What is a Tinkerer?

One should not confuse a tinkerer and a tinker! A tinkerer is a person who tinkers with machinery, modifies products and is the heart and sole of inventors and innovators. However, a tinker is someone who fixes household items with tin. These wondering tin smiths became a vagabond of sorts in the early industrial age and are associated with a negative connotation. Tinkerers on the other hand are highly regarded in society, think of Thomas Edison.

One aspect of being a successful machinist is the ability to tinker, in the tinkerer sense. Only by attempting new methods, tweaking old methods and testing these thoughts can a machinist improve upon his work and craft. While an endearing image of a tinkerer may be an old man farting around with clocks, the truth is that without that tinkering spirit innovation would come to a standstill. So tinker away, take things apart and see how they run and if they can be improved, for if it wasn't for this kind of innovator we wouldn't have light bulbs or artificial hearts!

Carbide Die & Tooling Resourses

Are you looking for online information about carbide dies and carbide tooling? When you're online looking for information about machines, machinists, tooling and manufacturing (machine shops) you will notice that there is some but not a ton of information out there. Machinists may not be online as much as gamers, programmers or the ever present Internet marketers but what I have found is that machinists and machine shop type people tend to post quality information online. This group tends to like to stick to the facts and dislike spammy marketing and excessive, unsupported self promotion. The information these die makers, machinists and shop owners post is direct and to the point, but in some of the more obscure areas, like carbide dies and carbide tooling, it can be scant. Here are some links that can help out.

General Information:
Carbide Dies - General Information about Carbide Dies
Carbide Dies - General Information about Carbide Dies and Tungsten Carbide
Carbide Tooling - General Information about Carbide Tooling
Carbide - General Information about Carbide

Machinist Forum:
The Home Shop Machinists
Machinist Web

Business Productivity:
Productive Business
Productive Business Meetings