Parts Department
Episodes
178 - A popup worth thousands
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem powers through a sick week and sales slump while Justin accidentally nukes his revenue with a premature sale popup. They swap stories about migrat...
177 - Chippy, don't do it
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin wrestles with a backwards-wired Tormach AF50 saw and delegates tasks to his new hire. Jem rebuilds his job management system on a local server....
176 - We don't sell to inch people
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin hires his first office employee, Jem catches up on emails using Cursor, and both discuss the challenges of delegating tasks in their growing bu...
175 - Trenchcoat tool tags
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem weigh up if expensive trade shows are worth the $15k entry or if walking the floor with a "trench coat" of products is the smarter play...
174 - Spreadsheet Queens
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about complicated speaker parts, CAM programming headaches, and why wood routing feels less reliable than metal work. They geek ou...
173 - $65,000 and a brick
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem quoted big this week while glued to his desk, ditching ChatGPT for Claude and getting his staff into Cursor. His parkour bricked iPhone became sur...
172 - One-click kanban glory
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem's rocking top-tier muffs that isolate a screaming spindle while the guys talk one-click Kanban card glory. They discuss the magic of good- documen...
171 - Slag on my parts
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem's dialed-in tumbler workflow is pumping out thousands of little widgets with barely any intervention, while Justin redesigned the Fang clamp packa...
170 - Sticker Licker 3000
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin literally sold a room of his shop. Jem's questioning if his furniture business is secretly a tech company, someone stayed up til 2am installing...
169 - Scripting Blender like a coward
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem's dealing with wrong-white paint drama and bushfire heat waves while Justin finally cut steel and loved it. They nerd out on slitting saws, spindl...
168 - Hole in the wall, glorious
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Jem's recovering from bushfire evacuations and finding thinking work tough after the chaos. Justin's got a glorious new hole between his shop spaces a...
167 - Australian diesel spa
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Justin's been deep in AirShop development over the holidays while Jem dealt with diesel generator drama amid fire danger. They chat five-axis workflow...
166 - Dylan shows us the Hermle C250
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin wrap up the year with tales of inventory headaches, Home Assistant tinkering, and soft jaw frustrations on the new UMC. Dylan Jackson f...
165 - Salt on the IBC rim
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat new computers, shop reorganizations, and the joy of Facebook Marketplace finds like conveyors and what was sticky in Justin's new ...
164 - The filthy assistants
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin catch up after Thanksgiving, celebrating the sale of Justin's YCM mill and his new fiber laser adventures. They swap stories about home...
163 - Jokes don't work in space
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem records from a van battling massive audio lag while engineers occupy his shop floor. He celebrates winning Business of the Year and permits for th...
162 - Grumpy boss mans
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem's been grumpy after a slow studio sale, while Justin's juggling rush jobs solo. They chat about robot vacuums saving thousands in labor costs, Jus...
161 - I want my hat back
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin geek out over Jon Klassen. Jem’s selling equipment. They chat UMC updates, marketing consultant wisdom, and why email rules sales pl...
160 - Does Profit First Work?
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our biggest Profit First review yet. Jem and Justin break down why the system saved their businesses, how Mercury Bank automation beats manual trackin...
159 - Nano Banana Daddy
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin catch up after Justin's anniversary trip, discussing his new Haas UMC 5-axis mill installation and Jem's late-night robot programming s...
158 - Matthew, Lord of Vinyl Box
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin welcome their first-ever planned guest, Matt Swaidan of Simple Wood Goods. The Ohio-based maker discusses his decade-long journey build...
157 - Just fang it
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem fights corrupted robot flash disks while Justin battles predatory bank loans for his new mill. They discuss 5-axis machining mindset shifts, annou...
156 - Mood enhancing week
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem achieves lights-out ABB robot sanding with 3D printed horns and Grasshopper programming. Justin loses one CNC machine deal, finds another, signs t...
155 - Get Alfred a retirement fruit platter
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem gets deep into Grasshopper software building custom robot CAM while Justin keeps drilling thousands of holes on his ShopSabre. They chat about wil...
154 - You can't rush holes
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chew over 100,000 holes for breakfast and why you can’t rush them. They tackle janky probing and a carbon reporting prototype that’...
153 - Jonny Saves Nine Days
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem tackles email chaos while Justin's mill hits the market. Machine upgrades shine as Johnny cuts pencil sharpener cycle time from 17 to 4 seconds, s...
152 - The Penitentiary of Kansas
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem celebrates his ABB robot's first billable hours sanding dowels while planning a move to a tiny home workshop. Justin plans expansion into a second...
151 - The unstoppable em dash
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin wrestle with the unstoppable em dash while debating if butter robots dream of electric toast. They test every to-do app known to humank...
150 - Erratic novelty, built-in
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin’s car-negotiation bot accidentally seals a deal, while Jem battles a FedEx account freeze. MCP email antics, Help Scout AI tweaks, DHL/Veeqo ...
149 - Bots, bottlenecks, and busted sanders
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin returns from a family funeral pondering purpose while Jem hobbles with mystery arthritis. Sales roller-coasters, quoting scripts, and busted sa...
148 - The smirk of a man who makes software on the fly
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin's cooking up ATC pedestals for Avid machines with fancy PEM hardware while Jem's crushing it with 0.6% Shopify conversions. After midnight whis...
147 - You have to make bad things
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin explore where new products come from: solving personal shop problems or tackling custom work. Justin rapidly builds a label-making tool...
146 - Whiskey Git Commit
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin tackle supply chain woes and work-life balance challenges. Justin battles a PETG shortage that's disrupting production while Jem strugg...
145 - LLM'd myself
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin dive into decoding coding posers—because who hasn’t faked it till they made it? They tackle the nightmare of a salesperson who just...
144 - Unhinged fencepost discussion
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin kick off with robot arrival update, plus a rapid coding and with YAML magic. They rave about Help Scout, the best AI chat sidekick ever...
143 - Please, self service
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From slippers in the spray booth to AI in the inbox, Jem and Justin spiral through another classic catch-up, this time knee-deep in robots, CNC automa...
142 - Conjugal visit with my machinist
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin catch up on shop developments, with Justin juggling multiple products in development while Jem shares exciting robot adventures with hi...
141 - A Nasty of case of SMED
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin’s migrating off Freshdesk, grumbling about outdated UIs and dreaming of integrated tools. He’s knee-deep in Shopify, site redirects, and po...
140 - Sacrifices to the CNC Gods
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin talk about machining big aluminum parts, setting up shop spaces, Raspberry Pi projects, file transfer hassles, tool holders, and robot ...
139 - How many robots, Jem?
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin talking shop 139 episodes deep and Jem has finally bought the dream robots!Watch on YoutubeDISCUSSED:✍️ Comment or Suggest a TopicH...
138 - Lust for Robot
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin talk shop robots and multi axis dreams alongside workflow struggles. They share surprising AI insights on personal blind spots, discuss...
137 - 16-bit Sex and the City
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin tackle tricky importing issues and economic uncertainty. They chat shop tech including robots and CNC sanding ideas. Updates on Profit ...
136 - Gorbo and the Guest
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem find a new AI obsession named Gorbo, question their sanity naming products, and discover that borderline-creepy customer texts actually...
135 - Say something nice
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin catch up on vacation resets, DIY solar dreams, AI wins, shop updates, consulting gigs, slow sales turning a corner, and future plans fo...
134 - It's a Vibe
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin hosts 25 high school students at PDX CNC for a packed tour and CNC routing live Mount Hood machining session, sharing insights into education, ...
133 - Derogatory cabinets
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem discuss the challenges of running small manufacturing businesses - from unexpected CNC E-stops to the stress of public holidays when yo...
132 - Lusty Fascinations
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about workshop robots, tumbling systems, and e-commerce headaches. Justin battles Amazon's complex seller requirements while Jem c...
131 - Beeswax, Brushes, and Bathroom Heat
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about shop improvements, from Justin's new dust boot designs to Jem's successful tumbling solution using local beeswax polish. The...
130 - Don't tell Notion
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat shop, managing the endless stream of emails, building AI agents for everything from Profit First to Therapy and everything in betw...
129 - Coffee, Cobots, and Coding
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem & Justin chat Moccamasters, bad millennial design, and coffee snobbery. They cover AirShop updates, YouTube milestones, and a barrel polishing...
128 - Introducing: AirShop
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Justin unveils AirShop, a new app to streamline inventory & quoting, born from his own shop's needs. Jem's sales are up, he's dipping dowels &...
127 - Robot tour therapy
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From nesting software shenanigans to exploring robot-filled shops, Jem and Justin navigate the chaos of running machine businesses. Justin tours a fan...
126 - Llama shall have what it demands
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about robot training, viral videos, nesting software woes, and inspired dowel finishing methods. Features shop talk about CNC auto...
125 - Inappropriate drill pressing
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss 3D printing technicalities, coding with AI agents as amateur software developers, barrel finishing of timber components, the va...
124 - Cat palace for kids
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin return from holiday breaks and to discuss building cat palaces, AI scripts with Claude. They discuss shop improvements, Gridfinity stra...
123 - Christmas Special
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
An extra special/long episode for doing dishes as you collapse into the holiday season. Thanks for listening this year! Jem and Justin.Watch on Youtub...
122 - Blue Unicorns & Task List Trauma
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss Mac hardware trends in machining, share their perpetual task management struggles, and explore workshop innovations.  ...
121 - Filament Fantasies
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about their appreciation for 3D printing, highlighting a mostly printed filament spool winder. The conversation touches on communi...
120 - Low effort flow
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin get back to Book Club with Simon Winchester's "The Perfectionists," discovering how sewing machines became precision's foundation. Betw...
119 - Conical Chamfering
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin celebrate the launch of ThreadBoard! They script a new chat box and let an AI agent control their workspace computer. Claude tries usin...
118 - Heavy Couch Work
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin cover a lot in this episode! Justin’s been working on Zapier SMS magic for show notes, while Jem dives into pricing blocks for the up...
117 - No time for tracking
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin explore custom configurator development, shop equipment decisions, and tool inspection methods. They answer a bunch of listener questio...
116 - Broken Blackholes
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kids causing chaos this week as Justin and Jem tackle their small businesses amongst parenting. Conundrums of product fulfillment, shipping efficiency...
115 - Pour one out for Pi
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat Fusion training, a rampant payroll tool, online guide improvements, AI eco impacts, and frustration with horizontal bandsaws. Is J...
114 - Lazy pull lean
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about 3D-printed vacuum workholding, crazy insurance lumps, a $420k robot cell, and fun with QR codes. Plus, a peek into Profit Fi...
113 - Hands-on wetting device
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss hacking CNC machines, wild AI camera tech, and share insights on Profit First, new tape vendors, and AI voice cloning. And they...
112 - Wax Dipper Script Job
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about Rhino AI scripting, packaging, CNC maintenance, and business analysis. They discuss machine troubles, vibration reduction, a...
111 - Dreaming of Automation
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem talk shop every week, discussing their small manufacturing businesses, automation opportunities, AI coding tools and what might be wron...
110 - IMTS: (Cheap) Cobots took our jobs
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin recap IMTS, exploring cutting-edge manufacturing tech and creative habits. They dive into industry developments, from innovative cobots...
109 - Open the Pricing Kimono
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem & Justin talk about dealing with problematic clients who like to push small businesses around, the wins of a profit first weekly distribution ...
108 - The Power Stroker 9000
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about AI tools, workshop equipment, and the future of social media. They ponder business management systems and dream about humano...
107 - Power down, profits up
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about configurator orders, HSK holders, and motivation. They cover software changes, AI advancements, and Profit First financial u...
106 - Automate or bust
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is packed! We talk about the latest configurator update, the future of automated CAM, and how to streamline job shop quoting. Plus, ...
105 - Lust has been reactivated
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin explore the quirky world of tape machines, share tips on optimizing online stores, and get excited about the latest 3D printing technol...
104 - D Grade Gucci Board
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat about product development progress, a new sticker & tape vendor, and the "Pumpkin Plan." They discuss Jem's bottleneck issues,...
103 - No Wuckas
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin celebrate using Profit First bonuses to pay off loans and hitting 130 days with 88% success! They chat about international KittaParts p...
102 - Release the Beast
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin are back with Babe, exploring the product picker Venn Diagram and Kitta Parts Robe. In Software Corner, Clause Sonnet 3.5 faces off aga...
101 - Is Justin 'Within Tolerance?'
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem is on baby leave, catching up on sleep with three kids at home. In the meantime, Justin is featured on the Within Tolerance podcast with Dylan fro...
100 - Meet Venn Gantt
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join us for our 100th episode! We get a bit nostalgic, discuss the challenges of product launches, reflect on lessons learned from business coaching, ...
99 - Who Needs Sleep Anyways
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem & Justin have both been up too late again, fixing website code and struggling with CNC nesting labels. Watch on YoutubeDISCUSSED:✍️ Send C...
98 - Keep it Spicy Siri
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem try to remember how this works almost 100 episodes in. New ChatGPT is Jem's design assistant and Justin has launched a new range of CNC...
97 - Beefs Entendre
14 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin weigh in on the Drake vs Kendrick's rap beef and start their own beef with Fusion's Nesting Extension. They explore using Rhino with Py...
96 - Verily, the 'Gram Doth Poppeth Off
07 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss the latest Instagram algorithm change that has exploded Jem's account, are split on re-marketing mechanics, and recap old and n...
95 - Good morning daddy
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Start your morning with a discussion on GPT memories, beachside podcasting, and LB's first configuration-based Kitta Parts sale. We’ve reached 600 n...
94 - How to train your Unicorn
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss the new Fusion CAD course, recap CNC Router Unicorn training, and explore SCORE mentorship, and AI support programs. They also ...
93 - Short and Sweet
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem discuss the week in their small manufacturing businesses. New in-person training course prep for Justin and finally the KittaParts conf...
92 - Popped my Mirka
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin discuss CNC Unicorn Training, the juggle of multiple roles, and the nuances of financial management. They also touch on the magic of so...
91 - Already Banned Myself
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin chat task management, Siri automations, the pros and cons of benches for people vs benches for tasks, CNC aggregates, the obligatory So...
90 - Pi, Let's Role Play
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin gets some time for "deep work." with Jem & Justin as they explore unique productivity hacks, from Pi Role Play to ditching time tracking. P...
89 - Smile through the Podcast
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin delve into the ups and downs of running a business, from slow sales to the challenges and rewards of marketing. They share a light-hear...
88 - Beurre Monté
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jem and Justin as they discuss contraction and time management. They brainstorm product ideas from beds to DJ stations, and explore software tool...
87 - But First, Profit
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Justin and Jem discuss dealing with cash flow issues in their businesses, new financial strategies they are trying based on the book Profit First, ban...
86 - Tumbled Walnut Knobs
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jem and Justin as they delve into the intricacies of CNC programming with a focus on tricky fillets, explore Bambu X1 mods, and discuss the creat...
85 - Phone Booth 5-axis
06 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this nail biter, or wait, is it an ankle biter? Jem is still waking up and Justin has had a bajillion coffees. Or has he? We'll never know for sure...
84 - Union Pie Warmer
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Join Jem and Justin as they dive into the peculiar world of Australian scorpions and their bedtime antics! They'll also discuss the latest on KittaCon...
83 - Expensed my Haircut
23 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jem and Justin dive into the world of productivity and organization. They discuss the benefits of the Full Focus Planner and the Nack...
82 - Additive to Replace Subtractive?
16 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin are back from holiday break. They dive into the challenge of disconnecting, explore radius gauges on Makerworld, and share their latest...
81 - Business, Maker. Business Maker
26 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin review 2023 and plan for 2024 - delegating growth, strategic impatience, streamlining operations, new products, improving sales.Watch o...
80 - Condiment Regret
19 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin dive into CNC advancements with Bambu Handy and RhinoCAM, ponder over Rhino Block vs. Fusion, and discuss US-grown maple ply. They shar...
79 - Lean Baby
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jem and Justin are back! Babies, configuration tools, how many drugs can you get into a CNC router, and some neat ChatGPT tricks.Watch on Youtube💙 ...