For the channel, that video was the turning point.

When they released that video, they went from 100,000 to 500,000 subscribers in one month. Right after the Captain America shield video, they added an editor. Then they added volunteers, who eventually became employees.

That’s partially by design, as they plan their projects based on the blockbusters that are set to hit the big screen.

While Hobson has been producing videos consistently for five years now and has built up a loyal following in terms of subscribers, he relies mostly on sponsorship revenue to make ends meet.

“As a maker channel, our overhead is so high,” said Hobson, pointing around the workshop that it essentially full to the ceiling with supplies, CNC machines, 3D printers and hundreds of other pieces of equipment.

While revenue does come from views, Hobson estimates that it only accounts for about 30 per cent. The rest comes from video sponsorship.

The crew at The Hacksmith will approach agencies with ideas that might interest sponsors, and if they are, the crew works out the details and makes the video.

One example of that is from July 2017, when Hobson and his team created a climate-controlled sleeping pod, crammed with as much sleeping technology as possible, and had the video sponsored by Casper, a popular memory-foam mattress company.

In some cases, such as one where they put an electric jet engine to the test with the eventual goal of “flying like Iron Man,” items are purchased by sponsors to be used in the video.

So, with more than five million subscribers and 500 million total views, what’s next for Hobson?

“The goal is to become Stark Industries,” said Hobson, referring to the fictional defence company featured in Marvel Comics.

“We want to eventually be more of a (research and development) company,” said Hobson. “We want to (create a product) at some point. Eventually, when we come up with that idea or when we see a problem that we can solve, that’s when we’re actually going to do it.”

More of a short-term goal is something they’re working on right now: moving out of the garage in Hobson’s backyard. The space is almost literally packed to the brim. They are currently in the process of finding a new space, and they’re currently looking at a space that is about 10 times larger than their current location, which is about 1,300 square feet.