Shop Truths, Phrases, Tales; and Outright Lies

[Toolmaker51]

THE DESIGNER

The designer bent across his board,
Such wonderful things in his head were stored.
And he said as he rubbed his throbbing bean,
"How can I make this thing hard to machine?
If this part here were only straight,
I'm sure the thing would work first rate.
But would be so easy to turn and bore,
It never would make the machinist sore.
I’ll put a right angle way down there,
Watch those babies tear their hair.
And I'll put the holes that hold the cap,
Under the ledge where they can’t tap.
Now this piece won't work, I'll bet a buck,
For it can't be held in vise or chuck.
It can't be drilled; it can't be ground,
In fact, the design is exceedingly sound!
He looks again and cried, "At last!
Success is mine, it can't even be cast."

Unknown Author or time period.
But we can imagine his line of work.