Ep 25. Steel Shipping Drums, Police Whistles, Miniature Train Cars, and Glass Blocks

In season 5, episode 25 of How It's Made, viewers are taken through the fascinating process of manufacturing four very different products. The episode opens with a look at steel shipping drums, which are essential for the transport of goods across the world. Viewers will learn how steel sheets are first cut and shaped into the drum's body before being welded together and subjected to a variety of quality control tests. The drums are then painted and assembled with lids and locks before being dispatched to their final destination.

Next up are police whistles, which are used by law enforcement officers around the world. The process starts with a sheet of brass that is cut and shaped into a whistle's various components. Each piece is then carefully polished by machine before being assembled together by hand. The final product is inspected for quality before being polished one last time and packaged for sale.

The episode then moves onto the production of miniature train cars, popular among collectors and enthusiasts alike. Viewers will learn how the cars' bodies are first cast out of special molds before being painted and assembled with wheels, couplers, and other essential components. The final product is then tested for quality and dispatched for sale to train enthusiasts around the world.

The episode concludes with a look at the production of glass blocks, which are used in various construction applications. Viewers will learn how sand, soda ash, and limestone are fused together in a furnace at incredibly high heats to form liquid glass. The glass is then shaped into blocks using specialized machinery before being heated once again to improve its strength. The final product is inspected for quality before being shipped out for use in various construction projects.

Overall, this episode of How It's Made offers an intriguing look at the production processes behind four very different products. Viewers will gain an appreciation for the amount of work and skill that goes into crafting each item, and the episode serves as a testament to the ingenuity of modern manufacturing techniques.