Car Washes, Pressure Gauges

Aired: 2/18/2009

Metal blanks are stamped, plated and finished into police badges, measured batter is deposited and baked into muffins, automated spraying and brushing systems are assembled for commercial car washes, and pressure-sensitive mechanisms are calibrated inside gauges.

8. Metal Detectors, Rum, Tiffany Reproductions, Aircraft Engines

Aired: 2/25/2009

Electronic coils and control circuits are assembled into metal detectors, fermented sugar-cane products are distilled and aged into rum, colored glass is cut and joined into Tiffany-style reproductions, and precision components are manufactured and assembled into aircraft engines.

9. Riding Mowers, Popcorn, Adjustable Beds, Cultured Diamonds

Aired: 3/4/2009

Engines, cutting decks and controls are assembled into riding lawn mowers, heated kernels expand into popcorn, powered frames and articulated supports are installed in adjustable beds, and laboratory processes reproduce the conditions needed to grow cultured diamonds.

10. Airstream Trailers, Horseradish, Industrial Steam Boilers, Deodorant

Aired: 3/11/2009

Curved aluminum panels and fitted interiors are assembled into Airstream travel trailers, horseradish roots are cleaned, ground and prepared as a condiment, heavy steel vessels and burner systems are combined into industrial steam boilers, and active ingredients are blended and packaged as deodorant.

11. Screwdrivers, Compact Track Loaders, Physician Scales, Carbon Fibre Bats

Aired: 3/18/2009

Hardened steel shafts are shaped and fitted with handles to make screwdrivers, diesel engines and hydraulic systems are assembled into compact track loaders, calibrated weighing mechanisms are installed in physician scales, and composite materials are layered and cured into carbon fibre baseball bats.

12. Escalators, Kevlar Canoes, Goat Cheese, Disc Music Boxes

Aired: 3/25/2009

Linked steps, drive chains and safety systems are assembled into escalators, layers of Kevlar fabric and resin are molded into lightweight canoes, cultured goat milk is processed and aged into cheese, and pinned metal discs operate the mechanisms inside disc music boxes.

13. Motorcycle Engines, Glass Enamel Sculptures, Hand-Made Paper, Vaulting Poles

Aired: 4/1/2009

Precision-machined parts are assembled into motorcycle engines, powdered glass enamel is applied and fused into decorative sculptures, plant fibres are pulped and formed into handmade paper, and layers of composite material are shaped and tested to produce flexible vaulting poles.