I'm kind of a big deal...

[cdcox]

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

Can you run an old vertical Bridgeport or an old Southbend lathe?

Our former shop manager is an extremely talented old-school machinist. He could do some really precision work, using lathes and mills 30 to 50 years old. He could also think through a problem. You could sit down with him and describe in general terms what you wanted to build and he would talk you through it and come up with a way of doing what you wanted that you hadn't even thought of.

Our current shop manager is a CNC guy. We have bought a mill and a lathe in the last 3 years. He does all the programming. Very talented guy and we are lucky to have him. Before we bought the CNC equipment, he could struggle through the old school ways, but it wasn't his bag.

Two totally different approaches. I think it will be increasingly hard to find the old-school machinists going forward.