How a Disc Is Made with Trash Panda | 2026 DISC EAST
Jesse, the creator behind 2026 DISC EAST, shares his passion for recycling plastic and injection molding in disc golf. In this informative video, he dives into the manufacturing process of discs, explaining how they're made from recycled materials. Specifically, Jesse focuses on the three primary pieces involved: plastic, machine, and mold. He delves into the world of disc golf plastics, discussing base and premium types and their characteristics, including the use of TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) and 100% recycled plastic. With his expertise in injection molding, Jesse provides a detailed look at the process, from injection molding machines to the manufacturing process itself. This video is perfect for disc golf enthusiasts and anyone curious about the production behind these popular flying discs, featuring Jesse's engaging personality and explanations that will have you "nerding out" on disc manufacturing.
Watch Trash Panda tour a disc factory & get an inside look at how discs are made! Then, gear up for the high-energy 2026 DISC EAST tournament action.
Watch on YouTubeVideo Transcript
Hello people. My name is Jesse. I started making discs in my garage in 2020. Since then, I've basically become a nerd about recycling plastic, injection molding. We're all nerds of disc golf, but the way the discs are made is extra fascinating to me. So, every year I love to do a little bit of a Q&A of sorts as far as uh disc manufacturing, how discs are made. It's really my excuse to be able to just nerd out on a topic. So, if you ask a question, I will take the rabbit hole as far as we want to go as far as whatever the topic is and stuff like that. Um, I'll prime us up a little bit though. Can you hear me? All right, everyone. Yeah. Okay, cool. Just want to make sure. Uh, okay. So, just a little priming. Most discs are injection molded. Uh, injection molding is this huge machine contraption, etc. If you just look on your phone, injection molding machine, if you want a little scope of what it looks like, we can start with that. But yeah, let's just jump in um with how discs are made and everything like that. Uh, okay, very quick. There are three primary pieces to making a disc. There's the plastic, there's the machine, and there's the mold. Those are the three pieces. Yes, there's a bunch of other autramo, if you will, but it's not uh it's it's it's as simple as that. And we can start there. As far as the plastic is concerned, there are two types of plastic used in disc golf. We call them base and premium discs. Those are not terms used outside of disc golf in the plastics world at all. roughly uh disc golf uses some really interesting terminology but then additionally disc golf creates uh their own terminology and doesn't use stuff for molding. So as far as uh base and premium plastic those are generally the two types. Most premium plastics are going to be a plastic called TPU. TPU is super annoying. If you have any experience in injection molding, steer clear of TPU. And if you want to be even more annoyed or uh not have a good time, use 100% recycled plastic. So, I own a company called Trash Panda. We use 100% recycled plastic. It it it um in one...
