Question 1

What is your return policy?

Accepted Answer

Please see Shipping & Returns page of our shop for more information.

Question 2

What forms of payment do you accept?

Accepted Answer

You can securely pay on our website using any major credit card. Payments are processed through an encrypted, PCI-compliant payment system. Card details are never stored on our servers, and are not accessible to us.

We also accept PayPal; however, it carries a transaction fee. When possible, we appreciate payment directly through our website.

Verified payment is required before work begins. The full quoted amount must be paid prior to the start of machining.

Question 3

Do you have a discount for veterans?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We love our troops and veterans. We have much to thank them for. Both our veterans and active service military personnel can enjoy our exclusive military pricing. To qualify, please send us a copy of your Military ID, Veteran ID, or DD form 214. Once we verify your service, we will give you a personal discount code that will unlock your pricing. Please do not share your code. It is exclusive to you and will not work for someone else.

Question 4

Do you have a discount for students?

Accepted Answer

If you are a full time student in a STEM field, you can qualify for our academic pricing. The part you need must be strictly intended for an academic purpose: your thesis, your research, your science project, or similar academic or classroom activity that benefits education in general. It cannot be a part for your personal use. To qualify, please supply enrollment verification from your registrar and a detailed description of your academic work.

If you are a STEM teacher, or even a teaching assistant, and you need parts for classroom use, as in to use them to aid teach something in your official curriculum, please bring employment verification that shows classes you are teaching, and you too can benefit from academic pricing.

Question 5

Is there a phone number I can reach you at?

Accepted Answer

We prioritize documented, technical communication over real-time calls. This reduces errors, protects customer confidentiality, and keeps production running without interruption. Initial inquiries are handled through our chat box, contact form, or email. Once a project is active, and if phone consultation is needed, customers are given direct points of contact.

Question 6

I would like to speak to your manager/supervisor.

Accepted Answer

We use a shared inbox system. Please write to katya.ironworks@gmail.com and your concerns will be delivered directly to management.

Question 7

Where are you located? What is your phone number?

Accepted Answer

We are located in central Iowa. We are a production-focused machine shop operating in a controlled manufacturing environment. For safety, intellectual property protection, and uninterrupted production, we do not accept unscheduled calls or walk-in visits, and we do not operate a public storefront. All project inquiries are handled in writing through our contact form, chat box, or by email. Written inquiries allow us to review prints, tolerances, materials, and schedules without interrupting active machining operations. This ensures accurate communication, proper documentation, and equal attention to every customer. Approved customers and vendors receive direct contact details and visit arrangements if and when required.

Question 8

My lawnmower hub is broken, and costs $15.75 to replace. Can you make me a new one for less?

Accepted Answer

No.

Consumer replacement parts are mass-produced in very high volumes, often using cost-optimized materials and processes. A one-off part made in a U.S. machine shop cannot compete with that pricing.

What we can do is manufacture a higher-quality replacement using premium materials and proper machining practices, intended for durability rather than minimum cost. This is appropriate when the original part is unavailable, repeatedly failing, or when performance and longevity matter more than upfront price.

If your priority is the lowest possible cost, the OEM part is almost always the right choice.

Question 9

Can you machine a [insert part] for my [insert firearm]?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not perform any firearm-related machining. A federally licensed firearms manufacturer (FFL) or gunsmith should be able to assist you with this type of work.

Question 10

Can I send you my own materials?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not machine customer-furnished materials. All materials used in our shop are sourced from vetted suppliers with documented specifications and traceability. This ensures known alloy composition, machinability, safety for personnel, and protection of our equipment. Unknown or improperly sourced materials can pose risks ranging from tool damage and poor part quality to health and regulatory concerns. If you have a specific material requirement, we are happy to source the correct certified material on your behalf.

Question 11

Can I send you my own g-code?

Accepted Answer

No. We do not run customer-supplied G-code. G-code is machine-, controller-, tooling-, and configuration-specific. Programs written outside our shop cannot account for our exact machines, tooling libraries, fixtures, offsets, safety parameters, or control logic. For safety, quality, and liability reasons, all programs are to be generated, verified, and approved internally. Running externally generated code presents unacceptable risk to equipment, personnel, and customer parts.

Question 12

[A non-commercial source] told me this type of part should cost less than your quote to machine. Can you match that?

Accepted Answer

We are happy to review written quotes from other professional machine shops for comparable scope. Pricing can only be evaluated when materials, tolerances, quantities, lead time, and inspection requirements are equivalent. We do not match informal estimates or opinions. Our quotes are based on machining time, materials, tooling, inspection requirements, and overhead. Our pricing is competitive and reflects the value of professional, commercial manufacturing.

Question 13

I need a part reverse engineered but first I need to know if you can do it. Can you make and send me a free sample?

Accepted Answer

No. A “sample” requires full reverse engineering and prototype manufacturing, which cannot be done speculatively. Reverse engineering projects begin with a paid prototype. Prototype costs are credited toward production orders.

Question 14

Do you offer free estimates? How about free quotes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We provide estimates and quotes at no cost to you. Any engineering, reverse engineering, or prototype work is billed.

Question 15

Do you offer quantity discounts? How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer quantity-based pricing.

Single-part orders have the highest per-part cost because they include all setup, programming, and machine configuration. As quantities increase, those fixed costs are spread across more parts, reducing the per-part price.

Quantity discounts taper off once setup costs are fully amortized. Beyond that point, pricing is driven primarily by material, machine time, and consumables, and additional quantity does not significantly reduce unit cost.

Question 16

What tolerances can you achieve?

Accepted Answer

Achievable tolerance depends on material, geometry, and process. Our machining and inspection capabilities allow us to measure features down to 0.0001″, with metrology resolution to 0.00005″. For stable, easily machinable materials and appropriate part geometry, typical machined tolerances of ±0.001″ are achievable. Material stability matters. Some materials, such as precipitation-hardening steels, are dimensionally stable and hold tight tolerances well. Others, such as many plastics, can move after machining and cannot reliably hold the same tolerances.

Please note that tighter tolerances increase cost. Specifying tolerances tighter than functionally required increases machining time, inspection effort, and price, without improving performance. We recommend specifying the loosest tolerances that meet your functional requirements.

Question 17

Can I send you my own tooling?

Accepted Answer

We do not accept customer furnished tooling. Tooling selection and qualification are integral to our machining process and quality control. All tooling used in our shop is professionally selected, qualified, and maintained internally to ensure compatibility, quality, and safe operation. This ensures known tool geometry, condition, coatings, and compatibility with our machines and processes.

Question 18

Do you machine carbon fiber?

Accepted Answer

No. Carbon fibers are abrasive to our machinery. They are best machined with a water jet and we do not offer water jetting.

Question 19

Do you offer painting/powder-coating/etching/electroplating/anodizing?

Accepted Answer

No. These processes involve aerosols, and keeping large vats of hot and corrosive chemicals in the shop. For the well being of our employees as well as our machinery, we do not offer these options in-house. For larger orders, we can send them to our plating partners for you.

Question 20

I’ve had the same machinist make this part for decades. Can you make the same part at the same price?

Accepted Answer

We regularly take over legacy parts when a long-time machinist retires. We can reproduce the part once requirements are documented. If you have a written shop quote with equivalent scope, we are happy to review it.

Question 21

Can you make parts of my Jeep?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We drive and modify our Jeeps too. We are particularly experienced with the JK series. We would be happy to help.

Question 22

Can you make parts for my RC helicopter?

Accepted Answer

Gladly. We are RC helicopter nerds, including turbine helicopters. Name your part. We will be happy to help.

Question 23

Where are your parts made?

Accepted Answer

Our parts are made in the USA.

FAQ