On Sun, 08 Oct 2006 10:38:42 -0400, Greg wrote:

Prometheus said:

Greg G. wrote:
I'm going to be buried with my collection of Chinese pot metal, a
testament to the changing times. Ahem, indeed.

I think one of these days, I'm just going to get fed up and start
making my own tools. A little engine lathe, a decent welder and some
negotiation for a little personal time on the equipment at work might
add up to a winning combination. Still have to buy the motors and
switches, but that seems like a minor problem at best- I'm continually
surprised that no one (that I know of) has started a little tool
factory in their garage to cater to discerning woodworkers yet.
Seems like an untapped market that gets a little bigger every year as
overall tool quality declines- though that may be just wishful
thinking.

Sounds like the classic American dream, but current market conditions
would appear to make that problematic at best. Never worked up a
prospectus on such a thing, as I have neither the engineering talent
nor the funds for such an undertaking, but it would be an interesting
adventure. In today's mass produced, imported 50 cent an hour,
blister-packed culture, it would be difficult to compete in an already
competitive (and limited) market without some real innovation, quality
control, and marketing. But hey, some of those fancy planes they're
selling today are pretty high dollar.

Casting or forging steel and iron would be especially difficult in the
garage. But hey, they did it in Israel and Palestine in 1300 BC...
And that's probably the quality we're getting in our tools now. ;-)

Casting Iron, yes- that's a problem. But maybe not too bad if you buy
thick sheets and grind them yourself. As far as forging steel goes, I
think I'd pass. What I've seen in some big industrial equipment is
more my speed- they cut several pieces from thick sheet goods, then
weld them together to make thicker parts. That's possible with a
cheap plasma cutter, and bound to be better than cast pot-metal.

Far as innovation goes, I think I'd pass- seems like there's a crying
need for some simple, well-built tools. I'd pay more for a simple saw
with good parts than I would for one with lasers and a plastic base.

But sadly, I believe you're right- it'd be awfully hard to make it pay
as a business venture. I was thinking more along the lines of a guy
making one at a time as orders came in, and selling them to interested
parties in his (or her) spare time. You don't get rich that way, you
just get the satisfaction of making good stuff.

And yes, I too wish for the space and bucks for some metalworking
equipment. Perhaps with winnings from the lottery I don't play.
But guess where a lot of that machinery comes from these days...

I've got the space in the garage, but not a lot of discretionary
income. I'll build a metal shop someday, but it'll be slow going like
the wood shop was.