The Impractical Machinists

"How much time should you spend measuring vs. cutting?" That’s the question we’re digging into in this episode. It’s something every shop deals with—do you stop to check everything or just trust the process and keep the spindle running? We talk through how we each handle inspection, what’s worked, what’s backfired, and how we try to strike a balance without slowing things down. Along the...

🎉 We made it — ONE YEAR of The Impractical Machinists Podcast! 🎉 From broken mics and awkward intros to actually figuring out what we’re doing — we’ve come a long way. We’re looking back on everything that’s changed this past year — in our shops and our lives. And yes… there’s a special giveaway to celebrate. 🎁 But you’ll have to listen to the episode to find out how to enter. 👀 👇 Drop a comm...

Ever quote a job thinking "this is way too high" only to get the PO 3 minutes later? Or watch your shop go from "super busy and packed all the time to nothing" when your main customer disappears? They've all been there. Join Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley on the Impractical Machinist Podcast as they dive into a lightning round of questions from Instagram fans. Get insights...

In this episode of The Impractical Machinist , we sit down with Luke Niels, host of The Lathe Lab , fourth-generation machinist, shop owner, and all-around turning wizard. From learning manual screw machines at 18 to running a modern CNC job shop, Luke shares how he carved out his path (and his parts) by sticking with lathes when most shops went mill-heavy. Leadership Lessons From The Great Books...

Brad’s fresh off a trip to East Tech and fills Patrick and Cam in on the whole experience—his first live video, too much drinking (thanks, Ian), and a ton of cool tooling finds. Back at home, Cam’s juggling machine shop life and building a chicken coop for his ever-growing flock. And Patrick? He’s in the trenches with a nonstop, round-the-clock job that’s testing his sanity—and his air compressor....

In this episode of The Impractical Machinist , we sit down with Randall Uerkvitz — a U.S. Army veteran and instructor at Workshops for Warriors. Randall opens up about his journey from military service to machining, overcoming hardship, and how teaching this trade gave his life purpose.  Leadership Lessons From The Great Books Understanding great literature is better than trying to read and unders...

After a lot of shoutouts, we finally got Jarrett Morgan from Possum Solutions on the podcast! Jarrett shares his story of how a hobby in machining went way off the rails - starting from working as a film camera operator to opening his own one-man CNC shop, making custom camera gear. We talk about how he taught himself machining during the pandemic, what it's like learning everything the hard...

Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley are diving deep into shop life this week — the kind of stuff you don’t always hear talked about out loud. Bradley just got back from PMTS and saw a robot setup that legit blew his mind — we’re talking about loading vises, inspecting parts with lasers, updating offsets… all automated. Could that kind of tech actually work in a one-man job shop? Patrick walks through ho...

When the job starts draining you, sometimes the best move is walking away. Here’s what happened next. Burnout doesn’t hit all at once — it builds slowly, especially in high-pressure work environments. In this episode, we talk about what it really feels like to hit that point, why one of us finally decided to leave a demanding job, and what life is like on the other side. We also dive into bigger q...

What if you could shave hours off cycle times , optimize your machining strategies, and get your entire shop on board with process improvements—without the usual resistance? In this episode of the Impractical Machinists Podcast , we sit down with Chris Zappettini , owner of Zappettini Consulting and co-host of Within Tolerance . Chris has spent years inside machine shops across the U.S., helping b...

Machining is more than just making parts—it’s stress, tight deadlines, and trying to balance work and life without losing your mind. In this episode, we talk about the reality of burnout in the trade, handling overwhelming RFQs, and when taking big risks actually pays off. And much more! Stick around to the end for a big announcement from Patrick! Leadership Lessons From The Great Books Understand...

🚨 He risked it all to build a machine shop from scratch—then one bad deal took everything. Charles Sanborn IV’s journey is a rollercoaster of risk, redemption, and hard business lessons. At 18, he was on the verge of going to prison. Instead, he joined the Air Force , a decision that changed the course of his life. But the real story starts after that—when he turned his passion for machining into...

What does it truly mean to be successful as a machinist?  Dive into this electrifying episode of the Impractical Machinist Podcast where hosts Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley discuss the ups and downs of the machining trade. Get insights on deep hole drilling and boring, learn about overcoming shop maintenance woes, and hear about their personal definitions of success in both professional and person...

🎙️ What Does It Take to Build a Machine Shop While Working Full-Time? 🛠️ In this episode of the Impractical Machinist Podcast , we sit down with Joe Kaslowski , a fire inspector by day and a machinist by night, who built a thriving CNC job shop in his garage. With no formal training, Joe turned his passion for machining into a side hustle without ever quitting his full-time job. Whether you’re thi...

We’re tackling YOUR questions about tooling strategies, workholding setups, and more! Ever wondered when to use a thread mill instead of a tap? Or how to pick between solid carbide and indexable tooling? We’ve got you covered with real-world tips and personal experiences straight from our shops. Topics: Thread Milling vs. Tapping  Solid Carbide vs. Indexable Tooling Workholding Favorites: Vices, F...

What makes someone walk away from 23 years in a big shop to start their own shop? In this episode of the Impractical Machinist Podcast , we sit down with Shawn Brown from SBSOLOCO to hear his incredible story. From growing up around machine shops to building his own dream shop, Shawn shares the highs, lows, and hard lessons he’s learned along the way. Discover how he prepared for the leap, the str...

Topics: Shop Updates Why We Don’t Have a 5-Axis Machine  Managing Too Much Work  Supplying Tools: Shop vs. Personal Medium-Term Shop Goals Improving Tooling Manufacturer Support Dealing with Costly Mistakes Importance of Air Quality in the Shop Teasers for Next Episode - Shawn Brown from SBSOLOCO! Could a 5-axis machine save your shop thousands—or is it just overhyped? In this episode, we dive int...

Topics: How ModuleWorks powers your CAM system. The challenges of full machining automation. Industry trends and the future of toolpaths. Think you know your CAM system? Think again. In this episode, we sit down with Julia and Greg from ModuleWorks, the hidden powerhouse behind many of the advanced toolpath strategies you rely on every day. Whether you're programming for a 5-axis machine or e...

Topics: Crash Stories Shop Updates Thread Rolling ERP Softwares Best Way to Position Jaws Giveaways It’s every machinist’s nightmare—CRASHING a machine!  In this episode, Bradley, Patrick, and Cameron dive into their worst machine crashes and share the painful (and sometimes funny) lessons they learned along the way. 🛠️💥 From manual lathe mishaps to CNC disasters, they’ve all been there. The guys...

Topics: Kenny's Career Journey Handling Complex Jobs Dealing with Payment Issues Fixture Design and Methodology Least Favorite Machines Manual Programming and Macros In this episode of Impractical Machinists , we’re joined by Kenny Urban, also known as Patriot_mucheenist, who takes us on his journey from law school dropout to running a top-tier fabrication and machine shop. Kenny dives into e...

TOPICS: Program Management Automation vs. Hiring Employees  Cheap Automation Solutions Metric vs. Imperial  Upcoming Projects Automation or more employees – which one is the right move? In this episode of the Impractical Machinist Podcast , Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley dive into the day-to-day challenges of running a machine shop. They explore whether automation, with tools like robots and dual-s...

TOPICS: IMTS Recap Fixture Design Tool Holders Rising Machines and Tooling Costs When is it worth taking the time to design a fixture, and when should you just clamp and go? And why are machines getting more and more expensive nowadays? In this episode of the Impractical Machinist Podcast, Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley get real about some of the most pressing questions machinists face today.  Whet...

TOPICS: Cleaning and Organizing Your Machines Shop Coolant Tank Maintenance Using Social Media to Grow Your Shop Lead Time Estimation Ever struggled with keeping your machine shop efficient and profitable?  Join Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley in this packed episode of The Impractical Machinists podcast as they discuss everything from essential cleaning and organizing strategies to the power of soci...

Main Topics: Why Manual Machines Still Matter New vs. Used Machines Hidden Startup Costs  Managing Debt Thinking of starting a machine shop? Join special guest Ian Sandusky as he shares his journey and insider advice on choosing the right equipment, financing strategies, and managing the true costs of machining—from tooling to software. Discover the pros and cons of new versus used equipment, the...

The Impractical Machinists Podcast crew is back with more insights on improving your shop, handling job stress, and taking the leap to be your own boss! Join Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley in this engaging episode of The Impractical Machinists podcast, where they share the highs and lows of running a machine shop. From tool organization and shop improvements to tackling customer expectations and co...