My Viewers Asked Me Great Questions, And I Answer Them Here - Topper Machine LLC - Machine Shop

[@sickie1961]

It's nice to see an honest, legitimate guy discussing both the good and bad. I wish you the best of luck, and more success 💯

[@warrenjones744]

I worked as a automotive machinists for several years. We never needed a lathe for any reason. And I do not blame you for letting the automotive shop do that work.

[@michaelcothran4064]

Josh I really appreciate your work & viewpoints, I apprenticed under my Grandfather & have been in this trade 54yrs now, still working becuz I have also grown to love what I do, my life has been a blessing from God, Thank You for your art, keep on makin chips!!!

[@ianpendlebury9503]

Frank and fascinating in equal measure. I admire your loyalty to the region, in spite of its sad decline. Thanks Josh.

[@ericmcrae7758]

I just sat through 55 mins of open honest answers which tells me the sort of person you are I would love to visit but I live in the UK. Thanks for having us along.

[@harkinjames]

Interesting and very honest video, thanks for sharing

[@Dogfather66227]

Thanks for posting this insightful and interesting Q&A. Your responses regarding the regrets and “would you do it again” questions may scare off a few budding machinists but I believe that your honesty is invaluable. Probably everyone has a regret or two with career their choices and it seems a shame that we tend to learn more from negative experiences. If there’s one thing that a person could take from this video it is the necessity of saving aggressively for retirement. Zero debt and a solid wealth-building plan while in your forties is something to aspire to. Well done.

[@MrMojolinux]

Wonderful Q&A from a very honest, experienced and knowledgeable self employed machinist. Keep up the videos Josh, your one of the You-tubes I look forward to on a Saturday morning !

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks.

[@argee55]

Thanks for sharing with us.

[@VetvsWorld]

Once again, I’m not a machinist, but i find you, genuine and interesting sir. Keep up the great honest work. ✊🏻

[@jed1947]

If you lived in Texas, you would be the prototypic "good ole boy"! I'm an old time amateur, and I love seeing your manual skills!

[@dieterhinders9237]

Hello Josh, that's a great video. I think it's important that you share your knowledge with young people. Without men like you they won't have the possibility to become a machinist like you. best regards from Germany Dieter

[@bobdobson]

Really enjoyed this episode, it brought home the ups and downs of running a functional shop as opposed to a hobbyist KZbin channel. I was amused by the adamant statement that you never do automotive jobs, but directly above your head is a Ford Authorised Service sign 😉

[@tced2858]

I spent 27 days in Solon Springs grouse hunting in 2013 , would love to get back there and maybe do some fly fishing, shopped in that Walmart, and that wonderful bakery shop on Main St, I know why you love it there.....

[@gofastwclass]

Great Q and A Josh. I like your work ethic. I find it comical when people ask about CNC when talking to a guy in a job shop. CNC excels at production while job shops like yours are (mostly) one off, limited runs, and repairs. I build classic car stuff as a hobby and occasionally use a plasma cutter to make parts. One of my former coworkers couldn't understand why I didn't buy a CNC plasma table for what I do. For him it was a no brainer to have it cut parts while I did something else. The reality is the floor space, investment cost and time programming weren't worth the handful of brackets it might make per month.

[@randymusselman4504]

Hello Josh, I recall in one of your early Q&A type videos in your experience with a manual only machine shop was “going big”, pursuing larger work, which would need supported with larger machines. Do you continue to see that proving true and lucrative for you in your business strategy?

[@timodeporto686]

Thank you for answering my Q. It is nice to see a self made man who is just a bit older than me (4 years), doing the manual work. I am an electrical engineer by the books, but rolled into pro. Kitchen stuff like dishwashers and ovens and such, and doing the refrigiration in there to, but i greatest joy was potato sheds on the farms, wich are cooled, or the dairy farm milk tanks. Did it for 15 years but due to health issues i can only dream from being buisy with technical stuff! Keep having fun and share it with us!

[@donteeple6124]

Morning Josh, Absolute excellent responses to all those questions. Was great in the way you were letting ppl know that job pricing is NOT a given and needs to be flexible to fit the job, the time involved and a slew of other variable criteria. A solid 10 thumbs up on this one. The other great point was abt surface finish; if it looks good and professional when its done, the customer knows and appreciates it even more. Keep up the great work ! Don

[@marshalllarson8970]

I would love a Monarch lathe. It would be my only lathe. I worked in machine shops many years ago and enjoyed the work. I will be 81 next month and treat machining as therapy. I bought a lathe several years ago but during a stressful time, I made some bad decisions and sold it. I now want to regain the capabilities of having one. Please give me a shot at your Monarch when you are ready to sell. Thanks for your videos.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Send me an email. KZbin at toppermachine dot com

[@alanm3438]

Thanks for the interesting video. I am so sorry that things went sour with the railroad. I worked in a small steel fab shop for 23 years. I am not very skilled and I asked them why they kept me. The plant manager said it was because I kept showing up, good attendance. I looked at the steel scraps and wondered what I could make with it. I started making metal art. I made a lot of art but since 2020 not a thing. I am so honored to have met you in person. You do things that I can only dream of doing. I love watching people with skills doing what they do best. The best thing that I like about you is that you are willing to help the next generation learn. I love your sawmill and I still have hopes of seeing your steam engine run again. I love your videos and I know it takes a lot of work to make them. My health is not good and I can not make my art any more so I have to live the dream by watching you. Thanks for the great videos. You deserve the "Oscar" that I sent you and many more!!!!👍👍👍

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Things didn't go sour with the railroad, just the FRA. The feds have caused the decline of the railroads. And don't get me started on railfans.

[@alanm3438]

@@TopperMachineLLC I am sorry that I did not make my statement properly. I did not mean to offend you.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@alanm3438 no offense taken. I just thought you misunderstood the real problem.

[@mech-a-redneck9745]

Do you have any plans for a medium length video on what measuring tools are needed for basic setup on the lathe and the mill.

[@robertskelton2576]

Cold keeps the riff raff out. Yea it's hard to set up a homeless camp at 20 below.

[@alanmitchell7322]

Very interesting on all the questions and well exsplaned. Hoping you good luck for the future.

[@billdoodson4232]

"I have no debt." An excellent position to be in, totally takes the stress out of life. And keeping the riff raff out seems to be a good idea.

[@PSG159er]

Love this channel, but my Chinese mini lathe is going to teach me and I'll upgrade when I finatually can thank you! PLEASE KEEP MAKING VIDEOS JOSH. I think myself and others would like to see more welding videos if you can fit them in sir?

[@MurlWatne-io2bo]

I hope these customers are paying you good for what you do.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yes,very good.

[@teaches2010]

Love your work. It's definitely a dying trade

[@sharkrivermachine]

Thank you for sharing. I had a large automotive machine shop with 5 full time employees plus me and my father. People were not willing to pay what the job was worth. I cringe every time I see a general machine shop trying to do an automotive job that they are not equipped to do.

[@dave.shakawe]

Good decision regarding Conner and privacy.

[@jerrymoore7669]

Dollar generals are all over here in oklahoma as well. The city of broken arrow has 5 or 6. Every where I travel you will find them. Some out in the middle of nowhere, some in the middle of town with a Walmart just down the street.

[@randydobson1863]

Hi Josh & it's is Randy and i like yours video is Cool & Thanks Josh & Friends Randy

[@brucehitchcock3785]

Please thank Connor for his future service. My youngest son is a career soldier, who did spend about 2 years in Army intelligence. Also, he has a son named Connor.

[@ElmerJFudd-oi9kj]

Thank you, have it good.

[@workingovertime4429]

With no tooling supplier’s near you must have to keep a nice supply of tooling and tips on hand. As for me suppliers are about an hour in either direction but tooling rep’s do drop in from time to time. I will have to try the atf oil on my mill and see how it goes thanks for another good video

[@richardsweet7452]

You recently had questions about what skills would be useful to a machinist. There is one skill that you didn't mention and it has been very useful to me over the years is being somewhat proficient in AutoCad or an AutoCad like program. Good answers to the questions.

[@davidhofman4341]

I have a JOHNSON like ours. I is a 1961 according to the current manufacturer. If you call them with the serial number the will tell you the year and send you the manual for your machine. I did a 0.06 cut off most of the bed. The saw pivot worn so I line bored it and installed bushings. MY $100 saw looks and works great.

[@jimc4731]

Dollar General is Walmart’s biggest competitor 🎉 Very interesting video here, from a guy of similar experience. I never worked for anyone but myself, over 60 years! Now in my middle 80s and no regrets. 🇺🇸

[@StreuB1]

41:30 This is called *Lost Opportunity Cost* and is something that lots of people don't get or don't understand. Blows my mind all the time.

[@xavermaier9625]

Oh, didn't know you got bees!!! Really cool hobby! Also a bitter-sweet reality, if that you get more work, because other businesses are closing down and you get their work...

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I am the last real shop left. It has helped drastically.

[@xavermaier9625]

@@TopperMachineLLC Oh, and another completely unrelated question: Do you like pantograph milling machines? Not to really do a ton of work with it, but just to have it?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I don't have one, but they are cool. No real need for one either.

[@mikep1085]

Hey Josh, great video! You have mentioned a Step-son before...(your boat is always hooked to his truck..lol), does he have any interest in the machine shop?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

No, no interest at all. He thinks it's stupid actually. 😢

[@ssboot5663]

All jobs suck at some point. Sounds like your hard work is paying off. (emphasis on hard) I appreciate people that can and do make stuff! Machine shops don't survive in (C ND.) NO work for them. Yep! Here too! Dollar general pushes into places that don't seem like they could ever sustain themselves (lack of population to sell stuff to.) >Oh... my farm shop and hobby lathe is a South Bend13 x?42? .(yea, I hear they are junk! HA! lol) Thanks for the videos because I'm a self-taught hobby machine operator and can use some tips and watch a lot of videos. Currently acquiring an abused fixer upper Bridgeport with a lot of rust to clean up and repairs needed. So more self-taught learning coming for me!

[@tomessary4099]

Fabuous time spent with a friend!!!!

[@ypaulbrown]

thank you Josh.....Paul in Florida

[@jrmintz1]

Fascinating stuff, as always.

[@cimfur]

Oh sh*t Josh! When did you hit 104k subscribers. I subscribed when you were about 9k. Good sh*t!

[@markshutt6000]

Thank you for doing the Q&A videos every so often! This part spinner, spray welder, and heat treat-er appreciates it. Congrats on 100k subscribers by the way! P.s. what brand of boots do you prefer?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks. I have a pair of Brunt right now that I am very happy with.

[@callmemongo]

An eccentric cam should give you the best performance one-piece design. Size range of 20% - 120% of dog grid size for min-max cam lobe profile.

[@johnbaskett2309]

"Winter keeps a lot of the riffraff out of here". I hear ya brother. I live in bush Alaska where temps hit 60 below. *ssholes winterkill.

[@bcbloc02]

I get people ask me all the time about boring v8 blocks and I am like sure I can do it but its going to be about twice what the auto shops do for that job. Sometimes they still will pay it no problem because the smart customers will pay a premium for good work and not complain. The guys shopping for a deal I send on down the road.

[@stephenmeeks684]

I know you said you don’t do automotive parts, but yet you display a Ford Service sign behind you. I hope you stay in business, I enjoy being your fan.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

In my younger days I worked on vehicles. No more. I'm not going out of business. I've structured myself to never be able to fail. Zero debt is the key to success

[@BrucePierson]

@@TopperMachineLLC Zero debt is also the key to life. We are retired and we own our house outright. What we have, we've built over the years, similar to what you've done, but without the business.

[@Blazefork]

I just purchased a really nice Cincinnati Cintiversal mill and wanted your opinion on a decent 4 axis dro.... don't want to break the bank, thank you

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Machine DRO.in the UK. Part of the Allendale Group. That is the only DRO I will recommend, I own 5 currently.

[@Blazefork]

@@TopperMachineLLC thank you for the quick reply, I appreciate your channel and your skill set!

[@jimwhite7607]

I worked for myself for almost 30 years I manufactured safety equipment for race car drivers when I messed up it was someone life on the line not saying I didn’t messed up a few times but nothing every left the shop that I know was a mistake, I know how you feel the same way with your products

[@bobmazzi7435]

You commented on mini mills and lathes. I agree, for the type of work you do not the right tool for the job. For a hobbyist making a tiny steam engine, they would be great. But, they don't have the capacity to remove more than a bit of metal at a time. There ARE good high precision small machines. But, they still don't remove lots of metal. If you are doing small high precision work then a small machine makes sense. But, that's not Josh's niche.

[@stephenmeeks684]

You got it done right.

[@orangetruckman]

If I was closer, I’d so ask about buying the Bridgeport from ya. Keep up the good work sir 😎

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It's already spoken for.

[@orangetruckman]

@@TopperMachineLLC Dashing my hopes and dreams 😜 Glad you got helpful viewers. Machine on sir.

[@ypaulbrown]

thoroughly enjoyed.......

[@donlipsky2696]

I spent my entire career on the railroad, now retired. I was a locomotive engineer, great job, lots of responsibility. It was a tough life for my family and I. As an over-the-road engineer I was on 24 call all the time. Never knowing when you'd be home, never able to plan anything, sleep (if possible) at all times of the day and night. Never know if you'd return home in 24 hour or 48 hours from your round trip. The longer you were gone, the shorter your time at home was. Missing birthdays, holidays (no time and a half), children sports events. And divorce was common. Be glad for what you have. There were also other good jobs on the railroad that had 8 hour shifts, I just never knew one or had the seniority to hold one.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I've spent 26 years working with short lines and museums. I love the work. Mostly mechanical and electrical. I have a lot of throttle time also. Most Mondays through summer I run tie inserter for one operation. It's fun,but the FRA has ruined it the last several years.

[@meddlehedd1194]

@@TopperMachineLLC what does FRA stand for?

[@markat9576]

@@meddlehedd1194 Federal Railroad Administration or could be Federal Railroad A**holes. It depends which side of the table you’re sitting on.

[@llearch]

"What are my biggest regrets" From the look on your face, I was waiting for "answering this question" ;-]

[@adhawk5632]

For the algorithm 👍👌🇦🇺

[@fricknjeep]

hi there .interesting show , best to all john

[@courtneykachur9487]

We used to love huber bock. Which i think was made up near you.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I have heard of it.

[@dannyjacobsen1677]

Great video

[@joselrodriguez5999]

If you ever change your mind you are very welcomed in Texas.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Thanks! But too hot for me!

[@phlodel]

I used to work for a machine shop. The owner's friends would bring automotive jobs in to be done as a favor. Automotive machine tools are designed to do the specific work. Brake lathes, and head milling machines are built to do their specialized work. It would have been cheaper for the boss to pay an automotive shop to do the job than have one of his machinists` set up for it.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Exactly! Way more specialized equipment and different skillset.

[@meddlehedd1194]

What is it that you don't like about South Bend lathes.....are the cuts too light because of the belt drive or is there something else?

[@minigpracing3068]

Regarding the mini mill since I have one, if you modify it enough, and work within it's capability, you can make really nice stuff. But this is NOT the appropriate machine for a job shop. The only exception might be something like a small high precision machine that's designed to make small precision parts. Think about spinning a 1/32 end mill, if you are working on that scale, then maybe a small high speed machine is what you need. Also if room is a problem, then you are kind of stuck with benchtop machines, which is where I am. Great big Bridgeport size machies would be fantastic, but I can't power them or fit them in my home. So I'm stuck with small tools to make mostly small parts, and these parts are pretty much just for my use, again, not a job shop.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Great points. Thank you

[@KALGSO]

If you had one foot that was 16” bigger than the other would you get surgery to make it 16” smaller?

[@thecanadiantradesman7916]

I enjoy your content alot Josh. I have been working towards doing the exact same thing in my small town. Do you find KZbin helps your business with increased work or KZbin based revenue? Or is it just a way to share your passion and if it generates a profit where do you focus the funds from it, as in do you keep the money (if any?) separate from the main business or add it to your revenue

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It has generated some work. I get some ad revenue from the videos. Overall YT has helped with getting my name out there. Free advertising

[@rjm7168]

We like shiny things 🙂

[@howardtoob]

If you sell the Monarch please let me know. Thanks

[@ostie01]

You can't beat Canadians bees😂

[@le3045acp]

it would be great if conner goes in the military and becomes a machinist my cousin worked in a connex on a bridgeport and lathe making helicopter parts they couldnt get quick enough in iraq

[@dyoung3536]

Curious if you've ever had a job that you didn't want from a business perspective (cost, time, risk, etc.) but took on anyway just because there was something about it that interested you...like interesting part or super challenging in an interesting way, etc.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

There have been. And worked out great.

[@alan-sk7ky]

13:43 well Josh, time to contact Area Diesel eh! 😉

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Pull the pump and send to eau Claire diesel. That's what I keep telling him.

[@candyjanusch3716]

OMG!!!!

[@Steve2024-y6h]

Forty two isn’t too Late to change. I was an electrician, tried my own business but undercut by rogues and left waiting for payment from businesses made it too difficult to carry on. Went off on a tangent, read chemistry at uni and spent the next twenty years doing something I love. As a chemist I got far more respect from everyone too. Being a craftsman is highly skilled but looked down as dirty grease monkey work..

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I'm not starting over. Besides, railroading is a young man's game. I'm actually too old to start at the bottom.

[@SerenityMae11]

Yes, starting over is scary. But nothing in life worth having comes easy.

[@meddlehedd1194]

@@TopperMachineLLC I agree. The hard work is done. Enjoy it and coast now. Coast is a relative term but I'm sure you know what I mean. Besides, you're not even that old. I took machine shop in HS with a guy ....he built his own job shop from the ground up....he's pushing 60 and still at it....2nd gen coming for him tho. He has o employees to work for except his kids.

[@stephenmeeks684]

Do you do weld shop videos?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Look at my older videos. Lots of stuff there

[@StuartsShed]

I completely missed the posts around a Q and A session. Oh well - not to worry, this was a great video with some thought provoking questions and responses.

[@curtisharlan9230]

What area are you in

[@stephenmeeks684]

Looks like your apprentice needs to sweep the floor.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

He needs to show up first.

[@tonyrifkin5849]

I get automotive quotes all the time and turn them away. There response is " I thought you were a machinist" . Then have to explain the differences between the 2 are

[@TopperMachineLLC]

It's frustrating. The ones I hate are the morons who think you need an expensive CNC to do a simple part.

[@terry42481]

When are you going to jump into CNC world. Hard to compete with them.

[@davidcat1455]

I have a small manual machine shop and I find it very easy to compete with the CNC guys. They’re only interested in large production runs. If somebody wants a one off part then I’m a damn site cheaper than somebody with a CNC. I charge $100 per hour plus consumables all day long. I could do it seven days a week if I wanted to. I have ZERO interest in computers, so I maybe somewhat prejudiced 😃👍

[@TopperMachineLLC]

This is exactly 100% right. I do a lot of second op stuff for CNC shops. I have great working relationships with some big CNC shops. There is no need to get into it when they are all starving and bid so low. I'm not interested in the race to the bottom.

[@davidcat1455]

@@TopperMachineLLC 🇦🇺🇺🇸😃👍

[@donteeple6124]

@@TopperMachineLLC Amen !!!!!!

[@BrucePierson]

That was quite interesting. It's unfortunate that it looks like you won't get back to the sawmill this year, but the good thing about that is that you have a lot of work coming in to keep the business running. I've watched all of your videos for the last two years plus, after finding your channel and I few odd videos before that.

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I definitely want to saw this year, but if not, oh well. As long as I live til next sawing season.

[@ColinLennard]

What is a tie inserter?

[@jimc4731]

It’s a machine for replacing railroad track ties 🎉 Lifts the rails slightly and pulls the old tie out to the side A crew member picks up the old and replaces it with a new one You go back with the machine and slide the new tie in, vibrate it into position. Add tie plates and spikes , add some ballast and vibrate the track bed 🎉

[@ColinLennard]

@@jimc4731 Thanks for explaining.

[@ThisMFINGuy]

why did the chicken cross the road

[@ApukEldar]

👍👍

[@dyoung3536]

You talk about being in a depressed area with little work, yet you have customers all over the US. From a customer perspective, what would make someone in a different region ship to a shop like yours vs a shop local to them? Obviously freight on large jobs is part of it. Your slotter seems like a less common capability. But aside from that, what are other reasons? Does it all come down to trust the guys your sending work will get it done right the first time for fair money?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Very little of my work comes from within 30-45 minutes away. Doing quality work and short lead times are what keeps them coming back.

[@dc5723]

How's your apiary?

[@TM15R]

Do you want a good job or a cheap job, you can't have both............

[@brownh2orat211]

Smart move keep the kids face off the Internet, I spent most of my adult life in the military, I'm very careful about keeping my face and name off the internet.

[@lapoint7603]

Even though your area is economically depressed, it's much better than living in an urban area that has a better economy. Too much riff-raff and too many leaches. Do not allow a meat processing plant to start up in your area, regardless of what they promise to do to improve the local economy. It won't be worth it. I know first hand.

[@candyjanusch3716]

holy crap im the first one to see a video finally

[@adhawk5632]

Congratulations 👍👌🇦🇺

[@seabreezecoffeeroasters7994]

The longer you work for yourself the harder it would be to go back to 'idiots' giving you direction. If only you could get rid of those pesky customers being self employed would be Heaven in a world where money wasn't needed. 🤣

[@kennethstaszak9990]

Re. the complainer - But it's such a small job! If it's such a small, simple job why aren't you doing it yourself?

[@TopperMachineLLC]

I told him to go buy a cheap drill and do it himself right away. He said I should still do it.

[@darenscott1718]

F KWIK TRIP!

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Yes, 100%. Hate them.

[@pablo-fogonazo]

Dejen de intervenir, ilegalmente, en los asuntos internos de los paises

[@Dan-TheOracle]

you make really good 5 or10 min vids....its a pity you drag them out for an hour.....

[@TopperMachineLLC]

Don't like it, don't watch.

[@Dan-TheOracle]

@@TopperMachineLLC lol its almost like im an oracle... what perfect timing... yea.. unsubbed..

[@TopperMachineLLC]

@@Dan-TheOracle good bye.

[@RickSchauer]

See ya Dan

[@wald-meister6705]

We want machining, not blabla. 🔨🛠️

[@TopperMachineLLC]

You don't have to watch every video. People asked questions, they need to be addressed.

[@donteeple6124]

This is part of machining.....understand that this business isnt just abt making chips.

[@johnbaskett2309]

This is one of few videos I didn't skip through to watch the good parts. Watching chips fly gets a bit boring.

[@neilward9932]

You obviously dont read, the video topic is "Questions and Answers", simple !

[@SerenityMae11]

"All in one take".... camera cuts 😂