← Adam Savage
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Why Adam Savage Needs These Medical Tools
⏱ 11 min video · 2 min read27 May 2026
TL;DR
Adam Savage builds a foam core storage box to organize his eclectic collection of medical tools — hemostats, clamps, spreader bars, a bone slicer, and a borescope. The video doubles as a philosophy lesson on using rapid prototyping to overcome the paralysis of perfectionism.
Key points
1
Savage is organizing a collection of medical hardware (hemostats, clamps, spreader bars, bone slicer, borescope) that came largely from a registered nurse, storing them together because their functions are conceptually related.
2
Foam core and hot glue serve as his primary prototyping material — what he calls his 'CAD program' — allowing fast, low-stakes layout before committing to more permanent materials like plywood.
3
The box design prioritizes quick individual access to each tool, clear labeling, and efficient use of vertical (Z-axis) storage space in his workshop.
4
Long-handled tools (~24 inches) required a standoff solution to keep them organized within the box — an example of solving the most problematic form factors first.
5
At the end, Savage promotes the new Savage Industries Shop Apron, described as a simplified, lower-cost successor to a previously popular model, still made in the US from upcycled materials.
Actionable insights
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Use foam core as a first-pass prototype for any storage or organization build — it is fast, cheap, and can last years if reinforced with hot glue, without locking you into a design that might not work.
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When organizing disparate tools, group them by conceptual use or workflow rather than by size or material — recognizing a category takes time but makes retrieval faster.
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Do not wait for the perfect material or final design before starting a build; a foam core version lets you experience the layout in real life before committing to wood, acrylic, or other permanent materials.
Notable quotes
“My CAD is foam core. That's the CAD program in my head is foam core and hot glue.”
“The thing that foam core does more than anything else is allow the perfect to not be the enemy of the done.”
“So many times we don't start projects because we're not sure we'll be able to finish them to our satisfaction. That happens to me a lot.”
Worth watching?
⏭️
Worth watching the full video?
All the practical insight and philosophy is captured here — watch only if you enjoy the meditative experience of watching Adam build something with his hands and narrate his thinking in real time.
Saved you some time? The creator still deserves a like.
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