"Whenever you see "we" or "our" on this website, it's actually just me (Mike—hello!). One man in Liverpool with a growing collection of CNC machines and the kind of enthusiasm for precision that makes normal people's eyes glaze over. I use "we" because it sounds more business-like than "some fella named Mike who gets excited about perfect chamfers."

The path to becoming "Outpost Workshop" was pretty much inevitable when you connect the dots: Kid who dismantled RC cars to "improve" them + teenager who built computers instead of having a social life = adult who gets unreasonably excited about sub-micron runout measurements and the phrase "helical interpolation with tool centre point management."

I spent years as a graphic designer, hunched over pixels, making logos and brand identities for other people's dreams. All while harbouring secret robot-building fantasies and watching engineering YouTube channels like normal people watch Netflix.

Then in 2017, I hit a crossroads. I'd started making leather wallets as a side hobby (because apparently sitting at a computer all day wasn't enough—I needed more hobbies). When I looked into getting a custom stamp to brand them, I discovered they cost about £250.

My second thought was "that's expensive." My first was "I wonder how they're made?"

Down the rabbit hole I went. One YouTube binge of NYC CNC videos later (cheers, John Saunders), and I was convinced I needed a CNC machine of my own. Not wanted. Needed. With the intensity of a kid writing their Christmas list.

So I bought a Shapeoko 3, set it up in what was supposed to be my dining room, and dove headfirst into the world of G-code and end mills. The learning curve was... vertical. There may have been some theatrical cursing and more than one broken bit.

I still laugh when I think back to the early days, when I assumed CNC work was mostly "design something and let the machine do the rest." Several thousand hours of learning, testing, and occasionally colourful language later, I've come to the humbling realisation that I know far less now than I thought I knew then. Classic Dunning-Kruger effect—the more expertise you gain, the more you recognise how vast and nuanced this field truly is. And honestly? That's what keeps it exciting every single day.

Here's where everything clicked: My obsessive attention to detail (which is both my superpower and my kryptonite), my graphic design background, and my lifelong love affair with making things suddenly had a perfect outlet.

As orders started coming in, I took the leap and moved into an industrial unit in Wales. Then the pandemic hit, and I found myself back in Liverpool, setting up shop closer to home. In retrospect, it was the universe nudging me in the right direction.

By the end of 2020, I had one of those "wait, this is becoming a real thing" moments. My little hobby was turning into a legitimate business, but I was hitting the limits of what my equipment could do. Rather than compromise on quality, I did what any reasonable person would do. I built my own tool-changing CNC machine from scratch. That machine still produces all the letter sets for leather stamping today (see posts from mid-2021 here for more on that machine!)

In 2022, I took the biggest leap yet by investing in a Haas Mini Mill. This isn't just a step up from hobbyist equipment. It's an industry standard CNC machine tool that manufactures critical components for aerospace, automotive, and medical industries globally. The same precision that keeps aircraft safely in the sky is now dedicated to crafting your custom designs. While it was a significant (terrifying) financial commitment, it's catapulted the quality of our custom work to levels that simply weren't possible before. I promise I'm not sponsored, but I am accepting thank-you discounts on tooling, Haas.

While I may be a one-person operation, I couldn't have built this without the fantastic people I've met along the way, and the support of my friends & family who have graciously been there for me when I needed them. To all my customers who have trusted me with their projects, shared photos of their creations, and come back for more—thank you. Your support, feedback, and enthusiasm have shaped Outpost Workshop into what it is today.

Design Rescue: My graphic design background means I can rescue your pixelated logo or sketchy drawing and transform it into something machinable.

Obsessive Attention: My borderline obsessive attention to detail means I'll probably spend way too long making sure your branding iron is perfect.

Genuine Excitement: My love for the craft means I genuinely get excited when I see what you create with the tools I make.

So while there's no actual "team" at Outpost Workshop (the "Us" in "About Us" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here), there is someone who cares about quality, precision, and helping makers leave their mark.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go adjust something by a quarter of a millimetre because it's been bothering me all day.

Mike
100% of Outpost Workshop's Workforce