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Adam Savage’s Tested
Adam Savage's Favorite Smell Is ... Different
⏱ 10 min video · 2 min read14 Jun 2026
TL;DR
Adam Savage answers fan questions in a casual Q&A format, sharing his favorite workshop smells (Cosmoline and mineral oil smoke), his habit of hunting cheap vintage tools on eBay, and practical advice on brad nailers and Baltic birch plywood. It's a relaxed, personality-driven peek into his workshop philosophy.
Key points
1
Savage's favorite smells are Cosmoline (a rust-inhibiting grease with a sweet, crayon-like scent) and mineral oil smoke from vintage smoke machines — both deeply tied to his childhood memories of taking things apart and working on film sets.
2
Evapo-Rust is praised as a non-toxic, reusable rust eliminator for restoration projects, though extended soaking can alter the metal's finish.
3
Savage regularly hunts eBay for uncollected vintage tools — he found two plastic hammers for $12 and $16 each, arguing these categories are still undervalued.
4
He pre-emptively bought a Curta calculator before publishing a Wired magazine column about it, anticipating that the article would drive up prices.
5
For Baltic birch plywood assembly with a DeWalt electric brad nailer, Savage advises checking the force-adjustment dial — a standard brad nailer should have enough power to drive through quarter-inch ply at full setting.
Actionable insights
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If your electric brad nailer won't drive through quarter-inch Baltic birch ply, look for a force/pressure adjustment dial on the tool before switching to screws — it should be capable at full power.
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When shopping for undervalued tools on eBay, search for specific material types (e.g. 'plastic hammer') rather than broad categories — niche searches surface cheap, uncollected items fast.
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Evapo-Rust can be reused multiple times and is non-toxic, but avoid leaving metal in it too long as it can alter the surface finish of the material being de-rusted.
Notable quotes
“When I first started really getting into 3D printing, I said to my wife, this is a hobby for anyone who likes picking scabs.”
“The very act of publishing this will generate some interest in the Curta calculator which would likely rise the cost to me. So, I bought one.”
“I keep banging on about it, but still no one seems to be collecting this stuff, which is great. Great for you, great for me.”
Worth watching?
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Worth watching the full video?
Skip the full video unless you enjoy Adam Savage's conversational style — all the practical tips and memorable moments are captured here, and the video itself is mostly low-stakes workshop chat with no visual demonstrations you'd miss.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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