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Shop Nicknames Every Machinist Has Heard
by Morning Machinist
Jon House
January 18, 2026
Today’s Morning Machinist is brought to you by Built By Machinists.
Clean end mill graphic. Built for the shop and beyond.
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Shop Nicknames Machinists Never Forget
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a machine shop, you already know this:
Every shop has nicknames.
And no — you don’t get to pick yours.
Nicknames aren’t about being polite. They’re about survival, entertainment, and calling bullshit without calling bullshit. After posting a simple question in the MACHINIST group, the comments absolutely exploded. Hundreds of you jumped in with the names you’ve heard (or handed out) over the years.
Here are some of the best — and yes, you know at least one of these people.
🏆 Hall of Fame Shop Nicknames
These showed up again and again. Timeless. Universal.
Blister
Shows up when the work is done.
Cordless
Works for about 45 minutes, then needs a two-hour recharge.
007
0 motivation.
0 skill.
7 trips to the bathroom.
Two-Stroke
Hard to get started. Smokes all day.
Wheelbarrow
Only works when pushed.
Milkman / Dairy Union
Milks the clock like it owes him money.
Suitcase
You have to carry him on everything.
Boomerang
Every job he touches comes back.
Fence Post
Stands there. Does nothing. Knows even less.
Dustpan
When you need him, he’s gone.
When he’s around, he’s in the way.
🧍♂️ Leaners, Hiders, & Professional Watchers
This category hit a nerve. Apparently every shop has a wall-support specialist.
Eileen
“I lean here and watch you work… then lean over there.”
Architectural Support
Always holding the wall up.
Wicket Keeper
Puts the gloves on and stands back.
Sir Hides-A-Lot
Magically disappears when the job starts.
Cousin It
Never in his area. Always hiding somewhere.
Kick Stand
Keeps the wall from falling over all shift.
Mirror Man
Never does anything — just says, “I’ll look into it.”
🚀 Sounds Impressive… Actually Isn’t
The most dangerous nicknames are the ones that sound good.
Turbo
Works fast… just badly.
(All lag, no boost.)
Prime Time
Always late.
James Bond
0 effect. 0 motivation. 7 coffee breaks.
Craftsman
Guaranteed tool for life — not necessarily useful, but he’ll always be there.
Easy Money
Shows up for the paycheck, not much else.
🧠 Creative Ones That Deserve Respect
Some of you are absolute artists with this stuff.
Unicorn
You swear you saw him work once… but there’s no proof.
Himalayan
“Him a-layin’.”
Tumbleweed
Just drifts around all day.
Lantern
Always has to be carried.
Minty
Doesn’t start work until After Eight.
⚠️ Honorable Mention (You Know Who You Are)
There were plenty of nicknames we can’t print — and honestly, that’s part of the fun. If you’ve ever laughed, winced, or thought “yeah… that tracks” while reading this list, congratulations:
You’ve worked in a real shop.
Now your turn:
What nickname did we miss?
And more importantly… which one are you currently working with?
(Reply to this email or drop it in the group — we know you’ve got one.)
Space-Saving Micrometer Storage Ideas
Brought to you by Starrett
A solid thread popped up in the MACHINIST group this week around how to store multiple micrometers without wasting half your toolbox on factory cases.
A few recurring themes stood out:
Foam inserts / shadow boards (Kaizen foam, DIY foam + razor blade, drawer Tetris)
Vertical storage to save drawer space (including compact Starrett mic set boxes)
3D-printed solutions (Gridfinity, wall mounts, custom holders)
Old-school ideas like drafting cabinets and shallow drawers that just work
There were a lot of good photos and explanations in the comments — too many to repost here — so if mic storage is something you’ve been meaning to clean up, it’s worth clicking into the full thread.
👉 Check out the full discussion and ideas here
Good tools deserve proper storage — and when it comes to micrometers, Starrett sets the standard.
Machining Memes
