What do you do when you can’t afford the tools you need to make a living? For John McNerney, the answer was simple - you build them yourself.

Starting as a farrier, John’s need for quality tools pushed him into blacksmithing, where his talent eventually landed him on the hit show “Forged in Fire.” That same drive led him into the world of CNC machining, where he now runs Yukon Forge - a scrappy, fast-growing shop known for its strong culture and products that sell almost as fast as he can make them.

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, John shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a modern CNC shop, with insights on shop culture, marketing, and staying hands-on every step of the way. If you’ve ever wondered how grit and creativity can forge a business from the ground up, this episode is for you.