Ep 2. Combination Locks, Pottery, Recreational Vehicles, Erasers

How It's Made season 2 episode 2 features an intriguing blend of products that range from small plastic erasers to leisurely recreational vehicles. The first item on this list is the combination locks which have been around for centuries. The episode explores the intricacies of how they are made with a combination of different metals. The raw materials used to create these locks are first melted and shaped into bars. These bars are then cut and grooved before being transformed into the body of a combination lock. The lock's small and exact components happen to be an intricate combination of small springs, washers, and discs which connect effortlessly- allowing the user to lock and unlock their luggage.

The second item on this episode's production line is pottery. Starting from a mere lump of clay, artisans and machines alike can mold the same raw material into teapots, plates, cups, and vases. With the help of a potter's wheel which spins the clay in a circular motion, the clay will eventually take its unique shape. Once it has dried out, the item goes into the kiln, to be fired at over 1,000 degrees Celsius. Glazing is another stage in the manufacturing process of pottery items. After being coated with a glaze, the pottery items are baked again, at a slightly lower temperature this time. The result is a beautiful assortment of pottery pieces with intricate designs and patterns.

Following the demonstration of making pottery, the episode then takes a look into the making process of recreational vehicles (RVs). These would include mobile homes and trailers that are made to accommodate and provide the perfect setting for a vacation. The process of creating an RV mainly involves assembling a multitude of components, from installing a frame, to having internal components and other fixtures put in place. The materials used in constructing these vehicles range from lightweight aluminum to foam insulation, ensuring that the final product is sturdy yet comfortable. There are many stringent quality control checks and tests to ensure that every detail is up to standard before it is ready for use.

Finally, the show concludes with a fascinating dive into the production of erasers. Erasers may be small and somewhat trivial, but their production is surprisingly complex. The production of erasers begins with rubber, which is molded and shaped into narrow strips of the desired dimension. After that, the strips are cut into thousands of individual erasers, which are then left out to dry, shaped, and packaged to be sold. The process may sound simple, but it requires various finely-tuned machines, with all the different manufacturing stages, from start to finish, all needing to be done with absolute precision.

Overall, How It's Made season 2 episode 2 offers a glimpse into the processes of making some of the world's most popular commodities. Viewers will delve into the intricacies of how various items- from combination locks to pottery and RVs- are created on a grand scale. They will also learn how the small yet essential products like erasers are made with precision and care to give them the perfect finish.