340 comments ·

Machinist Interview #003, JT Belknap of DFM Tool Works

 

DFM Tool Works Logo

I want to thank JT for taking the time to complete my survey. I met JT through Instagram, and he's since helped me out with everything from marketing to machine troubleshooting. JT makes high quality tools geared mainly towards woodworking. His Instagram content is top notch, so be sure to check him out!

Give a quick, couple sentence intro stating who you are, what you do, and where people can find you on social media.

    My name is JT Belknap and I started DFM Tool Works to create American jobs by sourcing materials and making tools here in the United States.  Most of my tools are for woodworking and DFM Tool Works can be found primarily on Instagram (@DFMTOOLWORKS) as well as my website DFMTOOLWORKS.COM.


    How long have you been in Manufacturing?

    I have been in manufacturing since 2006 when I graduated as a Mechanical Engineer and became a Production Engineer at Toyota for 5 years building technology and machines that build the new model vehicles across North America.  I have been in manufacturing ever since and love making things and working with people to create them.

     

    What is your biggest “Win” to date?

    My biggest win to date is earning the trust of my customers.  Without their trust, I would not have a company today.  That trust is earned and displayed on Amazon in the form of positive product and seller reviews.  That trust has been slowly earned with thousands of wonderful people and businesses on Instagram as well.

     

    What is the biggest hurdle you’ve had to overcome thus far?

    The biggest hurdle for DFM was starting a new shop with a business partner and our used, bought at auction Haas VF2 3 axis mill did not work for the first 2 months, which was not part of the business plan and cost us time and money we didn’t have budgeted.  Thankfully the machine has run well since then.  We learned a valuable lesson for the next machine: See it in person and run ALL the critical functions!

     

    What do you do when feeling overwhelmed or stressed?

    Usually I work even more thinking that I can overcome the issue, but other times I am avoiding the problem with other, less important work.  I am learning to rip the band aids off if it’s something I can control.  If my stress sources from outside my control that will probably be a lifelong work in progress to deal with it better.
     
    I am learning to take some breaks, especially for my family and sometimes my sanity.  For example, I usually always worked after my daughter would go to bed, and now I am getting better at doing that maybe 50-60% of the time instead of 100%.  Sleep is important especially around equipment that can injure or kill you.

     

    What is the best shop purchase you’ve made in the last 6 months for $500 or less and why?

    I think it’s a toss up between our shop gas grill which has made many tasty cheap frozen burgers for lunches OR the multitude of $20 box fans sprouting in our shop for the summer to keep us focused a little more on the task at hand in 95 degrees indoors.

     

    What is your favorite, or go-to, cutting tool?

    My favorite tools are my Garr drills for aluminum and steel.  3 Flute for aluminum and 2 flute for tool steels. Easily over 5000 holes and still trucking in aluminum and I get about 1500-2000 holes in 3/8 thick A2 tool steel annealed.  I don’t have through spindle coolant, but these drills have been great for my applications.

     

    What is one tool or piece of equipment in your shop that you couldn’t live without?

    Coffee maker.  I drink between 40 to 58 ounces per day and it’s not weak.

     

    What is one piece of advice you’d give to someone just entering the manufacturing industry?

    I would highly recommend working for someone else first that really cares about their people and their products. 
     
    I think some people are turned off by the leadership more than the processes in manufacturing.  I was extremely fortunate to begin my career at Toyota where everyone cared for each other and their customers.  With that said, my second manager at Toyota did not care about his people and I almost quit despite it being a 9 month assignment.  The rest of my 5 years at Toyota were a great process and people foundation.   Afterwards, running someone else’s small business with 100 employees for 4 years was the on the job MBA I needed to start my own business today.

     

    What is one thing that most people may not know about you?

    I am a Philadelphia Eagles fan because I picked a team in high school when I lived in South Jersey outside of Philly.  I am an Army brat so I did not grow up in one place for more than 3 years.  I really enjoy the intensity and knowledge of the fans in Philly and I feel like I deserve any wins or losses today since I started out with Ray Rhodes as head coach back in 1998 when they went 3-13 for the season.  I have a soft spot for the Steelers because I went to college in PGH, but only if they aren’t playing the Eagles.

    340 comments

    Your comment was posted successfully! Thank you!

    • full version

      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054506
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054600
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054606
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054591
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1055868
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054790
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1055908
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054711
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054825
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1052044
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054756
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1054840
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1055852
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/1055842
      https://pastebin.com/bXpjEK5k
      https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/212cb90f-ccb9-4b5b-9bf1-2d6d94ebfb21
      https://pasteio.com/x4ZqKX8XzB0F
      https://paiza.io/projects/tJASFKbrvDqh3B3TGcndrg?language=php
      https://pastelink.net/brfiwbqq
      https://paste2.org/Bk9CCNjP
      https://v.teknik.io/v/Q1MpG
      https://yamcode.com/dd9gp44ney
      https://bitbin.it/b6cjTgBA/
      https://theprose.com/post/545612/amaludin
      https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/81a30784
      https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/8b2d9835
      https://www.vingle.net/posts/5033456
      https://techplanet.today/post/amaludin-madep
      https://paste.toolforge.org/view/4f5ab85f#SW8UnJyjsxL0khlZ8M4vH9BlHLATgijH
      https://pst.klgrth.io/paste/9udp4
      https://jsitor.com/puY8GkEZK4
      https://ideone.com/v7rToS
      https://tempel.in/view/143d9572

    • layung japanese

      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757760
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760638
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/759942
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/759937
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757166
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/759917
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757156
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/759912
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757725
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/759897
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/755739
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760022
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757845
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760007
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760002
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760703
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/755714
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760688
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/757805
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/760678
      https://pastebin.com/znAXF79J
      https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/212cb90f-ccb9-4b5b-9bf1-2d6d94ebfb21
      https://pasteio.com/xGLlkojkcPfM
      https://paiza.io/projects/jS-S9yhyd-gF241ki658iQ?language=php
      https://pastelink.net/w65u637d
      https://paste2.org/tEcfPgXf
      https://v.teknik.io/v/4IS4B
      https://yamcode.com/wp3kdmcojw
      https://bitbin.it/PdQiDPPu/
      https://theprose.com/post/545136/rungkad
      https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/098c1080
      https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/b96c32ee
      https://www.vingle.net/posts/5028775
      https://techplanet.today/post/rungkad-boss
      https://paste.toolforge.org/view/e98e734d#WcV6QPVvaQwcfenyyc5SCZvISat6TZ0W
      https://pst.klgrth.io/paste/cwehx
      https://jsitor.com/9VmzmKxcVj
      https://ideone.com/i7Nh4s
      https://tempel.in/view/c0c4f199

    • layung japanese

      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735440
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738718
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735450
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735455
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738723
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/733429
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735460
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737487
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735076
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735465
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/733439
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735081
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/733444
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735086
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737492
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737497
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/735091
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738733
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738738
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737507
      https://pastebin.com/erEACcNH
      https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/ec11f4d9-f7bb-4a8d-9ff6-e71de8bada02
      https://pasteio.com/xlWMcNRgxiOd
      https://paiza.io/projects/Fqnh7wdCbMhH0jew_xK2LA?language=php
      https://pastelink.net/1v7n8pev
      https://paste2.org/WdvFebvI
      https://v.teknik.io/v/Tlb9v
      https://yamcode.com/igu8nenlw7
      https://bitbin.it/hUpTXByP/
      https://theprose.com/post/544765/basreng
      https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/2bb04a1b
      https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/98074085
      https://www.vingle.net/posts/5025567
      https://techplanet.today/post/ahemberrr
      https://paste.toolforge.org/view/845e0ce1#lTDi8bPnsDeqUCtx4AjjSxsXA4yGz5RW
      https://pst.klgrth.io/paste/p5kqp
      https://jsitor.com/ZlR6bmP8p4
      https://ideone.com/nUkzP2

    • layung japanese

      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734890
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738163
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738173
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734636
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734900
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734915
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/736957
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738193
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/736962
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734925
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/736977
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734940
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738218
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/733024
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738233
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/734970
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/733034
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737007
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/738253
      https://new.c.mi.com/th/post/737012
      https://pastebin.com/W1ccMMfH
      https://ide.geeksforgeeks.org/57c4dd5d-a7a8-4b29-a10f-d62e0db35764
      https://pasteio.com/xFVM4gdTERCR
      https://paiza.io/projects/vIWy5q_Cx-CuDZsqjumeHw?language=php
      https://pastelink.net/duda3dtq
      https://paste2.org/PVJdspxU
      https://v.teknik.io/v/FrPMg
      https://yamcode.com/mpy0jwhepu
      https://bitbin.it/64uC8aLq/
      https://theprose.com/post/544745/amalagadah
      https://rift.curseforge.com/paste/217d2f0d
      https://authors.curseforge.com/paste/75e06930
      https://www.vingle.net/posts/5025285
      https://techplanet.today/post/amaludin-1
      https://paste.toolforge.org/view/7c7c479e#bC2Vi8nI50CpyKEPlOQqPDRn0voqiusM
      https://pst.klgrth.io/paste/ej6n7
      https://jsitor.com/SVyF8UJtA3
      https://ideone.com/dnnSno

    • Kaviraa

      http://maps.google.cm/url?q=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/a2z-health-tips/pressreleases/glucoberry-customer-reviews-my-30-experience-report-3219944
      http://www.google.ml/url?q=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/a2z-health-tips/pressreleases/glucoberry-customer-reviews-my-30-experience-report-3219944
      http://maps.google.co.bw/url?q=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/a2z-health-tips/pressreleases/glucoberry-customer-reviews-my-30-experience-report-3219944

    Leave a comment

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    Back to From the Breakroom

    You may also like

    View all
    Head Shaving with a Safety Razor
    Head Shaving with a Safety Razor
    Traveling with your Safety Razor
    Traveling with your Safety Razor
    Why you should make the switch to a Safety Razor
    Why you should make the switch to a Safety Razor