How Carabiners are Forged in Wales!

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Big thanks to DMM for showing us how the manufacturing process works! dmm_wales?...
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Alec Steele Blacksmith 2022

[@jimmyaustin6087]

We had to make Carabiners for GCSE design and technology course. I emailed the guys at DMM to find out how they tested the products. A week later they sent me a big bag of all the different ways they tested Carabiners to failure with some useful notes. Along with a free wire-gate Carabiner. That Carabiner has been my car key ring for nearly 10 years. So much respect for such a nice company!

[@SPEBSZN]

That’s awesome, how did it hold up over the years?

[@luxintelligentia4632]

Now thats a company with passion to their craft!

[@korpakukac]

I am proud to put the 666th like on your comment.

[@nickbates7645]

I always try to buy my climbing kit from DMM, as it's good to support a local company. This video and comment really make me want to continue to support them!

[@matthewsykes4814]

Now that is such a nice thing for them to do. I've known of EDM and spark erosion for a while, very cool.

[@sjv6598]

I’m loving these little factory tours! It’s a great insight into small production facilities.

[@DEATHBYFIRE09]

My favourite part is how everyone seems to revert to being kids, wanting to show off their cool toys!

[@dasherdoom2902]

@@DEATHBYFIRE09 I agree to both of you!

[@Minemac2]

Its funny how these days a 240 employee factory is a small production facility🤣

[@dasherdoom2902]

@@Minemac2 I've worked for one having 25k workers world wide, my local company was at 3k workers so yea 240 is kinda small XD

[@sjv6598]

@@Minemac2 it is small compared to the factory’s I’ve worked in. 240 staff is tiny.

[@justinvzu01]

That cofounder seems like such a nice and genuine guy. He's very confident about his products, which makes them feel more trustworthy as well.

[@jeffmcdonald101]

Can vouch for their worthiness. Best biners on the market and have been for a long time. The shadow wire gates are a thing of beauty. They feel amazing in the hand.

[@bennyrich7361]

I have no use for a carabiner, although I just put an order thru for a set of 3 just to support that lovely man's business...

[@JakeMDavey]

Can vouch too. I’ve taken massive falls on DMM gear and never had a problem. The rope gets core shot long before the biner is close to being retired.

[@jeffmcdonald101]

@@bennyrich7361 That's awesome. You'll have piece of mind that if you ever need pick a full size 4x4 up you'll still have two to spare! But do make a use for them. Order yourself 30m of dynamic climbing rope and find some cheap harnesses and a belay device on marketplace and learn to make a small (and safe) rope swing for your or someone's kids. They'll never forget it. You can get the rope over a high overhanging tree branch by putting a baseball in a bag ang tying string or fishing line to it and throwing it over...or tying fishing line to an arrow and shooting it out of a bow if you are so inclined. Tie the rope to the string and pull it over the branch, be a meat anchor on one end and take a tall step ladder and get the kids to climb up it attached to the other end, take up all the slack until the rope is so tight you pull said child off the ladder and they swing through the air. Just make sure they don't hit the ground and you can tie a figure 8 onto their harness. When they stop swinging slowly lower them and repeat. It never gets old. I'm near 40 and still love doing them myself.

[@user-rk6sn7du4k]

I've had the pleasure of meeting Fred a few times for product development and sourcing components. He is a genuinely nice guy and is really down to earth.

[@KDBAO]

A much more in depth, personal and entertaining version of "How it's Made". I love it! Great vid Alec, keep it up.

[@alexbernstein1812]

this was absolutely fascinating as a climber, so cool that you’re so close to DMM

[@JamiePopple]

Yeah, no, this was a 7 hour drive away haha

[@alexbernstein1812]

@@JamiePopple oof nvm, opposite of close

[@tyrionas]

@@JamiePopple well still closer than going to visit Petzl or Black Diamond I presume xD

[@jongmassey]

@@tyrionas he could probably fly to Grenoble faster than driving to Wales!

[@HalfdeadRider]

@@JamiePopple Was about to say lol, I'm Norwich based so know it's not close at all 👍

[@bwmcreynolds]

Forging giant flamberged zweihanders is really cool, but using your creative teams and skills and platform to encourage and inform the next generation of industry professionals is what creates a legacy. Good on y'all.

[@derekchernichenko720]

Completely agree

[@nicojar]

That was fantastic! You know what, Alec, Jamie? THIS is the kind of video you should make as much as you can. Showing the connection between being alone in your workshop, and one day running a factory. Showing how things are made. Showing how forging is everywhere. Showing a process. That's a wonderful journey.

[@dan725]

Using your amazing camera presence to provide these AWESOME factory tours is SO COOL! You’re innate knowledge of the machinery gives your tours a better experience for us laymen viewers! I love how you give all the credit to all these amazing everyday blokes working at these factories! LOVE IT!! My dad owns and runs a small machine shop (with EDMs, CNCs, etc..) so videos like these are ultra-appreciated!!!!

[@noahlopez4819]

What an cool process. Big props to DMM for letting you come do this!

[@jackroutledge352]

The "two buttons more than an arms reach from the forge" safety feature is such a brilliantly simple way to keep those workers safe.

[@outsidestuff5283]

As a climber, its exciting to see how our gear is made

[@cerealport2726]

With all the reliance on stuff being made in the cheapest available country, it's great to see examples of companies still manufacturing in the UK.

[@thomashuisman8128]

Don’t know what I love more.. the tour of the factory or all the different accents 👍🏼 it’s amazing

[@SteRumbelow]

This recent spate of factory tour videos are fantastic. Thanks for this, Alec.

[@nickjenkey]

Awesome video, so great to see a local factory on your channel. It's not often this corner of Wales gets noticed for anything other than the mountains and rain! Thanks for these factory tour videos, love seeing British manufacturing! PS the sign at 0.12 was made by me!

[@f.d.6667]

These local factories used to be the life-blood of our economy and our society... once we roll out "net zero" (UK) and Von der Leyen's "you can buy it - but won't own it" eco-dystopia (EU), there will be ZERO manufacturing left. I go a lot to scrap metal yards (EUC) and the owners are all telling me the same story everywhere: energy costs and green taxes are killing all our manufacturing.

[@jeffmcdonald101]

Your little corner is famous around the world for the best biners mate!

[@nickjenkey]

@@jeffmcdonald101 great to hear, it makes me very happy to hear that!

[@jeffmcdonald101]

@@nickjenkey Nice sign too mate!

[@nickjenkey]

@@jeffmcdonald101 thanks! It was a nice comission to get, made in aluminium and DMM had it anodised along with their production in the house colour.

[@TreeCutterDoug]

As a climbing arborist, I trust my life to DMM on an almost daily basis. Top tier of the industry!

[@dh2032]

have the ever been any fails with then in the wild as it where, metal cracks, fatal microscopic, stuff breaks, total unexpected. there test top the wight of small car, but only a sample out of each batch?

[@mitchellsteindler]

​@dh that's how testing works. You test a statistically representative sample size. Obviously you can't break every part you make...

[@dh2032]

@@mitchellsteindler I forgot my question, I think it was the testing one out of batch, and using the as reference to the rest that where not tested?, I can see it catch a bad batch of metal, or one of the cuting/ molding stamps, putting fatal, error on the metal, I can looking at the test, there going 10 people just loosely, handing on it at the same time?, of with out any g-force pull, it like 10% of what it should carry, in every day use, what every that is, only 10% is being used, I just how reliable is the 90% backup, for the day it needed, will it be there, 100% guaranteed, as it not test at all, on an Item for item bases? just one being pulled out of the batch made, tested to destruction, what I what meaning was aeroplane parts the really critical bits, are x-rayed, and all sorts stuff like that, on an individual item for item level, each one, and it many come with certificate to that, to that, it got on errors?

[@beardedchimp]

@@mitchellsteindler the channel @HowNot2 seemingly breaks everything climbing manufacturers make.

[@AnonyMous-pi9zm]

@@dh2032 A big thing to remember is that the 90% margin of safety (27 kN vs 5 kN) will never be used. Not that it is unlikely, but that it literally never will be. The rope is going to break before you reach that level. In engineering, there's always a weakest point, a design limit. You don't need to have the car''s body be able to handle going at 500 mph if the engine can only get up to 100. If you can prove that the batch is good to 300ish mph, you know it'll survive the 100 mph demand. Maybe it breaks down at 270 or 320 mph, doesn't really matter. If you are worried about the difference between 270 and 320, you've already conceded that it is better than the 100 mph that other parts will fail at, and frankly, better than the 60 or 70 mph that you normally drive at.

[@IanBuckley]

Worked there in the DMM factory nearly 40 years ago! Great to see Fred again and how the tooling has moved forward

[@mototripsbrasil]

I'm a climber and i love this brand! Thanks Alec for show this factory for us!!!

[@luizferamos]

what this guy are doing? The sky is not the limit for people like Alec, is a pleasure to see what his doing and showing for us. Thank you a lot for the content you are a great person to inspire of.

[@stonecoldcarebear]

Really enjoying your travel/explainer videos. You're great at educating your audience without talking down to us. In saying all that, I do really miss Jamie's sass in these 😂

[@JamiePopple]

It's a shame we only have the capacity for two microphones haha

[@stonecoldcarebear]

@@JamiePopple call it what it is - an injustice. The audience demands a capacity increase.

[@AndreasHontzia]

16:06 Three of us and a dog. The facial expression says everything. Somebody fast forwarded 30/40 years in his head... 😂😂😂

[@igorbaldo]

I've been a rock climber for 26 years now and have used DMM carabiners since. It was great to see how they come to life. Thanks, Alec and Jamie!

[@LukeCunningham]

Seeing it go from bent round stock to the intricate carabiner geometry in a quick press was very satisfying.

[@MattCooperKay]

As a climber, this was a super interesting video to watch. I've passed the factory so many times and have always wanted to know how it works in there. Would be cool to see how their cams and other gear are made.

[@Zogg1281]

You have just made my year!!!!! I've always loved my DMM kit and always wanted to see the factory. I love the fact that the company was started my 3 blokes and a dog...... apparently that dog used to chew the flashing off of several hundred carabiners a day!!! 😋 If DMM ever closes it will be the world's loss. I noticed the bit where the owner was looking over Alec's carabiner and said that he'd seen the video's...... So cool!! Thank you for taking us around

[@leberwurststulle2208]

I'm sitting here, my own DMM carabiner in hand and looking at it with different eyes now. Realy cool video!

[@Imurai]

The whole video was great (more, please) but the end was the best! Just two craftsmen, giving each other respect and sharing some history and life advice! So heartwarming!

[@i_might_be_lying]

Mass production is underappreciated! You can make one-off prototype with some basic tools, but you need so much more to be able to mass produce it. Complexity grows exponentially.

[@DamienSmeets]

From my limited climbing perspective, DMM always has had a reputation of excellent engineering. I'm very happy to have seen their process for these parts.

[@benm1324]

Those words from Fred at the end is the best advice I ever heard. Awesome!

[@ericboyd152]

I can not get enough of your industry tour videos. Keep it up and thank you.

[@zekeabercrombie3583]

I have a ton of DMM gear. Glad to see where it's made. Thanks to the folks at DMM.

[@johnarinehart]

DMM is one of my favorite climbing equipment brands, they make excellent products. What a privilege to be able to take a peek on their process, thank you for sharing it with us!

[@francobuzzetti9424]

omg! the way Fred talked at the end while giving advice, so great! enjoy it, fear is fine as long as there's determination!

[@aucourant9998]

That was really interesting. The staff look very happy, so you can tell there's good management.

[@dcallan812]

What a great factory, you did a great job showing us around 2x👍

[@tompauling6423]

Don't climb, don't need a carabiner, but bought one from DMM after watching this. Such an awesome tour, super interesting, really nice people! Great video Alec

[@torbjornahman]

Fear and determination! That's the recipe! Super cool Alec, thanks for bringing us along!

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

'Determination' yes, I get that, but 'Fear'. wtf? Can anyone enlighten me re: 'fear'?

[@vitezzeleni8664]

@@bikerfirefarter7280 If it is uncertain and you invest a lot, fear will be present. But, without it, it would be nonchallenging, right?

[@bikerfirefarter7280]

@@vitezzeleni8664 I disagree. If you are 'uncertain and you invest a lot' you are gambling without doing proper research/homework, and many people find that exciting not fearful. And many other challenges have nothing to do with 'fear'. So: 'fear'? I don't get it. But then I don't understand the fascination of roller-coasters, they just slosh some of your senses about a bit, b o r i n g. My only 'fear' re roller-coasters is poor maintenance or mechanical failure, not the ride/experience itself.

[@aaronpreston47]

I swear Alec will be presenting on BBC in his later years.

[@cleverusername9369]

We should be so lucky

[@trace_minerals]

Later years... like his 30s?

[@aaronpreston47]

@@trace_minerals More like late 40’s, like a young Richard Hammond.

[@rgoodwinau]

As a student I used to think that carabiners were way overpriced! Now having seen the process DMM use for their product, I'm amazed at how cheap they are!

[@dp1381]

As a rock climber and tree worker, I have trusted my life to DMM products for thousands of hours. They are the best at what they do.

[@williamburns-uw2gf]

Coming from North Wales (Wrecsam) and a noobie blade smith it was an absolute joy to watch Alec Steele.😄

[@seannmurphy5360]

Fantastic factory tour. Always used DMM my self when i climbed, and to think that I live 25 minutes away. Nice one Alec.

[@michelhv]

For someone so good at fucking up, Alec does genuinely appreciate quality work.

[@darrenwright9619]

Your enthusiasm for engineering and manufacturing is a joy to behold. As someone who spent 25 years as a mechanical fitter and have worked on diverse things such as transformers, factory cranes and even bowling alley pinspotters, I appreciate the glee that you show when you see a feat of engineering you’ve never seen before. More of these sort of videos!

[@rgetso]

What a fantastic visit. The chat with the cofounder was priceless!

[@giff983]

Looks like you really should make more of these where you pick a locally made item, you attempt to make it yourself, then go see how they are actually made, showcasing their processes and bring your own to see how they feel about it. It's a great sort of series you could do

[@antoniohinojos3808]

"It was 3 of us and a dog" Very inspiring, thanks for sharing!

[@rgd1977]

I love DMM climbing gear, great product and made in Wales, always my first choice, been using it for over ten years. These factory tour videos are great, keep them coming!

[@notamouse5630]

The engineer and former climber in me finds this awesome. Cool process, well optimized.

[@LoveableDingus]

I love these videos. It was always my favorite part of Mr. Rogers growing up, and why I still watch the "How it's Made" series. I love to hear those who work in this industry and hear the love they have for the work they do. Thanks for sharing, Alec.

[@benschweizbach4478]

As a person who’s been running wire and sinker edm machines every day for years to make plastic injection molds, it’s fun to see a different application for the same process. Thanks Alec

[@SPEBSZN]

I love the man at the end you can just tell how wholesome and humble he was to sit where he is today

[@Dr.Cosmar]

7:00 I thought I was alone in this love... There is one acronym, it's my favorite, "SOP" Standard, Operating, Procedures. A favorite word is "Compartamentalization". I love the smell of human-oiled workplaces. There is just nothing that makes me happier than watching a workplace turn like a clock.

[@kickinbootie4412]

I Climb on DMM Carabiners everyday. Its great to see where they come from.

[@truepennytv]

I work at a forging plant in Central Ohio, USA, manufacturing car parts. We have warm forge, cold forge, we make our own dies and tools, and a whole second building full of robots and CNC's for finishing forged parts. It's a cool process! If you're ever in Ohio you should stop by and see us. I work in maintenance, so I know all the quirks of all the machines and I'd love to show you and Jamie around.

[@donaldneill4419]

Great video, Alec, and I love that the Brit feels it necessary to include subtitles for the Welsh accent. Next stop, Scotland!

[@AndrejGobec]

Fred the cofounder seems like an aged version of Alec. Same posture, determination, enthusiasm and voice as him.

[@kristianhansen3404]

So cool and nice to see the people and processes at DMM. Love the production tours and waiting for the next big damascus project ;)

[@Almightyrastus]

Wire EDM is amazing tech. I have a really intricate piece of scrap on my desk that I cut out of a die plate that was then used for extruding flexible window seals. That was all in the late 90s after I finished at college. Still an engineer now but in a very different field - lightning protection. Good to see the processes in making these. I do mean to pick up a couple of decent carabiners at some point, DMM's revolver just looks so cool, regardless if I actually need one...

[@Jako-fh8zg]

I love small production such as this, we were build on manufacture and it’s great to see this thriving and supporting small communities- massive thank you for a great episode 👍👍👍

[@mitchelburgener1892]

DMM makes my favorite climbing gear. top quality

[@Hagemann666]

Something that has always interested me is seeing how products are made on a large (or at least large-ish) scale. "How It's Made" is one of my favorite shows but it never does a deep enough dive into the process. And since I'm a blacksmith and knifemaker any kind of metalworking always fascinates me. Great video!

[@neilmarshall2315]

And I have some 1981 karabiners! My friends and I would take a trip from Bangor to get our “Reject” krabs at a discount. When we asked for any rejects, they would get their Reject stamp out and promptly give us a many as we wanted at a good discount. It’s great to see they are thriving.

[@RAT.MAN.]

What a lovely Family of workers at DMM

[@ocrollerblader]

This video made me smile! I am a mechanical designer that designs and builds manufacturing equipment like Alec saw at that facility. It’s amazing to see this kind of thing get appreciated!

[@asebaninja]

Love these series particularly focusing on UK manufacturing/industry. Lots of content around on the US but it's great to see the UK being shown.

[@Chechenblack]

Love how every Welshman has subtitles 😂😂 I’m from a small Welsh Village but live in North America. I need subtitles wherever I go 😎😂😂🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@dwee44]

I was about to buy a DMM carabiner before this video, now i want all of them !

[@dennismitchell4836]

Hi Alec, Thanks for this. I love DMM, 99% of my trad gear is theirs and I've loved it for the last 15 years! To be able to join that into my love of the work you do was great. Thank you again.

[@dandantrash]

If Mrs Steel has any sense she'll be purchasing a rotational riveter for someone for Christmas! The absolute joy on your face!

[@jeffmcdonald101]

I was lucky enough to get a factory souvenir delivered with one of my shadow biners. There was a polishing bead stuck right in the gate. Popped it out and keep it in my pack for good luck. Beautiful gear, the best biners money can buy in my opinion. That's a pretty hard task when you're up against companies like Petzl. Hats off to DMM, thanks for having Alec in.

[@nathanpinnock9541]

Seeing the effort that goes into making these makes me happier to pay every penny for these carabiners

[@Dabton]

It's hilarious to see the kid in the candy shop come out when you're walking through talking about all the machines and processes. It's awesome haha.

[@biglogan6142]

this was really cool ... I didn't think I wanted to watch a factory tour this morning ... but I really really did

[@pinkyfull]

13:27 that milling process makes these perhaps the best carabineers I've ever used in climbing. and they are well worth the premium you pay for them

[@Sharkdog11b]

I’m loving these visits to other peoples shops and assisting us in exploring different avenues Alec this is a really cool addition to the channel

[@johnvaluk1401]

Awesome video. Love the process of taking just a piece of metal and turning it into something Wether forging milling or turning, just love it. Thanks Alec!

[@TheMattwasherein1992]

That was an awesome video alec, I love seeing mechanical flow from room to room. Nothing is trucked across the factory to the next machine it all runs smooth. Love the tours they are awesome!

[@darreno9874]

I use DMM climbing gear and love it, so it was great to see the factory. God bless

[@A1BASE]

The thing that blows me away more than anything is that there must be a demand for this quantity of carabiner production. 🤯

[@chrisdemario2636]

I love how you went and tested your own product with some of the best people that make the same product. I'd love to see you test more of your stuff like this Alec. This was actually super cool and super fun.

[@dh2032]

was his not steel, nowing alex harded steel at that too?

[@samwebb585]

This was utterly fabulous to watch and I’ll now exclusively buy DMM to support British/Welsh manufacturing!

[@NonEuclideanTacoCannon]

Living in Wales and working in a carabiner factory sounds like a wonderful life.

[@ianjenkins1905]

I remember buying my 1st carabiners back in the early 80's (damn showing my age) all were from DMM, and still use DMM products now 40 years later. Quality products, quality company

[@JossWaddy]

Always loved the videos from How it's made, but nothing beats seeing someone enthusiastic about a subject getting up close with the process and people. Thanks for a great video and well done on your Carabiner passing the test!

[@samfletcher93]

Seeing videos like this brings back the spark and my love for manufacturing. Worked in manufacturing since an apprentice now and some days can feel stressful or repetitive or boring. But then you see other companies processes and challenges and innovation and it reminds you of why we do the work we do to succeed. Love it.

[@Jusdin057]

That was awesome. Thanks to the DMM team for letting us through 🤙

[@thomaspaulson4557]

These technical, industry videos are amazing! I’m getting insight into aspects of forging and fabrication I’d never have dreamed (or heard) of. Keep them coming. Crazy how some basic aspects are scaled up for the industrial side of things.

[@sambaggins2798]

That company looks like a great place to work. People look very happy to be there.

[@dimitrinoahutz9547]

Thank you for sharing all (almost all) the knowledge and steps of this process.

[@user-wc6vf8gn6d]

Great to see a young lad who is in this industry working in the forge/workshop having a passion- Such a rareity in Great Britan these days. . Well done nice video author!

[@flughunde5283]

Me, as a mechanic, it was are real treat, to see this documentation. Thank you very much sir.

[@benkendall7489]

Love how everyone there clearly has so much passion, thank you for bringing us along with you Alec!

[@kevinturner6621]

Been using DMM kit since the early 80's never had anything fail on me. Great Video.

[@troytreeguy]

This was a great video, I’m an arborist and DMM is top class I trust them daily.

[@manythingslefttobuild]

Great video Alec and Jamie, Thank you to DMM for showing everyone around.

[@exhebece5480]

Wow, great work DMM team! Thanks for sharing Alec!

[@meatball1974]

I was built in the 70's. I'm still running. Even cooler! Great vid Alec.

[@xxPenjoxx]

Love watching you go through all these different factories, showcasing the utmost skill these workers have. It's also awesome to see Alec giddy like a kid in a sweet shop! 😂