"Jon Anderson" wrote in message
...
On 8/13/2010 6:49 AM, stryped wrote:

Is there anythign someone can do in his own shop part time starting
out that would be some income? Even if you had to buy some equipment?
I always hear people doing this starting out then turnign it into a
business.


I ask myself that all the time. Then browsing ebay, I see people selling
all sorts of custom machined stuff, things I'd never have thought of. I
have a good track record for coming up with a great idea, then doing
nothing with it. Then seeing someone else take that great idea and turn it
into a successful product.

Couple years ago I set out with a friend to start making custom motorcycle
parts. We settled on carbon fiber shift links for Harleys. Initially they
were actually bonded to machined barrels on the ends, but the bonding
process turned out to be a pain in the ass in production. So I redesigned
to use an aluminum core rod that the rod ends thread into and the CF tube
is now just for looks. Nobody advertises Harley parts touting light weight
as a feature... lol.

Anyway, we got into the J&P catalog just in time for the economy to take a
****. We're sitting on thousands of dollars worth of inventory, and have
jack all for sales. Everyone that sees the link in person is highly
impressed with how well made they are. But that has not translated into
sales. Point being, making a great product is only part of the equation.
You have to be able to reach your target market and advertise effectively
there.

And they have to have some disposable income.

Mike and I are good at design and making stuff.
We apparently suck at marketing...

You reached me. My wife still has her Harley. (I sold all of mine in favor
of a Kawi Vulcan) She loves doodads and expensive custom parts. We just
aren't buying much right now.

I think for a garage machinist or metal worker they need to come up with
tons of different small make to order type parts and only keep a couple of
each on the shelf. Or learn to make something you can use to make something
else. Then make a good relationship with a production shop that is slow
(Better yet a couple so they can't make you dependent on them and gouge you,
and never tell them who your clients are), and if you get a big order for
one part contract them to make it for you.