Joe Pie: I was immediately fascinated the first time I witnessed a milling machine chewing through a large block of steel. The raw power, dangerously sharp cutters, and the chips bouncing off the floor scared me as much as it had me in awe. I was in 6th grade and we toured a local trade school. It was at that moment that I realized if I could learn how to run machines like that, I could make anything. It was an indelible, impressionable moment.

Joe Pie:

• Chet was the first master toolmaker I had the pleasure of working with. I was still in my teens when we met, and I had a loud car and long hair. Chet was a Navy veteran toolmaker and didn't like me very much. I was selected for the company's "on the job" apprenticeship program and he was the lead. It was his personal mission to wash me out, so he gave me the toughest assignments he could muster up. I executed every one to perfection and ultimately won his respect and friendship. His favorite thing to say was "Ya gotta have the feel." It's a very true saying that means your interaction with any manual machine tool has to be so sensitive that you can actually know how the cut is going just by touching the levers and handwheels; if a tool is getting dull, you can feel it. Absolutely true. Chet's big message was never cut corners... ever.
• George was the second gentleman I worked alongside. Back in the day, paranoia in tool rooms was very real. Many older toolmakers would actually cover their work when a new guy approached them, for fear of you taking their job or copying their technique. George was always a grandfather figure that was more than happy to take the time to assist you or answer your questions in as much detail as it took. To this day, I still have some of George's tools in my box. I bought them from him when he retired. George taught me to be patient and always be willing to help.
• Frank was his boss and embraced the same philosophy. Frank was much younger and extremely talented.

Joe Pie: As machine tools evolved, naturally, designs did too. CNC cut so much time off conventional production; it was fantastic. Although they are so fast, the first piece is very expensive because of the setup of the machine, programming, and fixturing. For production, they are an invaluable resource; for prototyping, they allow for the creation of part geometries that would take considerable time to do manually. So yes, having access and understanding of CNC has absolutely changed my design direction for complex shapes and part geometry. As a designer/engineer, you don't have to know how to run one—you just have to know what they are capable of.

Joe Pie: My shop is currently in the process of relocation and I have reached retirement age at the same time. This combination of events will most likely lead to a substantial downsizing and allow me to be more selective in the type of work I choose to do, and the type of products I care to offer. I really enjoy the miniatures I create, so I have to imagine that won't change.

Joe Pie: This is a very broad question and could have many answers based on the part you need to make. A good piece of advice would be to use your brain instead of your checkbook when you encounter a problem. Be creative while maintaining safety. Machine tools can be very versatile if you just step back and think for a minute.

Try to completely understand what's happening when a part gets cut, from the load and deflection on the cutter to the grip the machine has on the part as the initial workpiece deteriorates during the machining process. Embrace math!! You can't fight this, so learn it. Geometry and basic trig are core skills that MUST be mastered.

Joe Pie: This level of machining can be very frustrating. You have to consider every variable, right down to the temperatures of the machine, room, and part if you expect to be successful. Precision isn't cheap. They say every time you add a decimal place to a tolerance on a part, you'll add another couple of zeros to the price. Don't rush this type of work.

Joe Pie: I have always believed, "It's easier to make a manual machinist into a CNC machinist than it is to make a CNC machinist into a manual machinist."

Manual skills are the very foundation of machining and instill basics in your thought process that are invaluable across your career. One thing you'll find out that doesn't shift over is when a CNC machinist asks a manual machinist, "What feed rate did you use to cut that?" The answer is usually, "I don't know, I just used 'the feel'." BUT, you can't feel a CNC machine, so that is one thing that is initially scary moving into a CNC environment.

Joe Pie: Excellent question. A part is a part. Lug nut or surgical tool, it all starts out as a block of steel. Read the print and make the part. But a surgical instrument or medical device has to take into consideration patient safety, potential failure during surgery, and cleanability.

Cleanability is a double-edged sword. A surgical tool is subject to a very exposed environment. During an orthopedic reconstruction or joint replacement, the instrument will be exposed to blood and bone fragments. The instrument must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilized between cases. It must have flush channels and ports to allow for this to be executed in a manner that guarantees it can be properly cleaned. But these features can also allow debris to contaminate the instrument. It's a design balance you must be aware of and compensate for.

Joe Pie: I never intended to start or support a YouTube channel. The response to my very first video was overwhelming. It was a video on inverted, outward threading and showed thread standards and measurement using thread wires. The number of emails, phone calls, and comments it generated created the demand for additional material and basically controlled the direction of my channel.

Coming from industry, standards are very important—they assure a part made in Texas will fit when the customer in Australia opens the box. I was watching a very successful, popular YouTube machining channel during my lunch hour one day at the shop. He was repairing a hydraulic pump shaft and putting new threads on the end for his customer. He used the nut as a gage. WORST piece of advice ever, unless you will own the shaft and nut forever.

To be honest, that single moment inspired me to stop eating my lunch, grab a GoPro camera, shoot, and post a video condemning that process. Standards are in place for a reason and should always be your first choice if you expect interchangeability. The rest is history: 500+ videos, 183,000 subscribers, and 43,000,000 views.

Joe Pie: Attracting young people is tough these days. The internet has taught us it's an instant-gratification world—push a button and problem solved. Nobody wants to start at the bottom and take years to master something before making real money. There are 1,000 other things you could choose to hit the ground running fresh out of college, and machining isn't one of them.

Trade schools are invaluable for manufacturing. They give you a head start on a lifetime of learning opportunities. Learning has to be fun and it has to provide some gratification at the end of the day. You need to really want to learn this and honestly, it's not for everyone.

Joe Pie: I would suggest you watch a lot of machining videos online until something jumps out and really grabs your attention. It might be milling, turning, EDM, 3D printing, CAD, or any other fabrication discipline. If something is interesting, that will define the path, tools, and time required to get going.

• Don't buy everything at once. Buy as you go along. Buy what you need and buy good equipment. As the saying goes... "Buy nice or buy twice."
• Start by cutting wood or plastic, and don't be afraid to fail.
• Ask a lot of questions and practice safety at all times.
• AND... if something scares you... don't do it until someone shows you a safe way to do it. Simple.

Joe Pie: Well, at the end of the day, the model has to have the "COOL" factor. It's got to look good sitting on the shelf, or deliver the performance you had hoped it would. The parts should look great and fit as good as they look. There has to be some perceived value in the price vs. what you get when you open the box. Stirlingkit has never let me down on any of these points.

Joe Pie: Not only will a miniature engine (car or steam) educate you on the mechanical "how it works" aspect of what you're assembling, but hopefully it will stimulate your thought process to "How did they make this part?"

There are so many processes required to produce a working engine model that many will never realize. Some of my favorite TV shows are How It's Made and How'd They Do That. Once you see a technique, it's like planting a seed. You've seen the basics—now how can you tweak it and get your job done using the same principle?

Joe Pie: For the longest time, I thought Stirlingkit was just steam engine models. Once I explored your website, I learned you were much more than that. I absolutely fell in love with the miniature workshop model that could connect to the mill engine. You should start a series of kits that all possess the ability to either stand alone or link together. I think this would motivate your customers to become repeat customers just so they could continue the journey.

Your machine tool selection is seriously lacking beyond the drill press and pedestal grinder; consider offering a wider selection of those. In general, anything that clicks, pops, moves, or performs a function is enjoyable to watch and fun to build. Maybe a simple marble machine??

Joe Pie: A few years back, I was contacted by Mr. Chuck Tipton to fabricate a boiler cover for his Traction Engine (check out his channel at @chucktipton9596). He machined a magnificent scale model that anybody would be proud to display. I haven't seen anything like this on your product offerings. I know I'd be attracted to it if it was available.

Joe Pie: Small doesn't mean harmless. These models produce some torque that can cause them to move from their starting position if not secured prior to starting them up. The little fans can cause serious injury, and the motors could get hot enough to burn you. Once assembled, exercise caution and common sense when running them.