Welcome to The Hobbyist Machine Store. You may notice the name is very similar to The Hobbyist Machine Shop and that is a deliberate intention. Our location is Frisco, Texas USA

The "THMShop" is where I play and I enjoy the hobby of machining. I do not directly "sell" anything from that location. No hidden agenda. I just show off the tools and machines I use and show what I am building. You will see a lot of the products from the store being used in the shop as I have to satisfy myself it works for me before I offer it to my customers.

I have also provided space in the shop website for other home machinist to show off their “stuff”.

Static web sites have been giving way to more spontaneous reporting that allows for reader feedback. Check out this communication trend in the THMShop Blog. It too is not a part of the THMStore but rather contains posts about my hobby in-shop activities. Some of that may find it's way into something I offer in the store as my shop is my testing grounds.

I have added another web site to all the above that is a bit removed from just machine tools. I call it The Hobbyist Work Shop so you see I haven't strayed from the path very far. Take a look at other things I like to make.

The Hobbyist Machine Store is a part time, real, taxpaying, for profit web based business. We do not have a real "bricks and mortar" storefront. The store is a currently a second occupation for owner Dan Kautz (me). I hold a full time position as an energy engineer in a very large international corporation. This requires at least 12 hours per day of my awake time. After retirement from my professional career (just a few more years), the store will certainly become a full time investment of my time and resources. For now, I must stay selective with my resources and product line.

I am currently building some of the fast moving inventory while keeping overhead as low as possible. Because of my limited availability, I can seldom answer a live phone line or hire someone to do so. Best communication response is through email. This is the great benefit of eCommerce. The customer and the owner can choose the time and place to fill an order or just ask or answer a question, even at 2:00 AM… if either so desires!

I do like seeing and talking to real people too! That's why my picture is on this page.

Here in the on-line store, I offer product reviews with lots of pictures and sometimes video on the major items I offer. I believe the THMStore should be the place to see a product in detail before you purchase. Some of those reports may come from the shop website or blog. Additionally, every item in the store has at least one enlarged photo view of the product on the item listing. I think this detailed product display helps set THMStore apart from other web stores.

The new mission of The Hobbyist Machine Store is not limited to offering only machine shop tools. We are also interested in providing quality products created in or produced by other small manufacturing workshops. Any product that justifies our investment of THMS time and resources is of interest.

THMS is interested in being the single source vendor partner for products made by other small manufactures who do not wish to develop their own e-commerce web site. Use the "Contact US" email link on this page for more information.

The THMStore does not compete with other stores to be simply a "ME TOO" provider. For example, the mini-machine gears we offer are unique, but other stores do an excellent job on the other Mini parts. So we recommend them when it makes sense.

The steel replacement gears are a great improvement for the mini-lathe and the mini-mill. There is a review of the gear installation process over in The Hobbyist Machine Shop. I recommend anyone considering the upgrade to purchase the full set.

The machine tools I show are competitive priced in their quality and size range. Currently I offer the Taig Machine line of Micro Machine tools and accessories. I am really impressed by these products.