Wheels

General Contractor by trade. Builder by nature. Husband, Dad, enthusiastic about the sea, lover of ethnic foods. Been doing this since the 90’s kid!

[Wheels @wheels979]

Love it.

[Russell Winter @MFG_SMB]

Starting today, I'm going to give the world a first hand view of what it is like to own, operate and grow a small manufacturing business.

Beginning with this picture.

This is a picture of my not-so-glamorous shop in northern Illinois. It's also the reality of thousands of other small machine shops across the country.

Mostly older machines (newest 2019), less organized and dirtier than I aim for.

I've worked here since I was 13, ran it since I was 24 and owned it since I was 26. I’m 32 now.

I’ve been considered an old soul and have always kept it real, but what I am about to do scares me.

See, my Opa started this company in 1977 and he always wanted to break $1M in revenue. To celebrate him and the 50th anniversary of Center Tool Company I’m going to do it.

I will double our revenue AND do it publicly. We are on target for $500k in ’26 (pretty much been 500-800k since 1977, very unspectacular)

In ’27 we will break a MIL.

In the grand scheme of things that's pretty small, but it could be entertaining to ride along on the journey.

I’m going to show basically every aspect of what I know and how I do things. I will post about stuff and include actual screen shots, pictures, statements, and documents. Maybe some videos of day in the life or the joys of defense contracting...

I’ll break down the inner workings of not just turning raw metal into finished tooling or parts, but also working with customers, banks, lawyers, the government, family/business and family-business dynamics, personal/business finances, and raising a young family through this.

What do you want to know and/or what I am doing wrong? Comment or DM

America sits at the precipice of reindustrialization. We have a monumental opportunity in front of us. It’s time to burn the ships and go all in.

Bringing manufacturing back to our country could return a healthy middle class and economic boom across small town America - where I live.

[Psychotrrish🧘🏽‍♀️ @trrish]

Lol

[Denny Burk @DennyBurk]

No biggie. Just Michael McDonald explaining how he wrote “What a Fool Believes” with Kenny Loggins.

I’m so glad Loggins could hear through the door. Wow.

[Chef Anthony Thomas @ChefAnthonyDC]

Meanwhile on 495N towards Waldorf

[Wheels @wheels979]

😂😂😂

[Thomas Rid @RidT]

M Street and Wisconsin in Georgetown taken over by a large crowd of celebrating Iranians, chanting USA USA … not what I was expecting during my run today.

[Vince Langman @LangmanVince]

Here's an early Christmas present 🎁

Enjoy 😂😂

[Chrisman @chrisman]

There’s an essay where a famous magician says the secret to magic is doing an inconceivable amount of work for a trick. So much work that it’s easier for audience to believe you are magic.

I think this might be the key to doing anything great.

[Wheels @wheels979]

This genuinely made me laugh until I couldn’t laugh any more. 😂😂

I could never quite put my finger on it, and now I can’t unsee it.

Whole sub culture of these guys I see every time I’m in that store! 😂😁. Still can’t stop laughing!

[World of Engineering @engineers_feed]

20 years ago, the Internet was an escape from the real world. Today, the real world is an escape from the Internet.

[Wheels @wheels979]

Been a while since I’ve caught #SNL that Mike Myers Kane West skit had me rolling!

[Wheels @wheels979]

Bad fire #harfordroad #baltimore 2:45pm. A large male in front of me pulled a wheel chair bound elderly lady w/ 3 children from the house before the fire department got there. He shrugged and said he had to do something, then just disappeared. 🙏 @wbaltv11 @FOXBaltimore

[WJTV 12 News @WJTV]

Mississippi attorney accused of bringing contraband into correctional facility https://t.co/J7kiJiC0Si

[Dividend Hero @HeroDividend]

This man is my hero

He is eating a pizza wrapped Costco hotdog

[Wheels @wheels979]

@epiphanyinbmore One more suggestion, if you have a dremel tool or a multi tool or something similar you can grind off that flange.

[Wheels @wheels979]

@epiphanyinbmore Did you try hitting the flange around the stem with a flathead screw driver and a hammer? I know it’s tight space in there but should be able to give it a couple whacks to loosen.

[Wheels @wheels979]

@AMAZlNGNATURE @Livadas

[Wheels @wheels979]

Took my son to the zoo today. This Grizzly perfectly posed for us!

[Wheels @wheels979]

Just finding out about #stalekracker this is the money dooood!

[Lloyd Frontera @JustinTarnation]

I want a plate.

[Peter Mallouk @PeterMallouk]

A tragic life…