88. Learning, Building & Teaching with John Saunders

I’ve admired John Saunders for a long time. Most of you probably know him as the force behind the NYC CNC YouTube channel, the Business of Machining podcast, and of course, Saunders Machine Works. John has been creating content, teaching, and inspiring machinists since long before it was “cool” to do so online. In fact, he’s one of the first people I think of when someone says they learned machining from YouTube.

When we sat down for this conversation, I wanted to go deeper than the usual “how’d you get started” story. We talked about the real journey of moving from hobbyist to entrepreneur, how he built a thriving fixture plate and workholding company in Ohio, and—what I think many shop owners will appreciate—how he’s structured his business so he can actually step away for weeks at a time without things falling apart.

John shares how his early projects, like designing a better rifle target during college, taught him hard lessons about product development and manufacturing. He explains the tools, machines, and workflows that make Saunders Machine Works tick today, from automated horizontals to Willman lathes, and why he’s thinking hard about one-piece flow and robotics.

We also dive into how he developed his famous training classes, why lean manufacturing and clear processes matter more than ever, and how he balances all of this with family, passion projects, and building a humanoid robot—yes, Johnny Five—from scratch. This episode is full of insights for anyone running a shop or dreaming about launching their own product line.

If you’ve ever wanted to peek inside the mind of one of the most generous and innovative creators in our industry, this conversation is for you. 

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

• (0:00) Introducing John Saunders and his career journey in manufacturing
• (7:13) Why we love the transparency of Phoenix Heat Treating
• (8:20) Starting NYC CNC YouTube channel and sharing his learning journey publicly
• (13:50) Turning the tables: How we feel about ChatGPT sharing our content
• (16:20) Launching Saunders Machine Works and creating fixture plates and mod vises
• (21:38) Building a custom ERP to manage thousands of SKUs and empower employees
• (23:22) Evolving production with horizontals, Willman machines, and one-piece flow thinking
• (29:15) See me at EBITDA Growth Systems Double Your Value Event 
• (31:58) Developing a team culture where machinists program their own parts
• (35:45) Internships and high school programs as a pipeline for skilled talent
• (37:48) The story behind John’s famous training classes and why they are paused for now
• (45:17) Balancing entrepreneurship with personal life and creative pursuits
• (48:36) Building Johnny Five the robot and why passion projects keep him motivated
• (53:14) Lessons in lean thinking and creating processes that make work easier for everyone
• (55:46) Advice for contract manufacturers who want to develop their own product line
• (1:02:31) Why Verdant Commercial Capital is a true partner in your business

Resources & People Mentioned

• Revisionist History Podcast
• Why we love the transparency of Phoenix Heat Treating
• See me at EBITDA Growth Systems Double Your Value Event 
• Verdant Commercial Capital 
• Toolpath 

Connect with John Saunders

• Saunders Machine Works
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Follow on Instagram
• NYC CNC YouTube
• The Business of Machining Podcast

Connect With Machine Shop Mastery

• The website
• LinkedIn