This week on the Lone Machinist Podcast, Jamie drags Ben from Black Fox Machining into an emergency guest appearance after recent developments sent the machining community into full rumor mode. Running on almost no sleep and questionable amounts of enthusiasm, the guys dive into everything from home-built CNC machines to the strange reality of becoming accidental role models.

Ben shares how a burnt guitar neck, a B-minus shop project, and scavenging parts from scrap bins somehow led to a career in machining. Along the way, the conversation wanders through DIY routers, waterjet shops, engineering school disappointments, and the fine art of becoming a professional shop-floor vulture.

Meanwhile, Curt and Jamie discover that raising children in workshops might create unrealistic expectations. Apparently not every garage contains CNC mills, laser cutters, 3D printers, and enough machinery to casually build a billet volcano for a science fair. Curt nearly melts when his daughter announces she wants to become an astronaut, while Jamie confesses to being that guy who helped nieces and nephews turn ordinary school projects into unfair competitions.

If you've ever rescued expensive components from a scrap bin, worried about accidentally building your kid's science project to aerospace standards, or looked around your workshop and thought, "Wait… normal people don't have this stuff?", this episode is for you.

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ben:

 * https://black-fox-machining.square.site/
 * https://www.youtube.com/@blackfoxmachining
 * https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4Um8tm8DH7WqR94WgeMwjHXlDi9R2GvSe3ayuYfPUHFVreQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

Ep. 76: The Billet Volcano Arms Race with Ben from Blackfox 

This week on the Lone Machinist Podcast, Jamie finally gets the keys to the new workshop and immediately discovers that moving a machine shop involves approximately 4,000 decisions, 7,000 trips to hardware stores, and at least one full-scale CAD model of the building. Floor plans are taped out, paint is being thrown around, machines are getting shuffled, and somehow there's still time to argue about carts.

Meanwhile, Curt discovers that being nice to people is apparently a business strategy, his X5 is doubling as an industrial space heater, and he may have reached peak machinist by CADing an entire fence before it was built. The contractor was impressed. Everyone else thought he was insane.

The long-awaited pneumatic vice finally arrives, barnacles are multiplying in the shop, anodizing experiments go slightly sideways, and both hosts spend an unhealthy amount of time discussing fixtures, keyboards, organization carts, and why every shop project somehow creates three more shop projects.

If you've ever bought a machine before you figured out where to put it, designed furniture in CAD, or convinced yourself that "one more fixture" would solve all your problems, this episode is for you.

Grab a coffee, avoid the mosquitoes, and enjoy the ride.

Links Discussed:

 * Seguin.Ink: https://www.instagram.com/seguinink?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
 * Notsuspicousmfg: https://www.instagram.com/notsuspiciousmfg?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 75: CADing a Fence Like It’s Aerospace   

This week on the Lone Machinist Podcast, Jamie accidentally speedruns manufacturing because he misread an order and panic-machined a batch of anchor point bodies before realizing they were the wrong version. Meanwhile, Kurt discovers that machining titanium from round bar is somehow less efficient and more efficient at the same time, which feels spiritually correct for machining.

We also dive deep into:

 * Industrial shop planning using LEGO men
 * Why carbide prices now require emotional preparation
 * Homemade chip-handling death traps
 * Power draw graphs that make the house lights dim like a horror movie
 * The extremely scientific measurement system known as “1453 bananas”
 * Why random people keep wandering into machine shops asking for jobs
 * And how a chair noise nearly derailed the entire episode

There’s also:
fountain pens, Linux CNC rabbit holes, load balancing, tumblers in Wendy houses, tiny linear rails, giant tool steel blocks, and enough Home Assistant automation to accidentally become a low-budget smart factory.

If you’ve ever looked at a machine tool quote and immediately started calculating breaker amperage… this episode is for you.

Links Discussed:

 * sigma wallet: https://www.sigmawallet.net/

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 74: Death Pallet Stackers & Other OSHA Nightmares

This week on the The Lone Machinist Podcast, Jamie fights anodizing for three straight days, accidentally makes the wrong color parts, redesigns a bandsaw out of pure spite, and discovers that South African customs agents apparently moonlight as package demolition experts.

Meanwhile, Curt declares war on bubble mailers after the packaging industry collectively decided quality control was optional. Customs also disassembled a customer’s pen shipment like they were searching for state secrets, proving once again that no cardboard box survives international shipping emotionally intact.

There’s also:

 * A Harbor Freight bandsaw running entirely on anger
 * Soap bottle engineering failures
 * Tiny dovetail vises called Barnacles
 * A chip tray overflowing with enough aluminum to build a second machine
 * A possible new workshop
 * A helicopter seat machined from an aluminum brick the size of a kitchen appliance
 * And at least three business ideas that should probably not be pursued without supervision.

If you’ve ever looked at a machine and thought “this can definitely be improved with compressed air and bad financial decisions,” this episode is for you.

Links Discussed:

 * sigma wallet: https://www.sigmawallet.net/

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 73: Barnacles, Bandsaws & Bad Decisions  

Ever wondered how a conversation about burgers turns into industrial automation, toaster engineering, and titanium butt plugs?

This week on the Lone Machinist Podcast:
Jamie survives a wedding weekend, immediately goes back to abusing the LK with horrifying amounts of tool steel, and starts planning how to automate 400,000 fence clamps without losing his sanity.
Curt discovers the joy of dual-wielding online stores, falls deeper into the flux vice rabbit hole, and accidentally reignites his dream of building the world’s smartest toaster.

We also discuss:
✔ Why South African fast food places sound like alarm clocks having a panic attack
✔ Tiny dovetail vices that solve all problems, potentially
✔ Why round bar is apparently the meaning of life
✔ Shop moves, power problems, and machine doorway measurements
✔ The return of Mr. Roboto thanks to catastrophic internet issues
✔ And a titanium “bean” with a flared base that lawyers insist is not a butt plug

If you like machining, fixturing, automation, or hearing two machinists spiral into increasingly dangerous business ideas… welcome home.

Links Discussed:

 * calees cans flaired base bean: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0v_NLglnqNQ
 * toaster technoligy conetcions: https://youtu.be/1OfxlSG6q5Y?si=wgWDy3edZj69aXPV
 * T-shirts: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store/Merch-c177137041
 * cadbery advert 5star: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXVndnEiF5R/?igsh=ZHFic21vd2c2d3Bn

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 72: Someone Let The Machinists Near The Kitchen Equipment

Ever wondered what happens when two machinists get slightly too much caffeine and absolutely no supervision?

This week on the Lone Machinist Podcast:

 * One of us falls headfirst into an ERP system that started as “just a quick tool”… and is now basically a full-blown operating system 
 * The other accidentally becomes a sticker manufacturer and nearly buys a $2000 mistake off Marketplace
 * There’s a tiny dovetail vice so cute it should come with a warning label
 * We talk shop spaces, power problems, and why 63 amps feels like a personality trait
 * And yes… someone designed a magnetic spinning window thing after being peer pressured on Discord (as one does)

Also featuring:
✔ Chip welding rage
✔ Packaging glow-ups nobody asked for
✔ Questionable naming decisions
✔ And the phrase “spinning disk of justice,” which is now legally binding

If you like machining, making things, or slowly turning simple ideas into wildly overengineered projects… welcome home.

Links Discussed:

 * Template Maker: https://www.templatemaker.nl/en/

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Trevor:

 * https://titanringdesigns.com/
 * https://www.instagram.com/titanringdesigns

Ep. 71: The World’s Cutest Vice (and Other Lies)

In this episode of The Lone Machinist, Jamie and Curt are joined by Trevor from Titan Ring Designs, and things get deep… like “question your entire life path while holding a mic” deep.

What starts as a simple chat about machining quickly turns into a full-blown masterclass on creativity, risk-taking, and why making tiny, ridiculously intricate titanium parts might actually be the most logical life choice.

Trevor walks us through his journey from school shop kid to teaching machining, to quitting it all to chase building cool stuff full-time, all from a backyard shop that’s smaller than most people’s garages. Along the way, we get into artistic machining, tumbling black magic, and the reality of turning passion into something that (hopefully) pays the bills.

There’s also a healthy dose of “just send it” energy, some very real talk about the education system, and a reminder that maybe… just maybe… playing it safe isn’t the safest option after all.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own thing, making something from scratch, or just escaping the 9–5 grind, this one’s going to hit a little too close to home.

Links Discussed:

 * jim carey speech: https://youtu.be/nLgHNu2N3JU?si=wzxY6ad-PFJC-CBB
 * Jeff McWhinney Designs: https://mcwhinneydesigns.com/
 * Titan Ring Designs: https://titanringdesigns.com/products/
 * Fancy Flashlight link: https://www.coolfall.com/pShop.html

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Trevor:

 * https://titanringdesigns.com/
 * https://www.instagram.com/titanringdesigns

Ep. 70: How to Build a Business by Accident with Titan Ring Designs 

In this absolutely respectable and definitely clean Episode 69 of the Lone Machinist Podcast… things go off the rails in under 2 minutes.

We kick things off with Curt accidentally spending what could’ve been a small mortgage payment on sticker equipment, because apparently “I can make my own stickers” is a perfectly valid financial strategy. Meanwhile, Jamie goes full outdoorsman, hosting a bachelor party that involves mud drifting, bass fishing domination, and aggressively avoiding anything resembling a normal bachelor party.

Somewhere in between:

 * A vinyl cutter that definitely didn’t fall off a truck (probably)
 * A fishing trip that cured burnout better than therapy
 * CNC projects that make you question your life choices
 * A Masso retrofit that somehow actually worked
 * And just enough questionable jokes to remind you… yeah, this is Episode 69

Also, we tried to keep it civil.

We did not succeed.

If you like machining, bad decisions, and the kind of conversations that start technical and end with “how did we get here?”, you’re in the right place.

Come for the CNC talk
Stay for the chaos
Leave wondering why anyone owns this many stickers

Links Discussed:

 * Xteink X4: https://www.xteink.com/products/xteink-x4

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 69: Insert Innuendo Here

This week on The Lone Machinist Podcast, Curt and Jamie set out to talk about machining… and instead accidentally reinvent software development, question modern civilization, and nearly bankrupt themselves with printers.

Highlights include:
• Curt buying a printer “just for one thing” like every responsible adult ever
• Jamie discovering his fourth axis is not a tool, but a supernatural entity
• Both of them vibe coding apps they barely understand and definitely shouldn’t be trusted with
• A deep dive into sticker production that somehow becomes a full-blown identity crisis

Somewhere along the way:
• Lasers start doing things that feel illegal
• French designers approve of Jamie’s “pretty parts” (engineering has entered its fashion era)
• Curt realizes tax season means he technically earns money but spiritually does not

By the end of the episode, we’ve concluded:
The future is incredible, nothing is stable, and we are absolutely not qualified to be this productive.

Press play if you enjoy:
Machining, chaos, questionable life choices, and two guys speedrunning the collapse of traditional skillsets using nothing but caffeine and blind confidence.

Warning: This episode may cause sudden urges to buy a printer, build an app, and completely ignore best practices.

Links Discussed:

 * Justin Gray Labs: https://justingraylabs.com/

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

The Lone Machinists Ep. 68: Print It, Stick It, Break It, Fix It

This week on The Lone Machinist Podcast, things go exactly as planned, which is to say, absolutely not at all. Curt successfully fixes a lens right up until the exact moment he completely destroys it, proving once again that “if it ain’t broke, fix it till it is” is less of a motto and more of a lifestyle. Meanwhile, Jamie is deep in tolerance stack-up hell, rearranging his entire workshop like a man trying to fit a king-size bed into a shoebox, all while seriously considering trading financial stability for “just one more machine.” There’s anodizing experiments that may or may not dissolve parts into oblivion, discussions about balls, pins, and why nothing ever lines up the way it should, plus a deeply unnecessary but unforgettable segment titled “you poo, I watch.” It’s engineering, it’s chaos, it’s questionable decision-making at its finest, so grab a drink, lower your expectations, and enjoy the ride.

Links Discussed:

 * Noughtical Work Holding: https://www.noughticalwh.com/
 * caleeys cans hulk pill: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/K2lIMSZA_5o

The Lone Machinist:

 * Website: https://thelonemachinists.com/
 * Bonus Content: https://thelonemachinists.com/#bonus-content
 * Merch: https://www.jspeceng.com/online-store
 * Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheLoneMachinists

Need Work Done? Check out Subtract Manufacturing at: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/

Want to try out Toolpath [https://toolpath.com/]? Give it a go and get 10% off by using the code TLM10 at checkout: https://toolpath.com/

Jamie:

 * http://instagram.com/jspec_engineering
 * https://www.jspeceng.com/
 * https://www.noughticalwh.com/

Curt:

 * https://www.instagram.com/confoundedmachine/
 * https://www.confoundedmachine.com/

Ep. 67: One More Machine Will Fit (Trust Me)

Curt and Jamie dive into business and manufacturing as one-man shops.