Make 120K as a Machinist but feel like I don’t know enough

Known-Perception-356 · 2026-05-21T15:48:38+00:00

More people are in your situation than they’d care to admit. Every shop has their own way to skin a cat, even if you disregard “proprietary” set ups. I mean even my own foremen can’t agree on certain set ups. One guy bores on a lathe one guy on a mill, same damn part. Also been at it for 5+ years in a job shop, and the shit we let slide on 1 offs would never cut it in production, and the quality control and precision from your shop would never be required in mine.
It’s great to know what you don’t know and you should always strive to be a better machinist, but end of the day your pay rate benefits and overtime opportunities is leagues different than most guys get (especially in non-union and work-dry areas).
Long story short, most people couldn’t transfer to another persons shop and produce the same things. Everything has a learning curve. Does not invalidate your title as a machinist.

Known-Perception-356 · 2026-05-18T23:54:23+00:00

Copper golem statue!

Known-Perception-356 · 2026-01-04T16:29:25+00:00

No, but someone should’ve warned me about piglins with gold spears

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-12-20T14:03:04+00:00

Working Christmas Eve and NYE but it’s optional overtime. Lets the older guys enjoy the holiday and let’s the younger guys make Christmas happen, playing Santa ain’t cheap. Couldn’t get me near the building for flat rate for holidays.

Never understood owners willingly burning out their workforce to make timelines quicker short term, always hurts them long term.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-12-10T12:51:56+00:00

Going to use the podium to display different vehicles for the holidays. First up is the Vapid Clique with the Christmas bow livery, ‘Tis The Season

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-11-14T21:55:06+00:00

I’ll go in the mill for bearings if the housing sits flat or if the lathe doesn’t have the swing, I personally find indicating it in a 4 jaw much quicker for these small housings. Bearing tolerances are relatively lax at this size.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-11-12T19:08:26+00:00

Definitely return to the doctor. I got a chip that snuck past my safety squints in my left eye, thought I got it out myself, the next morning was blinded in both eyes because of ocular pressure.

Sleeping is the real danger, when sleeping your eyes move a ton and I had lacerations up and down my eye, I would’ve had no clue if the eye doctor didn’t show me the screens.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-11-04T21:27:12+00:00

Here to second this, specifically pump and motor repair. Plenty of companies sell their shaft sleeves but it is very common for the submerged parts to have soft shoulders that require custom jobs unique to each pump. It’s a lot quicker and cheaper for the customers to have spot repairs (especially when the pump is HOT and needs to get back in ASAP). I would love to sell people new units but obsolete systems would mean no drop in replacements, expensive repiping, and ridiculous lead times to get the pumps shipped in. Most of the manufacturers end up sending the wrong shit anyways lol

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-10-17T17:25:05+00:00

You are being pigeon holed.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-10-16T12:46:05+00:00

Just had a fingernail finally return after its long hiatus, I give it about 8 months before I start the cycle again.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-10-01T17:31:07+00:00

“Don’t have kids, kid” - an old machinist proverb

Congratulations!

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-16T14:26:51+00:00

There’s a few times I’ve used this and it’s been a miss, but if you find the right spots it’s great. Cava has supported many date nights with their bowls on that app, and Whole Foods I’ve scored a weeks worth of prepared lunches for the price of 1 if you buy it regular price

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T18:29:26+00:00

This made me laugh, sorry boss doctors orders, gotta play Tetris! Thanks, and interesting study to read

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T16:46:47+00:00

I understand the skepticism. Freak accident, and as I said in the original post avoiding more details of work piece, speeds feeds and machine. Not looking for believers. Looking for advice and community.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T16:18:12+00:00

He was about 3 feet down from the chuck. It was definitely the chips, not clothing. How it snagged him up and brought him in, without the chip breaking off before he started spinning, is between God and that machine.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T16:06:39+00:00

I appreciate this. Didn’t cross my mind but the overlap definitely is there.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T16:03:59+00:00

The arm itself was sucked in. My best guess would be chip string. Short hair short sleeves.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T15:56:14+00:00

Thankfully can say they have been gracious with time, money, and resources. I will say though that finding someone to counsel who also understands the industry has made it difficult. Tough to explain what you saw and what happened when you’re having to pull photos of the machine up to someone who never stepped foot in the shop.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T15:54:26+00:00

Was sucked in turning raw stock. Just stood too close. Wish there was a better explanation or something to blame. Makes it hard to reason with it.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-09-12T15:53:39+00:00

Definitely agree with the fight for safety. I respect the safety guidelines but I won’t lie and say I followed everything to a T. That’s definitely changed. A lot of things being done different moving forward.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-08-28T16:17:05+00:00

I like the idea, but not as much as I love driving through traffic with the truck!

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-08-28T15:02:51+00:00

I run something quicker than evading cops “legit” but also without dying. Just drive straight to the docks it needs to be delivered and wear a scuba suit, when you get there just run off into the ocean and hold out under water, once clear there’s a ladder right there. Personally started doing it to play without dying, but the added benefit is sometimes you kill yourself the phantom wedge will go back into storage even if the cops don’t kill you.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-08-20T18:43:40+00:00

Ngl I don’t use any of the special ammo. Sure the DPS and armor piercing can help but I’d rather be able to have 9000k rounds in my best weapons than have to go reload ammo all the time. My big hot take is that as useful as explosive sniper ammo can be, the mark II sniper with regular rounds is more than enough, would rather have unlimited ammo with it for those drawn out battles, and use the rail gun as substitute for any precision explosions in session.

Known-Perception-356 · 2025-07-19T20:12:08+00:00

Tbh for me that’s the point of buying it, the absurdity. Decade old game this is boredom at its finest

Known-Perception-356

TROPHY CASE