Building the Ultimate Tool & Die Shop: What Machinists Recommend

If you could build a tool & die shop, what would you put in it?

This week in the MACHINIST Facebook group, a member shared that they had just landed a job with a startup and were asked to create a list of equipment and tooling for their future tool & die shop. They asked the community for input — and machinists delivered.

Here are some of the top recommendations from fellow machinists:

🛠️ Core Machines & Tools

• Bridgeport knee mill (multiple votes — still the shop standard)

• Small CNC bridge mill (60k+ lbs, depending on work size)

• Lathes (manual and CNC, with ProtoTRAK and gap bed models mentioned)

• EDMs (Sodick for sinker or wire EDM)

• Grinders

  • Surface grinder (big and small)

  • Blanchard grinder

  • ID/OD grinder

  • Wet grinder

• Radial drill (small to medium, plus radial arm drill suggestions)

• Heat treat oven

• Punch press (75 ton recommended)

• Band saws & chop saws

• Welders (MIG, TIG, acetylene torches)

🔍 Inspection & Measurement

• Granite surface plate

• Precision micrometers & inspection tools

• Hardness tester

• Jig & die makers drills and reamers

• Inspection tables with strong assembly tables nearby

• Flex arm & swing arm gantry for setups

⚡ Shop Infrastructure

• Air compressors (Atlas Copco GA18VSD; two 600-gallon units also suggested)

• Dust collection & extractor fans

• Adequate lighting

• Air lines throughout shop

• Movers & plenty of concrete (especially for heavy machines)

📦 Support Systems

• Set up accounts with McMaster-Carr and MSC for easy purchasing and budget tracking

• MSC “blue book” cited as a quick way to burn through a $50k budget when stocking up on basics

☕ Comforts & Culture

• Coffee maker (priorities!)

• Air conditioning (because no one machines well in 100°F heat)

• Above all: hire competent toolmakers first — the best equipment means little without skilled hands

💡 Key Takeaway

The discussion reminded us of a core truth: you can fill a shop with shiny new machines, but the real foundation is skilled machinists and steady customers. As one member put it:

What about you — if you were building a tool & die shop from scratch, what would you put in it?