Woodworking is BULLSHIT! Episode 46 - Built to Break: Rethinking REPAIR in a Disposable World
Oct 1, 2025
Explore the decline of repairability in a world obsessed with disposables. The hosts reflect on personal attachments to handmade items versus cheap goods. They unravel the impact of globalization on our throwaway culture and share heartfelt stories about resisting waste. Conversations dive into the ethics of durability, the privilege of quality goods, and the sustainable choices we face. Learn about practical repair techniques and the importance of community knowledge, all while imagining a future where craftsmanship thrives on the art of repair.
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Desk Versus Mug: Attachment Drives Repair
- Paul describes two breakage stories: a flimsy desk thrown out and a cherished handmade mug he mourned after breaking.
- The contrast shows emotional attachment, not just material quality, drives repair effort.
Disposable Culture Is Systemic
- The hosts frame disposability as tied to economics, globalization, and material science changes.
- Repairability requires rethinking craft, production, and consumer values together.
Raised By A Landfill: A Salvage Ethic
- Jack recalls growing up with a father who worked in a landfill, which made him hate waste and value repair.
- The landfill upbringing shaped his personal ethics toward saving and repairing items.
