Hi Josh, better to downsize, and get reasonable prices for equipment, than wait untill the vultures start hovering. Appreciate your honesty, job shops can only support local industries in my humble opinion? Take care, and enjoy your hunting.
I for one would love to hear a success story coming from you in the next year without having you going belly up. Love your videos and will pray for you and family.
Sorry to hear things are that bad in your area. My son is in Michigan and he said it's bad there as well. Hopefully you can hang on and things improve over the next year. Around my parts it's also slowing down and hopefully it's just the normal end of year slow down. We'll have to see how it goes after the first of the year. Good luck Josh. I hope things work out for you.
Sorry to hear that the work isn't out there for you, fingers crossed you you get some contacts from RUclips, will always enjoy your content and hope that the next year is more profitable for you,
hopefully your viewers can find someone who needs the long-bed capability of your Mill-conversion Planer enough to want to ship interstate. You have a very down-to-earth attitude that I admire and respect, and your videos are both engaging and educational.
Jeez, heatbreaking message Josh, I wish you and yours aal the best, and I will stay tuned to your youtube channel untill I die. I love you and the things you do, and your family and all subscribers for supporting you. Damm, what a situation to be in mate, I'm in France so can't do much for you but send my best wishes man, take care. Chris.
Those plastic bushings are tougher than the steel shafts. More than 55 years as a big truck mechanic. I've replaced S-cams, king pins, and other shafts where the bushings wore into the shafts instead of the bushings.
That self lubricating nylon I buy the original Vesconite, and it will outlast any bronze bush by a lot, lubricated or not. I have had them replacing bronze bushes, and the bush outlasts the shaft, and you make a new shaft, clean up the bush, and put the shaft in. Handles sand, mud or abrasives well, and will work perfectly well with water as lubrication on it.
@@TopperMachineLLC Yes but it lasts a lot longer than natural nylon, and works really well in applications with abrasive media and where it gets washed and bleached, like packaging equipment for food and pharmaceuticals, where it really shines, as no real need to too much lubrication, or you use a food grade lube.
Sorry to hear about the state of the economy in your area. Hopefully things will improve with the new leadership. Thanks for the info on the nylontron . Sounds like some really interesting material. Good luck on the deer hunting. It was a good year for us.
Good info on the bronze bushing, Nylatron substitute. I am very upset to hear about the industrial shut down in your area. I subscribed to your channel many years, and totally enjoyed every minute. I hope the best for you and your family., I will keep watching hoping to hear some good news.
Sorry to hear it’s bad there, getting bad here to, I have a full time job and do machining but there is just not enough for me to make the switch over so very long days. Love any videos you put out
I hoe the business picks up for you. Apart from the fact that I'd miss your videos (secondary) I'd hate to see your business go under when you've put so much into it and you do such excellent work for your customers. Hopefully things improve dramatically over the next year and you;ll be around for decades to come. Best wishes from Queensland Australia.
It sucks mate, i wished i could help you out but im way across the pond and absolutely respect your honesty. Over here its not totally different, no one has materials. Busted a propshaft from your fishing ship? Good luck finding material for such, and losing money every day your not fishing it goed south quick. Offshore is also worsening, and keep on going, and it sucks, not only for business owners, but also for the workers witch skills are gone forgood and will never be transferred to the younger guys...
Perhaps a follow up video concerning the wear characteristics of the nylon material. You know us old dogs are loath to change until we see the evidence that it works well. I believe your assessment wholehartedly.
Josh, It's very sad to hear what you're dealing with. I hope things will be brighter in the future for you. Would miss watching the great videos you provide. On top of mills closing everywhere, most things today are not worth repairing. Everyone buy cheap stuff from China. But in return, it bites our jobs in the rear.
Josh, so sorry to hear about the business. I have enjoyed your videos and wish I was able to help you out on. Patreon, but it’s like that down in Alabama too. Hoping Trump can help us. Will be praying for you guys.
Sounds a lot like a lot of rural areas. Western Montana lost 2 more mills this year. It's not just the employees. It's the service industries that support the bigger corporations.
It's so sad to see another shop like yours struggling for work. Ours is doing very well but we're in a very different area doing a ton of custom one off repairs. Pretty much all manual machining with some cnc. I wish the best for you.
That's really rough, times are getting tougher. Can't see your next president doing anything to help to little guys. You guys take care. Up here in western Canada its no better.
Josh. Look towards Little Rock AR. The Port Authority is expanding with companies like Fiocchi, Sig Sauer, and Welspun pipe actually expanding operations here. Not to mention a steel works. Business is growing here, not shrinking!
It is essential to grease the bushings, not as a lubricant, but to prevent rust and pitting of the shafts. Pitted shafts would lead to destruction of the bushings.
Sorry to hear about the lack of work, much like you I have had a shop at home and fixed my own equipment and made parts for my gas and steam engines etc. I have always done some side jobs here and there and dreamed of making it my full-time thing but have always been nervous about the ups and downs that go a long with that. Recently a friend who has a long established truck suspension shop has been expanding to add a hydraulic shop and machine shop so that's where I am going starting next year, it's a better fit than my current job as a heavy equipment mechanic and about the right mix for me of running a shop yet still being an employee
If have to close up, you can be sure I won't be taking a job in the machining or welding fields. To work for someone else in the same industry would be a kick to the balls.
I understand what you mean about that, and in planning this new venture with my friend we both discussed that while in our area there is a demand for repair type machine shop work I don't see it as being something steady enough to rely on entirely thus the combination of hydraulic cylinder repair work, making hoses etc
Yeah here the few hydraulic shops around seem to stay busy, but definitely planning to stay pretty open to various different work and keeping a relatively low investment in machines and such fortunately. Time will tell. Very fair price on your press brake with the tooling, I have a 4 ft Verson press brake and it's a handy thing indeed, if you were closer to Connecticut I might consider making the upgrade!
Thanks for the vide!!! I know that it takes extra time to make the videos but you do a great job. I am glad that you will be putting the dragline to work but the restoration is interesting as well. I feel bad that industry has dropped to such a critical low in your area. It has to be hard to put so much work into your business and then to be on the verge of loosing it. I am glad that you know when to let go of you equipment and helping other out when you sell it. I am not a hunter but I hope you get a nice deer this year and that you will hunt with a friend. Thanks for all that you do. I hope Rocky is ok???
Thanks Alan. It has been tough, but I will keep fighting until I can't. I hunt with family, so all good. Rocky is still kicking, but getting closer to the end. The cutout you did, will eventually be his grave marker. Thank you,
@@TopperMachineLLC When I lived in Racine, the local dog park users had me make dog plaques for dogs that passed away. The fence at the dog park has about 30 of my plaques on the fence. My dog Cooper is near death as well. Thanks for letting me honor Rocky.
This blows. I have been spreading the word around my contacts nationwide. I’ll continue doing so. My only hope is that manufacturing in general picks up and that as a result things get busy enough that people HAVE to ship stuff for repair. For what it’s worth you are wise to be considering other options for the long term. In the meantime I’ll keep on with my contacts in industry.
You should move to an area that isn't so depressed. The closer you get to a major city the moe likely there will be work for your shop. If it was me, I'd start researching right now.
Believe me I feel for you, running a business is tough at the best of times but it seems when one company in an area goes under others seem to follow suit causing a cascading effect through the local community, I wrongly believed it was just UK industry that was rapidly closing down. I also wrongly believed President Elect Trumps promise to fetch manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.A would give companies confidence to expand and hence more work for shops such as yours. It seems that like the UK when prosperity returns it only returns to the financial markets and the privileged few, I was really hoping there would be a quicker response for manufacturing giving millions of families hope, prosperity and a return to the American dream. I hope and pray for your prosperity to return really quickly. I've had a few periods in my small business went there were no orders over a 3 or 4 month period, then all of the sudden orders flood in and I had insufficient people to cover the workload. I applaud your efforts to help train younger engineers, I'm sure the time will come when we need those engineers again and your everlasting legacy will be that you played a role in that training program. God bless you and your family and I pray things turn around quickly for you all.
My shop dryed up, and I had to close it. I was the last custom shop to survive after the " covid " debacle. Clients became despots, and workers became unmanageable narcissists. The government made it impossible to do anything without breaking some rule. I feel your pain.
I read your full comment before you edited and shortened it. You are spot on. I feel for you, having to consider doing this is hard enough, but going through with it and being the last shop in the region really hurts.
Hey, we sure are hearing this from machine shops in California and Arizona. Stick with its Josh if you can (tough as it is) as we have been at this for 31 years, economies to rebound sometime in the future, sometimes you like you share have to shut down take a job and maybe you can return when things get brighter. We are specialized in what we do, we do not make much money, we do not need much money as we are older than you, we had many tough years, we see a really tough economic time ahead, for how long we do not make predictions but trust us it is true. We have also not been able to buy one item from that auction you brought to our attention though we do bid on 1 our 2 waiting for something we saw in the video to come up and will try again on that one or 2 and see how high it goes, fees packaging, then shipping from Wisconsin, then sight unseen and finally those Pesquet taxes. Thank you for sharing in truth your struggles, when we were young, we were too damn proud to admit tough times, so you are doing good in our view anyways. Lance & Patrick.
Do you not have a problem with water absorption using Nylatron for that application? It's great stuff but I've always been advised not to use it in wet/high humidity environments.
Sorry to hear about the slowdown in work. Repair work for heavy industry has got to be a tough niche to be in if the industry has left your area as you say. Have you considered transitioning into more of an all-purpose job shop? I would have to imagine that your area allows for lower overhead that would give you an advantage over shops located in the major metropolitan areas. Maybe try Xometry to get some work in the door and get your spindles turning?
From a old shop owner. Only pay cash for machines. A one man shop has to operate that way. We had a yruck that run the east coast picking up work.and a good salesman that worked on comission.one man cant do all that. We made products which required repairs. Reduce your expences put your head down and you will get thru this.good luck
I hope the change in government will jumpstart the whole country. I really admire you and the honest straightforward manner you have. The country needs business people like you. You’ll be in my prayers.
Interesting that everything in your area is slowing down, that’s too bad. Do you have any idea where the work is going? Or is what they do becoming obsolete? When you say mills, is that paper mills? If you have to get a job, how much of the shop would you keep for your own use?
Your frequent comments regarding the economic distress in your area are hard to ignore. I’m sure all your viewers wish you well. I completely identify with your desire to stay in your area - I would rather take a beating than relocate. It seems like once we reach a certain age there is a lot of gravitational pull to keep us where we are. Sometimes you can adapt and overcome adverse situations but sometimes you have to change the scenery to get through it. One thing I am sure that I'd do if I were in your shoes is to use the platform you have built - exploit the hell out of the Internet and RUclips. I’m sure you’ll do well however it goes. ATB
To start over somewhere else and build everything we have here would be expensive give. We busted our butt's to build the home and property as we want it, how could you start over. As for the business, if I can't make it, I'll move on to some other field. Not machining or welding again though.
Are you willing to do all stainless work? Are you willing to ship to Illinois (Carol Stream)? Are you willing to do quick turnarounds? Are you willing to do production machining as well as some 1-off's? I will pass this video over to Operations and Purchasing and see if there are some things we can have you quote.
@@TopperMachineLLC Ok sounds good! Ops and Purchasing are tied up right now, we have our ISO audit today/tomorrow. I will put a bug in their ear though when I can grab them and we will see what we can do!
I’ve seen a lot of Craigslist ads around me, offering machining services. Not sure if you’ve done that or even open to it. Maybe check with your city/county maintenance crew and see if they have work that you could do 🤷🏼♂️
I have tried absolutely everything. And I mean everything. If other shops are pushing the craigslist and ads that hard, they are starving also. Moving out of this region would be the best option, but I am not starting over and honestly too burnt out to start over.
Ever since I was a kid I wanted to build an underground place, who didn't, as I got to be an adult I had the machines to do it and finally got some huge concrete culverts free and made an underground Hobbit house as it's become known to store my barrels of maple syrup it works great.
Here in most parts of Australia, we have a lot of problems with subterranean termites. There have been cases of houses being so badly damaged that they had to be demolished. They love pine and seeing that you mill a lot of pine, I was wondering if you have termites where you are, but I'm thinking that you wouldn't because the winters are too cold for them to survive.
I don’t know about your region, Josh, but here in Washington they allow enough lumber to be shipped in from Canada that we have lost a lot of our sawmills. I really hope this new administration sees this issue.
I'm curious why nylatron vrs Delrin. Nylatron seems to absorb lots more moisture than delrin. I've used delrin a lot for bushings and also had good luck, but most weren't high load bearing.
While they claim it absorbs water, that has never been what I have seen. I made bushings for a customer (long gone now) who use it in underwater applications.
@@TopperMachineLLC It does absorb water, under 1% change in dimension, which in a bush is not too much of an issue. Wet it will self clearance, and if it dries it will still work well.
Mr. Topper, production runs from billet stock is where the money is at if you get your setup correct. You buy the material and ship it, which would be included in your bid. At this point you have two Bridgeport mills. Two vices on each one would facilitate your work on a production run. It’s hard to make money on repairs and prototype work.
@@JasonAWilliams-IS a few of them closed up completely. Lost 4 big facilities I service inside of 3 months. They are being liquidated in the next few months.
Mate, sorry to hear of the decline of the industries there. Has this been on the decline in the past 4 or 8 years? Do you think it will pick back up in the next year or more? BTW, I am enjoying your contrnt a lot. You are one of a few I watch every time you put out a video. Best regards
The last 4 years have seen accelerated decline. But it really started with Obama. Unfortunately the infrastructure is gone, the workforce is leaving, I don't see much hope for rebuilding
@@TopperMachineLLC Mate, that is so sad and heartbreaking hearing that industries are closing down especially in modern society where such a skillful is needed. I think the must modern skillful trade that has had to go through a drastic change would be the Printing industry, going from manual labor with typesetting to the computer age. I hope that the future starts to recover for you and your area.
@@TopperMachineLLC Manufacturing decline began with Reagan .. in the 1980's All driven by bankers, investors and private equity.. They control funds which means Return On Investment & share holder well-being is the only goal of importance. Shipping manufacturing offshore produces higher returns on investment that is what will be done. Politicians are political pawns controlled by bankers, investors a billionaires. Employees and all lesser is of no importance to them. Employees are viewed as slaves that are disposable. They spew what is needed to get votes including false hope and want to believe. They will tell you what you want to hear for votes then behave and act based on their billionaire owners. Manufacturing in the USA is mostly forever gone due to the entire eco-system being destroyed. There is no incentive to on-shore due to the investments required, talent and personal needed to make it go and all entire manufacturing eco-system would need to be rebuilt. This demand multi Trillion U$D to begin.. No banker, investor, private equity will attempt this.
Greetings from the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches. Another interesting video. Hopefully with the new administration, business will start picking up for you.
Hi Josh, this is a pretty sobering video, I desperately hope you can find a way to keep trading beyond next year. I’m a landscaper in the South West of England and I’ve just had the quietest year for twenty years, absolutely nothing in the diary moving forward either. It’s a job I absolutely love doing so I’ll keep trying to find avenues of work and sometimes I’ll work very cheaply rather than do nothing, but that doesn’t pay the bills. Thank you for all of the videos, they are inspirational.
There is not. The region is not economically viable enough to get enough to relocate. Furthermore, I will not move and start over in this business. It was hard enough the first time, I'm not going through that again. And I have other reasons for not leaving.
@ I really hope things pick up again and you’re able to earn more by doing what you love to do. I’m in UK and the whole country is getting destroyed by new governments Net Zero agendas. Last steel production plant closed this summer, moved to India and most of manufacturing industry have to rely on imported goods. Atleast you have a proper leader elected now. Onwards and upwards.
Sorry to hear about your area's downturn. I wonder what would have happened if the democrats had stayed in holding the reins for another four or even eight years? Seems to me, looking over the fence from Canada, that things might well have improved enough to give guys like you a fighting chance. What's going to happen now with the certified crook you've stuck in the top seat who the heck knows. All I can read from here is it ain't gonna be pretty! Good luck and keep posting when you can. We'll be waiting. Regards from Canada's banana belt. 🤞🇨🇦🍌🥋🇺🇦🕊🇺🇲🦃🐖💩👍
Funny, the first 4 years of trump were great. I don't see it being worse that the last 4 years of O'Biden. There is hope with Trump taking office for the country, but not my region.
Let me assure you, its not only your region. Half of europe is deindustrializing at the moment. The big corporations all close up shop and half the suppliers go belly-up. I hope it gets better for all of us in the next couple of months and I hope we’re all still there when it picks back up.
It sounds like a pretty dismal and bleak trajectory, and the tax incentive/warranty piece is a real kick in the nuts. I don't suppose there is any work to be had from shipping/fishing industry on Lake Superior or Lake Michigan? I hope things improve with the new administration in the next year, and you get access to work from somewhere.
@cptbuiltk7944 funny, I had to pull some material invoiced and check. His first term, I paid, at the highest, 40% less for materials than I did this last administration at its lowest. Same vendors, same materials. Considering how this administration is claiming nowhere near 40% inflation, how is that even possible??? Must be the lead paint chips I'm eating and the kool-aid I'm drinking.
Hay Josh, why not try making products to sell, I don't know what that would be, but maybe some kind of metal art. you have all the machines to make most anything and people are always looking for unique items to display, especially if the item is mechanical.
I've tried. The only thing I have is the sawmill, which I can not build alone. Not having enough work to grow and get in more help puts a stop to that idea.
@joepeanut6827 you can't keep bashing your head against a wall and not eventually give up. I'm giving it one last good push. We will see what happens by the end of next year.
Not saying it'll help, but have you considered posting to LinkedIn? It's more professionally oriented that the other social media sites. I see you're on there but haven't posted anything. It's not monitized the way RUclips is but those who like/comment then have your post recommended to their professional connections. My top posts where posts with photos of shop work. People each that stuff up as it's more value than the bulk of marketing crap there so it stucks out. Unfortunately my companty's marketing group made it difficult wanting to review/approve everything so I stopped. You'd get a lot of runway over the next year just posting links weekly of your past work there. You likely already considered but thought I'd mention it jsut in case. It's value isn't RUclips style monitization rather "Who you know" and those can lead to referals from others. Really empathize with your position. Grew up in Northern MI (Manistique) and everyone I went to school with is Dead, in Prison or left the area and made something of themselves. They've never had an economic bust because there was never a boom. Just barely enough economoc activity to sustain the retirees and those on public assistance with a few exceptions.
@@78jog89 No, you don't understand. The tariffs on raw material small shops use will make the imported finished parts from China more expensive! Companies will move manufacturing back to the USA so they can pay...more for raw material?
@TheMaddogronh not for this region. Most of the industry is gone. They have pushed put any manufacturing and promoted tourism, which does not support anyone. This region is done. It's not coming back.
Honestly your best bet is going to be creating and selling a good product that you can manufacture in house. Something akin to the stuff Fireball Tool makes. That’s the only way you’ll keep afloat. Considering the area is dead and you own the equipment you’re overhead is probably low enough to be competitive nationwide, but just doing piecemeal work and repairs isn’t going to suffice if the region is packing up. Contact fireball tools and see if maybe you could get come contract work from him. He has an entire line of made in USA products and from what I understand he has been having a hard time finding companies with the ability or capacity to make some of the components for that stuff in the USA.
I have been trying to find some products I could make, but I am just not creative enough. I am working on some ideas for myself, we will see. Great suggestion on contacting Jason. I will do that.
I appreciate it, although I'm not asking for money. I need to find customers. I prefer to earn money. No offense intended by this statement either. I do appreciate the help.
Morning Josh. Do you need to use Molly grease with the Nylatron? Sorry business is tough. Too much ‘green’ save the planet stuff kills the economy! Be Well
Sometimes I wonder what might throw our country into a great depression. Our debt and decline is catching up to us. I am terrified of debt at this point in history. It may be 1928 or 1929 soon.
For the past few years, Federal Government has been the biggest job creator in this country, look into contracts or servicing job with a government agency like military/AF/Navy, DOE, Healthcare, etc... Federal contacts have to be done in the US and cannot be offshored. You are right, private manufacturing is dying in this country, nobody makes or repairs anything when you can get it brand new from China for half the cost !
I am registered as a government contractor. The problem I have found is that due to being by myself and not having all of the credentials, I am disqualified for most everything. On the state level, I am more qualified, but will always lose out to larger companies. It's a vicious cycle.
@@TopperMachineLLC Josh , we have Marinette Marine that builds ships in our area of Wisconsin , and also Great Lakes Custom Tools in Peshtigo , Wisconsin . These are two possible companies that you might contact for work . One is large , and one is small . It might be worth a shot . Both are located in Northeast Wisconsin .
@@TopperMachineLLC- Dealing with government bureaucracy sucks, but once you break into the system things get lot easier. One advantage of being small is that you can afford to be the lowest bidder to get those contracts.
Not relocating. The cost to move would kill me. Not to mention the stress to try to start over. It's just not worth it to ms. I'd sooner get a different job that start over.
Josh, very sorry to hear about the state of industry in Wisconsin and the lack of work. I really hope things start looking up.
Unfortunately there is no coming back from what has been lost here.
Hi Josh, better to downsize, and get reasonable prices for equipment, than wait untill the vultures start hovering.
Appreciate your honesty, job shops can only support local industries in my humble opinion?
Take care, and enjoy your hunting.
I for one would love to hear a success story coming from you in the next year without having you going belly up. Love your videos and will pray for you and family.
I will try my best. I hope I don't have to quit.
Praying the ruture will turn around for you, i really like your vids! Thanks for taking the time for us, josh.
Sorry to hear things are that bad in your area. My son is in Michigan and he said it's bad there as well. Hopefully you can hang on and things improve over the next year. Around my parts it's also slowing down and hopefully it's just the normal end of year slow down. We'll have to see how it goes after the first of the year. Good luck Josh. I hope things work out for you.
@@RJMachine62 yea I’m in Michigan and it’s ultra slow. My shop isn’t even trying to hire replacements for people that quit.
Wow, that is too bad. I loved Wisconsin when I have visited. Your videos are very informative and your work quality is great!!
Fingers crossed man!!!!
Thank you Josh!
Sorry to hear that the work isn't out there for you, fingers crossed you you get some contacts from RUclips, will always enjoy your content and hope that the next year is more profitable for you,
I hope so too
hopefully your viewers can find someone who needs the long-bed capability of your Mill-conversion Planer enough to want to ship interstate. You have a very down-to-earth attitude that I admire and respect, and your videos are both engaging and educational.
Jeez, heatbreaking message Josh, I wish you and yours aal the best, and I will stay tuned to your youtube channel untill I die.
I love you and the things you do, and your family and all subscribers for supporting you. Damm, what a situation to be in mate,
I'm in France so can't do much for you but send my best wishes man, take care. Chris.
Sending you all my strength and best wishes! Thank you for the video Josh!
Be well, take good care of yourself!
Those plastic bushings are tougher than the steel shafts. More than 55 years as a big truck mechanic. I've replaced S-cams, king pins, and other shafts where the bushings wore into the shafts instead of the bushings.
That self lubricating nylon I buy the original Vesconite, and it will outlast any bronze bush by a lot, lubricated or not. I have had them replacing bronze bushes, and the bush outlasts the shaft, and you make a new shaft, clean up the bush, and put the shaft in. Handles sand, mud or abrasives well, and will work perfectly well with water as lubrication on it.
I have seen the same results with Nylatron over the years.
@@TopperMachineLLC Yes but it lasts a lot longer than natural nylon, and works really well in applications with abrasive media and where it gets washed and bleached, like packaging equipment for food and pharmaceuticals, where it really shines, as no real need to too much lubrication, or you use a food grade lube.
Vesconite is great stuff - very good for vertical turbine bearings, especially when the pump might see a little sand now and again.
Hang in there, brother. Here's hoping it turns around.
I'm sorry to hear of your plight. I'm sure you will find a way!
Good luck
Sorry to hear about the state of the economy in your area. Hopefully things will improve with the new leadership. Thanks for the info on the nylontron . Sounds like some really interesting material.
Good luck on the deer hunting. It was a good year for us.
sorry to here your issue hang in there hopeful things will improve.
Like I said in the video, one more year. If no improvement or increase in business/revenue, I need to move on.
Good info on the bronze bushing, Nylatron substitute. I am very upset to hear about the industrial shut down in your area. I subscribed to your channel many years, and totally enjoyed every minute. I hope the best for you and your family., I will keep watching hoping to hear some good news.
Sorry to hear it’s bad there, getting bad here to, I have a full time job and do machining but there is just not enough for me to make the switch over so very long days. Love any videos you put out
I hoe the business picks up for you. Apart from the fact that I'd miss your videos (secondary) I'd hate to see your business go under when you've put so much into it and you do such excellent work for your customers. Hopefully things improve dramatically over the next year and you;ll be around for decades to come. Best wishes from Queensland Australia.
I'm gonna keep trying until I can't. I'll still have videos, it just won't be of customers work, and probably not as frequent.
It sucks mate, i wished i could help you out but im way across the pond and absolutely respect your honesty. Over here its not totally different, no one has materials. Busted a propshaft from your fishing ship? Good luck finding material for such, and losing money every day your not fishing it goed south quick. Offshore is also worsening, and keep on going, and it sucks, not only for business owners, but also for the workers witch skills are gone forgood and will never be transferred to the younger guys...
Perhaps a follow up video concerning the wear characteristics of the nylon material. You know us old dogs are loath to change until we see the evidence that it works well. I believe your assessment wholehartedly.
Josh,
It's very sad to hear what you're dealing with. I hope things will be brighter in the future for you. Would miss watching the great videos you provide. On top of mills closing everywhere, most things today are not worth repairing. Everyone buy cheap stuff from China. But in return, it bites our jobs in the rear.
Most modern stuff is cheap junk and cant be fixed. Messed up world.
Josh, so sorry to hear about the business. I have enjoyed your videos and wish I was able to help you out on. Patreon, but it’s like that down in Alabama too. Hoping Trump can help us. Will be praying for you guys.
Sounds a lot like a lot of rural areas. Western Montana lost 2 more mills this year. It's not just the employees. It's the service industries that support the bigger corporations.
It's so sad to see another shop like yours struggling for work. Ours is doing very well but we're in a very different area doing a ton of custom one off repairs. Pretty much all manual machining with some cnc. I wish the best for you.
It's totally regional. I get it. But I can't relocate either. I definitely do not want to try starting over.
That's really rough, times are getting tougher. Can't see your next president doing anything to help to little guys. You guys take care. Up here in western Canada its no better.
Josh. Look towards Little Rock AR. The Port Authority is expanding with companies like Fiocchi, Sig Sauer, and Welspun pipe actually expanding operations here. Not to mention a steel works. Business is growing here, not shrinking!
Not relocating. If I fail, I'll just do something else. The cost to relocate and the stress to start over is not worth it to me.
@ I emailed you. Don’t mean to be overbearing or offend. Forgive me if it offended. It was not my intent.
@GHOSTINPLAINSIGHT I haven't seen it yet, but will take this into consideration. Expect a reply.
Thanks!
Thank you so much!!!
It is essential to grease the bushings, not as a lubricant, but to prevent rust and pitting of the shafts. Pitted shafts would lead to destruction of the bushings.
You are one of the best in the industry. I hope things pick up soon will the new administration.
Sorry to hear about the lack of work, much like you I have had a shop at home and fixed my own equipment and made parts for my gas and steam engines etc. I have always done some side jobs here and there and dreamed of making it my full-time thing but have always been nervous about the ups and downs that go a long with that. Recently a friend who has a long established truck suspension shop has been expanding to add a hydraulic shop and machine shop so that's where I am going starting next year, it's a better fit than my current job as a heavy equipment mechanic and about the right mix for me of running a shop yet still being an employee
If have to close up, you can be sure I won't be taking a job in the machining or welding fields. To work for someone else in the same industry would be a kick to the balls.
I understand what you mean about that, and in planning this new venture with my friend we both discussed that while in our area there is a demand for repair type machine shop work I don't see it as being something steady enough to rely on entirely thus the combination of hydraulic cylinder repair work, making hoses etc
@markvoluckas4571 sadly hydraulic work isn't that busy here either. I partnered with a big hydraulic shop and they are talking g of closing.
Yeah here the few hydraulic shops around seem to stay busy, but definitely planning to stay pretty open to various different work and keeping a relatively low investment in machines and such fortunately. Time will tell. Very fair price on your press brake with the tooling, I have a 4 ft Verson press brake and it's a handy thing indeed, if you were closer to Connecticut I might consider making the upgrade!
Thanks for the vide!!! I know that it takes extra time to make the videos but you do a great job. I am glad that you will be putting the dragline to work but the restoration is interesting as well. I feel bad that industry has dropped to such a critical low in your area. It has to be hard to put so much work into your business and then to be on the verge of loosing it. I am glad that you know when to let go of you equipment and helping other out when you sell it. I am not a hunter but I hope you get a nice deer this year and that you will hunt with a friend. Thanks for all that you do. I hope Rocky is ok???
Thanks Alan. It has been tough, but I will keep fighting until I can't. I hunt with family, so all good. Rocky is still kicking, but getting closer to the end. The cutout you did, will eventually be his grave marker. Thank you,
@@TopperMachineLLC
When I lived in Racine, the local dog park users had me make dog plaques for dogs that passed away. The fence at the dog park has about 30 of my plaques on the fence. My dog Cooper is near death as well. Thanks for letting me honor Rocky.
👍👍Goodluck sir
This blows. I have been spreading the word around my contacts nationwide. I’ll continue doing so. My only hope is that manufacturing in general picks up and that as a result things get busy enough that people HAVE to ship stuff for repair.
For what it’s worth you are wise to be considering other options for the long term. In the meantime I’ll keep on with my contacts in industry.
@@StuartsShed thank you Stuart
Sure thing. Basically no help of any value though. Sorry.
You should move to an area that isn't so depressed. The closer you get to a major city the moe likely there will be work for your shop. If it was me, I'd start researching right now.
@@Craneman4100w not moving, not starting over. It's really not worth it if I can't do it here.
It's not just your area. Over here on the east Coast is the same thing.
Very sad to hear that, Josh. While your region is dying, my region (South East) is booming so much that people have to turn work away.
send that work this way!!!
Believe me I feel for you, running a business is tough at the best of times but it seems when one company in an area goes under others seem to follow suit causing a cascading effect through the local community, I wrongly believed it was just UK industry that was rapidly closing down.
I also wrongly believed President Elect Trumps promise to fetch manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.A would give companies confidence to expand and hence more work for shops such as yours. It seems that like the UK when prosperity returns it only returns to the financial markets and the privileged few, I was really hoping there would be a quicker response for manufacturing giving millions of families hope, prosperity and a return to the American dream. I hope and pray for your prosperity to return really quickly. I've had a few periods in my small business went there were no orders over a 3 or 4 month period, then all of the sudden orders flood in and I had insufficient people to cover the workload.
I applaud your efforts to help train younger engineers, I'm sure the time will come when we need those engineers again and your everlasting legacy will be that you played a role in that training program.
God bless you and your family and I pray things turn around quickly for you all.
My shop dryed up, and I had to close it. I was the last custom shop to survive after the " covid " debacle. Clients became despots, and workers became unmanageable narcissists. The government made it impossible to do anything without breaking some rule. I feel your pain.
I read your full comment before you edited and shortened it. You are spot on. I feel for you, having to consider doing this is hard enough, but going through with it and being the last shop in the region really hurts.
Who was the covid president? He's back!!!
@@greg7191 And the other president that had to deal with covid is President until Jan. 20, 2025. So ... until then ..... HE'S STILL HERE!!!!!!!
@greg7191 during all 4 years including covid, there was work. The previous 8 years was dismal also.
Hey, we sure are hearing this from machine shops in California and Arizona. Stick with its Josh if you can (tough as it is) as we have been at this for 31 years, economies to rebound sometime in the future, sometimes you like you share have to shut down take a job and maybe you can return when things get brighter.
We are specialized in what we do, we do not make much money, we do not need much money as we are older than you, we had many tough years, we see a really tough economic time ahead, for how long we do not make predictions but trust us it is true.
We have also not been able to buy one item from that auction you brought to our attention though we do bid on 1 our 2 waiting for something we saw in the video to come up and will try again on that one or 2 and see how high it goes, fees packaging, then shipping from Wisconsin, then sight unseen and finally those Pesquet taxes.
Thank you for sharing in truth your struggles, when we were young, we were too damn proud to admit tough times, so you are doing good in our view anyways. Lance & Patrick.
I wish you well
Do you not have a problem with water absorption using Nylatron for that application?
It's great stuff but I've always been advised not to use it in wet/high humidity environments.
Sorry to hear about the slowdown in work. Repair work for heavy industry has got to be a tough niche to be in if the industry has left your area as you say. Have you considered transitioning into more of an all-purpose job shop? I would have to imagine that your area allows for lower overhead that would give you an advantage over shops located in the major metropolitan areas. Maybe try Xometry to get some work in the door and get your spindles turning?
@@Dellpodder xometry was a waste of time and money. Tried it, learned my lesson.
From a old shop owner. Only pay cash for machines. A one man shop has to operate that way. We had a yruck that run the east coast picking up work.and a good salesman that worked on comission.one man cant do all that. We made products which required repairs. Reduce your expences put your head down and you will get thru this.good luck
I hope the change in government will jumpstart the whole country. I really admire you and the honest straightforward manner you have. The country needs business people like you. You’ll be in my prayers.
Interesting that everything in your area is slowing down, that’s too bad. Do you have any idea where the work is going? Or is what they do becoming obsolete? When you say mills, is that paper mills? If you have to get a job, how much of the shop would you keep for your own use?
I feel/live your pain Bro!
Your frequent comments regarding the economic distress in your area are hard to ignore. I’m sure all your viewers wish you well. I completely identify with your desire to stay in your area - I would rather take a beating than relocate. It seems like once we reach a certain age there is a lot of gravitational pull to keep us where we are. Sometimes you can adapt and overcome adverse situations but sometimes you have to change the scenery to get through it. One thing I am sure that I'd do if I were in your shoes is to use the platform you have built - exploit the hell out of the Internet and RUclips. I’m sure you’ll do well however it goes. ATB
To start over somewhere else and build everything we have here would be expensive give. We busted our butt's to build the home and property as we want it, how could you start over. As for the business, if I can't make it, I'll move on to some other field. Not machining or welding again though.
Please make underground bunker videos…. Especially if you Make underground machine shop 😮
How well does the nylotron handle working in a dirty abrasive environment....farm machinery in dirt sand etc
Are you willing to do all stainless work? Are you willing to ship to Illinois (Carol Stream)? Are you willing to do quick turnarounds? Are you willing to do production machining as well as some 1-off's?
I will pass this video over to Operations and Purchasing and see if there are some things we can have you quote.
I have no problems with stainless or shipping. Depends on the quantities, I can do short run productions.
@@TopperMachineLLC Ok sounds good! Ops and Purchasing are tied up right now, we have our ISO audit today/tomorrow. I will put a bug in their ear though when I can grab them and we will see what we can do!
Hang in there Josh, we just proved we want our country back.... I have a feeling things are going to pick up all over.
Yeah over here in the thumb of Michigan it's been dead for the last 20 years we used to have 13 machine shops and they're all gone
Sad, and nobody cares.
I’ve seen a lot of Craigslist ads around me, offering machining services. Not sure if you’ve done that or even open to it. Maybe check with your city/county maintenance crew and see if they have work that you could do 🤷🏼♂️
I have tried absolutely everything. And I mean everything. If other shops are pushing the craigslist and ads that hard, they are starving also. Moving out of this region would be the best option, but I am not starting over and honestly too burnt out to start over.
"Underground Bunker" why? Is it intended as a tornado shelter? cold room storage?
Why not, is the correct question. Why wouldn't you want one? So many uses and options.
Ever since I was a kid I wanted to build an underground place, who didn't, as I got to be an adult I had the machines to do it and finally got some huge concrete culverts free and made an underground Hobbit house as it's become known to store my barrels of maple syrup it works great.
Here in most parts of Australia, we have a lot of problems with subterranean termites. There have been cases of houses being so badly damaged that they had to be demolished. They love pine and seeing that you mill a lot of pine, I was wondering if you have termites where you are, but I'm thinking that you wouldn't because the winters are too cold for them to survive.
No termites.
I don’t know about your region, Josh, but here in Washington they allow enough lumber to be shipped in from Canada that we have lost a lot of our sawmills. I really hope this new administration sees this issue.
I'm curious why nylatron vrs Delrin. Nylatron seems to absorb lots more moisture than delrin. I've used delrin a lot for bushings and also had good luck, but most weren't high load bearing.
Self lubrication is a bonus, and the lubrication can be water only, or even dry.
While they claim it absorbs water, that has never been what I have seen. I made bushings for a customer (long gone now) who use it in underwater applications.
@@TopperMachineLLC It does absorb water, under 1% change in dimension, which in a bush is not too much of an issue. Wet it will self clearance, and if it dries it will still work well.
Have you considered doing contracts outside of your region? Perhaps Milwaukee or other areas where there is more industry
I have tried. They all have the same response. Spooner is too far to ship.
Mr. Topper, production runs from billet stock is where the money is at if you get your setup correct. You buy the material and ship it, which would be included in your bid. At this point you have two Bridgeport mills. Two vices on each one would facilitate your work on a production run. It’s hard to make money on repairs and prototype work.
@justuandmebb actually, I sold the second BP and it left today.
Bedankt
Thank you Greatly appreciated
What about nylatron for a pilot bushing for a transmission, that should be ok shouldn't it ?
No idea. You could try it and report back.
Have you tried plastic cup companies they have all kinds of needs and they will ship anywhere if you can get the job done
No, I haven't.
There is soooo much equipment and tooling up for auction now, It just shows how slow business is all over. Sorry Josh, I hope it turns around.
I'm sorry the work is dropping off, this really sucks...would it be worth moving location.
absolutely not. I am not moving, I will just move on with a different field of work if it comes to that.
@@TopperMachineLLC Ah good man yes thats awesome.
Just a few months ago you were super busy. What happened to all that work and those companies?
@@JasonAWilliams-IS a few of them closed up completely. Lost 4 big facilities I service inside of 3 months. They are being liquidated in the next few months.
@TopperMachineLLC a few machining RUclipsrs I watch get work from their viewers. Do you ever get that?
Rarely. I have done just a little so far.
Can you see yourself doing any kore railroad content in the future? I really enjoyed your emd 567 video.
If the FRA gets gutted in the next 4 years, maybe.
hopefully the new administration will kick the economy in high gear and folks will have more work, you are in my prayers
Mate, sorry to hear of the decline of the industries there. Has this been on the decline in the past 4 or 8 years?
Do you think it will pick back up in the next year or more?
BTW, I am enjoying your contrnt a lot. You are one of a few I watch every time you put out a video.
Best regards
The last 4 years have seen accelerated decline. But it really started with Obama. Unfortunately the infrastructure is gone, the workforce is leaving, I don't see much hope for rebuilding
@@TopperMachineLLC Mate, that is so sad and heartbreaking hearing that industries are closing down especially in modern society where such a skillful is needed.
I think the must modern skillful trade that has had to go through a drastic change would be the Printing industry, going from manual labor with typesetting to the computer age.
I hope that the future starts to recover for you and your area.
@@TopperMachineLLC
Manufacturing decline began with Reagan .. in the 1980's All driven by bankers, investors and private equity.. They control funds which means Return On Investment & share holder well-being is the only goal of importance. Shipping manufacturing offshore produces higher returns on investment that is what will be done. Politicians are political pawns controlled by bankers, investors a billionaires.
Employees and all lesser is of no importance to them. Employees are viewed as slaves that are disposable. They spew what is needed to get votes including false hope and want to believe. They will tell you what you want to hear for votes then behave and act based on their billionaire owners.
Manufacturing in the USA is mostly forever gone due to the entire eco-system being destroyed. There is no incentive to on-shore due to the investments required, talent and personal needed to make it go and all entire manufacturing eco-system would need to be rebuilt. This demand multi Trillion U$D to begin.. No banker, investor, private equity will attempt this.
Josh, Think about designing and manufacturing a product.
The only thing I have is the sawmill, and I can't get far enough ahead to even make more or hire the help to make more.
Greetings from the oldest town in Texas, Nacogdoches. Another interesting video. Hopefully with the new administration, business will start picking up for you.
The first Trump train wreck, The economy lost 2.7 million jobs.
Hi Josh, this is a pretty sobering video, I desperately hope you can find a way to keep trading beyond next year. I’m a landscaper in the South West of England and I’ve just had the quietest year for twenty years, absolutely nothing in the diary moving forward either.
It’s a job I absolutely love doing so I’ll keep trying to find avenues of work and sometimes I’ll work very cheaply rather than do nothing, but that doesn’t pay the bills. Thank you for all of the videos, they are inspirational.
I wish you the best. It's hard to even get up in the morning when you have no work.
By Grabthars hammer, what a savings!
Huge cost difference
Not good news. Very disappointing.
We hope it picks up.
Hopefully things change here for you come January.
The damage is done. I don't think it will get better.
Underground Bunker?
Not trying to sound like a smarta$$, but instead of struggling, is there not an option to sell the property and relocate to different area?
There is not. The region is not economically viable enough to get enough to relocate. Furthermore, I will not move and start over in this business. It was hard enough the first time, I'm not going through that again. And I have other reasons for not leaving.
@ I really hope things pick up again and you’re able to earn more by doing what you love to do. I’m in UK and the whole country is getting destroyed by new governments Net Zero agendas. Last steel production plant closed this summer, moved to India and most of manufacturing industry have to rely on imported goods. Atleast you have a proper leader elected now. Onwards and upwards.
Sorry to hear about your area's downturn. I wonder what would have happened if the democrats had stayed in holding the reins for another four or even eight years? Seems to me, looking over the fence from Canada, that things might well have improved enough to give guys like you a fighting chance. What's going to happen now with the certified crook you've stuck in the top seat who the heck knows. All I can read from here is it ain't gonna be pretty! Good luck and keep posting when you can. We'll be waiting.
Regards from Canada's banana belt.
🤞🇨🇦🍌🥋🇺🇦🕊🇺🇲🦃🐖💩👍
Funny, the first 4 years of trump were great. I don't see it being worse that the last 4 years of O'Biden. There is hope with Trump taking office for the country, but not my region.
yeah only a million Americans died of covid and trump blew the deficit up almost 8 trillion bucks. no biggie.
Let me assure you, its not only your region. Half of europe is deindustrializing at the moment. The big corporations all close up shop and half the suppliers go belly-up. I hope it gets better for all of us in the next couple of months and I hope we’re all still there when it picks back up.
Wish you lived near me. I can't find a job shop anywhere.
Ship it!!!
Good luck putting some venison in the freezer and stay safe.
When was the golden era for wisconsin?
80s through early 90s were good here. The decline really took root during Obama, and spiraled out of control from there.
It sounds like a pretty dismal and bleak trajectory, and the tax incentive/warranty piece is a real kick in the nuts. I don't suppose there is any work to be had from shipping/fishing industry on Lake Superior or Lake Michigan? I hope things improve with the new administration in the next year, and you get access to work from somewhere.
@@wretchedmess shipping in the twin ports is nothing compared to 20 years ago. It's really Nad there.
Yeah a 100% increase on material costs via tariffs is really going to help manufacturing. Do yall eat lead paint chips like a bag Lays?
@cptbuiltk7944 funny, I had to pull some material invoiced and check. His first term, I paid, at the highest, 40% less for materials than I did this last administration at its lowest. Same vendors, same materials. Considering how this administration is claiming nowhere near 40% inflation, how is that even possible??? Must be the lead paint chips I'm eating and the kool-aid I'm drinking.
Hay Josh, why not try making products to sell, I don't know what that would be, but maybe some kind of metal art. you have all the machines to make most anything and people are always looking for unique items to display, especially if the item is mechanical.
I've tried. The only thing I have is the sawmill, which I can not build alone. Not having enough work to grow and get in more help puts a stop to that idea.
Never give up Josh, Never give up, and never say never. Things just might turn around, now that there is a competent president in charge.
@joepeanut6827 you can't keep bashing your head against a wall and not eventually give up. I'm giving it one last good push. We will see what happens by the end of next year.
@@TopperMachineLLCI know Josh, Just wishing you the best and Praying everything works out for you.
You dont want to eat the deer anymore with all the outbreaks of CWD and the culls they had about 10 years ago.
Enjoy the Red Hats
Not saying it'll help, but have you considered posting to LinkedIn? It's more professionally oriented that the other social media sites. I see you're on there but haven't posted anything.
It's not monitized the way RUclips is but those who like/comment then have your post recommended to their professional connections.
My top posts where posts with photos of shop work. People each that stuff up as it's more value than the bulk of marketing crap there so it stucks out. Unfortunately my companty's marketing group made it difficult wanting to review/approve everything so I stopped.
You'd get a lot of runway over the next year just posting links weekly of your past work there.
You likely already considered but thought I'd mention it jsut in case. It's value isn't RUclips style monitization rather "Who you know" and those can lead to referals from others.
Really empathize with your position. Grew up in Northern MI (Manistique) and everyone I went to school with is Dead, in Prison or left the area and made something of themselves. They've never had an economic bust because there was never a boom. Just barely enough economoc activity to sustain the retirees and those on public assistance with a few exceptions.
Hopefully things will get better after Jan 20th
Dream on. Oligarchs follow cheap labor. Figure it out.
@@78jog89 Yeah, Kamala and Biden would have fixed it, wait a second, aren't they part of the reason the economy is so bad right now?
@@78jog89 No, you don't understand. The tariffs on raw material small shops use will make the imported finished parts from China more expensive!
Companies will move manufacturing back to the USA so they can pay...more for raw material?
As they say, the only thing you can't make with a shaper is money
And they are totally wrong. Just like the ones who say a radial drill is useless.
The election is over,, help is on its way
Thanks for the video
@TheMaddogronh not for this region. Most of the industry is gone. They have pushed put any manufacturing and promoted tourism, which does not support anyone. This region is done. It's not coming back.
Honestly your best bet is going to be creating and selling a good product that you can manufacture in house. Something akin to the stuff Fireball Tool makes. That’s the only way you’ll keep afloat. Considering the area is dead and you own the equipment you’re overhead is probably low enough to be competitive nationwide, but just doing piecemeal work and repairs isn’t going to suffice if the region is packing up. Contact fireball tools and see if maybe you could get come contract work from him. He has an entire line of made in USA products and from what I understand he has been having a hard time finding companies with the ability or capacity to make some of the components for that stuff in the USA.
I have been trying to find some products I could make, but I am just not creative enough. I am working on some ideas for myself, we will see. Great suggestion on contacting Jason. I will do that.
Things might pick up here in ‘25. You have skills. 👍
Hi Josh, I made a donation on Yourube to help you through hard times.
To everyone: make a donation and help Josh get by 😊
I appreciate it, although I'm not asking for money. I need to find customers. I prefer to earn money. No offense intended by this statement either. I do appreciate the help.
Morning Josh. Do you need to use Molly grease with the Nylatron?
Sorry business is tough. Too much ‘green’ save the planet stuff kills the economy! Be Well
Sometimes I wonder what might throw our country into a great depression. Our debt and decline is catching up to us. I am terrified of debt at this point in history. It may be 1928 or 1929 soon.
Sadly I feel it's coming.
The federal debt held by the public went up, from $14.4 trillion to $21.6 trillion under trump. biden has added less than half as much debt.
This is a direct result of all of the OUT SOURCES of work overseas.. All of the manufacturing left, so there isn't anything to repair...
Hang in there. Maybe with trump in business may be coming back, hopefully
Not here. The infrastructure is gone.
For the past few years, Federal Government has been the biggest job creator in this country, look into contracts or servicing job with a government agency like military/AF/Navy, DOE, Healthcare, etc... Federal contacts have to be done in the US and cannot be offshored. You are right, private manufacturing is dying in this country, nobody makes or repairs anything when you can get it brand new from China for half the cost !
I am registered as a government contractor. The problem I have found is that due to being by myself and not having all of the credentials, I am disqualified for most everything. On the state level, I am more qualified, but will always lose out to larger companies. It's a vicious cycle.
@@TopperMachineLLC Josh , we have Marinette Marine that builds ships in our area of Wisconsin , and also Great Lakes Custom Tools in Peshtigo , Wisconsin . These are two possible companies that you might contact for work . One is large , and one is small . It might be worth a shot . Both are located in Northeast Wisconsin .
@huntncover thanks. I'll give them a call
@@TopperMachineLLC- Dealing with government bureaucracy sucks, but once you break into the system things get lot easier. One advantage of being small is that you can afford to be the lowest bidder to get those contracts.
Why not relocate your shop to the south like Texas or Florida That is where people are moving to.
Not relocating. The cost to move would kill me. Not to mention the stress to try to start over. It's just not worth it to ms. I'd sooner get a different job that start over.