Talkin Shop with ShopSabre

Step into the leadership role you were meant for by learning the lessons most shop owners only discover the hard way.
In this episode of Talkin' Shop, Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters dive deep into the personal side of building a business. Leadership isn't just about making decisions or telling people what to do; it's a learned skill that often requires facing uncomfortable truths. Brandon shares six pivotal lessons he wishes he knew before he started leading, ranging from the importance of setting the tone for your team to understanding that accountability must always start at the top.
Beyond the leadership deep dive, the guys answer critical technical questions for anyone looking to optimize their CNC performance. We break down whether rack and pinion systems truly move faster than ball screws and why gantry clearance is a "king" metric for industrial engineering. We also touch on the ShopSabre motto: "Buy your second machine the first time," and why cutting costs upfront can often be the most expensive mistake a business makes. 
Whether you are managing a team of two or twenty, or just trying to decide on your next machine investment, this episode provides the roadmap to grow with intention.
[00:00] - Welcome back to Talkin' Shop with Brandon Bombardo & Nick Peters
[04:48] - Technical Q&A: Is Rack and Pinion Faster than Ball Screws? 
[06:15] - Engineering for Success: Why Tall Gantries and Clearance Matter
[07:49] - The ShopSabre Motto: Buy Your Second Machine the First Time
[10:01] - Leadership Lesson 1: Not Everyone Will Think Like You 
[12:03] - Leadership Lesson 2: As a Leader, Your Presence Sets the Tone
[17:25] - Leadership Lesson 3: Accountability Starts at the Top 
[20:59] - Leadership Lesson 4: Responsibility Over Popularity 
[25:11] - Leadership Lesson 5: Growing Outside Your Comfort Zone 
[26:51] - Leadership Lesson 6: Why You Don't Need All the Answers 
[33:42] - Inspiring Others to Reach Higher: Final Motivational Thoughts
[38:40] - Brandon's Duck Call and Keeping it Fun in the Shop
Discover all our CNC machines and accessories: https://www.shopsabre.com/ 
Follow ShopSabre for daily updates, tutorials, and expert tips: 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/ 
Since 2000, ShopSabre CNC has delivered high-quality CNC routers, plasma cutters, and laser engraving machines built in the USA to businesses and hobbyists worldwide. Subscribe for more insights on CNC technology, project builds, and industry-leading machine performance.

Everybody online has an opinion about what makes a CNC machine "industrial." But here is the real question — does any of that noise actually help you run parts, meet deadlines, or grow your business?
 
Welcome to the Official Talkin Shop Podcast, hosted by Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters from ShopSabre. Today we are tearing apart one of the most overused and least defined words in all of CNC manufacturing. The word industrial gets thrown around like confetti on the internet, and we are done watching it crush the motivation of shop owners who are out here building real businesses with real results.
 
Brandon gets fired up about online critics who have never touched the machines they trash, breaks down why size, weight, and price tags do not define capability, and shares a powerful weekend conversation with Router Bob that reframes everything you thought you knew about comparing CNC brands. You will also hear a jaw-dropping customer success story from a listener who turned part-time work on his ShopSabre into serious profit in year one — and the simple financial advice that made it possible.
 
This episode is a wake-up call for every shop owner who has ever second-guessed their equipment because of some stranger in a comment section. If your machine runs production, delivers repeatable results, and keeps your business moving forward, that is industrial. Period.
 
Plus, Brandon connects it all with a surprisingly perfect Minnesota Wild hockey playoff analogy that every business owner needs to hear, and drops a motivational quote that will stick with you long after you close the browser.
[00:00] - Intro to Talkin Shop with Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters
[00:25] - Coach Nick's Baseball Season Update
[02:05] - Setting the Stage: What Does "Industrial" Really Mean?
[06:12] - Customer Questions: Vacuum Table Performance
[07:39] - Does Machine Weight Actually Matter?
[09:39] - Listener Success Story: $55K Profit Part-Time with ShopSabre
[12:37] - Deep Dive: "Industrial" Is Just a Buzzword
[17:44] - Right-Sizing Your Machine to Your Business Stage
[23:14] - Addressing the Online Critics Head-On
[27:12] - Finding the Right Fit: Application Over Assumption
[31:12] - Build the Business, Not Win the Argument
[34:37] - Motivational Quote of the Week
[36:13] - Minnesota Wild Hockey Playoff Analogy
[39:56] - Final Thoughts and Outro
Like this video if you believe results define industrial — not opinions! Drop a comment telling us what "industrial" means to YOUR shop. And if you have not subscribed yet, now is the time — join the conversation every week.
 
If you are tired of the noise and ready to focus on what actually builds businesses, this one is for you. Hit play now.
 
Like this video if you believe results define industrial — not opinions! Drop a comment telling us what "industrial" means to YOUR shop. And if you have not subscribed yet, now is the time — join the conversation every week.

#CNC #CNCRouter #CNCMachine #ShopSabre #TalkinShop #AmericanMade #CNCManufacturing #SmallBusinessGrowth #MadeInUSA #ShopOwner #CNCShop #ManufacturingPodcast #IndustrialCNC #CNCBusiness #fabrication 
 
Discover all our CNC machines and accessories: https://www.shopsabre.com/ 
Follow ShopSabre for daily updates, tutorials, and expert tips: 
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/ 
Since 2000, ShopSabre CNC has delivered high-quality CNC routers, plasma cutters, and laser engraving machines built in the USA to businesses and hobbyists worldwide. Subscribe for more insights on CNC technology, project builds, and industry-leading machine performance.

Ready to stop leaving your shop's success in someone else's hands? In Episode 245 of Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre, Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters get straight to the heart of one of the biggest decisions every CNC owner and fabricator faces: are you truly manufacturing your products, or are you just distributing someone else's work?
Brandon unpacks exactly why owning the full process—from design and production all the way through support and continuous improvement—delivers tighter control over quality, faster resolutions, rock-solid accountability, and the kind of customer trust that keeps shops growing year after year. You'll hear real-talk insights on the hidden challenges distributors face and why that extra layer can quietly cost you time, consistency, and long-term relationships. Whether you're a one-person operation dreaming of scaling or already running a busy production floor, this conversation will make you rethink how you build, sell, and stand behind your work.
Along the way, they tackle your burning viewer questions: Is handcrafted really better than CNC? What's the smartest press brake choice for a small shop? And why do pros put that "tape" on high-power laser heads anyway? Expect plenty of shop banter, a laugh or two, and a motivational close that hits home when the going gets tough.
If you're serious about building a stronger, more profitable CNC business with better control and happier customers, this is the episode you've been waiting for.
[00:00] - Intro to Talkin' Shop with Brandon Bombardo & Nick Peters
[01:17] - Today's Topic: Manufacturing vs Distribution
[03:39] - Viewer Comment: Handcrafted Better Than CNC?
[07:13] - Q&A: Best CNC Press Brake for Small Shops (Titan 2050)
[08:07] - Q&A: Why Use Texture Tape on Laser Cutting Heads?
[11:29] - Core Differences: Manufacturer Control vs Distributor Challenges
[18:25] - Advantages of True Manufacturing – Ownership & Accountability
[23:20] - Distribution Roadblocks: Communication & Expectation Gaps
[31:58] - Why Bringing Production In-House Builds Long-Term Trust
[37:04] - Motivational Quote of the Week
[39:57] - Final Thoughts & Outro
Like this video if you're ready to take full ownership of your manufacturing process! Drop a comment below: Are you team manufacturer or team distributor? Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode packed with straight-talk CNC business strategy.
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
#CNCManufacturing #ManufacturerVsDistributor #ShopSabre #CNCBusiness #DirectFromManufacturer #CNCShopOwner #Fabrication #MetalFabrication #CNCAutomation #MadeInUSA #CNCRouter #CNCLaser #BusinessGrowth #ShopTalk #ManufacturingTips

Challenges Don't Discriminate: Real Talk on Business Grit | Ep 244
What if the deck isn't stacked against you — it's just waiting for you to stack the right kind of effort?
In this no-fluff, straight-to-the-gut episode of Talkin' Shop, Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters rip the lid off one of the most uncomfortable truths in business: challenges don't care who you are, where you started, or how "fair" you think life should be. They hit every shop owner the same way. But here's the part that's going to light a fire under you — the ones who win aren't the ones who get handed the easiest path. They're the ones who show up, lean in, and let consistent effort do the heavy lifting.
Get ready for raw, real-talk energy that blends shop-floor wisdom with hockey-rink lessons you'll actually use. You'll hear why some CNC businesses pull ahead while others stay stuck, how to stop comparing your starting line to everyone else's, and the exact mindset shift that turns pressure into your secret weapon. Brandon shares the unfiltered stories and hard-earned lessons that built ShopSabre into what it is today, while Nick keeps it real with listener questions that hit home for anyone running machines or running a business.
This isn't another "motivational" episode that fades by Monday. This is the one that rewires how you show up when things get tough — and gives you the grit to turn every obstacle into momentum.
If you're tired of feeling like the odds are against you and ready to build something unstoppable, hit play right now.
[00:00] - Welcome to Talkin' Shop with Brandon Bombardo & Nick Peters
[02:32] - Today's Topic: Not Everything in Life is Equal
[04:02] - CNC Listener Questions: Aluminum Mist Systems & More
[06:10] - Vacuum Pump Filters – What Really Works
[08:09] - Why ShopSabre Machines Get You Running Faster
[10:57] - Business Mindset: Stop Comparing, Start Owning Your Effort
[15:32] - How Challenges Expose Real Growth (Hockey & Shop Lessons)
[28:07] - Ownership Removes Excuses – Real Stories from the Bench
[37:51] - Takeaways: Life, Business & Sports Aren't Equal
[39:36] - Motivational Quote of the Week + Final Thoughts
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.
#CNCManufacturing #SmallBusinessGrowth #ShopOwnerMindset #CNCBusiness #EffortOverTime #TalkinShop #ShopSabre #ManufacturingMotivation #BusinessGrit #CNCtips #HustleAndGrow #MindsetMatters #ShopLife #CNCrouter #entrepreneurmindset 
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

Welcome back to Talking Shop with ShopSabre! In Episode 243, hosts Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters tackle one of the most universal challenges every CNC shop owner, fabricator, and business leader faces: pressure. What if the weight of deadlines, important decisions, and growing expectations isn't a burden — but actually a privilege that signals trust, capability, and real growth in your shop?
Brandon and Nick kick things off with laughs about Nick's beach vacation, saltwater disasters, and a hilarious callback to his old "Crabby Nick" grocery store mascot days. They then answer real viewer questions from the ShopSabre community: how to hide exposed screws on garage cabinetry, why square drive screws beat Phillips head, and why ShopSabre's vacuum table uses flat-bottom channels (plus smart advice on when gaskets from All Star Gasket actually make sense).
The core of the episode reframes pressure as the natural byproduct of progress. As your CNC business scales — bigger jobs, more employees, larger investments, and a growing reputation — the pressure naturally increases. Brandon shares stories from his son's AAA hockey goalie journey and his own race car side hustle to show how pressure builds better systems, sharper focus, and stronger leadership. They discuss why experienced operators feel it less, how to keep pressure from turning into anxiety, and practical ways to manage it: prioritize ruthlessly, build repeatable processes, trust your team, and stay grounded in facts instead of emotion.
If you run a CNC machine, own a manufacturing shop, or lead a growing team, this episode will completely shift how you view the "heavy" parts of the job. Pressure isn't random — it follows your growth. Embrace it, and it becomes the force that creates real success.
[00:00] - Welcome Back & Vacation Banter with Nick Peters
[02:09] - Today's Topic: Pressure as a Privilege in Business
[04:27] - Viewer Q1: Covering Exposed Screws on Wall Cabinets
[05:40] - Viewer Q2: Why Square Drive Screws Over Phillips?
[07:11] - Viewer Q3: ShopSabre Vacuum Table Design & Gaskets Explained
[11:07] - Pressure vs Responsibility – Why It Feels Heavy
[13:58] - Personal Story: Teaching Kids (and Yourself) About Pressure
[19:05] - How Pressure Signals Growth & Change
[23:54] - Manufacturing Realities: Timelines, Tolerances & Expectations
[28:20] - Practical Tips: Prioritize, Build Systems & Trust Your Team
[32:41] - The Direct Link Between Pressure and Opportunity
[38:35] - Final Takeaway: No Pressure, No Diamonds
[43:23] - Outro with Brandon Bombardo & Nick Peters
Like this video if you're ready to turn pressure into fuel for your CNC shop's success! Drop a comment below: What's one area where you're feeling pressure right now — and how are you using it to grow?
#CNCTips #CNCShop #ShopSabre #Manufacturing #SmallBusinessGrowth #CNCBusiness #LeadershipMindset #ShopLife #MakerCommunity #Woodworking #MetalFabrication #PressureIsPrivilege #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurMindset #NoPressureNoDiamonds
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