CNC vs. Hiring an Employee: April Wilkerson’s ShopSabre Story

In this customer spotlight, we head down to Texas to visit popular woodworking creator and entrepreneur April Wilkerson. April shares her journey from building exclusively with hand tools to integrating CNC automation to massively scale her brand’s production.

When faced with the need to increase her output, April realized that investing in a CNC router was the perfect alternative to hiring an employee. She breaks down how the machine allowed her to mass-produce project templates for her audience, creating an entirely new revenue stream while freeing up her hands to design the next build.

April also shares her honest advice for anyone looking to buy their first CNC. She explains the hidden frustrations and accuracy issues that come with “stair-stepping” your way through cheap, entry-level imports, and why she firmly believes in “buying your last machine first” to ensure you have the precision, rigidity, and U.S.-based tech support needed to actually grow your business.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:00] – April’s background: Moving from hand tools to CNC automation.

• [00:27] – Why a CNC router is the ultimate alternative to hiring an employee.

• [01:05] – Mass-producing project templates to create a new revenue stream.

• [02:28] – The problem with entry-level machines: Why precision matters as jobs get complex.

• [04:47] – The advantage of USA-made machines and reliable in-house tech support.

• [05:33] – CNC buying advice: Why you should buy your last machine first and avoid “stair-stepping.”

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Since 2000, ShopSabre CNC has delivered high-quality CNC routers, plasma cutters, and laser engraving machines built in the USA to businesses and hobbyists worldwide. Subscribe for more insights on CNC technology, project builds, and industry-leading machine performance.