Father of 7 Builds Machine Shop From the Ground Up. So Can You. | Machining Stories

[@matthewlee8917]

This video dropped at the right time. My wife and I are in this same journey. Have an 1100MX and some manual equipment and just signed a contract in a house with a shop. I am working towards leaving the corporate world as soon as I can.

[@kennethparent2936]

Get after it. That Tormac can get some work done and for a great price. I know guys that are full time at home with one of those. Your wife will be your biggest cheerleader and driving force, at least mine is. Do it together and it makes it all even better.

[@jasko346]

How is the business a year later?

[@misupercooner]

?

[@DdgeluvinHic]

Mr. Parent, I just gotta say, this is helping me to continue having motivation to get my shop going. Thank you for sharing your "why", it's the same "why" that I have for starting my shop. Well done sir.

[@kennethparent2936]

Taking that leap into doing full time is super hard. All the unknowns and the worries and what ifs can really hold you back. But with the skills you have, you can always get a job. Even if you fail, get a job and try to figure out what you did wrong and try again.👍 Your biggest enemy is you. But you can't stop you once you put your mind to it.

[@metalmansam26]

On the same path myself. Currently in the HVAC field and machining as a hobby trying to turn it into a business. I've watched a lot of these videos and have been using the to keep me focused and inspired. Thanks for posting.

[@kennethparent2936]

Don't be afraid to take the leap! Machining is amazing. And if it doesn't work, well you have 2 separate skills that can keep the bills paid until you try again!

[@ISILENTNINJAI]

I think there's more money to be made as an hvac company but money ain't always everything.

[@nikolaiownz]

i started 3.5 years ago - i bought an old Okuma lathe from the 80s and a mazak mill from 1990.. its a hard job but well worth it.

[@kennethparent2936]

Yes it is. Totally worth it in every way, no matter how hard

[@gar50172]

Been in the trade a little over a year and it feels like there’s still endless amounts to learn. It’s almost overwhelming

[@PracticalMachinist]

What are the barriers?

[@Machinist71]

Glad to hear you are dong well Ken. Thanks for the shout out in the video. Wish you the best for your small business.

[@kennethparent2936]

Thanks Mike! Glad you were able to see it. Definitely wouldn't be where I am without you. When I get mill this summer I'll probably need to become the student once more!😂

[@TOXIXIFY]

Definitely wouldn't mind a video sharing your 90% scrap job. Welcome to the community.

[@kennethparent2936]

Haha well hopefully we can do one!

[@patrickflannery1143]

Great video I believe you'll make it. I feel that between the children and machinery you got what it takes.

[@kennethparent2936]

Thank you! I am trying my hardest and the family keeps me motivated

[@TBJK07Jeep]

Congratulations. I hope the best for you. My kids are my drive. Somewhere along the way, I think I lost partial touch of that. I do make a good living myself in HVAC world, Ive been pondering other ideas to transition to something else. Fortunately I have access to a pretty decent machine shop, so thats a little easier step.

[@kennethparent2936]

There you go. Money isn't everything to me, so doing what I love surrounded by the people I love makes everyday easy even when it's hard.

[@RedboneTool]

Congratulations ! I'm proud of you and your family.

[@kenandrachelparent4740]

Thank you, Ray! :) We’re SO thankful for the part you had in all of this! I hope you are doing well. :)

[@kennethparent2936]

Thanks Ray! You definitely played and continue to play a massive role in this whole thing. I won't ever be able to thank you enough for all you taught me and the help you have given

[@richardoneal1055]

For anyone interested in starting their own shop, ask yourself how many people you've met, know, or worked with that you can contact for work. The investment to get into machining is high, banks won't typically loan you operating capital, and customers generally don't pay net 30, even when it's the terms. Successful shop owners typically have a broad contact base of people that know them from past employers or friendly recommendations from people that do.

[@ratizardiashvili7033]

I jumped in 2016, immigrant with no money but worked 24/7 not just saying 24/7 literally lived in my shop for 1 year, Now I have 2 Omax waterjets, Cnc machines and lots of other sheet metal fabricating machines. We need purpose and reason to chase it.

[@kennethparent2936]

Very nice! Keep up the hard work! People like you pave the way and show the rest of us how it's done.

[@HuskyMachining]

Great story!!! I wish there were more good parents like you out there! I know what you mean by hard to start a small shop too. I left my dayjob to machine full time from my garage 3 years ago and my first 6 months were scary and I thought I would have to start looking for a deskjob again. I have respect for you adopting kids. I have thought about it so many times in my life but I was abused as a kids and I'm just now starting to heal form some of it and idk if I could handle raising a child but damn do I respect you for doing it. kickass shop btw

[@kenandrachelparent4740]

We are so thankful for our kids! I hope you find that healing we all need at some point. You are awesome just for reaching out! :) I have no doubt with your ability to be real, you will be an amazing parent if you choose to have a child or maybe meet one who becomes your own. We wish you every luck and God’s blessing in your life. :)

[@kennethparent2936]

Hey, you can do it. I was abused as a kid and wanted to commit suicide and all those things. But we can be different. We make our own choices. With adopting, my past actually helps reach our kids and have an understanding because they went through similar things. So keep your head. Kids will help you heal.

[@richasay9077]

@@kenandrachelparent4740

[@lvxleather]

Congratulations man, one machine in the garage is how so many successful shops have stared. Looks like you're well on your way 👍

[@thomasross8400]

Keep up the good work! All the best to you and your family

[@kennethparent2936]

Thank you!

[@CleaveMountaineering]

I've been wondering how to have a home business involving my kids as well. Great for the whole family. Great mission too with your kids - keep it up!

[@mxcollin95]

Good for you man for stepping up to help those kids! Wishing your shop all the success in the world! 🤙

[@johnlawler1626]

The very best of luck to you and your family mate. Family is very important and they grow up fast so you need to spend time with them now 👍

[@williamlind2843]

I also use my insert drills to bore. But go crazy with them!! I use depths of cuts 80% of the upper insert's width and push the feed!

[@Adamchevy]

Just starting up my own shop with an NLX 2500sy. Thank for the great video!

[@julias-shed]

Great reason to work for your family. Hope you have every success 😀

[@kennethparent2936]

Thank you! Family is what keeps us going

[@rhokdatroll]

Great video, very inspirational

[@kennethparent2936]

Thanks! Get out there and do it yourself!

[@nategoodwin3329]

This was a fantastic video. Very encouraging.

[@leafyseamonster]

love your story and your message, Ken!

[@markhorner4982]

nice one keep going

[@kennethparent2936]

Thanks!

[@ColchesterBridgeport]

Well done son.

[@kennethparent2936]

Thank you very much!

[@johnwargo8990]

Did you happen to be working for Smith Titanium? Grew up watching Stevie tear up Pennsylvania dirt tracks. Good luck.

[@JahRasta01]

Your pup is the first employee

[@kennethparent2936]

Yes! And a good one at that

[@kenandrachelparent4740]

He’s the best! Haha!

[@xavierpierce2598]

I want to do this but I really don’t know where to start

[@Droobie420]

How did you break the news to the Mrs?

[@nickking8317]

I own my own gear no loans got 4 machines all manual mill lathe turret lathe and a valve grinder you’ll get there. The tooling and the machinery will come

[@hastacker8912]

How does one get a hold of you i have a job that needs to be done please reach out to me

[@frankward709]

Congratulations American machine can't get any better than that Love the kids I voluntary teach lego robotics I love it

[@mrechbreger]

That guy is a man! But for the entrepreneur part I don't see much product development at least in that video. I'm just doing machining for getting prototypes done for myself so I can wire them up with electronics and software.

[@kennethparent2936]

I don't have any of my own products, just making parts for others. Hopefully one day! Sometimes I do work that is prototyping.

[@5axmachine167]

@@kennethparent2936 Great video Ken. We have been making parts for others for 52 years. Never had a single product of our own either....

[@jasko346]

How has business been for you since you made this video?

[@ryannoppe247]

Wish I could work with Peter Stanton every day.

[@CAMER_21]

Please make video on 5th axis set up and taking offset.... Please

[@rushyahr7423]

Wow... does this guy have a youtube channel? He is cool.

[@simonkolo4368]

Machining business sucks. As a small shop all you will get is the cheapest work. I’m running my shop for 8 years now and I go through many difficult situations. If I could go back I time I would stay in construction.

[@vileCR999]

Yeah. I'm working for a small shop and it's honestly garbage.

[@bosskeystore8694]

Based on your name I hope you can parent.

[@beachboardfan9544]

Linkdin is a joke