Swarfcast

Swarfcast


Latest Episodes

Pivoting to Manufacture a Product, with Michael Gimbel – EP 224
January 06, 2026

Most of us dont have a knack for pivoting.We follow the standard curriculum, and we keep going forward when we get in a lane, whether we believe its the right direction or not.But for Michael Gimbel, my guest on todays show, seeing setbacks as sere

Is 2025 the End of Cam Screw Machines? EP 257
December 16, 2025

Is an Acme-Gridley the mink coat of machine tools? A well made product that still does a great job, but nobody wants another one. In 2025? No. Not yet.On todays podcast, Lloyd and I talkabout our used machinery business over the last year. We saw one c

How to Make Your Employees Want to Stay, with Adam Wiltsie–EP 130
December 09, 2025

Last week, I heard a story about an old customer of Graff-Pinkert who lost three key machinists because a shop down the street was paying more. It led me to make a post on Linkedin, asking if machinis

The Turnaround Formula, with Neil Lansing-EP 256
December 01, 2025

Today I’m talking to a guy who believes every company needs to be built to lastnot just to flip.Neil Lansing is a turnaround specialist who left private equity to bet his own money on small, underperforming businesses. He’s taken companies f

Running a “First Class” Cold Heading Company, with Joe Bennett-EP 135
November 25, 2025

Our guest on todays podcast is Joe Bennett, Vice President of Sales at Seaway Bolt and Specials, a privately held cold heading company in Columbia Station, Ohio, founded in 1957.In the cold heading process, coiled steel is cut into slugs, which are then

Another AI Episode (But This One’s Actually Useful)-EP 255
November 18, 2025

The last six months I’ve been using AI to help me with everything from business negotiations to dealing with my kid’s pneumonia. It’s become a daily part of how I operateat work and at home. The big difference between it and just googli

Citizen CNC Swiss Lathes, with Marc Klecka
November 12, 2025

We’re seeing an uptick in the Swiss market on the Graff-Pinkert side of the business, particularly Citizen machines. In response, we thought now was a great time to share an interview Noah conducted in 2021 about Swiss-Type CNC machining. He talks t

Rare Earths Aren’t Rare, with Julie Klinger-Ep. 254
November 04, 2025

“Rare earths aren’t actually rare, nor are they earths, Julie Klinger told me. Julie is an associate professor at UW Madison and literally wrote the book on rare earth elementsRare Earth Frontiers: From Terrestrial Subsoils to Lunar Landscap

Ep. 129 – Recruiting Long Term Shop Employees, with Bill Cox (Part 2)
October 28, 2025

In part 1 of my interview with Bill Cox, owner of Cox Manufacturing in San Antonio, Texas, Bill talked about the power of his companys robust apprenticeship program.But how does Cox Manufacturing get so many employee candidates, while most machining co

Ep. 128 – Building a Great Apprenticeship Program, with Bill Cox
October 28, 2025

Unlike the majority of machining companies right now, struggling to find enough skilled people to fulfill demand, Cox Manufacturing in San Antonio, Texas, boasts a continuous pipeline of new talent. I