The Elements of a Machine Shop: Coffee, Coolant, Oil, and FIRE! 

Swiss Lathe Update? 

“I have both crashed it and set it on fire” - Grimsmo

About the fire…it wasn’t THAT bad

Folks from the manufacturer of Grimsmo’s Mist Collector reassure Grimsmo that the machine is usually completely fine after a small fire like that. 

Regardless...GRIMSMO PARKING LOT TEST OF THE FLAMMABILITY OF OIL COMING SOON

“You don’t want to talk about crashing your machine, but this is a safe place” - Grimsmo 

Is a Swiss worth the risk? 

Despite the fire, Grimsmo still thinks he might have been better off if he got the Swiss before his conventional lathe. 

Breaking down the pros and cons to buying a Swiss before a conventional lathe

“The swiss is a little more complicated” - Grimsmo 

“But when has that ever stopped you” - Saunders

Grimsmo moves onto the second part he’ll have made on his Swiss lathe: spacers for the knives

How do I get started as a machine shop? 

Saunders answers this question by differentiating between simply selling a product, and running a business. 

“Think about how your work affects your customers!” - Saunders 

Making your services more convenient, and improving customer service, pushes you PAST the competition. 

“It’s easy to do, but it’s easier not to do. That’s why so many people don’t do it” - Grimsmo

“If you have to have an excuse, that’s your problem. Not your customer’s problem” - Saunders

Learn more about this topic in the book How to Win Friends and Influence People

Saunders thanks the audience; his wife is doing great! And is even back to work! 

Check out the NYC CNC Hermle video

And it was ALL a dream

You can be a machinist and a dreamer at the same time. You just might dream about different things. Saunders, for example, gets a killer deal at an auction on a machine!!...in his dream 

In the DC area on July 18? Come to the Air and Space Museum!

Saunders will be there hanging out and watching a demonstration. More details in this episode.