Starting Your Own Machine Shop - the Rewards and Challenges

On a visit to Dan’s Custom Machining in Williamsburg, Ohio, Peter Zelinski of Modern Machine Shop spoke with the shop’s owner and president, Dan Donaworth. They talk about his decision to go full-time as a shop owner, the rewards of running an independent shop and the area of challenge it presents, his advice for prospective shop owners, and whether buying machine tools is fun.
Read more about Dan and his shop is this article: www.mmsonline....
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[@ant2knee120]

Sept 25, 2023 Thank you Dan for sharing I'm also planning to start my dream shop, I'm 28 years old and been in this industry for almost 9 years. i have experience in Industrial, Semi-Precision and toolings and in Machine Designing. This week I've decided to quit my Job as a all around machinist, CAD Drafter and Designer and as Sales Coordinator and start focusing on building my own machine shop together with my partner in life who supports me in everything. i love you always Rinoa Jill. Wish me luck and God Bless you all. I'll be back in this comment section, whether i failed or i succeed.

[@franklindguccibelt6209]

Any updates?

[@boonefreeman5384]

im 29, i have a Haas VF2 in my garage....working a day job still..... hope to be full time for myself soon..... the struggle is real! its not easy.

[@landonray5084]

Congrats! Keep it pushing man good luck to you

[@ASAP_Kenny]

Go hard at it man, you can do it

[@gojoe36]

Plenty of people building...separate from the crowd..... SOLVE a problem...that is what makes you money. I see WAY too many part from CNC machines and yet way to little behind the engineering of a product

[@kevinyoung8609]

10 months later how’s it going? I’m taking machining at a trade school and plan on opening my own shop some day.

[@RHCPFAN-yk6sw]

How’s it going now after a year @Boone Freeman? I aspire to start a small production machine shop with a couple people. My plan is similar. Buy a machine and keep my day job for now, but to slowly work on establishing a network.

[@larsmetersen5172]

I am also 28 years old and planing to start my own CNC bussines.I am really inspired with this video.Keep up the good work.

[@artmckay6704]

Machining, giving life to creativity one project, and/or customer, at a time. :)

[@jamalwilliams1792]

I'm 22 and dream about owning a machine shop one day.

[@nasaeagle]

Same bro

[@Kenny.BPI_inc]

It's possible, just keep moving.

[@benitocamelos755]

You said it "JUST GO FOR IT! " so here I go too !

[@par4par72]

an, just like you said "it's a very small community" ...make your friends, and try not to beat up other shops regardless of your experience with them because you never no there connections or position.

[@therealestatemachineshow1797]

Loving hearing the stories. Running shop is tough! The Real Estate Machine Show

[@THECARDGODS]

Good luck brother!! My fiancé and I are in the beginning of getting our first machine!!!

[@bigredone1030]

How does one make contacts and clientele as a start up shop?

[@fryer05maverick31]

I did the plunge 16 years. Best decision I made. Why work 50 hours a week making someone else money. Just to be let go because you have acquired to much vacation time because of years of service.

[@komoru]

Good interview, but too short. Would have liked more depth. Would have liked to hear the interviewer ask HOW the guy started. How did he get funding. How did he go from say a basic mill and lathe to what he has today?

[@modernmachineshop]

Glad you asked! More detail on how he got started and where his funding came from in this article: www.mmsonline.com/articles/5-hard-lessons-from-a-28-year-old-startup-machine-shop-owner

[@jorgevelasco5283]

Muchas gracias por esta entrevista. Thank you

[@Americanmade1997]

I want my own machine shop. Tired of working for other people. But I have no idea where to start

[@johnmonteiro2102]

keep it you bro, from Mair Mac Machine inc.

[@ab5olut3zero95]

Any advice for a nearly 40 year old with no knowledge or experience who wants to get into machining for a profession? Spent 15 years as a military spouse workin whatever I could get at the next duty station. I’m tired of bein broke. Tired of workin retail. I wanna build somethin that will last for my family.

[@mannycalavera121]

Wish i had gone out on my own in my 20s, a lot herder now in my mid 30's with 2 kids

[@cjxtheninja8]

why didn't he orient the spindle before lining up the drive lugs lmao

[@cjxtheninja8]

oh wait because he is the boss and he can do whatever the f**k he wants 😂

[@scottbz924]

Just mark the lug. So you don't have to.

[@correyy]

Ehhh we could have done without the music in the background

[@brnfrmjts05]

Sorry, but I just can't help it... "Pizza Linski"... 🤣

[@jamesbailey9838]

PETE....HOLD ON JUST ONE MINUTE! I am not buying this story for one second. Allow me to list the things that are totally unbelievable. -Dan is in his 20's and has somehow gained the knowledge to do one offs. - Not an ISO shop I assume? How does he get work? Especially in aerospace? Overhaul and repair? - Did this guy win the lottery to buy or rent the bldg and machines? - Who buys a Mazatroll lathe and a Hurco (proto trak) mill? They program very differently. I find it very hard to believe this guy would have bought two different controllers like that. - Developed a customer base in his 20's? But of course! - I think Dan has a few people in his corner we are not hearing about. Good for him! - How is it leagle to be working alone? - Did anyone see as much as a dial caliper in the shop? Why not show insp.? Come to think of it did anyone see a part at all? Stock? Stock rack? Cut off saw? I did see chip bins. -Dan kept saying we. -Pete I'm not buying this story at all buddy. But hay.... at least Pete had his safety glasses on the whole time.

[@modernmachineshop]

Hi James! Pete wrote about Dan’s Custom Machining in more detail in an article in Modern Machine Shop. Dan’s background and experience, how he gets work, and how he bought the CNC machines are all addressed in this piece. There’s even a mention of his investment in gaging. (No direct mention of dial calipers, though.) Hope you enjoy: www.mmsonline.com/articles/5-hard-lessons-from-a-28-year-old-startup-machine-shop-owner

[@fryer05maverick31]

Started my shop by myself with a good amount of cash I saved and a SBA loan to back me up. Leased a 70K mill and put it in a 15K sq foot building I rented. I worked 1-1/2 years by myself. As for doing aero space work . You don't have to be ISO. You do it third party and the person you get the work from is ISO. His Hurco mill might be new, but everything he has else in the shop is used. Even that Mazak lathe. So now 16 years in business with 6 cnc's and 3 employees. As for doing one offs: No big deal to do. It's doing the correct parts toward your ability is the way to go.

[@michaelluchesi6296]

Shave the beard before you get it caught in a machine, lol. Being a small job shop is a challenge but it looks like it works for him.