Because we have a stack of work orders, about an inch thick, we have a system that helps us match a customer with their job, when they call. The work orders are kept in numerical order on a clipboard. The customer is assigned a work order number,…
Rich Jones Redline Automotive Competition Engines Davie, FL
Everyone hates cleaning the flywheel grinder. Chipping or scraping takes time and is not very productive. We found that lining the inside of the machine with a cut up shower curtain or plastic sheet and using spring clips to secure it at the top of the shield…
Adney Brown Performance Crankshaft Inc Ferndale, MI
Yes, we’ve all made that mistake, measure once and you better hope you cut it long, so the second cut will be on spec. Otherwise you’ve ruined the work. The proper phrase, measure twice… seems to apply to many things we do around the shop. When…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing, Inc. N. Kansas City, MO
THE SIX “P’s” Before machining remember, " Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance " and Murphy's Law will have less of a chance to get you. There is nothing worse for the bottom line than finding a crack or that the cam bearings do not fit correctly when the machine…
Randy Torvinen Torvinen's Machine Menahga, MN
When doing engine build proposals for customers, be sure to add the option of all critical machining procedures, even if you do not do them in house. You will need a high-quality vendor that you can outsource these procedures to, all the while laying groundwork for your…
Ron Flood Cedar Machine North Branch, MN
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. This phrase is a popular witticism in American English and it’s also a popular Billy Ocean song. In today’s context it refers to the state of our business and specifically, how to stay productive and profitable in these…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing Inc N Kansas City, MO
I had a short visit from our HVAC repairman today. It took him about 2-minutes to pop the access cover, grab a tester and proclaim that the flame sensor had shot-craps in our 10-year-old furnace. He’d been in my…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing Inc. N. Kansas City, MO
Most piston sets come in a bag. Some customers do not take off all the external parts when they bring in cylinder heads. Use those piston bags to put the various cylinder head parts in to keep them organized for reassembly. Place a label on those bags…
Anita Satterfield Satterfield’s Machine Shop LLC Cayce, SC
How does a new potential customer find your shop? Yellow Pages are out... smartphones are in! Have you had occasion to type, or better yet, use voice commands with your smartphone to find a restaurant "near me"? This technology, called hyperlocal, combines internet business listings with…
Steve Rich Sterling Bearing Inc N. Kansas City, MO
I have muscled crankshafts into place and used various methods of “slinging” them. I found this sling to be simple and easy. I built the hooks out of 1/2” steel rod and slid some heater hose over them to protect the crank's bearing surfaces. I found two…
Robert Cull Cull Enterprises Ltd. Creston, B.C.