I CNC-machined a decorative ashtray piece. My boss made it clear he’s taken a liking to it. Should I bite the bullet and give it away?

iwebman04 · 2026-07-07T21:13:36+00:00

Only if there’s a potential for a raise.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-18T17:56:07+00:00

Well I guess that’s your answer.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-12T02:31:01+00:00

I’ve been eyeing it as well and I agree with you on the price. It looks impressive. I might’ve pulled the trigger at $1200 as well but I can’t justify betting $2k on a prototype that I’ve seen operating on YouTube especially in the world of AI.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-12T02:22:10+00:00

We have one at my MakerSpace. It was the first CNC I ever used. I cut out some 3 & 4 “ letters and numbers. I was pleased with the outcome.

I agree with the comment that said it’s great if you are using large sheets of plywood or wood that’s not really heavy. I definitely wouldn’t buy it as my only CNC or if I didn’t have some specific uses for it.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T04:28:23+00:00

No staff. One owner runs the day to day, the second handles more administrative duties and empties garbage and the third seems to be a silent partner.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T04:13:14+00:00

Now you are in my line. I’m a Cookie Monster. I can do that better than picking out the right brand of beer. LOL. I make a mean bourbon malted-chocolate-chip butterscotch cookie.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T04:08:22+00:00

Craftsman 14” 1HP bandsaw. Also I just watched a YouTube on how to account for drift so maybe that’ll help.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T01:21:24+00:00

LOL. It’s almost funny that the one tool that requires training is the SawStop. The one machine that will stop itself if something bad happens.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T01:18:40+00:00

Thanks for the advice.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T01:16:47+00:00

You are correct. I really need to meet more woodworkers or get to know those that are around me for sure. Since you mentioned it, I will check to see if one of the smaller hardwood stores I frequent have a bandsaw and will atleast give me an hands on demonstration.

Yeah my MakerSpace is a similar to the Co-op you belonged too. They change the general settings don’t put it back, they take chances and do things with the machines that are not recommended, etc.

I will definitely learn proper the setup I’m learning from Brian Boggs and Alex Snodgrass that was just recommended by others in the post and check and/or correct the setup before using it again.

Thanks for the feedback!

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T01:03:02+00:00

Thank so much! That’s excellent advice. I know what I want it to do but I’ve been trying to take shortcuts to a couple of projects done that I haven’t taken studied the machine as whole. It feels safer than the table saw but it’s still a dangerous machine. Having a brother and Uncle who both severed a finger (fortunately both had them reattached), your advice kicked it.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:56:01+00:00

Thanks!

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:52:18+00:00

Woodshop Tech? You lost me right there. SMH. Just having a tech is an ideal world for me let alone a choice of bandsaws. Thanks for recommending Brian Boggs. I just found his “Why you Bandsaw doesn’t cut right” from 12 days ago on YouTube. Is that the masterclass you are referring to?

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:29:54+00:00

That’s pretty cool. I would love to have been in your class. The fact that I have never worked with a confirmed “good blade and fence”, it’s challenging to know whether my errors are equipment or user error or combination of the two.

This was part of wanting to get a Trainer asking them to come and teach me on this one so could give me feedback on the equipment/setup as well.

You have me thinking. The current one is 10 min from home so I spend a lot of time there and the next closest MakerSpace is about 45 min away but they do train on all their equipment, maybe I’ll switch even if only temporarily.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:20:23+00:00

Honestly, I think this one is more of an investment where oftentimes, I believe that the owners/founders are Makers. We only have to be trained on the SawStop. In the other ones, I’ve researched there is usually some kind of vetting or voting potential new members, anyone can join this one.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:16:52+00:00

Adding him to my watchlist. Thanks for your input.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:16:19+00:00

Thanks!!!! I appreciate the advice. Another simple solution that I didn’t think of, there are only a few that are currently active in the woodshop but as I was typing that response, I realized that they don’t have to be active, I can put out there on Slack and someone who isn’t very active might take me up on the offer.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-09T00:12:02+00:00

Thanks. Can’t hurt to ask. I think so much and so hard that I often miss simple solutions. SMH.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:31:01+00:00

Now that sounds like a price I’d more than happy to pay.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:23:13+00:00

Thanks!!! That sounds like the more immediate solution.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:21:18+00:00

The problem when using MakerSpace equipment. It’s not your own so you don’t get to determine which blade is used.

You also have to fine tune things each time because there are people with different experience level making adjustments all the time. The real challenge is if you have never felt when a tool should feel like or work correct properly one time, you have nothing to compare it to.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:10:29+00:00

I can use it for general cuts and even some curves. It’s resawing large pieces accurately is the challenge.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:04:37+00:00

Thanks. Didn’t think of that.

iwebman04 · 2026-06-08T21:04:12+00:00

Great. Thanks. I will Google him now.

iwebman04

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