We’re starting something new at TOG: a bi-weekly Monday Watch Night, where we watch an episode of Tim Hunkin’s The Secret Life of Components together on the big screen, then have a relaxed Q&A and discussion afterwards.
If you’ve ever been halfway through a build and realised the “small” parts are the ones that make or break a project (literally), this series is for you. Tim has a knack for explaining why components and mechanisms are designed the way they are, what typically goes wrong in real life, and how to make better choices when you’re designing, prototyping, or repairing.
What is it?
The Secret Life of Components is a set of practical, entertaining guides for designers and makers. It covers everything from everyday essentials (switches, connectors, LEDs) to the stuff you only think about once it fails (bearings, springs, linkages, motors, relays, pneumatics, and more). It’s full of the kind of knowledge you usually pick up through years of tinkering, fixing, and building.
How the night works
Each session is simple:
- Watch together (one episode per night)
- Q&A and chat after: questions, examples, tangents, “how would we do this at TOG?”, and whatever the room gets curious about
And importantly:
- If you miss a week, no stress. Watch the episode at home and just come along to the next one. It’s meant to be easy to drop in and out of.
Who is it for?
Open to anyone who’s curious:
- beginners who want a friendly way into “why things work”
- makers building projects at home
- repair folks who want more background on failure modes and design choices
- engineers/designers who enjoy seeing the practical side of components (and the odd bit of Tim’s humour along the way)
You don’t need any prior knowledge. If you can ask “why did that happen?” you’re already qualified.
First session
- Monday 26 January
- Free and open to all
- TOG Hackerspace (Dublin 12, D12 CF6V)
We’ll kick off at the beginning with Episode 1: Chain, and take it from there.
The playlist
If you want to browse ahead (or catch up if you miss one), here’s the full playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JAgXz6xO0s&list=PLtaR0lZhSyANYB0Xxb9OSp47pHuQmj3Ol
Come along
Bring yourself, your curiosity, and your best questions. If you’ve a project that’s currently failing in a way that feels relevant… you’ll be in good company.