[10-1-100]

Sad but not surprised about the negativity from some comments here.

So many complaints about monetization and pointing out how it's not a perfect just-like-the-movies lightsaber.

I enjoyed the video and thought it was awesome. With just a pinch of imagination I really was amazed at how close this is to my childhood fantasies.

Why would I expect content creators to work for free? And frankly I just can't believe the comments which come across as offended that it is a gas torch and not some magical new technology that has all the properties of movie lightsabers.

Then again, putting down others to make yourself feel better is a tale as old as time.

Hacker news - come here to find out all the reasons why you should be unimpressed by cool things.

[user5994461]

The video would get more credit if it showed the "light saber" some more (rather than pushing to pay to get more footage) and if it weren't filled with ads.

It's a great idea to use a blow torch and all that. I want to see it. It's just sad the video is more about getting eyeballs and monetization than showing anything.

[ethbr0]

You reply to the parent with exactly the sort of opinion they despair of?

Hacksmith is transparent this is how they fund builds.

I realize we've become entitled to expecting people to work for free for our entertainment, but expertise, shop equipment, parts, and build time are not free.

[pugworthy]

No they are not free. But there are other ways to approach monetization. There is a style to some videos that some of just just find annoying and a real turnoff. Literally.

[ipython]

What are the other, more “high brow” ways, to approach monetization?

[pugworthy]

Go watch some of the videos from “Primitive Technology” or “My Mechanics” or "Silently Cooking".

No talking, no music, goofy thumbnail pics with emoji faces or red circles. Just creating.

The content may not be your cup of tea but personally I as well as others seem to enjoy them.

[pugworthy]

Not the same style but Marques Brownlee is hugely successful while creating useful, entertaining, and valuable content.

[brg]

By way of example, NileRed and AppliedScience take extremely different approaches to both presentation and acknowledging sponsorship.

[ballenf]

Here are 5 YT channels covering technology, engineering and tools that feel much less monetization-focused, but still produce very informative content:

- Tech Ingredients

- DIY Perks

- Brainiac75

- Project Farm (not really about farming -- cut & dry tools & such review)

- AvE (Arduino vs. evil) (not really about arduino)

(sibling comment included a couple others that I would have included here also)

The first two focus on engineering and building unique things, so are probably the most similar to the creators in question. AvE is all over the map and an either love or hate kind of channel -- and the channel seems more about educating, teaching and evaluating others' engineering.

[WrtCdEvrydy]

> There is a style to some videos that some of just just find annoying and a real turnoff. Literally.

Maybe because we reward this style with views, engagement and ultimately money.

[user5994461]

>>> I realize we've become entitled to expecting people to work for free...

Do you realize that they made around $30k from youtube alone for this single video?

[ethbr0]

$30k income

$2k laminar flow gas nozzle (believe that was mentioned in the video)

~$1k misc parts? (including prototypes and testing)

So that's ~$27k for labor and shop depreciation (machinery and building)

So ~$25k left.

Let's say it took 4 people 1 week (40 hours) to build. 160 person-hours total.

$25,000 / 160 = $156 / hr

For feast-or-famine creative work, that doesn't seem unreasonable.

[Aunche]

This video was just showing the build. They said that they'll share the lightsaber in action on Youtube next week.

[Balgair]

This build is just another stepping stone in a long process. Their older videos on other lightsaber prototypes are here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUdLlGLSQHQ&list=PLbncXbXlaN...

They aren't shy about their process of iteration at all. And that is a great thing that I think a lot of HN could appreciate. Especially in hardware, things take their own time.[0]

More power to Hacksmith (pun intended). I think they stuff they are putting out is amazing considering the budgets, time, and manpower issues. They somehow are managing to fund, off YouTube and ads, the crazy ideas you'd get from too many beers with too many Lockheed R&D researchers. That's impressive on it's own. These guys are embodying the old MIT 'hacker' ethos very well.

[0] Good Lord, I wish they would spend more time on the safety part of the builds. The lasers they get from StryoPyro will blind them sooner than later. I remember being caviler about lasers. But then I lost some vision, and now I'm not.

[abfan1127]

I thought it was really impressive how they created it. So, at least the both of us enjoyed it. :)

[10-1-100]

Cool - I'm glad someone else here did :)

[agumonkey]

well the name, it's a gas saber :)