Dusting a set of parts to improve surface finish.

Greetings from Erie, Pennsylvania.

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but it looks like it's been over three years since I've posted on here.

First of all, thanks so much for following me. Between Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and this site, I have almost 40,000 followers. Very humbling, to say the least.

The reality is that I did kind of spill my guts on here for over 10 years. Over 450 video lessons, online classes, and articles. Kind of got everything out of my system, lol. Even a radio program.

All of that notoriety doesn't go unnoticed. Unfortunately, I've had my fair share of detractors...and a lot of people really did lose their minds between Covid and Trump. I was being attacked for no apparent reason, so it was kind of a perfect storm for me, as I had already exhausted my video content and was open to something new.

But to be absolutely clear- I am still working and very much involved in manufacturing, just on a few different levels.

However: Do you know the reason that I even started this journey?

The year was 2010. I had just machined a part with an angle on it, and had taken it back to the inspection department to be checked, and it failed. I asked them how they were checking the angle, and I believe they were using a protractor. I asked them if they used a sine bar and they had never heard of one. So that night, I took my sine bar and a set of gauge blocks home, sat at the kitchen table, and recorded my first video. As far as video production is concerned, not too good. But the information was correct.

Because I know your curiosity is running high, here's the link.  I remember posting it, and it sat there for weeks with about 50 views. Nice. A few months later I happened to check it and I'll be damned: over 11,000 views, That told me something: people were searching for education. And I love educating. Perfect fit. And "The Tool and Die Guy" was born. As a side note, that video has over 74,000 views as of today.

As many of you probably know, I decided to try my hand at real estate. I actually enjoyed the training and having to take a 3-hour test for my license. A few things happened right away: I had a terrific referral source and made $10K in my first 3 months. But then my referral source decided to pursue another career, the cost of homes went up by 50%, the inventory dried up, and the interest rates doubled. Enough said. The reality is that a lot of folks prefer to do their own market analysis and handle things themselves online. Nothing wrong with that, BUT I can tell you that agents are trained to do this correctly and it's a beautiful system of checks and balances. I would NEVER enter into a real estate contract without an agent handling the details. And remember this: the commission rate is ALWAYS negotiable.

And yes, I'm still working. Every day. Only 217 days, 50 minutes and 11 seconds until I turn 65. Not that I'm counting or anything.

I feel good physically, the golf game is a dumpster fire right now, and I'm enjoying another summer in Erie, PA.

As I believe that I set out to accomplish - sharing my knowledge on everything I know about machining, toolmaking, and design - it was also incredibly important for me to tell the story of my family's history in manufacturing. My next posts will be a mix of training and some views on life. As a reminder, there was a day when I had over 40 employees and was getting $100,000 checks in the mail every week. These days, I punch a clock every morning. I've seen a lot. And now it's time for the stories. 

And I do believe with all sincerity that gives me a unique perspective. At least I think it's unique. HA!

With Utmost Respect,

Phil Kerner
The Tool & Die Guy