What Is Tooling, Anyway? (And Why It Costs So #$%@ Much)

AKA: Why we’re not rolling Pööt out of our garage next week (jk we don’t have a garage anyway).

If you’ve been following along on our journey, you’ve probably heard us mention “tooling” a few times. And if you’re like, “Cool… but what does that actually mean?” you’re definitely not alone.

Let’s break it down in non-engineer speak:

So... what is tooling?

Tooling refers to the molds or custom equipment manufacturers create to produce a product at scale. In our case: the Pööt pod, its lid, scoop slot, and all the little functional details that make it magical.

Basically, if you want your product to be made the same way, every time, you need a custom tool (or mold) to do it.

Think of it like a super fancy cookie cutter. But instead of dough, it’s shaping recycled plastic into the Pööt pod of our dreams.

Why is it so expensive?!

Because it’s custom. Because it’s heavy-duty. And because it has to be perfect before production starts. Tooling is often made of hardened steel or aluminum and machined to exact specs. We're talking serious equipment built to handle thousands of units.

Even small, simple products can cost thousands just to tool. And we’ve got… parts. With curves. And latches. And scoops. 🙃

Why does Pööt need it now?

We’re getting ready for our first real production run. That means we’re moving out of 3D printing and into small-batch manufacturing the close-to-final versions that need to function, seal, and scoop just right. No wonky lids or tiny scoops allowed.

Tooling is the big leap between “this idea is cool” and “this product is in your hands.”

How does this tie into Kickstarter?

Even though we’re fronting some of the tooling costs ourselves, Kickstarter will help recoup those expenses and fund the first batch of real-deal Pööt pods.

So when you back us, you’re not just buying a product, you’re helping fund the machine that makes the product. And we think that’s pretty cool.

More questions about tooling? Manufacturing? Shoot us a note because we love a good nerd-out.