The seller, an old sign-maker named Arthur, was retiring. The machine was covered in a thick layer of blue dust and looked like a relic from a different era. "She’s got good bones," Arthur said, patting the steel frame, "just needs a heart transplant."
Max was a high school shop teacher who dreamed of starting a custom furniture business. His garage was full of hand tools, but he lacked the speed and precision of a CNC router. New machines cost tens of thousands, far beyond his budget.
Finally, in late August, it was time. Max loaded a design for a complex topographic map of the local coastline. He hit 'Cycle Start.'
One evening, he spotted a Craigslist ad: "Used 4x8 CNC Router. Needs work. $2,000. Must bring own trailer."
