Ask Adam Savage: When to Learn a New Skill

How does Adam approach learning a new skill? Do we worry about product placement on Tested? And has Adam thought about adding any Serenity gun replicas to his collection? In this livestream excerpt, Adam answers questions from Tested members Lee Marsh, David Strome and Phil Tubbs, whom we thank for their support! Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks like asking Adam questions: / @tested
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Thanks for watching!

[@japewisteria]

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle." Vera's awesome, and so was the episode... ;)

[@sschmidtevalue]

Like Adam, I've always needed to apply new learning immediately to some project. I'm a retired software engineer and I still tinker with the bits and bytes for my own purposes. I taught myself Python after I retired in order to manage my backups and some other system-type things.

[@rpg_design]

Sharpie covering up the logos is good product placement for sharpies

[@SeanPaulNotTheSinger]

How Adam describes learning is absolutely me. I'm almost immune to anything that doesn't actively hold my interest. It's frustrating when I have to obtain some knowledge for work that I'm utterly disinterested in.

[@iota-09]

It... Kind of is disheartening, as i don't have any desire strong enough to learn anything at this point.

[@user-pq6mr6op3p]

The mark of a Genuis is doing something you hate like you love it. Unfortunately you don't have that skill.

[@corporaterobotslave400]

Filmmaking special effects and songwriting are all skills I learned by improvising my ability on the fly to learn other skills necessary. Every project has a new twist to learn new skills. That's the beauty of it. When I was a kid I said I wanted a job where I'd be doing something different every day. Now I do that.

[@MrPenguinLife]

I am the same way, after years of not being able to make myself learn Calculus, I finally started learning it when I needed to calculate the area under a curve in order to to complete a hobbyist level optics project.

[@philismenko]

I completely am the same with a skill. If I'm learning something it's gonna be in service if a larger goal, I don't learn stuff, I happen to have picked it up. I learn by having to do, not just doing.

[@donutsndcoffee]

I've started so many mini projects just to learn and understand isolated things - but then apply all that I've learned into one major project. Quantizing learned things helps me - it makes things more modular.

[@bluegizmo1983]

I couldn't agree more! You have to want something specific from that skill your trying to learn, and no that cannot just be "I want to make money"! I taught myself computer programming because I wanted to make specific software programs myself. I taught myself 3D modeling because I bought a 3D printer and wanted to make my own models for one off things I couldn't find models already existing for. I taught myself Vector Image creation because I bought a Fiber Laser Engraver to make things to a style I specifically want.

[@Wut3225]

Only just found this channel and can say it is certainly one of my favourites. Very informative whilst being entertaining

[@dr.rotwang]

Fun fact. Vera is a modified Saiga 12 shotgun. It was also featured in the film Showtime with Eddie Murphy and Robert Di Nero. Both showtime and the Firefly episode "Our Mrs Reynolds" premiered in 2002. So which one used it first is a bit of a chicken and the egg situation. Did Firefly's armorer just grab something they had in inventory leftover from the feature film? Or were they working on Vera and the film guys liked it so much they commissioned a bunch to be used it in the production of Showtime. That would be fun to know.

[@vobser2164]

Wow. I remember seeing this guy on tv when I was like 5 or 6. I’m 19 now. Glad to see him still making some form of content

[@brocanova]

Never too late, ever, but curiosity, diligence and persistence are the main ingredients for success.

[@markgrudzinski914]

Within the first 30 seconds it's all summed up. I LOVE learning new things, but the motivation to learn new things is due to wanting to accomplish something.

[@WDCallahan]

Adam: I can tell this silver tape is from the myth busters set because it's all marked out like this. *Marks out logo on accelerator bottle* One month later Adam: I can tell this instaset is from the myth busters set because it's all marked out like this.

[@joshmiville6932]

I really like the question videos Adam seems to give great advice

[@_gamma.]

These questions are always 🔥

[@nathkrupa3463]

Good video sir thanks

[@joshlewis5285]

Total agreement on learning something new only to accomplish one actual project, having the skills broadens the horizons though👍

[@paulbrooks4395]

I’ve found that necessity drives me as well as desire. I have also found that some new things I start out hating but loving later. Sometimes a new challenge can seem so daunting that it will overwhelm and take the fun out of it initially. But later, after I’ve mastered something, it becomes fun and I feel silly for ever being annoyed or upset. What’s important is to be okay with not knowing something new, even when it’s an undesired challenge or change. Many challenges that we face intersect with our negative perspectives and ideas about ourselves and others. It’s important to question those thoughts and be sure that we aren’t self sabotaging or letting our doubts overcome our capabilities.

[@iota-09]

Hold it, you say "necessity", but isn't that just a different form of desire? You could just not care after all.

[@bryanflo4500]

Thanks for the refreshing perspective, Paul. Appreciate it :)

[@bluestar.8938]

Indeed. Makes sense. Thank you : )

[@Micah__]

Nice Snapple zero sugar half n half lemonade iced tea you got there. Lol

[@horneygeorgeforge7079]

have you thought about, Artisan Blacksmithing? you have the Artisan part down pat .also you have an anvil, a forge and burner you can make yourself, and making the right tool for a job will be much easier.

[@buzzmooney2801]

I've always needed an end reason to develop a skill, and skills I've attempted and failed to learn for their own sake, I picked up quickly, when I had a context for the skill, I often pocked it up quickly.

[@tflnorthamerica4585]

So very much agreed!!!

[@wendyon4517]

Tape over logos on products... just use clear tape first, then cover with dark tape ...

[@XTC3D]

Hi Adam, been watching you for years and never needed to ask anything, would love a link to the band your wearing for the Apple Watch Ultra.

[@adventuresinportland3032]

I 100% agree with Adam. I need to want something in order to learn something.

[@michaelbevan3285]

Sound advice from the master, once again.

[@area1084]

Great vid. Regarding logos, I just did exactly what Adam suggests in my latest video ' Starship in a Cornflakes box' I just put a piece of white paper over the logo on the box :-)

[@cmdraftbrn]

i miss 3d drafting. it was a fun learn though once you got used to the software

[@alexanderheling2057]

This is how I am a lot of times. I can't really afford to make a sling so I went out to Ace Hardware Store and Jo-Ann Fabric and got the proper things to make it. Kind of like why I bought a sewing machine so I can make some of my gear reinforced and patched up because I can't afford to keep buying replacements.

[@3nertia]

"When do you learn a new skill" for me has always been "when I need it"

[@Dylan-vs6wd]

The curve of the paper and the spine(?) above Adam's shoulder on the left of the frame keeps making me think that he has a guitar hanging there

[@VoleShow]

Many years ago I was hired to film an interview in a all-year Christmas decoration store in Pennsylvania for a documentary about animated Christmas TV specials. The place was covered in Santa Clauses, Rudolfs and other Xmas stuff. We set up a number of shots with different backgrounds, all moderately out of focus behind the interviewee but you could tell there were either hundreds of small Santas on shelves or premade artificial trees or whatever. A month later we get an irate call from the client’s legal department. “Why did you film the Xmas products in the background? Now we have to contact dozens of manufacturers to get permission to use their product in this documentary!” They were truly afraid of being sued for use of the toys without permission! Our response was “why were we sent to a store to film instead of bringing the talent to a blank studio? And why were we not warned to avoid filming any Xmas related items for a documentary about Christmas?” They eventually blurred the background into a colorful mush.

[@WalnutandSteel]

Hi Adam!

[@daneandrews6218]

Hi Adam I have a crazy question you know how water in a cup upsidedown holds water in it do you think it's possible to recreate this on a bigger scale as a swimming pool? Essentially an upsidedown pool..

[@drewoer]

Bro what

[@hizzeist]

It is if you spin the pool fast enough

[@MorrisonManor]

How could you leave out the Lassiter?

[@naindark]

I think Adam was referring to CraPsman 3:56

[@EvanCops]

I have this weird thing where I just wanna learn...like everything and I dont know why. Also that Scene where Jayne wants to trade Mal for a woman....Dude Mals face was the best LOL.

[@garrywaters7190]

quantum mechanix sells two screen accurate versions of mals side arm (out of stock at the moment).

[@4EntertainmentOnly]

I just make a new label...with a label maker. If thats not possible sharpie is what i use. I remember using black gaff tape, black duct tape, black electrical tape just to cut a piece of the tape for cover the logo.

[@jasonmcneil3040]

I like on TV when they blur out a logo, but you can obviously tell what it is. I've seen the blue oval of Ford and the bow tie of Chevy blurred out, but not enough and you can still tell what it is.

[@NoName-zn1sb]

Isn't the "X" axis (horizontal) conventionally used for Time? That would make a difficult and lengthy learning experience a _shallow_ learning curve.

[@jeremymcdonald9152]

Hey Adam big fan of myth busters which myth was the funniest you’ve done and have you ever thought about machining your own fidget spinner

[@brentdhedrick]

I usually wait to learn a new skill. I wait until I have researched a skill ad nauseam (30-40 hrs of youtube videos per skill at a minimum), buy the equipment and materials, spend four hours working on said skill, then move move on to learning a new skill.

[@aydenmcfly1362]

I started learning 3d art so I could make my own virtual reality avatars and assets!

[@RickLaBanca]

This is natural. Learning is a side effect of achieving a goal. Learning as a goal won’t work nearly as well.

[@ekij133]

There should be no issues with showing branding on a stream. It is essentially free advertising. *You* _may_ want to avoid that if you're hoping to get _paid_ advertising. A couple of exceptions to this might be: 1] If you're doing something that a company might not want to be associated with they may object to their brand being seen. 2] If you're being paid by company A and you have a product of competing company B in the background.

[@Castiel_Pr]

👍🏻

[@PamdaDev]

About the new skills. Wholeheartely agree with aAdams approach, BUT.....I strongly suggest learning stuff just for learnings sake as well. Sounds contraditory, but here is what i mean. Lets say your Bro whom you share the workshop with bought a lathe. You know how it works but dont really know how to use it And you dont need to learn because all your job is done with a miiling machine. My suggestion? Go take a GOOD 2/3 days workshop about "latheing". GIve your brain the time to play around and imagine the opportunities that such skill would present. Do give yourself a few days (a few hours wont do. Arbitrary minimum of 2. You have to do it, sleep on it, do it again and sleep on it again)to just practice the new thing, as Adam put it, as an Intectual exercise. DO NOT just do it one tme an say - Nah,, i dont currently need this, so nevermind you see.. We dont know what we dont know. We need a bit of repetition to really see the possibilities of a new thing. DANGER: Careful to not go from one extreme to the other wehre you think everyone would be awesome and deciding to learn everything. will not end well Finally, this advice is NOT just for makers PLEASE, EVERYONE apply this in every aspect of your life Open yourselves to new possibilities and make decisions about them only after you have a bare minimum of information. And who knows, maybe you will me the love of your life in that 3 day workshop. ps: ofcourse, you still have to account for your time and money availability. if you really dont have the time or disposable income for it, than that is all there is to it.

[@rafarodriguez9757]

Savage can i print your T-shirts?

[@zoltanmatei424]

omg, Adam! I dont even know. I stand a lot in the middle, i tend to disregard others mental skills.

[@zoltanmatei424]

I mean, we can't realy have all sort of prop guns of various videogames in rality in the future only occasionally. Except for some but then these are smaller movies at first before being videogames. and on the other hand we cannot doom ourselves to shitty composition of the props and theme parks, nor can we doom ourselves to fully dry or fully perfected compositions without much props and themeparks. The key here is what i thought up compared to this there are the videogames and then the third thing is whichway turn in colour are the themeparks with props.

[@zoltanmatei424]

ok so i got some nice colours for it. I think it is prety much completed not sure where is the what grean and teal-like and not too green green.

[@zoltanmatei424]

alright, i think most of the colours and guidelines have been registered (from my mind reading interface). now only some refinements will be required later on.

[@zoltanmatei424]

i mean, reality, reality emotions lyrical content, reality themeparks, videogames.

[@ExercisingIngenuity]

I always appreciate some unsolicited advice from Adam 👌

[@tekkx_avery2137]

Off Topic: Hi Adam. How is life on Venus? (I spotted you on "TV" going down there.)

[@zoltanmatei424]

The prop movies remain a question. I want not a lot of prop movies to be made when there is cgi. maybe a decent amount maybe a lot but not all the various made with props. Where there is some overproduction, there it maybe considered to have lesser contribution. Movies in such manner could overthrow the perfected human artwork.

[@zoltanmatei424]

let me elaborate, gun in game or movie is spoiler different story no good. actor acting in only one movie where sci-fi is considered no good... to marginally good only.

[@astrophysicistguy]

Why is Vera such a daunting task? There are a ton of reference images of the exact prop (I have them) and the exact model of the laser range finder and optical scope are well known and available as air soft models … I’m no 3D modeling guru by any stretch of the imagination and I’m modeling the parts as we speak. I plan to 3D print everything since I have no metal working skills or machines but for Adam it should be child’s play

[@pirobot668beta]

The task at hand drives my acquisition of skills and knowledge. But as my skill and expanding knowledge catch up the job that needs doing, the realization comes that I may have a whole lot more to learn than I first thought! Be honest: how many times has a 'simple task' turned into deep-dive?

[@king2kx]

the video talking about labels the Snapple bottle suspiciously doesn't have a label hmm 🤔

[@JasonFarrell]

This.

[@samflynn9409]

Genial ✨✨✨✌️🤪

[@raymondkieu9801]

Adam please do something from evil dead like the chainsaw hand or power glove from the show :)

[@kylehargreaves7189]

Adam have you ever heard of PRINTING ON FABRIC? like a screen type fabric. Please check it out, I think it's perfect for cosplay and so much more

[@kylehargreaves7189]

@adamsavage_tested hi I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. I thought of you right away when I watched a video of 3d printing on fabric

[@busymommy28]

Hi

[@tribakzero]

You gotta buy a sharpie to sharpie your sharpie

[@tommarquette9706]

Is your new skill loved or is your new skill feared?

[@MakersEase]

Wait.. Deja vu? I swear I watched these questions weeks ago..

[@WDCallahan]

Then why did you come to this timeline?

[@SyntheticFuture]

The covering of logos in a workplace drives me crazy. It's just the machines and tools you use. If these companies don't want to be in content they shouldn't plaster their logos on everything XD

[@digitaIgorilla]

When is the best time to learn a new skill? 10 years ago. When is the second best time to learn a new skill? Right now.

[@Mrjobe_]

😂

[@mikeryan9753]

Please contact knight rider historians on you tube they can truly use your help

[@TimMillernapavalleyfilmworks]

3

[@hackiest]

and no, that is not dirty urine in that bottle

[@Dunkeyhote]

Wow early

[@ElroyBeezley]

ADHD

[@williambuchanan77]

I don't see the point in covering up brands on your show, the makers see you using their products has to be a complement to them. You're not shoving it in people's faces, you're using it mostly as intended in your work.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

I understand why they would be iffy about the uncontrolled advertisement of their products. I don't know if Duct tape makers wanted to advertise their products as being able to make a boat out of or be in a news headline about how two high-adrenaline adventurers lost their lives to a sinking boat made of Duct tape. Gorilla Glue was already sued for that stupid Tiktok stunt that made her lose part of her hair...

[@williambuchanan77]

@@theotherohlourdespadua1131 yeh but those two examples were just being stupid, mythbusters use their products as intended....most of the time. You see the products being used in mythbusters and working well, I call that positive advertising.

[@CherryAims]

Vera kzbin.info/www/bejne/pZC4hZWcbsx6jKc

[@garrywaters7190]

quantum mechanix sells two screen accurate versions of mals side arm (out of stock at the moment).