All right jmblack ill bite. Apparently I’m both; let me begin by telling you why I asked. Recently my employer posted a list of every employee’s name and job title. My title is Toolmaker, my journeyman’s card says machinist. Another guy has a toolmakers card, but has a title of cnc operator. Some guys there don’t have cards at all and are titled toolmakers, while others are titled machinists. Some even have the title of cnc toolmaker. Needles to say this has stirred things up a bit, and began a discussion of what a toolmaker was. Nobody seemed to be able to give a good answer. That is why I asked the question. Just as I thought there is a difference of opinion. I always said that cards or “titles’ don’t mean sh*t. You are only as good as what you put in to it and the experiences that you have had. I have been in the trade for Eleven years and along the way I have met card holding “toolmakers”, that did not know how to read dial calipers, while some of the best trades people I’ve met didn’t have cards at all. As far as my skills, I was shop foreman for three years at a previous job, as to which my duties included all the programming, quoting of jobs, and deciding how to make and hold the parts. I knew every thing there was to know at that shop. I left there because I was bored and wanted to challenge myself. When I arrived at my present place of employment instead of being the ‘go to guy” I found myself being the guy that needed help. Just because you think you’re the Sh*t, Maybe you really don’t know ****. quote: Call me what you want just pay me!

What is the difference between a toolmaker and machinist?