Shop Pranks That Never Die

Back in September, hireCNC dropped a video meme that absolutely took off — 450,000+ reached, 19,000+ likes, 3.4K shares, and over 200 comments.

The theme?
The classic shop-floor rite of passage: sending the new guy on a wild goose chase.

You’d think machinists would have outgrown these tricks by now…
But judging by the comments, absolutely not.

Here are some of the top community submissions — and honestly, this might be the most accurate snapshot of shop culture we’ve ever featured:

🧰 “Go grab me a left-handed screwdriver.”

A timeless classic. Works in any shop, any decade, any continent.

🪣 “We’re out of ‘add-a-thou’ — go grab a fresh can.”

Perfect for when someone grinds just a touch too much off a part.

🧲 “Ask the lead man for a copper magnet.”

One poor junior-in-high-school machinist actually did… and immediately got yelled at.

🔌 “Cable’s too short? Hand me the wire stretcher.”

If only.

🕳 The Basement

One apprentice spent 35 full minutes looking for a basement that didn’t exist — only to find out the entire building was on a slab.

🍗 The Thanksgiving Survey

A guy was sent around the shop asking everyone whether they wanted a turkey or duck.
Then a second lap confirming tom or hen.
Boss had never given out anything before…
That year? Everyone got a turkey.
Sometimes chaos pays off.

🗜 “Go get the carbide stretcher.”

If they hesitate, send them for the pallet stretcher too.

🚀 “Ask next door if they have a sky hook.”

Usually followed by a left-hand screwdriver for good measure.

🎨 “We need a can of striped paint.”

Add to cart: 1 chaos unit.

🔩 “Fallopian tubes.”

“I got called in the office by the manager after i sent my apprentice to the lady in the office to ask for a set of Fallopian tubes”

😬 “Go ask the office lady for nipple clamps.”

This one made its way into a manager’s office.
No further explanation needed.

This meme wasn’t just funny — it was a reminder of something deeper.
Machining is technical, serious, and high-precision…
But the culture?
It’s built on mentorship, inside jokes, shared suffering, and passing down the same pranks that someone once pulled on you.

And based on the comments, machinists everywhere wouldn’t have it any other way.

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