Show Notes
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 p...
More from The Impractical Machinists
Taking over the family machine shop means figuring out what to keep, what to change, and how to get everyone on board. Especially when your dad has been running it for 50 years. In this episode of The Impractical Machinists, Dave joins us to talk about growing up cleaning out screw machines, coming back to the family business, and eventually taking the reins. We get into the changes that helped his team keep track of jobs, learn from expensive mistakes, and keep things moving without him wat...
The guys are back from IMTS, and it’s time to get back to reality. In this episode of The Impractical Machinists, Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley look back at their week together at IMTS 2026, from doing live sessions in front of a real crowd to meeting people who actually listen to the podcast (still a little weird). Then it’s back to what’s been happening in their own shops. Patrick talks about what life has been like since going full-time with his shop, including his first late payment, a bi...
What happens when you get The Impractical Machinists together at IMTS for their first-ever live, in-person episode? A lot of shop talk, a little chaos, and more machines than anyone has time (or money) for. Pat, Cam, and Brad sit down live from IMTS to talk about what caught their eye on the show floor, the machines and technology they didn’t even know existed, and the tools and workholding they could actually see themselves using back at the shop. But as impressive as the equipment is, some ...
Learn more about The Machinists' Hub here! IMTS is almost here, and the guys are getting ready for a very busy week in Chicago. Patrick, Cameron, and Bradley sit down before the show to talk about what they’re looking forward to, what they actually want to see on the show floor, and what might be a little overhyped this year. From workholding and inspection to automation, AI, and all the unexpected stuff you stumble across at a show this big, there’s plenty on the radar. For Patrick, it’ll al...
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...