JBOBS
Home → Blog

Notes from the shop floor.

Specifying advice, material comparisons and post-mortems written by the people running the machines — not a marketing department.

The five things missing from most fabrication drawings
Featured · Specifying

The five things missing from most fabrication drawings

Tolerance callouts on the wrong feature, no finish spec, no datum. Here is what an estimator actually needs to quote your part without a phone call — and what it costs you when it is missing.

· Feb 14, 2026 · 7 min read
Tolerance callouts that actually change the price
Specifying

Tolerance callouts that actually change the price

Half the tolerances we receive cost money without doing anything. A short guide to which features deserve a tight number.

· Feb 2, 2026
Cast vs extruded acrylic: when the cheaper sheet costs more
Materials

Cast vs extruded acrylic: when the cheaper sheet costs more

Extruded saves 30% on material and then crazes at the bond line. Where each belongs on an award or a display.

· Jan 21, 2026
Design your display for the freight bill, not the photo shoot
Retail programs

Design your display for the freight bill, not the photo shoot

Two cartons per pallet layer instead of one is usually a 20% freight swing. Where to find that in the geometry.

· Jan 9, 2026
Why we build a first article before a production run
Shop notes

Why we build a first article before a production run

It adds three days and removes the argument. What goes in a first-article report and how to read one.

· Dec 12, 2025
Diamond polish or flame polish: choosing an edge finish that survives
Specifying

Diamond polish or flame polish: choosing an edge finish that survives

Edge clarity, turnaround and where a UV-printed graphic fits — how to pick a finish for a piece that lives in a lobby or on a shelf.

· Nov 28, 2025
Kitting a 600-store rollout without a spreadsheet fire
Retail programs

Kitting a 600-store rollout without a spreadsheet fire

How we structure BOMs, count sheets and cartons so a store manager can install without calling anyone.

· Nov 6, 2025
Shop notes, monthly

One email a month. Material prices, lead times, and what we learned the hard way.

No promotions, no drip sequence. Unsubscribe link at the top, not buried at the bottom.

Have a drawing that needs a second look?

Send it over — an estimator will tell you what would build cheaper before you commit to a run.

Call Now Request a Quote