Business of Machining

“The business is becoming its own entity, and we all work for that business” - Grimsmo quoting Pierson Saunders and Grimsmo reunite after missing one of their weekly chats and they have much to discuss.  As their businesses grow at a fast pace, having a great team and managing stress are becoming more important.  The guys work to advance the skills of their teams as well as their own. Jo...

"Everything you do is a representation of who you are, even down to how you wash the dishes." - Grimsmo   Saunders returns from his 3rd round of AutoDesk University feeling refreshed. His perception of AU has evolved from one of pomp and circumstance to one of understanding and appreciation.  Plus, if your're a FUSION ULTIMATE customer, GENERATIVE DESIGN access has been granted...

"It's a good time to be alive." - Grimsmo It doesn't get any better than having the world of information at your fingertips.   SAYONARA lag time!  The guys record using ZenCaster to lean out the podcasts and close the gap between life and release date.   What happens in Vegas...is AUTODESK UNIVERSITY.  Saunders attends to speak about Social Media and Modern Manufacturing. ...

"Grimsmo's frowning at me with disdain--"   "I'm THINKING!"    With Thanksgiving rounding the corner, this episode of Business of Machining offers a lot of food for thought.   After a night of tossing and turning, Saunders uses his inability to sleep to his advantage.   How's that Norseman pallet coming, Grimsmo?   Finishing the much improved pallet while&nb...

The car is kaput. Grimsmo makes due with his mic from home.   If you've successfully changed the insert on a boring bar while holding your child,  you might be a machinist.   Time flies when life is good.  Grimsmo reflects on obsession.  When you say yes to the short term goal, are you short changing yourself?   The path from point A to point B isn't a straight l...

What do speaking French, VENN DIAGRAMS  and SUPERPOWERS have in common? This episode of Business of Machining, of course.   THE STRUGGLE IS REAL: As an entrepreneur, staying true to yourself and your VISION is tough.  Not only do you have to have a passion for what you do; it also has to coincide with what people want.    The launch of the new...

ARIEL. CANADIAN THANKSGIVING IN OCTOBER. BYE BYE, BOOTSTRAPPER?   Saunders chaperones students to Ariel.  If you're looking for inspiration, you may not have to fly across the ocean to find it.   Click HERE for Ariel Video.     Geeking out at the local computer shop, Grimsmo purchases a much needed new laptop.  Despite the new technology, a problematic Fusio...

Saunders says 'tis the season with an Uberchuck commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lncrr_7aJE Saunders visits EMO in Germany while Grimsmo uploads his first YouTube video in months: CMTS! Grimsmo debates the future of producing videos: in-house or enlist outside help? McMaster University partners up with Grimsmo knives for a marketing class project! Saunders speaks on Social Media at a l...

New year, new approach. Grimsmo returns from CMTS; his first trade show since IMTS in 2016. No matter how discerning you plan to be, the almighty sales pitch has the power to undermine due diligence.      Click  here  to time travel back to IMTS 2016   If you're considering EDM, this one's for you.  If not, it's cool anyway. Tune in for a simple ex...

"To say it was life-changing would be a bit dramatic but...it was life changing!"  - Saunders   Saunders shares his EMO experience while Grimsmo gets ready for CMTS in Toronto.  A year has passed since they attended IMTS and major changes  have taken place not only in their shops but in their lives.     Tradeshows are inspiring but for some, they are in...

Statistically, it's incredibly likely to get dark every day; however, there is  0% chance of Saunders holding a focus group.   You have a great product to offer the masses but is it enough to be successful? If you haven't considered MINIMAL PRODUCT VIABILITY, you might be in for a surprise.   Grimsmo's confidence in his ability to create a product from start to finish leaves hi...

Have you ever heard of EUSTRESS?  Probably not.  But you've definitely experienced it. It's a feeling our co-hosts lovingly refer to as "the grind."   With the pre-order in the past, Grimsmo turns his  focus and renewed energy toward the Norseman workflow and  the automated process for Maker's Choice knives.   While some think chip thinning is overrated, Saunders believes understanding this machin...

BEEF.  That's what's for 7am. People that lack authenticity can test your nerves and leave you  feeling raw but it's easy to let it go when there are bigger fish to fry.   Today is the first day of the rest of Grimsmo Knives.   After an arduous journey with a 2.25 year pre-order, the new direction for the company becomes clear. It's like a breath of  fresh processes. ...

"I don't always find EXTRA KNIFE ORDERS but when I do, it's when I have T-minus 6 days until the deadline. "- Grimsmo   If you haven't seen your reflection in a while, check out this Instagram  post.   Record players are scarce these days but there's something that  might  work in a pinch.  A PROFILOMETER???   For Saunders, the benefits of a Cogsdill&nb...

Harder. Better. Faster. Stronger.   Out of nowhere, Grimsmo has an astonishing spike  in productivity but Saunders is perplexed.  Did he wake up with superpowers or clone himself?   Bureaucracy?  More like bureauCRAZY! Saunders finds himself peevish and bogged down with what should have been a simple task.   With the right tools in the right places, machining the steel fixture plates should, in th...

"I've felt what drowning feels like and it sucks."    Grimsmo's pushing full steam ahead but is it enough to meet the deadline?   Reducing Stress = Immediate Relief, right? Not exactly.   Unfortunately, ANY change in your normal stress level can leave you feeling  worse because it's not what you're used to. Saunders grapples with finding a new norm.    How do&nbs...

Feel like picking some BRAINS? By reviewing this podcast on iTunes from now through the end of September, you could be chosen to have a CHAT with the co-hosts on the topic of your choice! Saunders visits Madison, WI for Tech Days, formerly the Tormach Open House and Mitutoyo America Corporation, second to The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in metrology accuracy. And I said,...

Video: Q-Mark STRESS, SOLUTIONS, and...SUSHI? How long have you been in survival mode? If you're feeling under the weather, there's a good chance it isn't last night's dinner. When it comes to stress, be prepared to bring solutions to the table. If there isn't a solution, venting and validation can offer relief. Saunders and Grimsmo mull over ways to avoid past pitfalls and new ideas to move their...

Video: Okamoto - I DO give a chuck!  Book:  THE GRINDING WHEEL The Rask order is nearing completion and the stork's bringing the VF2. Saunders has a fantastic week. Systems are falling into place but he reminds himself "not to count his chips while he's at the table." Grimsmo still thinks it's a good idea to pat yourself on the back every once in a while. The guys discuss accounting, too...

Orange Vise Tour     Grimsmo returns from vacation but was he able to relax? Saunders tinkers with a new plan for organizing tools. Just because they're the same size doesn't mean they go together. To maximize efficiency, you may need to think outside your tool box. PROCESS RELIABILITY, tell me what it means to me... Reliable and consistent results take the cake over pushing tool paths t...

Orange Vise Tour Machine ROI Delivering Happiness Grimsmo + Vacation = Worry/Anxiety? Normally, the idea of vacation should produce feelings of excitement and relaxation but for Grimsmo, it's a different story. "What is the end goal?" The guys are in a constant state of defining and refining goals. How do you know you've made it if you don't know where you want to end up? In his quest to pay it fo...

Pierson MPS  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEZeVbockyQ   Link to Saunder's Video RE: ChipBreak about drawings:  http://bit.ly/2sWGcoI   As patriotic holidays arrive and fireworks are ignited, both Johns get fired up about PROCESS--the process of making processes, to be exact.  What if you have no idea where to begin?  The important thing is not WHERE you start but T...

Delivering Happiness: http://amzn.to/2sGeaO9 Grimsmo Pierson MPS Video: http://bit.ly/2slM8T6 "We've got to talk."  The suspense is killing Grimsmo after receiving cryptic messages from Saunders during his Californian machine shop trip.   Saunders and Grimsmo get honest about the current state of their businesses.  Bootstrapping has its merits to a point but it can also inhibit your...

Pierson Tour: http://bit.ly/2tk4c4w Grimsmo Knives work-flow boards: http://bit.ly/2slM8T6 Pierson QC Review video: http://bit.ly/2slWfab "Goals are tools that allow me to say no"--What does that even mean?   On this episode of Business of Machining, Grimsmo and Saunders are taking action to improve workflow processes and quality control. While Grimsmo visits a machine shop at a local college...

"I'm not the host, we're co-hosts" and for now, they want to keep it that way.  For these two, paying it forward and reciprocity keeps the wheels turning. Blade Show has amazing products but for Grimsmo, the people and interactions are the bread and butter(knife).  Today, he plans to chop up 20 billets of timascus. Got heartburn?  It might be your workholding.   Saunders r...