Family-run in Superior since 1984
Four decades of machining, welding and repair on Central Avenue, and still a family business.
How it started
In the 1980s, the machine shop where Bob Cragin worked closed its doors. He didn't go looking for a job somewhere else. He opened his own shop in Superior in 1984, and customers who knew his work brought him their jobs from the start. The shop grew from there, adding machines and expanding the building along the way.
From day one the goal was simple: serve local industry and the general public by repairing large and small equipment to equal or, in many cases, better than original condition, and by making new parts with real craftsmanship and service.
In 2009 the shop marked 25 years with an open house. Today Bob runs the shop alongside his son Allen, serving customers in the Twin Ports, across the country and beyond.
Bob and Allen Cragin
“Founded by Bob Cragin in 1984 and run today by Bob and his son Allen, Cragin Machine Shop carries on a tradition of dedication and quality service to our local community and beyond. Far beyond.”
Bob built the shop on doing the job right the first time, and he and Allen hold every job to that standard today.
When you call, you talk to people who know the work, not a call center.
Get in touchInside the shop
Our floor holds manual lathes and mills in a range of sizes for big and one-of-a-kind work, CNC lathes and mills for repeat parts, and welding equipment that supports our machining, plus the portable setups we design for work at your site.
See the equipment listHow we work
Repair it right
We bring equipment back to equal or, in many cases, better than original condition.
Creative problem-solving
We see more than one way to complete a project, and we pick the one that works best for you. We thrive on the difficult and unique jobs.
Excellent customer service
You talk to the people doing the work and get straight answers. Many of our clients have become friends, and your input makes our work better.
We come to you
Our portable equipment, and the tooling we build for specific jobs, lets us work wherever the equipment is.
Shop equipment
Highlights of what's on our floor. Call to talk about capacity for your job.
| Type | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Lathes | 40″ × 120″ (Boye & Emmes) · 20″ × 120″ (Alexson, digital readout) · 20″ × 120″ (American Pacemaker) · 16″ × 54″ (Pratt & Whitney) · two 16″ × 48″ (Boye & Emmes) · 14″ metric threading lathe |
| Horizontal boring mills | 4″ G&L with digital readout · 2½″ G&L |
| Milling | Three Bridgeport vertical mills with digital readouts · two horizontal milling machines |
| CNC | CNC lathes and CNC mills for repeat parts and multiples |
| Drilling | Radial drill · drill presses |
| Grinding | Cylindrical grinder · surface grinder |
| Other machining | Shaper · keyseater |
| Fabrication | Welding machines · 100-ton press · tube, angle and channel bending roll |
| Portable | Portable boring and facing machines, plus tooling we build for specific on-site jobs |
Materials
Training the next generation
In 2022 we donated a lathe to the Spartan Manufacturing program at Superior High School, helping students in our hometown learn the trade. We're also members of the Superior-Douglas County Chamber of Commerce.
“Friendly knowledgeable folks that are easy to work with.”
Tell us what broke. We'll tell you how we'd fix it.
Call during shop hours (Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM) or send photos and details through the quote form. The more you can tell us — measurements, drawings, make and model — the faster we can quote.