The Man Behind the CNC

If you've followed Pate Ranch Creations for a while, you probably see a lot of me, the lasers, leather, orders, and whatever project happens to be taking over the shop that day. But there is another important person behind many of the products we make. Meet James Pate—the man behind the CNC.

Where Some of Our Products Begin

Before a piece of wood ever makes it to a laser for engraving or personalization, there is often quite a bit of work that has already happened. That's where James comes in. Our CNC allows us to take hardwood and turn it into the actual shapes and components that eventually become finished Pate Ranch products. From cutting and machining pieces to helping develop new designs and prototypes, James handles much of the CNC work that happens behind the scenes. It may not always be the part you see in the finished photograph, but it is an important part of how we are able to say that many of our products are truly made from scratch right here in Texas.

Making, Not Just Decorating

One thing we talk about often at Pate Ranch is the difference between personalizing a product and actually making one. Our CNC is a big part of that difference. Instead of purchasing every product already manufactured and simply adding a logo, we can start with a piece of hardwood and create the product ourselves. The CNC gives us precision and repeatability, but there is still plenty of hands-on work involved before a piece is ready to leave the shop. James has become a big part of that process.

The Other Half of Pate Ranch

Like most small businesses, Pate Ranch isn't built around neatly defined job descriptions. We both tend to do whatever needs doing. There are products to make, equipment to run, ideas to figure out, materials to move, prototypes to test, and usually at least one project that seemed much easier when we first thought of it. James brings a different set of skills and perspective to the shop, and some of our best ideas have come from the two of us looking at a problem and figuring out how we can build it better. Sometimes that means a new product. Sometimes it means a new fixture. And sometimes it means standing in front of the CNC wondering why something that looked perfect on the computer has other plans. That's manufacturing.

Built Here Together

Pate Ranch Creations may have started as my business, but over the years it has become very much a family operation. When someone purchases one of our Texas-made pieces, there is often far more behind it than what you see in the final engraving. There is designing, machining, woodworking, leatherwork, finishing, personalization, assembly, and a whole lot of problem-solving along the way. So while I may be the face you see most often online, if your Pate Ranch piece started life on the CNC, there's a pretty good chance James had a hand in making it.

Meet James Pate—the man behind the CNC and an important part of what makes Pate Ranch Creations, Pate Ranch.