Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Nagra Recorder Handle Bar

Adam is absolutely enamored by the beauty of his new Nagra IV-S audio recorder, and builds a custom aluminum carrying handle in the spirit of its industrial design. It's an exercise in measurement and precision machining to get the handle to perfectly fit on the Nagra and also work as a tabletop stand. Let's see how Adam fares in this true One Day Build!
Adam's new Nagra IV-S: • Adam Savage's New Nagr...
Adam's Nagra recorder collection: • Adam Savage's Nagra Sp...
Leather briefcase restoration for this recorder: • Adam Savage Restores a...
Shot by Adam Savage and edited by Norman Chan
Music by Jinglepunks
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Intro bumper by Abe Dieckman
Thanks for watching!
#AdamSavage #onedaybuilds #nagra

[@tested]

Adam's new Nagra IV-S: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqLPnGmIlquFoNU Adam's Nagra recorder collection: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raOahmtohpilY6c Leather briefcase restoration for this recorder: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r2HOqaKHnpmga7M

[@KutWrite]

Anyone else enjoy the sound of the built-in air chuck as it operates? When I watch these, I feel like I'm a head in a jar that Adam keeps in his shop to have someone to show his skills.

[@Shoop83]

I wasn't sure if that's a real sound or if the editor was having fun.

[@CWHolleman]

I grew up around that sound as my father was a mechanic, sounds about like an air ratchet or pneumatic tool.

[@mbts500]

17:09 is a classic Adam moment that makes him so entertaining to watch. He has built all kinds of crazy things during his life, but machining one simple slot still brings him so much joy

[@Volamek]

You're not bad at math. You just have a healthy level of uncertainty. One of your many attributes that makes you so relatable. Thanks to you and your team for such consistent, high quality, content!

[@grafyghtgaming8733]

Nothing makes me happier than two pieces that are slotted to and fit together perfectly.

[@JoseMaGM]

Apparently, so does Adam 😅

[@dagi4321]

High tolerance fitment is one of the best sounds one can create in a workshop.

[@joshuaparsons1377]

That's what she said...

[@vernoningram5421]

Honestly I really liked the accidental jog-cut once you put it on the Nagra, it gives a subtle directionality to the handle almost like a slight curve would, which works well with the direction and plane the handle is moving on when carrying and propping up the recorder. IMO an excellent happy accident 😁

[@tomhorsley6566]

Or he could put the same cut on the other side so it looks deliberate :-).

[@BKGclan4LIFE]

Hey man i met you when i was a kid at the berch aquarium in California. It was shark week and you and Jamie pulled up out of no where in a limo. I was star stuck and you two shook me and my brothers hand. You two were so nice and genuine humans. I gotta say as a builder and fixer myself your videos bring me great joy. Love your personality and what you do, never stop being you!

[@-MrFozzy-]

I can’t believe we as a people are at a point technologically that we have a digit assistant that can answer any question we have…in your house…it’s incredible. Also…Mr Adam….you’re truly a joy to watch…we love you! ❤

[@egilkvaleberg8462]

Surely, you must be kidding! Truly! Measuring the dimensions of a noble Swiss Nagra in inches. That is pure sacrilege!

[@kheath580]

i absolutely love these unedited longform videos. i feel like im sitting in the shop just watching stuff happen and its super interesting.

[@TECsta76]

The machines that securey stitche belt straps are amoung the most dramatic in appearence and functionality! Worthy of any genuine collection..

[@garetkonigsfeld2]

Those recorders look like they are right of of NASA. Just a Beautiful pice of engineering. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@TofuRabbit]

i come from the plastic cover restoration video and i didn't even realize the the handle was custom made! It fits perfectly and looks totally authentic, amazing job!

[@lucianofinardi7222]

This recorder is SOOO COOL. Vintage precision technology. Love it.

[@the_arcanum]

Try carrying it all day for field recording! Nagra were the bee's knees but I know many a reporter / sound guy of old whose back and shoulders are so thankful we entered the digital era :D

[@bejarano1960]

Back in my Nagra recording days, we never used a handle. The recorder was either in a bag with a strap for run-n-gun type productions, or it was on our Magliner sound cart. Yes, it's nice to angle up the recorder on a handle, but we would never trust it without a locking mechanism. If someone were to bump the cart during recording and the Nagra were to fall, it could ruin a perfectly good take. Today's digital solid state recorders wouldn't be affected by such a mishap but the Nagra is a precision mechanical device that doesn't take too well to shock. I believe that the actual Nagra handle includes the locking mechanism, which is one of the many reasons why it is expensive. Anyway, almost all of the devices that I have that have a handle that can be used to raise the control panel, include a locking mechanism at the point where it attaches to the device. This is a feature that Adam could have easily built in his shop and incorporated into his design. Otherwise, Adam's handle is beautiful and compliments the aesthetic of the Nagra very nicely.

[@glentrew1253]

Very nice job, and impressively close to the original! Here's a tip: True to Nagra engineering attention to useful details, the Nagra 4-series handle/strap lugs mounted on the chassis are assembled with flat springs on the inside, and preloaded so that the lugs will turn, but with an amount of tension that keeps the handle from being completely loose but still allows the handle to be positioned like you mentioned. - Glen Trew Trew Audio Nagra Service

[@Warshipmodelsunderway]

I have been re-watching "The Wire" with a friend who had never seen it, and he was wondering why I got so excited during the opening credits when I spotted the Nagra portable. I told him it was a Savage thing. 🙂

[@andyca15]

The accidental notch looks like it was designed to give clearance for the side ports with the handle used as a stand. Looks great!

[@richardehlert5592]

Adam, love watching you work. I am so envious of your shop. I tinker in my wood shop and relate to your thinking. I share your excitement at the little wins in the shop

[@MB-bt9km]

Beautiful work! It has been so fun watching you 'chase zeroes' over the past few years and spread your wings with your machining and desire to make things look profesh, clean, straight, and Swiss. Awesome job!

[@mortlach186]

See how a mistake turns into a signature design of your own. Nicely done. You passed the Swiss Precision Machinist Test.

[@jasonplunkett6636]

I wish you would have used the same little finger screws you used for the canvas strap for the hard handle... they look more "factory" to me than the regular screws. Absolutely love your work and channel and have been a fan for what seems like forever ! Since the "am I missing an eyebrow?" days 😆

[@amichaelson10]

Can hear that vexation about the surprise notch in his voice at the end there, looks great!

[@williamtaylor5017]

LOVE your videos, long time fan. I grew up in a manual machine shop, Ca. coast not far from you, started off cleaning the machines age 12 - bidding small batch short run products age 21, age 45 now. Lets just say I can relate to watching you think it up and make it a reality. Keep em comming!

[@nec3f]

Greeeeeeen Acres is the place to be.

[@billkew5385]

"Green Acres" theme at 0:00. Nice!

[@codysheperd8831]

"I know parameters" and all of us just fall over. 🤣🤣🤣 I have loved watching being a machinist. That's my trade and believe or not I have learned a thing or two. Keep building

[@clumpytat3rs]

I'm not even a machinist but when he put that tube in the slot, lemme tell you what that was satisfying as all hell!

[@TheVillainsProjects]

I enjoyed the music on today's video, very upbeat.

[@Cragun.]

Love the Green Acres theme song opening!! Lol ... had me rolling, wondering how many people got that.

[@MichaelEilers]

Man I love those little palm screwdrivers, so nice in the hand and so much torque from the extra diameter.

[@unworthyentertainment5289]

I love the enthusiasm and my sons love the desire to make things ... it's a great show to bond with them... thank you savage

[@francisjames1377]

The handle feels good in the hand!

[@SavageBunny1]

I watch your videos because it's always random stuff, sometimes I have no idea what it is but I learn, that's the point.

[@crumpred805]

I did the Indie film thing in the 90’s, Nagra love!

[@glockparaastra]

A demo of how it works with a audio sample(s) would be great!

[@andyvan5692]

Loved the handle, but also your tool rack for the mill , a great place to store everything!!

[@coeusdarksoul2855]

Dammit, not gonna get the Green Acres theme outa my head for weeks now. THANKS, ADAM! ¬_¬

[@alexl1440]

Hard to be that level of satisfaction.

[@walk_dont_walk]

I wonder how fast you would have been with the measurement part if you would use metric. Great video! I love how much thought and attention to detail you bring into a project like this.

[@theprojectproject01]

It is astonishingly hard to find a really good metric tape measure in the US.

[@tschomb1332]

Absolutely love your videos and all that you do - Mythbusters was such a defining series for me

[@WastelandSurvival2]

I have a Nagra 3 & Nagra 4.2 so loved this!

[@Velleck]

So simple yet so Beautiful.

[@lewisheriz]

Just a beautiful, beautiful thing

[@nirodha7028]

Measure in metric Adam! Lol. You said you would practice with it. And the Naga recorder was built in Switzerland as you know… who used metric dimensions to define the thing in the first place :-)

[@geargodextreme]

Always so comfortable to watch these one day build

[@sorrynotsorry8224]

Watching Adam measure the distance between the two handles, I was astonished by the use of inches... This is exactly what millimetres is for! Precision!

[@groermaik]

Beautifully crafted.

[@platinumchopper]

The jog cut looks great.

[@eliasevans6911]

Hey Adam, I was wondering if you’re ever going to make Gandalf’s staff with the glowing crystal from The Fellowship of the Ring when they go into the mines of Moria. Probably a pretty easy build for you, but still would be pretty cool.

[@carb0nmrbishop541]

Looking forward to seeing Adam clear up that plastic next.

[@VeniVidiVid]

Gorgeous! And functional!

[@behemothinferno]

God I absolutely adore the retro look of their products. My dream is to own a Nagra HiFi based system!

[@J0hnnyTruant]

Now Im gonna have the Green Acres theme song stuck in my head all day!!

[@bobcoombs7924]

nice Clickspring moment at 17:08. good snaps!

[@AnthonyBrownrigg]

Love this. I still have my III In storage along with my Moviola.

[@BertMackFilm]

What a pleasing incidental ASMR section starting around 8:40 :)

[@thetimesink196]

Adam: "Deburring noises". That's full circle on that golden bit!

[@fellipemelo9287]

Now I want this handle bar. I have two Nagra IV-S.

[@wykydgt]

Your videos are like watching the love child of Octave Chanut and Bob Ross at work. "Well, I screwed that up but, it looks cool and it still works so I like it." That build deserves an ice cold Bundaberg.

[@CaseyBorders]

Anytime I see someone mill something and it snaps into place with that click, I get chills.

[@doogledog1740]

The handle looks good, Adam. The extra notch looks "technical" :-) I saw the brown leather case you have. That's a little different to the black leather cases I used on 4.2 recorders for many years, (with the webbing straps with nylon end pieces with metal inserts). They are generally similar but the 4.2 style didn't have any zippers, just press studs. I don't know if they would fit the IV-S. I found those black cases to be robust and offered good protection. They also allowed easy access to the controls whilst the recorder was being carried on the shoulder for field work.

[@stardustjustlikeyou]

While I love your builds where you're just making something for the sake of making it or getting an experience from an item, boy do I love functionality. It's cool to see you doing essentially the same thing you do for replicating a prop but to make something that is both a replica and a functional piece of equipment.

[@jamiehudson2747]

I recently visited a local historical village and found a whole exhibit called wireless. I took a whole bunch of photos of early radios, record players, TVs and typewriters if Adam and co are interested to see them.

[@codyheizler7619]

23:58 When we were going over, I must been watching too intently because I thought I was literally going over lol I had to catch myself

[@jtkachlmeier]

"Play my head, monkey!" -Grandma's Boy. I love the stomach slap! I do this same thing lol love it!

[@morsecodereviews1553]

Watching Adam work is pretty impressive. However what's more impressive is how quickly his alexa responds to him, my lady must be getting old cuz she takes like 5 minutes to even realize I've said her name🤣

[@theprojectproject01]

She's just sick of your shit

[@BobDoesReviews]

mine works great. Is yours an older model?

[@morsecodereviews1553]

@@BobDoesReviews oh most definitely, Gen 2 hockey puck😆 I haven't been able to delete routines from years ago, they're just floating around, ingrained in cyberspace somewheres. Forever haunted by old alarms and inconvenient light shows.

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@arnenl1575]

That 17:04 moment. Priceless.

[@nathkrupa3463]

Wow nice sir your one day build video is great This vintage recorder awesome.

[@DogDog173]

beautiful design!

[@richardsaplenty8020]

I've mistakenly thought that watching a few one day builds would be alright to fall asleep to. Not so, Adam makes the slow process of measuring and machining stuff too interesting to eventually doze off.

[@OhHeyTrevorFlowers]

A fun project. I'm not a metric pusher (I work in an imperial metal shop) but it's still weird to me when Adam works in imperial while making parts for a Swiss machine. Regardless, it's neat work.

[@QuestionMan]

I've always laughed when most KZbinrs point down, because 9/10 times they look like they're pointing to their crotch-especially when they use both hands, the more enthusiastically, the better. 😆 At this point, "down in the description" should be a euphemism.

[@williegillie5712]

I enjoy seeing your enthusiasm Adam. Great music collage Adam.

[@bwiegs2008]

Stupid comment

[@chirculescuhoria2676]

Maybe adding 2 silicone washers that will add some friction - in order to keep the handle in the desired position ?

[@scottramos7949]

You should machine your own 10-32 handle screws with a flat head instead of the dome heads. It would match better with the shoulder screws that hold the handle to to the case.

[@thaney423]

What I wouldn't give to spend a day in that work shop with Adam.

[@CarboniteDreamer]

man i have some original tape drives (PC) and i just love the looks of them that reminds me of them so much. Such beauty. theres just something about old hardware maybe thats why we're seeing a resurgence is vacuum tubes and LPs lol.

[@abb1793]

You should record the audio for one of your one day builds (like one related to the nagra) with your nagra recorder, although I don't know how that would work with wireless lapel mics or whatever... It's spy gear, there has to be a way to do it, you could do a whole james bond thing or something, or the conversation or sneakers or whatever.

[@cemx86]

At 13:17 Adam has the classic look on his face of the "100 yard/meter stare" as he cogitates and thinks through what he is about to do. Been there, done that - MANY times!

[@GreenAppelPie]

Those oval bars are used in custom closets. I’ve ordered them for remodeling, they’re also very strong.

[@theprojectproject01]

...Strong enough to hold a 40-lb, 50-year-old sewing machine? Say supports at each end of a 20-inch (490mm+/-) span?

[@Xx0Gh0st0xX]

What a relic. It's beautiful xD

[@jstrat121]

Alexa’ s all over the world responding to Adam’s questions……mine sure did,lol.

[@AlanRorrison]

Just a heads up @adamsavage. The rail is called wardrobe rail in the uk. U can buy it polished, mat, steal, aluminium etc.

[@Projacked1]

hahaha I love that 'precision-smile'! XD

[@annm3064]

I missed you so much and just recently saw you again on KZbin. I always wondered what happened to you after Myth busters and I'm so glad I can keep watching you build and talk. :) Hope to see your epic cosplays if you still do that.

[@robertlevine2152]

Out of curiosity do ever sketch the layout of what you intend to build? It seems that it would be helpful to work from a dimensioned drawing.

[@tested]

He sketches all the time.

[@willisknotme6042]

Design and 3D print a suitable case for function and transport. That would make a great video!

[@michaelhearn3831]

I can’t believe you built something I actually think looks very cool…👍🏻🇬🇧🤣😂congratulations 😂

[@assassinlexx1993]

If you want a bit tube handle. Melt resin into the tube. Same stuff musically instruments use. To get a clean smooth bends. Third time a charm ;)

[@xpndblhero5170]

Nice opening.... Oddly enough I was just watching Green Acres a few days ago. 😂 23:55 - Adam: I know my parameters... Camera: Are you sure¿? 🤣

[@TsunamiBeefPies]

I'm sure those Swiss engineers would be proud of you, Adam.

[@deanallenjones]

I'm going to try the water and torch idea :) I have some orcs that need a battled damaged mud fort

[@Hydrart]

Precision machinist! Woo!

[@nadinne1088]

I love when we casually pass out every once in a while 😵‍💫🤣🤣

[@Pablo_exe]

you need to do a tool breakdown of that mill. it interests me so much

[@stephenbonnell114]

Great video. I just picked up a Nagra III myself but came with no strap. May do the same as yours. Can you tell me what type of screws go in the sides that secure the strap? Mine is missing those 2 screws you removed in the beginning of your video. assume they are metric?

[@nunyabusiness6735]

Adam: have you always "narrated" while working, or did that mainly come about during your TV time? Also, do you "narrate" when the cameras aren't on? Love the content ❤️

[@johnstrange6799]

Nice build.

[@vyfastify]

amazing video. yet, a pro tip: @4:50 you try to see through magnifying glass and a flash light, use your phone instead, take a picture, and zoom in. it works very well in these situations.