Practical Machinist

Little bragging moment here…
Impractical Machinist has been crushing it. Thousands of listens, tons of community comments, and more shop-floor stories than we ever expected to capture when we launched this thing.

Huge shoutout to everyone who tunes in, every guest who shows up ready to spill real shop knowledge, and our hosts - Bradley Thomas, Cameron Graves and Patrick McClintock - who keep the conversations sharp, honest, and actually useful for the people who live this trade every day.

We’re only getting louder from here.
Tell us what you want more of—topics, rants, challenges, anything. Your feedback shapes the next episodes.

And if you haven't tuned in to this podcast yet, you can find it here on our channel or on Spotify (bit.ly/454kdMl) and Apple Podcast

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4

1 week ago | [YT] | 27

Practical Machinist

What if you don’t actually need a bigger machine? 🤔
Even a smaller mill like the TRAK VMC2—by taking lighter cuts and stepping down the program—can handle production work and free up your bigger machines for the tough jobs.

1 month ago | [YT] | 7

Practical Machinist

‪@MethodsMachineTools‬ Machinefest in Tempe, AZ was an experience!

It’s incredible to get to meet so many machinists right in the heart of a manufacturing powerhouse. From aerospace, to defense, to medical - the turnout was HUGE and the excitement was high!

New debuts at the show included the Methods Machine Sidekick - an automation solution designed for easy integration for small and medium shops, and the ‪@nakamuratome_global‬ NT FLEX - a brand new dual spindle dual turret multitasking centre ready to give Swiss turning applications a run for their money.

Check out our live streams from the event and stay tuned for a full recap video!

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

2 months ago | [YT] | 30

Practical Machinist

Did you know one wrong grind on a drill flute means it’s straight to the scrap bin? 😳

We toured Walter Tools USA, where they make carbide drills from raw rod to coated cutting tool — all under one roof:
⚙️ H7 tolerances – holding down to a tenth
⚙️ Tip-only coating – for better chip flow, not cost savings
⚙️ Deep-hole capability – down to 0.004" through-coolant

If you could control tooling production from start to finish, would you bring it in-house… or stick with your go-to supplier?

Drop your thoughts 👇
🎥 Full tour: https://youtu.be/Zxxn668KQEs

4 months ago | [YT] | 7

Practical Machinist

We asked machinists to show us what’s in their toolboxes… and yeah, it got weird. 🤯
👀 Take the poll and let us know:
Which toolbox item surprised you the most? And tell us what weird stuff lives in YOUR toolbox!
🧰 Watch the full video here: https://youtu.be/MTdnr4KH9l4

5 months ago | [YT] | 14

Practical Machinist

Ever wondered what goes into making the drills you use in your shop? We got you covered!

Just wrapped an awesome day filming at ‪@waltertools‬ production unit in Greer, SC where they make all the drills destined for American manufacturing.

Big thanks to their team for showing us around and letting us capture all the action. Video tour coming soon… stay tuned!

Skip the Carousel

1 2 3 4 5

6 months ago | [YT] | 54

Practical Machinist

From sweeping floors to running wire EDMs—30 years in the trade means Ron Gobbels from KAM Technologies has done it all.⠀⠀
⠀
Welcome to the series Learn to Burn, your spark-powered crash course in EDM. From the history of EDM to machine maintenance, shop tips and how it’s all used on the floor.⠀
⠀⠀
This isn’t textbook stuff...it’s decades of experience, straight from the shop floor. ⠀
⠀⠀
👇 Drop a line. What do YOU want to see covered next?⠀⠀

7 months ago | [YT] | 7

Practical Machinist

When a broken back ended his pro motocross career, John Dillehay didn't put down his dreams—he machined new ones. Now he's turning digital concepts into mechanical masterpieces right from his garage in Texas.

In 'The CAM Files,' John isn't here to walk you through software menus or recite the basics. He's sharing the real stuff: attacking complex geometries, avoiding tool crashes, and all those hard-earned 'wish someone told me sooner' secrets from years at the controls.

🤔Remember the satisfaction of watching that perfect finish pass reveal exactly what you visualized in CAD?
That's the feeling driving each episode—where art meets algorithm, and programming transforms into performance.

❓What part have you been itching to machine but can't quite figure out the approach?
❓What toolpath challenges keep you second-guessing your approach?
❓Which complex features make you rethink your CAM strategy entirely?

⬇️ Drop your ideas below—because the best programming insights come from our collective shop floor wisdom.

Subscribe and check out 'THE CAM FILES' on our YouTube channel now for machining strategies you won't find in any manual!
📺 www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

8 months ago | [YT] | 13

Practical Machinist

👇🏻 SHARE WITH US!
Where do you listen to The Impractical Machinist podcast? 🎙️
We want to know where you're tuning in!

9 months ago | [YT] | 8

Practical Machinist

👇🏻 SHARE WITH US!
When do you usually hit play on YouTube? 📺

9 months ago | [YT] | 10