We’re here for the work, real men don’t care how a person “looks”! Keep up the amazing content!

Why the hell are you explaining to people about your appearance and the attire you wear? Regarding safety: Its your shop, your safety policy, your risk. Good to see you doing well Josh. Liverpool, UK

I love this channel. You are such an honest and genuine person. Your customers are very fortunate to have you in the area. You Kurtis, and Adam are my favs. Keep up the good work.

Omg I can’t believe people complain about your hair and clothing,I mean I watch your channel for the machining and your technical capabilities not your fashion scene. Anyhow keep up the great work,I love your channel. All the best for the future.

I have asked many questions before ; seeing this video answered most of them . Thank you for taking time away from work to explain , and answering questions . What I enjoy most are your creative camera angles , and how often you change them ; your honesty and humiliation , as well as your humor .

I love how people with Chinese mini lathes and home shops in their basements just LOVE to get on the internet and tell professionals all about how to do their job.

Long sleeves? No Problem. Just don't start wearing a tie! 👔 Interesting topics for a video. Thanks for sharing.

I had a job for 30 years where there was a dress code. I am no longer paid to dress nice. So, I live my life the way I want to. When my hair bothers me then i get it cut. My beard is so long when i drive down the road with my window down the wind blows it in my face. You have a working mans look. Screw anyone who does not like it.

Nice to see the shots around the shop of the various machines. Inflation here has led to more repair and less fabrication for me.

We love your work, Josh. I was the one who joked that "you're not as fancy as CEEng," but that was a total jab. Kurtis works in an *industrial hub* and his mining equipment repairs are like printing cash. There a rail line and a plethora of machining supply houses where he is located or nearby. Your intro lists your location, we don't need to be Colombo to figure out that it's remote and cold. QED: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fthgedtos6e2ZIE.html

Mr. Topper, I'm here because you have integrity, character, the God Gifted talents to make anything you want. You are genuine and rare. I like your haircut or no haircut. I like your cool T-shirts. You take the time to explain why you are doing something. The stuff you make, probably a good percentage of us will not know how or why it's made the way of or even what it's made of. Your good the way you are. Don't sweat the negative comments. If the comment is not edifying, then it's someone's pride speaking. Thank You for continuing to post educational, wholesome, cool content. Thanks for the positive, can-do, attitude in a remote and cold place. Love seeing you post a new video to watch. Thank You for sharing of your time and talents.

I would be proud too of that magazine article! !

I almost didn't watch this video, because I thought it would be boring, but I'm glad I watched it, as it was really quite interesting hearing about your history and the machines you operate. You've certainly got a nice shop there with some really good machines. My experience is with a 4" lathe. I did metalwork at school, then I got my own lathe, which sadly isn't set up yet after we moved, but I'm getting there. I thought being retired would give me more time, but I seem to be busier than ever now with all sorts of projects around the home.

Josh, a very frank and fascinating history. Thank you for sharing. The world needs more folks like you. It's a big jump to go out on your own, and much to my regret, I never had the confidence to do it. I wish you well and look forward to your future success, and of course to your videos sharing your journey.

You do you! Don't let these ppl in the Coddled Keyboard Nanny Squad dictate how you run your shop or how you style your hair!! 👍👍

Please don't worry about what people online think of you, there will always be people that you can't please.

I’m do trim my own hair for about 50 years. And simply bought a beard-trimmer to do this task myself. It takes me a few minutes once a month.

I am also in WI and work on large manuals and CNCs Commenters are insane if they think a guy wouldn't want to wear long sleeves when they are ripping .5 ,.625, or more A SIDE with a big manual lathe or VTL or facemilling at a good clip on a HBM Your videos are great and really enjoy them

Great honest Q & A Josh, brilliant you're generating work, you mentioned Keith Fenner, his videos were solely to solicit work at the inception. I served my apprenticeship as a Machine Tool Fitter here in the UK from 78 to 82, bare arms were not allowed in the Welding and Machine shops, only boilersuits (coveralls) were issued or allowed, I left there in 1988, and the rules were still in place. We don't get the extreme heat as you in the Republic of the United States, but short sleeves are still frown on in aforementioned trades. I'm going to get trolled for the next paragraph, I've worked in many countries, installing Machine tools, and most will have a shop floor uniform, or work wear, which looks good to any visitors!, not so in the US, everyone appears to wear any clothing, most tee shirts are freebies. I'm aware that many US companies don't provide work clothing, and if they do, the employees have to pay for it!, very strange. Great advice on Machine tools. Onwards and upwards. Thanks for sharing 👍

Thanks, Josh!

I really enjoy your videos , my wife and I owned and operated a fleet of coaches for 40 plus years she the office andme repairs and servicing,were retired now but I restore old motorcycles ,I'm 75

Josh all the credit to you. Be proud you are getting it done although it can be difficult at times. Do the job as best as possible take care of your customer base. Entrepreneurship at it's best!

I think you're doing a brilliant job. Glad I happened upon your channel. I totally understand how a VTL would be an awesome addition - love those machines.

I understand your pain. I used to live just south of Milwaukee and everything that I wanted was right there. Up here, it is at least a hour or more to get the things I need. Do not listen to the haters out there, just do the best that you can with what you have. I tried starting a plasma cutting shop before I moved up here. It was mostly just metal art. Most of my steel came from scraps at work (I was a laser operator). I got laid off and not called back at age 58. I could not find a job and moved up here to help my elderly mother. I have sold one item in two years. My health has taken a dip but I have my equipment and I make things for gifts. Just keep doing a good job. Do not worry to much about the videos. Your mane job is taking care of your customers and your family.

Great video Josh nearly skipped it because I thought it would be boring. Good to know your background. Thanks for sharing.

I hope you continue to do things the way you want to do them! I also like CEE and used to watch Abom but I'm watching Topper Machine because you're different and unique and do things in your own way! Keep it up! Also, I'd love to send a couple of bucks your way to support the channel and content so hopefully we can get an PO Box or paypal or something!

Cheers for that, I enjoyed it a lot - just one tip for you - look after the wife, have a date night once a week or something similar where you put aside some time to do something together. Given your wife's job you might have to be creative how you organise that, but definitely worth doing. Oh, and I can't believe you dont have a trim, shampoo and condition at the local salon every week! Next you'll be saying you don't even get regular manicures! - But seriously, if the mop is annoying you - get a set of hair clippers and cut your hair yourself! No 4 blade and just shear it off! Been doing mine myself for 20 years. If it isn't annoying you, then it isn't a problem!

I don't worry about haircut either. I have a barber electric clipper and do a 'buzz' cut once a month, so much easier to keep clean. Great content always, loyal subscribed viewer.

I totally forgot that I had submitted a question on one of your last videos. So I was totally surprised to hear my name mentioned tonight. It was interesting to hear that the slotter is your favorite machine to run. I manage a machine shop Museum in Easton Maryland called Tuckahoe Steam & Gas Association. We have a very nice working Dill slotter in the museum. It's a pretty cool machine. Keep up the good work Josh

I worry more about what's for breakfast than I do what people think of me, most people bitching about your longsleve shirts has probably never turned a lathe on. You be you and keep on keeping on.

You can’t make everyone happy, just keep doing what you love and take care of your family. I’m glad you’ve got the *****’s to turn away a long time customer if they don’t treat you right and with respect.

People don’t need to be the safety officer you have been in the business long enough to recognize a safety issue. As far as if your hair is combed or not is immaterial it’s not a beauty contest it’s a machine shop tutorial. I enjoy your videos. Take those comments with a grain of salt.

Keep it up . Very interesting

LN doesn't shrink the part anymore vs putting it in a freezer, but it can get it to cold and Crack the part. Check out on how to install piston wrist pins!!!

Great video Josh, I always look forward to your videos and this one with Q&A was a neat surprise, it was really fun to hear about your background as well as your experiences and outlook.

You are becoming one of my favorite channels. Keep up the good work!

I love your videos and the variety of content Josh! It sounds like you have a great wife! Just remember to surprise her occasionally with a nice night out. Keep up the great videos!

I'm with you on this one....people don't UNDERSTAND !!!

We don't care about how you dress or look, it's the way that you machine and explain things that keeps us coming back for more. You're doing a fantastic job. "Keep up the good work."

Nice! Thanks for answering my question Josh, I know the wife wants me in from the garage at a certain time also but understands when I have to get a project done.

Lots of very interesting material and thoughts. Thanks for sharing this. I had a plaque like that made up from my wife's full-page article in the Washington Post on her pastry decorations. They really make a good impression.

Good to know that you don't ALWAYS "Get it done right the first time"! Great to aim for that though. 👍

Hi Josh, it is great to hear your background and how you started. Keep the videos coming. Thanks

Thanks for answering my question. I enjoyed the video. Thanks for all your effort.

When I work or film videos I don’t care what I look like at all. I also wear long sleeve shirts when making big chips. Keep up the good work.

Josh, love the channel and your practical approach to problems. Not played with a metalwork lathe since high school. Spent nearly all of my working life with computers, machining data not metal. Shame the Atlantic is in the way, else I would probably like to learn filming and editing. (Used to do black and white photography back at high school.) Maybe you could find a retiree who would like to play. Keep telling us how a real machine shop does things.

Jobshop work is inherently nasty. You don't need a haircut or a white apron to get the job done. As a retired millwright I enjoy the projects you bring in. Same types of work I once did, great content. Keep on keeping on.

Hello. from Victoria Texas .I really enjoy your videos just the best content ! I pass along your shop adventures to my friends and my son and grandsons . thank you !

Thanks Josh for such an honest and open discussion. I enjoy seeing the variety of jobs you work on and the thought process you go through to accomplish it. Well done!

Gday, good video, we all screw up and that’s a part of life, thanks for sharing, cheers

GREAT vid again Josh.....PPL cant seem to appreciate being in our shops working when its -20F or lower outside and the shop is +50-55F if you're lucky, nor can they fully realize the onslaught of our blackflies come spring time and 1/2 way thru the summer. Long sleeves, damn right, just be careful and cautious. Up here in the Adirondacks of Northern NY is like where you are, remote, rural and lacking of support resources.....Persevere, and full steam ahead !!!!!

LOL I've been there! At break I'd be looking over my shirt and arms and seeing what was still welded to me. Washing my shirts and jeans was an eye opener as well. Chips so hot they burnt through, to turn my work clothes into wrags

Afternoon Josh

just keep working dont worry bout the haters

We watch your channel because we enjoy watching you do your thing, your way! don't change a thing. Appreciate all your time and effort to make the video's . Cheers!

People who cry about the long Sleeves have never crashed a machine because a hot chip has landed on their forearm/ particularly the soft spot in the crease that’s insanely painful I’m about to go to a collared long sleeve for the same reason it when they get up in my collar that will make anyone think about what’s safer getting burned or risking something that’s avoidable

Cool video

New subscriber, I enjoy your content

Hello Josh, I enjoyed this video. Although I never wear long sleeves I agree with you that safety is often a calculated risk. If you know something is dangerous then you have to keep your head about you while doing it. It's how some guys went forty years without a lost time accident in an era when safety was not just ignored but often spurned. I've learned a few tricks (the hard, or possibly, hot way) on how to deal with blue swarf. One is to keep your arms hanging straight down by your sides until you absolutely have to grab a handwheel or lever to stop the cut. Most often the hot swarf will bounce off vertical skin without sticking. The second is to untuck your shirt from your pants so any swarf that gets past your collar has a chance to fall through and out onto the floor. Having a hairy chest (which I do) helps in this regard as well as the swarf will often get caught in it and won't make it all the way to the skin. You have the unpleasant smell of burning hair coming up through your collar but it doesn't hurt. Oh the joys of the manual machinist. The CNC guys just don't know what they're missing. Keep up the good work. Ken

I have a very small job shop and like you I’m the last couple years I’ve gotten very busy my wife refers to me as my Einstein cause my hair like yours is a mess and my father in-law told me a long time ago that a good machinist is a mess and it’s a good rule of thumb in my experience You can’t worry about these trolls on here your shop is clean who cares about what your hair or what shirt you wear cause all it takes is one or two fat red hot chips that are just hot enough to stick to your hide and not drop off and when you pull it off it takes your hide i enjoy your content and as far as machinist’s go your definitely a mess and I did see your article in the magazine congratulations BigJon

Well done.

LOL! "I hate computers" while you are holding one in your hand, reading these questions. ;) Doing a great job, Josh. Keep it up.

I think the machine I like to run in my shop is my HBM . There is not much you can't do with a machine like them . I have a small shop in the midwest with lathes mills shaper boring mil and surface grinder . Good Luck in the future

Who cares what people say! You should see my hair and beard right now lol. All my thermal shirt have rips in the sleeves. You have to expect to hear negative comments from people when you go public. I’m a plumber by trade but I love machining! I have a 12X40 Clausing lathe in bran new condition and a decent Bridgeport. I was gonna start doing videos because I’m always building something after work and on every day off but I have a hard time talking to a camera. Anyway I just found you and I am subscribing. Keep up the good work and just be yourself!

WOW !!! You do have a big Johnson !!! The thing I think people should take away from this video is the "SINCERE HONESTY" that you present !

I lived in Alaska back in the 90s, and living in the Spooner area is similar to living up there. The Spooner area, although not "isolated" by any means, always seemed to be half-way to wherever I needed to be. Between Eau Claire and Duluth, it always seemed that whatever I needed...was in either place. I worked in health care, and other than Rice Lake (which was a Godsend many times) wasn't the same as Duluth. It's a tough place to make a living up there. I just found your channel, and have subscribed. I'm struck by the fact that you had to defend yourself (well, explain yourself at the very least) regarding things like wearing long-sleeved shirts...or your hair for God's sake. Come ON people! Wearing a long-sleeved shirt operating a lathe is not the end of the world. It's not like the chuck jaws are going to magically reach out and grab your sleeve. Is it an added risk? Absolutely. Would it be better to *only* wear short sleeves while operating a lathe? Probably. That said, if it's so cold in the shop that it's distracting, then how safe is that?!? It seems like there are lots of people on KZfaq who "know the right answer," because it's what everyone else says. So they say it too. I mean, to tell a guy making a living as a machinist (in his own shop) not to wear long-sleeved shirts? Do you really THINK they don't know the risk(s) with that? Bottom line: If you're making a living, and loving what you do...then go for it. You do you. By the way--buy a $25 electric clippers, and let your wife cut your hair. Just cut it short enough that you'll need 4 haircuts per year. Ask me how I know. Been doing it for years now. You have a great channel Josh, and I can't wait to check out a lot more of your videos!

Hi Josh Love your channel and appreciate your approach on things. I watch and follow a lot of other people and come to realize that many are just couch sitters that look for something to comment on and critique. The long sleeves I get. I also wear long sleeve shirts and when I do I’m cautious about it. I see a lot of third world craftsman wearing Sandles and very loose clothing. That’s their way. They still get the job done and probably have no safety standards. I’m so tired of hearing the osha wannabes comments. There are a hundred ways of getting something accomplished and to some people it’s wrong to see it done in a way they are unfamiliar with. You do a great job in explaining. I could give a flying $&ck what your hair or appearance looks like. Just keep doing what you do.

Hey Josh, I'm just bouncing around a few of your older videos. This was a great one! No machine work... but very informative, and insightful into your channel, and yourself. So.... at the @34:34 mark, the end of the video... whats the back story to the pipe wrench on the ceiling? 🙃

This was a great video and very interestings, thanks

Great that you took the time to answer these questions. Congrats on the award. Thank you for sharing. Ultimate relationship question: Does your wife do your laundry, or do you have to wash those oily nasty clothes yourself, or better yet have to use a totally different set of machines?

Great video! I wish I had known in advance that you were talking questions. I’m subscribed, but missed it. Thumbs up on hating computers. Keep up the good work.

Hey carbon dioxide bottle and Amazon dry ice maker is all you need to make your dry ice in house will make a brick size block of snow dry ice in 2 minutes basically on demand

Just do what you do how you have to do it, if someone wants to do it it there way or opinion let them do it and you be you

Great down to earth honest content, ps. haircut, I bet Curtis wishes.

I got really tired of the whole haircut barber experience. Constantly dissatisfied with their work and time and expense and frankly the prying and inquisition into my personal life....hate chit chat. So my wife bought me a Flowbee with the vacuum over 5 years ago now because she was so tired of me complaining lol. It is super quick and consistent and paid for itself within the first year. The only other thing I use is a cheap trimmer set to get all the edges. A 2 or 3 pane vanity mirror really helps but isn't completely necessary. I've really enjoyed the freedom from being beholden to the barbers and the whole shtick.

Long sleeves are ok as long as they are not Pirate shirts.

👍😎👍

My wife gives me a lot of grief over spending to much time in the shop n coming late. I do feel bad sometimes when i come in and she is already in bed asleep. I really do enjoy spending time with her but i dont enjoy watching tv after we run out of things to talk about. My mind drifts back to the job i was working on or the next one in line. I do invite her out to the shop but she rarely takes me up on the offer. I tried to get her intereted in what i do, even talked her in to trying mig welding, (which she did pretty well at for her first time). If only she had some hobbies or maybe a couple friends maybe she wouldn't be so concerned about spending time with me everday. I admit i am a bit of a loner, i enjoy the quitness and get more done by myself. Anyway, im just thinking out loud wondering if most married men have the same issue.

Sounds like you need to purchase a hair trimmer mate and diy yer own barnett ;-)

Where do you buy your inserts? Having trouble finding this specific Sandvik model, Love the channel! Melbourne, Australia.

Good one . What sort of banana comments on haircut's ! 👍

still wanna know how many licks it takes to get to the center of a tootsie pop? seriously josh good video

Have you considered contracting out for editing work?

Don't pay attention to these sorry ass safety crybabys they make me sick you doing awesome buddy I wish I could have a good little shop here

As for the video quality, it is plenty good. This is more about running a working shop, putting food on the table and a roof over the shop, not about flashy KZfaq content. For that kinda stuff there are plenty of other places on KZfaq for this kinda content. What is most fascination about the Topper views are the jobs being done, long as the video presentation is good enough as it has been done so far, the video and production is plenty good enough as video production is a job all it's own and it would take more time to produce those types of view than doing the machine work. It is a balance, and IMO the Topper videos as is are plenty excellent as they are. Speaking of videos and lathe art, have a look at what video content centric/specific lathe art could be, another Japanese Lathe machinist, Swamp Lamp: www.youtube.com/@SwaplampJapan

Nice video thanks for sharing, have you done a review video on the lion lathe? Is it Taiwanese? It looks like a good machine

If you are needing more content but no time to video, how about doing some time lapses? It would be a different way, but it would possibly make it easier to get at least some of the work on video without having to take the time while doing the job. I know a few other channels I watch in the automotive world will do that as they also just have to get the job done and can't take the time to reset or hold the camera while doing it. The one I think that does the best with it will do a voice over during the time lapse part which works well for him and the other watchers seem to like it too.

Occupational health and safety doesn't allow short sleeves in the work place where I live. Doesn't matter what trade welder, machinist, or carpenter.

speaking of not turning away work, i got fired from a bicycle shop, a young boy came in with brake that needed a quick easy adjustment the manager said fill out work order and it would be 4 days, i took out the tools and adjusted the brake and off he went no charge, so i got fired

My wife says watch my posts and then coment on my dress code

You have a tall shop building, but not many tall machines (radial drill, planer) and no bridge crane. How did you end up with this mismatch?

Josh i know it's what you've been working with all your working life, manual machine tools that is, but times, they are achanging and you've got to change along with them or get thrown out on to the scrap heap. Look at adam booth he's gotten a cnc lathe, a tool room lathe and a cnc milling machine will be added shortly. In the not too distant future all your machine tools will classed as museum pieces.

I have 1 question. Why do you not check the pitch of of the thread after the first skim cut?

Safety? Ive never seen you do nothing that puts you in jeopardy. Most that say that stuff dont run big equipment turning blue chips thats pushing 600 degrees, ya, thats an instant 3rd degree burn if one lands on you. Long sleeves? Were our own personal safety instructor. We need to have common sense while running, like oh I dunno, stop reaching over the spinning chuck or part, keeping hands and body parts away from any moving parts. Ive yet to see you do anything that puts you in danger. I wear long sleeves during the winter, welcome to Wisconsin, but mine are buttoned at the cuff or rolled up. A hat? Let the guy be himself. Come on. So hes got messy hair out in the boonies where the wind is blowing. Ive been up there, not at his shop, but probably within 30 miles of it. Hes right, nothing is up there, ive had friends that use to live in rice lake. Beautiful up there, but mostly nothing around with out driving. Id say hes doing pretty damn well for being where hes at. One cant compare a shop to another shop, to many differences, like CEE, Keith Fenner etc.. Both are probably in a more populated area then Topper is, so he has his own ball of wax to contend with. Keep up the good work, look forward to many more videos.

insulate the walls with some spray foam?

I cant believe people actualy commet about cutting ur hair

get someone on fiver to help edit

Bottom line, your paying your bills, not the armchair "experts" on KZfaq.....tell em to pound sand

Why are you explaining to people about your appearance and the attire you wear? Regarding safety: Its your shop, your safety policy, your risk. This was a good comment so I copied it!!!

From listening to you comments, I hope you are charging your video expense to advertising and marketing expense.