TechnologyBusinessCareersManagement

The Impractical Machinists

Practical Machinist

Welcome to The Impractical Machinists, a podcast for machinists’ who are creative, innovative and a cut above the rest. Join hosts Bradley, Cameron, and Patrick as they discuss everything from CNC machining, tool innovations, shop floor challenges, business strategies, and the latest trends and techniques shaping the industry.
Our episodes provide valuable insight and actionable tips from real machinists that you can apply in your own shops. Whether you’re a veteran machinist or just starting out, tune in and turn up the productivity on your machining operations.

Play

Open in

22 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 1 hr 29 min
English

Episodes 22

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

S2 · E57
Tuesday · 1 hr 19 min
He Built His Shop With Tormachs. Would He Do It Again? | 57
What makes a “real” machine shop anyway? Justin Webb didn’t come up through the traditional machining route. He dropped out of high school, eventually went back to earn an engineering degree, and started Zealous Manufacturing almost by accident. He was designing parts for customers until one of them finally asked, “Can you make these too?” There was just one problem: Justin didn’t know how to machine. So he bought a Tormach, figured it out as he went, made plenty of mistakes, and slowly built a working machine shop around the equipment he could actually afford. In this episode of Impractical Machinist, Justin joins Ian to talk about that journey and why, years later, he’s still running the same kind of machines some machinists told him he’d eventually “outgrow.” They get into what smaller machines can teach you, engineers vs. machinists, knowing when you actually need more machine, the temptation to compare your shop to everyone else’s, and why the fanciest equipment isn’t always the smartest business decision. It’s a conversation about Tormachs, but even more so, it’s about building the shop that makes sense for you instead of the one everyone else thinks you should have. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
- Chapters
S2 · E56
August 25 · 1 hr 8 min
We’ve All Blamed the End Mill. But Was It Really the Tool? | 56
When an end mill starts misbehaving, the cutter usually gets blamed first. But Scott Walrath says the real problem may be the toolholder, the runout, or the way the whole setup is working together. In this episode, Scott joins us from CERATIZIT USA to talk through what he has learned from more than 40 years in the cutting-tool industry. We get into carbide prices, tungsten supply, tool life, reconditioning, high-performance milling, and why small changes in setup can make a big difference at the machine. It’s a practical conversation about getting more out of your tooling and figuring out what is actually causing the problem before you reach for a new end mill. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
- Chapters
S2 · E55
August 4 · 1 hr 11 min
92 Hours Between 2 Jobs?! The First Week Nobody Prepares You For | 55
Planning to attend IMTS? This year, IMTS is celebrating manufacturing with a 6-week giveaway. Through August 14, they're releasing a new limited-edition hat patch every week. The first 100 people to register for IMTS using that week's promo code will receive the matching hat. Register here: IMTS Registration, then check IMTS or Practical Machinist's social channels each week for the latest promo code and that week's hat design. This week felt different. After years of talking about someday owning his own CNC machine, Pat finally spent his first full week making real customer parts on one. It wasn't smooth. There were long nights, missing tooling, scrapped parts, last-minute hardware runs, and more than a few moments of wondering what he got himself into. But somehow, after putting in 92 hours between his day job and the shop, he wouldn't trade it for anything. The guys talk about what that first week was really like, the mistakes nobody tells you about, and why having good people around you makes all the difference when you're getting started. Later, Cam shares the next big step for his business as his shop prepares to move into a much larger building. From planning machine layouts and inspection rooms to figuring out how to relocate an entire operation without bringing production to a halt, it's a real look at what growth actually looks like behind the scenes. They also talk IMTS, what they're looking forward to, and where you'll be able to find the Practical Machinist team during the show. If you're planning to be in Chicago, come by the booth and say hello. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
- Chapters
S2 · E54
July 21 · 1 hr 19 min
Machinists Sent Us Their Worst Shop Stories, These Were Brutal | 54
Brad Jacob from Maple Lane Machine and Tool joins Patrick and Cameron as guest host for this episode. They catch up on what has changed at Brad’s shop, how the VF-2 is working out, and why he has been considering a different CAM system. That leads to an honest discussion about software support, unexpected updates, five-axis programming, cutter compensation, modeling around tolerances, and the amount of work you can lose when you leave a system containing years of programs and models. The second half is built around stories submitted by machinists. There is a new machine that supposedly needed nine tons of concrete—but actually needed one setting changed. A young programmer who thought he had nothing left to learn. Perfectly good threaded parts rejected by questionable gauges. A rush job made from material the customer later admitted was wrong. Four long shafts, sixteen-hour days, and a baby due at any moment. And a batch of good parts rejected because the inspection room was too hot. We’d like to hear how other shops handle these situations. Have you ever switched CAM systems, challenged a rejected part, or accepted a rush job you later regretted? Share what happened—and what you learned from it—in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
- Chapters
S2 · E53
July 7 · 1 hr 31 min
How Do We Train the Next Generation of Machinists? | 53
Every machine shop runs into the same challenges sooner or later. Cash flow gets tight, tooling costs keep climbing, and deciding when to invest in new equipment is never easy. In this episode of the Impractical Machinists Podcast, Pat, Cam, and Brad answer questions from the Practical Machinist community and share how they'd approach some of the biggest decisions shops are facing today. What would you do? Let us know in the comments. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E52
June 23 · 1 hr 32 min
How a Drone Racing Kid Ended Up Running a One Man Machine Shop | 52
Taylor Jenkins didn't start out wanting to be a machinist. He wanted to fly planes. Then COVID hit, his plans changed, and he ended up in a composites program working with carbon fiber instead, chasing the same hands-on itch he'd had since high school building RC gliders and racing drones. From there he landed a job as a CNC operator in southern Utah almost by accident, just because he could already read a blueprint. A few shops, a few good mentors, and one really bad boss later, Taylor ended up running his own shop, Lone Wolf Precision, completely solo. No crew, no robots, just him, two Brother mills, and an auto saw he's genuinely proud of. In this episode, we get into: - His path from drone racing and RC planes into machining (it's a weirder story than you'd think) - The probe crash that almost killed his new Brother machine, and what it taught him about automation actually eating your "free time" instead of giving you more of it. - The aerospace shop that trained him right, including learning the CMM inspection feedback loop the hard way - The bad coworker situation that finally pushed him to leave that job for good - The six weeks he had to buy a machine and make a brand new production contract work, after turning down a job offer to do it - How he finds new work (hint: it's not LinkedIn), and why he fires customers who aren't worth the headache - The saw stop he designed because every shop bandsaw stop he's ever used has been garbage If you're running your own shop, thinking about starting one, or just like hearing how somebody actually built theirs from the ground up, this one's worth the listen. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E51
June 9 · 1 hr 17 min
How He Turned One EDM Machine Into a 20-Person Shop | 51
Ron Gobbels, CEO of Kam Wire EDM Technologies located in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, joins the guys for a conversation that covers a lot more than just wire EDM. From growing up in the trade under an old school German mentor, to making a scary leap into shop ownership and watching the work dry up almost immediately — Ron shares the real story of building a specialty machining business from the ground up. He also breaks down everything you've ever wanted to know about wire EDM — how it actually works, what it can and can't do, and whether it belongs in your shop. Timestamps: 0:00 — Introductions 0:49 —Why Ron diversified in 2019 8:26 — Ron's background — from old school tool & die to cowboy to EDM shop owner 11:00 — How Kam Wire EDM started and the scariest month of his life 16:31 — How Ron connected with Ian Sandusky 22:15 — What is wire EDM and how does it actually work? 28:16 — Crashes, floods and EDM horror stories 36:47 — Fixturing and cutting different materials 44:51 — Tolerances and what affects accuracy 51:40 — Should you have a wire EDM in your home shop? 55:25 — What to look for when buying a wire EDM machine 1:05:54 — The thickest and thinnest parts Ron has ever cut 1:09:20 — Can EDM replace grinding and milling? 1:11:42 — Do they take walk-ins? 1:16:46 — Ron's impractical tip: never stop innovating 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E50
May 26 · 1 hr 56 min
The Australian One-Man Shop That Chose to Downsize | 50
Eddie Riddell runs Steele Co Engineering out of Perth, Australia — one of the most isolated cities on the planet, about 12 hours from the nearest place. He started with a fabrication business, got it up to four employees, then walked away from all of it to do what he actually wanted: run a one-man CNC machine shop on his own terms. In this episode, Eddie breaks down why he made that call, how he pulled off buying a brand-new mill turn as a one-man shop, and what it actually takes to build a lean, profitable business by yourself. We also get into: Why he introduced a minimum charge and how some clients stayed, some didn't — and why he's fine either way How his terms and conditions let him walk down to a customer's house with an angle grinder — and why the customer paid immediately after What it's like sourcing machines and materials from the most isolated industrial city in Australia His goal to get down to working 3 days a week — and the mindset shift that made it possible Why he chose to stop having employees and never looked back Eddie's approach to business is simple: know your worth, keep your overheads low, and don't let anyone treat you like a bank. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E49
May 12 · 1 hr 45 min
Big Shop Rules vs. Small Shop Freedom: Which One Destroys You Faster? | 49
What's actually killing machinists faster — big corporate shop rules or the chaos of running your own place? This week Pat jumps in as guest host and we go deep on all of it. Lead time strategy that keeps customers off your back, why a $350 pizza might be the best business investment you make this year, and the real reason good machinists walk out the door and never come back. We get into scrap part confessions, exotic material nightmares, G-code quizzes that stumped everyone, and the one question every machinist eventually asks themselves — if you could start a shop from scratch, what would you actually do differently? In this episode: Lead time strategy that protects your sanity Why you should never ship early The $350 pizza that saved $4,000 Big shop vs small shop culture debate Scrap part show and tell G-code quiz: G18, G96 and more No-quote jobs and when to walk away Starting a shop from scratch — machines, mindset and mistakes 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E48
April 28 · 1 hr
Shop Owners Unfiltered: Finding Work, Quoting Jobs & Staying Profitable | 48
Owning a machine shop sounds great… until you’re chasing work, quoting jobs at midnight, dealing with problem customers, and trying to stay profitable while keeping the lights on. Recorded live as a panel session during a Kennametal open house event, Brad from Marvel Machining, Ian from Lakewood Machine & Tool, and Luke from Progressive Turnings / Crusader Machining sit down for a real conversation about the ups and downs of running a shop. They talk about finding work, quoting jobs, when to say no, staying busy vs actually making money, keeping good employees, buying equipment, and the jobs that almost broke them. Whether you’re a one-man shop, running a full team, or thinking about starting your own business, there’s something in here you’ll relate to. Just honest shop talk from people living it every day. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E47
April 14 · 1 hr 18 min
How Much Work Do You Need Before Going Full-Time? | 47
Pat, Cameron, and Brad catch up on what’s been going on in their shops—from current projects and production challenges to the reality of keeping work on track. They also dive into a listener question about when to go full-time with a side shop, breaking down the financial side, the risk, and what that transition actually looks like. The conversation touches on balancing a day job while building something on the side, using your job to fund equipment, and what happens when that decision gets made for you. They also get into shop culture, big vs. small companies, and why more machinists are thinking about going out on their own. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E46
March 31 · 1 hr 29 min
When the Work Piles Up and the Programs Don't | 46
The guys kick things off talking about the realities of repair and walk-in work, then get into quoting strategy — specifically what to do when a customer hands you a massive stack of confusing prints and expects a price by Tuesday. From there it's community questions: trusting manufacturer speeds and feeds, probing from CAM, machine warm-up routines, and how AI tools like ChatGPT are actually finding their way into everyday shop life. Brad shares advice on finding enough work to go full time, and the guys close out responding to a second-gen machinist who programmed 510 new parts in a year and still couldn't keep up — breaking down what's really going on when programming becomes the bottleneck. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E45
March 17 · 1 hr 30 min
From a Union Aerospace Shop to Running His Own Machine Shop | 45
Hans Keisler from Motor Control Technology joins the podcast to talk about his path through the machining trade — from working at Lockheed to building his own aerospace-focused machine shop. We get into what it’s really like working in a union shop, the differences between big aerospace companies and small job shops, and what it takes to go from a one-man operation to hiring employees. Hans also shares the reality of chasing aerospace and defense work — certifications, compliance, IT requirements, and all the behind-the-scenes work that most machinists never see. It’s an honest conversation about building a shop, navigating the industry, and trying to make cool hardware that ends up on some pretty serious projects. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E44
March 3 · 2 hr 4 min
How One Guy Built a Movement… and Triggered the Internet | 44
If you've spent any time in online machining communities, you know the name. Titan Gilroy has been one of the most talked-about — and most polarizing — figures in online machining for over a decade. Whether you're a fan or a skeptic, there's no question he's had an impact on how a generation of machinists learned the trade. We sit down with Titan for a long, unscripted conversation that covers a lot of ground. We hear how he got into machining, how he built and ran a shop doing aerospace and subsea work, and how that eventually led to what Titans of CNC is today. We dig into the technical stuff too — speeds and feeds, CAM software, five-axis strategy, fixturing, and what he actually thinks separates a good machinist from a great one. We also get into the business side: landing customers, negotiating contracts, running multiple shifts, and what he'd tell a shop that's been around for years but can't seem to move forward. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:03:14 – Titan's Story 00:34:51 – Landing Big Customers: How Titan Got Into SpaceX & Aerospace 00:49:20 – Titans of CNC Academy & Teaching Five-Axis in High Schools 01:01:32 – Advice for the Veteran Machinist Who's Hit the Ceiling 01:09:00 – CAM Software Debate 01:49:22 – Running a Profitable Shop Learn more about TITANS OF CNC here or follow them on YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E43
February 17 · 1 hr 23 min
He Bought His First CNC at 17 — Now His Shop Is Booked Solid at 20 | 43
Michael is 20 years old and runs his own machine shop in Idaho. He bought his first CNC at 17 while still in high school, taught himself machining entirely through YouTube, and has never spent a dollar on advertising. In this episode, Michael shares how he went from building RC airplanes to hand-coding G-code on a vintage Swiss lathe, why he moved his entire shop from Tennessee to Idaho, and how he stays up until 4 AM when customers need parts delivered on time. We talk about his equipment (Haas DM-2, S20Y lathe, Citizen B-12 Swiss, and a new Mazak 5-axis), his approach to finding work through relationships instead of marketing, and his plans to add robots before hiring employees. If you're curious about starting your own shop or wondering how someone builds a manufacturing business from scratch with zero industry connections, this one's worth a listen. Follow Michael on Instagram or YouTube. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E42
February 3 · 2 hr 6 min
“I Didn’t Plan to Be a Machinist — It Just Took Over My Life” | 42
We flip the script on Dylan Jackson — co-owner of Proteum Machining and host of the Within Tolerance podcast — and dig into how he actually got here. Dylan didn’t follow a clean, traditional path. He struggled in engineering school, stumbled into machining through community college, and slowly found that the shop floor made more sense than the classroom ever did. From running parts for free just to learn, to buying a used CNC before he even had a real shop, to building Proteome into a high-end prototype job shop, his story is messy, real, and very relatable. We also talk about what it’s really like running a two-man shop, why prototype work is a completely different mindset, and how Dylan ended up becoming one of the most trusted voices in manufacturing through his podcast. Find Dylan here: Proteum Machining's Instagram or Within Tolerance Podcast's Instagram. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E41
January 20 · 1 hr 11 min
They Ruined a $20K Part During Finishing — Now What? | 41
What happens when a finisher ruins a $20,000 part — and nobody wants to take responsibility? In this episode, we dive into the real, unfiltered side of running a machine shop. From late material deliveries and unreliable suppliers to finishers damaging parts and offering little more than excuses, we talk through the situations that quietly cause the most stress, lost time, and financial risk in manufacturing. From there, the conversation widens into shop operations and industry reality: How busy (or slow) shops are right now in different regions What tool reps and machine sales tell us about the manufacturing economy ERP systems, scheduling, and material planning in small shops The challenges of hiring, training, and getting a shop to run without constant oversight Organization, unfinished side projects, and the never-ending push to improve shop efficiency We wrap things up by reflecting on last year’s goals, what actually got accomplished, and what each of us is trying to focus on moving forward — from better systems and organization to reducing daily chaos on the shop floor. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E40
January 6 · 1 hr 46 min
“I Just Bought a CNC Machine and Figured It Out as I Went” | 40
He bought a Bridgeport to make better welding fixtures. That Bridgeport led to YouTube videos. Those videos led to a $7,000 CNC mill. That mill led to a full machine shop. Ty Neff never planned to become a machinist—but once he discovered CNC, he found his thing. Now he's running five-axis parts in LA with a completely self-taught approach. Ty's Impractical Tips: Invest in zero-point work holding—even the budget options pay for themselves Build CAM templates for every common operation (especially threaded holes) Connect your machines to Ethernet and stop wasting time with USB drives Communicate early and often with customers—it saves jobs and builds loyalty Find Ty here. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E39
Dec 23, 2025 · 1 hr 31 min
"I Started Machining at 12 — I’m Still Learning After 1,000 Shops" | 39
He started machining at 12 — and after working in over 1,000 companies, he’s still learning. In this episode, Donnie talks about what decades in machining across countless shops actually teaches you — and why experience isn’t just about time on the clock. From growing up in his dad’s shop to walking into unfamiliar machines with no perfect setup, he shares how perspective changes once you stop seeing the industry from only one place. The conversation gets into real shop realities: solving problems with whatever tooling and machines are on hand, why machinists argue online (and why both sides are often right), calling BS on tool and software marketing, and what it’s really like being an applications engineer who has to make things work under pressure. No theory. No ideal conditions. Just real-world machining. If you’ve ever thought, “That wouldn’t work in my shop,” this episode explains why that might be true — and why it might still work somewhere else. 👇 How much does perspective matter in machining: time in one shop, or experience across many? Connect with Donnie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donnie_hinske/ YouTube: @donniehinske LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnie-hinske-824599196/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/donnie.hinske.2025 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
S2 · E38
Dec 9, 2025 · 1 hr 38 min
They Get It for $3… I Quoted $18. How Do You Compete With That? | 38
It’s been a weird year for a lot of shops, and we ended up talking about all the stuff you only bring up with other machinists. In this episode, the guys compare how things have been going in their own shops — slower months, surprise rushes, work coming back from overseas, and the kind of quotes that make you shake your head. They swap stories about tariffs, reshoring, customers chasing the cheapest option, and what it actually looks like when parts hop between countries before landing back on your bench. There’s plenty of real shop life in here: first machines, castings that needed rescuing, side projects that turned into lessons about global manufacturing, and a lot of “yeah, same here” moments. It’s just an honest conversation about what’s been happening in the trade — nothing fancy, just the real day-to-day most machinists will recognize. Chat with Ian here, or connect with him on LinkedIn. 🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love! Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum. Or listen to our podcast on YouTube Connect with the hosts on Instagram: Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel Thanks for listening!!!
- Transcript
- Chapters

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes