A self-applied or affectionate label for people who spend every spare hour in a shop: working late, building personal projects on the weekend and knowing where every tool lives. Engineers who prefer the floor to their desks also claim the title. It signals hands-on credibility.
Heard on the job
She's a real shop rat, comes in Saturdays to work on her engine and still beats everybody in on Monday.
Related terms
Crusty
An old, gruff veteran machinist with a lifetime of skill, strong opinions and little patience for shortcuts.
Keener
Canadian slang for an overeager newcomer who volunteers for everything and tries a little too hard.
Government job
A personal project made on company machines and material, on the side or on the clock.