The Impractical Machinists

When an end mill starts misbehaving, the cutter usually gets blamed first. But Scott Walrath says the real problem may be the toolholder, the runout, or the way the whole setup is working together.
In this episode, Scott joins us from CERATIZIT USA to talk through what he has learned from more than 40 years in the cutting-tool industry. We get into carbide prices, tungsten supply, tool life, reconditioning, high-performance milling, and why small changes in setup can make a big difference at the machine.
It’s a practical conversation about getting more out of your tooling and figuring out what is actually causing the problem before you reach for a new end mill.
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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Planning to attend IMTS? This year, IMTS is celebrating manufacturing with a 6-week giveaway. Through August 14, they're releasing a new limited-edition hat patch every week. The first 100 people to register for IMTS using that week's promo code will receive the matching hat. Register here: IMTS Registration, then check IMTS or Practical Machinist's social channels each week for the latest promo code and that week's hat design.
This week felt different.
After years of talking about someday owning his own CNC machine, Pat finally spent his first full week making real customer parts on one. It wasn't smooth. There were long nights, missing tooling, scrapped parts, last-minute hardware runs, and more than a few moments of wondering what he got himself into.
But somehow, after putting in 92 hours between his day job and the shop, he wouldn't trade it for anything.
The guys talk about what that first week was really like, the mistakes nobody tells you about, and why having good people around you makes all the difference when you're getting started.
Later, Cam shares the next big step for his business as his shop prepares to move into a much larger building. From planning machine layouts and inspection rooms to figuring out how to relocate an entire operation without bringing production to a halt, it's a real look at what growth actually looks like behind the scenes.
They also talk IMTS, what they're looking forward to, and where you'll be able to find the Practical Machinist team during the show. If you're planning to be in Chicago, come by the booth and say hello.
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Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Brad Jacob from Maple Lane Machine and Tool joins Patrick and Cameron as guest host for this episode.
They catch up on what has changed at Brad’s shop, how the VF-2 is working out, and why he has been considering a different CAM system. That leads to an honest discussion about software support, unexpected updates, five-axis programming, cutter compensation, modeling around tolerances, and the amount of work you can lose when you leave a system containing years of programs and models.
The second half is built around stories submitted by machinists. There is a new machine that supposedly needed nine tons of concrete—but actually needed one setting changed. A young programmer who thought he had nothing left to learn. Perfectly good threaded parts rejected by questionable gauges. A rush job made from material the customer later admitted was wrong. Four long shafts, sixteen-hour days, and a baby due at any moment. And a batch of good parts rejected because the inspection room was too hot.
We’d like to hear how other shops handle these situations. Have you ever switched CAM systems, challenged a rejected part, or accepted a rush job you later regretted? Share what happened—and what you learned from it—in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love!

Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

Or listen to our podcast on YouTube

Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Every machine shop runs into the same challenges sooner or later. Cash flow gets tight, tooling costs keep climbing, and deciding when to invest in new equipment is never easy.
In this episode of the Impractical Machinists Podcast, Pat, Cam, and Brad answer questions from the Practical Machinist community and share how they'd approach some of the biggest decisions shops are facing today.
What would you do? Let us know in the comments.
🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love!

Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

Or listen to our podcast on YouTube

Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Taylor Jenkins didn't start out wanting to be a machinist. He wanted to fly planes.

Then COVID hit, his plans changed, and he ended up in a composites program working with carbon fiber instead, chasing the same hands-on itch he'd had since high school building RC gliders and racing drones. From there he landed a job as a CNC operator in southern Utah almost by accident, just because he could already read a blueprint.

A few shops, a few good mentors, and one really bad boss later, Taylor ended up running his own shop, Lone Wolf Precision, completely solo. No crew, no robots, just him, two Brother mills, and an auto saw he's genuinely proud of.

In this episode, we get into:

- His path from drone racing and RC planes into machining (it's a weirder story than you'd think)
- The probe crash that almost killed his new Brother machine, and what it taught him about automation actually eating your "free time" instead of giving you more of it.
- The aerospace shop that trained him right, including learning the CMM inspection feedback loop the hard way
- The bad coworker situation that finally pushed him to leave that job for good
- The six weeks he had to buy a machine and make a brand new production contract work, after turning down a job offer to do it
- How he finds new work (hint: it's not LinkedIn), and why he fires customers who aren't worth the headache
- The saw stop he designed because every shop bandsaw stop he's ever used has been garbage

If you're running your own shop, thinking about starting one, or just like hearing how somebody actually built theirs from the ground up, this one's worth the listen.
🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love!

Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

Or listen to our podcast on YouTube

Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!