A Blog for the Industrial Cutting Tool Professional

When Prices Change, What Should You Expect from Your Distributor? A supplier price increase can create a ripple effect on your business. Jobs already quoted become tighter. Purchasing budgets need adjusting. Decisions about what to stock and when to buy become more important. Market fluctuations will continue. The question is how your distribution partner helps…

Space and Defense Growth Drives Southern California Manufacturing Tomorrow’s space missions begin with precision manufacturing today. Conceptual illustration. The next chapter of space exploration is taking shape in Southern California-and much of the work starts at a spindle, a workbench, or an inspection station. Across Long Beach and the surrounding manufacturing corridor, companies such as…

Why hands-on machining experience, workholding knowledge, and continuous training still matter After more than two decades in manufacturing, one thing I have seen over and over is this: The best CNC programmers usually understand machining from the machine side first. Programming is not just about creating a clean toolpath or making something look good in…

Built on Relationships. Driven by Service. Since 1984. Manufacturing has changed dramatically since S&D Industrial Tool Supply opened its doors in 1984. Cutting tools have become more advanced, machines have grown faster and more precise, and new technologies continue to reshape the shop floor. Through every change, one thing at S&D has remained constant: our…

Finding good employees has become one of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today. Ask almost any plant manager or business owner what keeps them up at night, and you’ll likely hear the same concerns: Skilled workers are difficult to find. Labor costs continue to rise. Experienced employees are retiring. Existing teams are being asked to…

Every machine shop wants more spindle time, higher throughput, and a lower cost per part. Yet when capacity becomes tight, many manufacturers immediately start looking at new machines, additional labor, or upgraded tooling. What if the real bottleneck isn’t your machine? What if it’s the way you’re holding the part? At S&D Industrial Tool Supply,…

When one of our customers came to S&D with a manufacturing challenge, they were frustrated with a back spot facing process that was slow, labor-intensive, and causing unnecessary downtime. The application required multiple holes to be back spotfaced using a traditional bayonet-style back spotface tool. While the process worked, it required constant operator involvement and…

There’s something special about living in a place where family-owned businesses still thrive. From local hardware stores to cozy restaurants, bakeries, and specialty shops, these are the places I choose whenever I can. It’s not just about what they sell, it’s about how they make you feel. Walking in and hearing, “Jim! Good to see…

Every day on your shop floor, time matters. Deadlines loom. Machines run. Customers are counting on you. But behind the scenes, small inefficiencies quietly drain your productivity – a missing tool, an empty bin, an employee walking back and forth to the toolcrib instead of doing the job they were hired to do. Manufacturing has…