Anything Manufacturing - Small to Medium Scale Metal Work (CAD/CAM included!)

$1,800 is a great offer.

If I'm correct, I think 1/4" steel would set me back about $330 here. Needing more than a 4' x 8' means I'd be looking at $400 in material cost.

That would put me at charging the customer $600 for steel, plus labor for a grand total of $850.

Maybe I'm too affordable

 

I've never starved for work. I just keep raising my prices for fab work and I seem to get more and more business.

I've heard from costumers that no one does this kind of work and its impossible to find peeps that do and they want to keep me happy.

I'm hoping my iron costs are similar. I'm stopping by the fab shop in the morning to put in my iron order and inquire the fee for the rental of the press brake and operator. Will report what I find.

 

No shortage of work here either.

The production runs are just parts being cut out with no bending or welding while bent parts are often one-off.

I never intended to turn into a big shop though hence my affordable rates.

I'm actually surprised you don't have a means of bending parts!

 

It's crossed my mind at times, but I'm good with farming out some work.

I've got so many other jobs to do, I need to send off some work so I can catch up on other tasks.

It works out in the end.

 

How much time/money do you think it would take to make an adapter like this for a remote Brake reservoir? I definitely don't need fancy AN-fittings, a hole for a threaded barb fitting would be just fine.

source:https://www.reddit.com/r/projectcar/comments/1bqp0sd/remote_mounted_brake_reservoir/

Project 95 4runner

 

Just as soon as I ask I find this, just need to know what size they are and a braket to span the two and screw to the flange in the center.

https://kugelkomponents.com/product/5569-remote-fill-adaptors-for-aluminum-brake-m-c-2/

 

sites like that are so irritating.

i just need specifications! someone had to come up with them to create it, just post it, and take my money!

 

Right!!! I'm sure they are worried about someone stealing their idea, because it's a good idea. Am I to assume that all "Aluminum M/C" are created equal and it will fit all of them??

 

To be fair, it's a bit of a specialty item that'll sell online more often than locally.

Doubt anyone is going to machine those just to sit on a batch of them and not having a target audience established.

 

Fair enough but it would sell better if they post dimensions of any sort.

Just took measurments off the reservoir and whipped up a CAD drawing. Any material better than another for brake fluid, Steel or Aluminum? I may 3d print one for the heck of it and do some testing with different filaments soaking in brake fluid.

 

To be fair, this is likely exactly what's happening.

Back when I had a Mitsubishi eclipse, another guy had an idea for some tail lights that were very nissan-skyline-ish. It used some common aftermarket tail lights, and was really just a bunch of body work to re-use the parts.

After he did it, I messaged him about some of it, and then as I do, took everything 6 steps further.

I built my own, documented the entire process with multiple how-to's for the different steps, and used them as a springboard to learn circuit board design.

He later contacted me asking that I pull down all my how-to threads related to the project because he wanted to be the exclusive source for anyone to get the modified lights from. This was early on in the " You to can have a side hustle!" movement.

I told him off for the most part. He got caught up in the thought process that because I copied the design, there must be hundreds/thousands of people willing to pay for a completed product.

The reality is that I think he sold one other pair. To his buddy. At a significant friend discount.

Not everything is profitable. And custom one-off items even less so. One needs to read the room.

In this case, I specifically wouldn't go with that adapter and would build my own simply because of the lack of info. Info I need to order all the other parts required.

If you're going to by koy about parts specifications, include absolutely everything I need so I don't need to question it.

But if you're only going to supply one piece of a puzzle, it's far easier for me to reengineer that piece with details than need to order your part and wait upwards of 2-4 weeks for delivery so I can measure and then order the other parts I need that'll also take another 2-4 weeks.

The value is in my level of hassle. If I can go off and focus on other details, it's well worth the $45 for $10 in aluminum stock.

 

I can't name the number of parts I've ordered by mistake because the seller couldn't bother to list some basic dimensions.

Back it goes to end up in some ones pallet discount purchase.

It almost like they want to encourage the shipping companies going both ways.

I dunno?

 

Seller should post specs, stupid that it doesn't (or at least a specific Fitment chart) but definitely far from the realm of me wanting copy said item to resell

Good example is my stool I made. I can see myself selling a made stool, or even a kit (I've sold well over 10). But that didn't stop me from sharing all the DXF files for free either.

 

I reached out with an email from their contact page. If they respond I'll likely purchase from them. If not I am prepared to let an Etsy seller make it for me and know the exact dimensions fit my exact needs.

Make it Kustom on youtube does the same. Sells the product but then also tells you if you join patreon all files are free there. He even goes as far as saying you can Join, buy him a coffee, download everything and, leave if you want.

 

the most precious thing we all have is time.

some of us are willing to trade time for making something, but most often, many of us would rather trade money for a product, and use the time elsewhere.

the best shops are the one's that give both options. just because someone makes a copy of one's product doesn't mean a lost sale. it just means a different set of goals/values.

 

That is one talented young man, been watching his channel since shortly after he started.

 

Very well said, especially when you consider the work/life balance.

 

I guess my ground had some resistance. Cut good

 

Technically that's not the ground. Lol.