Talkin Shop with ShopSabre

Welcome back to Talking Shop with ShopSabre! In Episode 242, host Brandon Bombardo and co-host Nicholas dive deep into one of the most important — yet often overlooked — drivers of every successful CNC shop and growing business: authentic leadership.
Instead of textbook theory, this episode explores real-world leadership lessons taught on the manufacturing floor every day. From earning respect (not demanding it) to leading from the front, resolving conflict productively, making calm decisions under pressure, and building a team culture where people actually want to show up and succeed — Brandon and Nick share practical insights you can apply immediately in your shop, your business, and even your personal life.
Whether you run a CNC router, plasma, or laser operation, manage a team, or simply want to become a better leader, this conversation delivers honest, no-fluff advice grounded in the realities of deadlines, machine breakdowns, customer demands, and daily shop-floor chaos.
What you'll learn in this episode:
Why true leadership is earned through participation, not titles
How to handle conflict without yelling or creating fear
The power of clear expectations and consistent support
Why hesitation costs more than imperfect decisions
How accountability paired with respect builds stronger teams
Leadership principles that translate from the shop floor to family and life
If you're a CNC machinist, shop owner, fabricator, or anyone in manufacturing looking to level up your leadership game, this episode is for you.
👍 Like if you believe great leaders work alongside their team
💬 Comment: What's the best leadership lesson the shop floor ever taught YOU?
🛠️ Subscribe and hit the bell — new episodes drop weekly!
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Timestamps
[00:00] - Welcome to Talking Shop with ShopSabre Ep 242
[00:22] - Introducing today's topic: Real Leadership in Manufacturing
[02:07] - What does leadership actually mean on the shop floor?
[05:14] - Why manufacturing teaches leadership better than any classroom
[13:13] - Leadership is earned, not assigned — respect vs title
[16:01] - Handling conflict productively (the 3-strikes approach)
[22:13] - Creating real motivation beyond posters and paychecks
[25:40] - Decision-making under pressure — why hesitation hurts
[30:10] - Accountability without blame: building psychological safety
[35:08] - Patience, consistency, and staying a student of the craft
[39:21] - Motivational quote of the week + final thoughts
[44:33] - Wrap-up and vacation banter
#CNCLife #CNCmachining #ShopSabre #ManufacturingLeadership #LeadershipLessons #CNCShop #MachineShop #SmallBusinessTips #ShopFloorWisdom #TradeSkills #CNCbusiness #LeadershipDevelopment #ManufacturingTips #MadeInUSA #WoodworkingCNC

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Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
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Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC 
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021

Are you a small CNC shop owner feeling like a tiny player in a massive manufacturing world? In Episode 241 of Talking Shop with ShopSabre, hosts Brandon Bombardo and "Vacation Nick" prove that small businesses aren't just surviving—they're the backbone driving real innovation, agility, and local economies. 
Kicking off with a hilarious (and snowy) morning mishap story, the guys dive straight into listener Q&A: best tools for scanning boat/truck templates (Proliner scanner recommendation), securing spoil boards on CNC routers (vacuum + resurfacing wins), and why torch collision sensors beat breakaway mounts for plasma safety and uptime. Real-world CNC advice you can apply today.
The heart of the episode explores the unique strengths of small manufacturers—leaner operations, faster pivots, closer customer relationships, and decision-making speed that big corporations can't match. Brandon and Nick discuss challenges like economic cycles, thoughtful scaling without losing culture, smart investing (CNC upgrades over toys), and the pride of family-run shops. They emphasize resilience, avoiding fads, staying curious about automation/tech, and believing in your ability to grow. If you've ever thought "we're not big enough," this episode flips that mindset—small shops create jobs, train talent, support communities, and often outmaneuver giants through dedication and craftsmanship.
Whether you're running a garage CNC setup, family cabinet shop, or growing fabrication business, you'll walk away motivated to invest wisely, adapt to changes, and keep building something lasting.
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Blizzard Chaos & Vacation Nick Banter
[03:30] - Small Businesses: The Real Backbone of Manufacturing
[07:00] - Listener Q&A: Template Scanning for Boats/Trucks
[11:50] - Best Ways to Secure Your CNC Spoil Board
[14:10] - Torch Collision Sensor vs Breakaway Mount Explained
[17:30] - Advantages of Being a Small Manufacturer
[23:20] - Scaling Without Losing Your Shop's Soul
[26:40] - Navigating Economic Shifts as a Small Shop
[30:30] - Smart Investments: CNC Upgrades Over Boats
[35:00] - Pride, Family Legacy & Long-Term Mindset
[40:00] - Staying Competitive with Tech & Customer Focus
[43:00] - Motivational Close: Believe in Yourself
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Follow us for daily CNC content
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC 
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021

What if you knew exactly how many failures stood between you and massive success in your CNC shop? In Episode 240 of Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre, hosts Brandon Bombardo and "The Psychiatrist" Nick Peters tackle the real reason most businesses stall—not the failures themselves, but the fear, doubt, and hesitation they create.
They flip the script: Imagine success was guaranteed after exactly 25 failures—how fast would you move? How little would those setbacks sting? This deep-dive episode explores reframing failure as progress, data, and a countdown to breakthroughs rather than defeat. Brandon and Nick discuss why uncertainty (not the mistake) fuels emotional weight, how perception changes everything (like road rage vs. knowing the full story), and why high-performing shops treat setbacks as recalibration instead of roadblocks.
You'll hear practical insights for CNC owners: Variables in cutting aren't machine flaws—they're environmental realities to master. Why ShopSabre skips mandatory onsite training (better components + lifetime support = less need for hand-holding). Addressing the "your machines are too expensive" objection with real value talk (dependability, USA-built quality, long-term savings). Plus lighter moments of banter and a powerful motivational close: Try, fail, learn, keep going.
Whether you're battling learning curves with new CNC routers, plasma cutters, fiber lasers, or scaling your shop, this episode reminds you: Failure rarely stops businesses—hesitation does. Emotional discipline turns friction into fuel.
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Intro & The Big Question: What If You Knew the Outcome?
[01:21] - 25 Failures to Success: How Fast Would You Move?
[03:17] - Q1: Why Cutting Variables Differ Machine to Machine
[05:51] - Q2: Onsite Training – Why ShopSabre Does It Differently
[10:40] - Q3: "Your Machines Are Too Expensive" – Real Talk
[14:31] - Reframing Failure: From Defeat to Progress
[19:18] - The Hidden Problem: Uncertainty & Emotional Weight
[23:00] - High-Performing Shops Treat Failure as Feedback
[27:49] - Growth & Friction: Inseparable in CNC Business
[31:05] - Final Thoughts: Choose Your Reaction, Keep Going
[35:50] - Outro & Motivational Close
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Follow us for daily CNC content
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC 
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021
#CNCMindset #FailForward #CNCBusiness #ShopGrowth #CNCShop #EntrepreneurMindset #BusinessMotivation #ShopSabre #CNCFailure #ManufacturingMindset #CNCGrowth #FabricationLife #KeepGoing #TryFailLearn #WoodworkingBusiness #Metalworking

If everything in your shop ran perfectly, you'd never actually get better. Think about that for a second.
Today on Talkin' Shop, Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters dig into a topic every business owner deals with but nobody really talks about — inconvenience. The delays. The missed deadlines. The customer who changes the scope at the last minute. It all feels personal in the moment, but the truth is, it's just part of running a real business.
Brandon got the idea for this episode from his own experience with a travel insurance headache. He was told his refund would take six weeks instead of seven days. Instead of blowing up on the phone, he stayed calm, explained his situation, and the rep expedited the whole thing. That one conversation became the blueprint for this entire discussion — how you respond matters way more than what happened.
The guys talk about why expecting a frictionless path is one of the fastest ways to create stress you don't need. Machines break down. Suppliers miss ship dates. Employees make mistakes. None of that means your business is failing. It means your business is real. The shops that stay steady through those moments are the ones still standing five and ten years from now.
They also share practical ways to handle disruption — normalize it so it doesn't hit so hard, build flexibility into your schedule, keep your ego out of it, and focus on the quality of your response instead of trying to control things you can't.
Before all that, the guys answer three listener questions: why manual tool calibration beats electronic switches for MDF doors, how to choose between cabinet software like Mozaik and Cab Builder, and how CNC equipment financing actually breaks down. Spoiler — a ShopSabre machine works out to about $25 an hour. Good luck finding an employee for that.
Bottom line: inconvenience isn't blocking your progress. It's usually a sign that progress is happening. Changes will not happen without inconvenience.
Episode Chapters:
[00:00] – Intro & Banter: Skiing Adventures with Nick
[04:16] – Customer Questions Segment
[04:24] – Q1: Why Not Use a Tool Measure Switch on MDF Doors?
[06:42] – Q2: Should I Choose Mozaik Over Other Software?
[08:38] – Q3: Financing Advice for First-Time CNC Buyers (Dan from Red Barn Custom Cabinetry)
[14:52] – Main Topic: Inconvenience in Business
[15:36] – The Myth of the Smooth Path
[18:05] – Why Expecting Frictionless Operations Creates Stress
[22:41] – Sorting Real Problems from Minor Inconveniences
[25:01] – Emotional Discipline During Disruption
[27:05] – Inconvenience as the Price of Progress
[30:48] – Practical Strategies for Navigating Inconvenience
[32:30] – Real Story: Travel Insurance and the Power of Staying Calm
[36:10] – Long-Term Thinkers vs. Short-Term Reactors
[37:42] – Hockey Parenting Update: The Pool Noodle Follow-Up
[39:35] – Key Takeaways & Motivational Quote
[41:00] – Closing Thoughts & Call to Action
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Follow us for daily CNC content
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC 
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021

In this episode of Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre, hosts Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters sit down with longtime customer Brad Goodman of Goodman Metal Fab in Mississippi. After seven years running ShopSabre plasma and router machines, Brad opens up about why he invested his own hard-earned money in their 2kW single-phase fiber laser and how it completely transformed his shop.
Brad runs a busy aluminum fabrication business serving the racing world (think Street Outlaws and local heroes like Cat Kelly) plus high-volume industrial production parts. He walks through the real differences that matter on the floor: eliminating plasma taper for perfect bolt-ready holes within a few thousandths, slashing post-cleanup time on runs of 200–300 parts, and hitting the tight tolerances his big transformer customers demand. You'll hear why speed, edge quality, and drop-in-the-box parts add up to serious labor and consumable savings that pay for the machine fast.
Brad also shares honest laser operator advice that new owners need to hear. It's not plug-and-play, but if you come from plasma you already know half the battle. Learn what focus, duty cycle, air pressure, and nozzle size actually do, why you should run test cuts on your real materials, and how Brad had the machine uncrated, powered up, and cutting the same afternoon it arrived – all because he prepped and studied ahead.
The conversation goes deeper than machines. Brad and the guys talk safety (never skip the enclosure), the unbeatable ShopSabre tech support that's always a phone call away, and the fab-community mindset of sharing set points instead of hoarding them. You'll walk away motivated by Brad's no-nonsense take on quality-first business, hard work, right-sizing equipment for where you are today, and why relationships and reputation beat being the cheapest every single time.
Whether you're still on plasma, eyeing your first laser, or already running one and want real-world tuning wisdom, this customer story is packed with the kind of practical insight you won't find in a sales sheet. Brad proves that with the right machine, the right support, and the willingness to dial it in, your shop can level up without the headaches.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has built American-made routers, plasma tables, and fiber lasers right here in Minnesota with lifetime tech support and a focus on real fabricators who want to grow. Check out the full lineup at shopsabre.com and join the conversation in the comments – we love hearing what you're building next!
[00:00] - Intro to Talkin' Shop & Welcoming Brad Goodman
[03:35] - Brad's Business: Aluminum Fab, Racing Parts & ShopSabre Journey
[08:17] - Why Upgrade from Plasma to 2kW Fiber Laser?
[09:58] - Plasma Taper vs Laser Precision, Tolerances & Cleanup Savings
[14:06] - Laser Tuning Tips: Focus, Duty Cycle, Air Pressure & Nozzles
[16:15] - Same-Day Setup Story – Machine Running in Hours
[27:53] - Why Safety Enclosures Matter & ShopSabre Support
[32:53] - Community, Sharing Set Points & Long-Term Business Mindset
[47:35] - Future Plans, Rapid Fire Questions & Wrap-Up
#ShopSabre #FiberLaser #PlasmaToLaser #CNCLaser #MetalFabrication #AluminumFabrication #LaserCutting #CNCPlasma #FabShopLife #Manufacturing #LaserUpgrade #MadeInUSA #WeldingTips #SmallBusinessGrowth #CNCTips
Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/
Follow us for daily CNC content
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre
Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/
Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels.
For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country.
Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers.
ShopSabre CNC 
www.ShopSabre.com
21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044
800-493-6021