flak monkey
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 posted on 1/7/09 at 02:52 PM |
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Turning services - updated
I will be setting up a small workshop manufacturing custom turned parts for kit cars and doing wiring and other jobs which people struggle with in my
spare time. This could include reconditioning donor parts and all sorts of odd jobs as well. This is just an idea at the moment, so bear with me.
I would be in a position to offer initially turning services on materials up to 10" diameter and would be able to make to any engineering
drawing or design parts for a specific application. With the addition of milling facilities (1'x2' ) later if business was good enough.
All prices are samples only, and only serve as a guide. Prices will be discussed on a per job basis. Some jobs may be cheaper than listed below, so
please contact me with your requirements.
Any custom turning work taken on, prices on request.
Delivery would be 4-6 weeks depending on workload. The aim would be to supply much quicker than this though.
Some samples:
Blanking plugs for throttle bodies from £2 each
Bushes made to your requirements from £5 each (aluminium, brass, nylon, bronze etc)
Spacers from £1 each (for suspension, rose joints etc)
Propshaft spacers from £30 - made to your requirements. Properly bossed and recessed to ensure concentricty. Extra long bolts can be supplied on
request.
Hubcentric wheel spacers made to your specification from £20 each
Track rod extensions made to your requirements from £35 pair EN24T steel
Camber adjusters to your sizes from £20 pair (for front or rear custom wishbones)
Threaded tubes for wishbones from £5 each - with your choice of thread including M18x1.5 for transit track rods)
Custom aluminium gearknobs from £20 (any style within reason)
Indicator stalks from £20 to replace sierra stalks
Custom made aluminium fuel rails from £50, aluminium extrusion, drilled to your requirements for injectors, end tapped 3/8BSPT, ready to fit
brackets
Sierra upright tapered adaptors £40/pair eccentric or concentric, your choice
Concentric clutch cylinder spacers to your requirements from £40 drilled, to suit your application.
Custom alternator pulleys single vee from £50, poly vee from £65
Custom water pump pulleys as above
Custom crankshaft pulleys to follow depending on demand
Trigger wheel fitting pinto and crossflow from £40 including trigger wheel – laser cut trigger wheels and pulley modified to fit your application.
Trigger wheel fitted on turned disc to ensure concentricity
One off hose joiners from £10
Custom hubs from £100 each
Thread cutting available, both metric and imperial
Or anything special which you might need, if you can give me measurements I would be able to turn it (but obviously within reason!)
Prices would be on a job by job basis, but would certainly be less than a machine shop. Basically looking at around £20/hour machining time +
materials. Design time would be more or less free depending on the parts. Obviously on things such as aluminium cortina hubs etc I wouldnt be able to
compete with CNC turned product, but if its something special and not available off the shelf I would.
I will also be able to offer brake disc skimming and flywheel skimming (NOT LIGHTENING!) in the future.
I am also able to offer wiring services, completing wiring jobs on your car, modifying existing looms, or whatever. I would also offer megasquirt
looms and installations.
What I am looking to do is provide a cost effective solution to peoples machining and wiring needs. Most custom parts would be on a 4 to 6 week lead
time depending on complexity, manufacturing time and material delivery. Costs would be on a job by job basis.
Feedback welcome
Cheers,
David
[Edited on 3/7/09 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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Mr Whippy
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 02:54 PM |
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 bits for my many r/c plane projects may find their way to you 
Fame is when your old car is plastered all over the internet
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 02:56 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
bits for my many r/c plane projects may find their way to you
No problems, any turning jobs would be accepted, doesnt have to be car related at all.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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nick205
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 02:58 PM |
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Nothing to lose David - people are all up for cost saving at the minute.
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RK
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:05 PM |
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Starting a business is a nerve wracking exercise. "Attention to detail." Always think about costs vs. income, and don't forget that
just because you enjoy it, doesn't mean you shouldn't get paid for it. Charge less to begin with and raise it as you get busier.
Underpromise and overdeliver. Never the reverse!!!
I think you'll do fine, although I know nothing about the English car-building market first hand. I hope you don't mind my opinion.
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02GF74
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:12 PM |
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oooh, look how quicky the void was filled now Mr H no longer posts on here.
yeah, I may be interested in some of the tunring things - will you be able to do threads?
I'd suggest you don't jack in the main job just yet but start off with a few small jobs, couple hours and evening and mayb one day weekend
to see how it pans out.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:13 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by RK
Starting a business is a nerve wracking exercise. "Attention to detail." Always think about costs vs. income, and don't forget that
just because you enjoy it, doesn't mean you shouldn't get paid for it. Charge less to begin with and raise it as you get busier.
Underpromise and overdeliver. Never the reverse!!!
I think you'll do fine, although I know nothing about the English car-building market first hand. I hope you don't mind my opinion.
All opions welcome, if you think its a non-starter say so. I couldnt think of a better place to ask, if there is only a small demand from this site,
then its basically a non-starter.
This is the sort of feedback I am looking for. I dont want to lash out some hard earned on the equipment then it never pays for itself.
I dont expect to make a fortune here, this isnt what it is about. Its about making a bit extra on the side to put towards my housing fund and making
those special bits which are just difficult to find or most people are unable to do so helping people out a bit.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:15 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by 02GF74
oooh, look how quicky the void was filled now Mr H no longer posts on here.
yeah, I may be interested in some of the tunring things - will you be able to do threads?
I'd suggest you don't jack in the main job just yet but start off with a few small jobs, couple hours and evening and mayb one day weekend
to see how it pans out.
Thread cutting wouldnt be a problem within reason.
TBH i didnt even notice John had gone. This wouldnt be my full time job by any stretch either.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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omega0684
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:16 PM |
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mates rates? 
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James
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:17 PM |
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Great idea David.
I think your Megasquirt skills could frequently come in handy!
Cheers,
James
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses, behind the lines, in the gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights."
- Muhammad Ali
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Hammerhead
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:20 PM |
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would be interested in some wiring help. Whats your rate?
What happened to Mr H BTW?
Steve.
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JekRankin
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:24 PM |
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I'd be interested in getting a couple of small pieces turned in the not too distant future!
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oadamo
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:33 PM |
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ive set my own garage up the main cost is the deposit, ramps you will find you need a load more tools aswell. but i enjoy working on cars so i make
money and have fun at the same time if your gonna keep cars over night you will need insurance or you could get landed with a big bill if you have
a fire.
adam
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thunderace
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 03:36 PM |
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Custom crank, alternator and water pump pulleys
GREAT I NEED SOME MADE DAVE
LIKE THIS ABOUT 1" WIDE WITH MATCHING BELT IN ALLOY
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 04:01 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by thunderace
Custom crank, alternator and water pump pulleys
GREAT I NEED SOME MADE DAVE
LIKE THIS ABOUT 1" WIDE WITH MATCHING BELT IN ALLOY
Timing type pulleys are a whole different ball game, but would be possible if and when I get milling facilities.
My advantage over others would be overheads would be low, especially once machines/equipment have paid for themselves.
If this started up then I would guess I would be in a position to offer parts in 3 months or so.
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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oadamo
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 04:33 PM |
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1 thing you could do as iam thinking about doing is renting out the bottom of unit for about 40quid a month. if you have enough room. as i dont really
use it and theres loads of room to work around a car plus they would get to use the tools. could make it easyer for you to pay the bills when your
starting up.
adam
[Edited on 1/7/09 by oadamo]
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speedyxjs
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 06:13 PM |
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You would get some business from my future (year and a bit) classic car engineering venture
How long can i resist the temptation to drop a V8 in?
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 06:27 PM |
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My Mrs invested £100 3 years ago on what I thought was a stupid idea.
We now turnover £200k have two different business premises and employ one person plus the two of us, me full time Mrs sorta 3/4 time ish.
Give it as go, keep the day job and see what happens, I see a need for what your proposing provided you can turn out the product at a cost people will
happily pay and leave a bit for yourself.
I travel 35 miles to a guy who is an old fashioned engineer producing just the parts you are talking about, drive shafts, input shafts to mix match
gearbox/engines would be a winner.
I also have been looking at a really nice opportunity that would make a little bit of brass and would compliment your idea very well, I just
don't have time to pursue it, its simple involves around £2/£300 investment and would make a steady part time income leading into whatever it
grows to, buy me a beer and I will tell you.....
And no its not one of these you see advertised get rich quick schemes just something i have looked at for a while and not pursued due to time.
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02GF74
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 06:50 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by omega0684
mates rates?
you are gonna have to think through how much you want to charge.
I'd like to get stuff done as cheap as poss. but I also know that you need to make some money on it too.
Is it possible for peeps to post items they would want made and how much they are willing to pay?
then FM needs to sit down and see if there is money in it.
to get the ball rolling, I had an smaller diameter Al alloy water pump pulley made for rover v8 engine, paid around £ 30 - wouldn't pay more than
that.
If it costs you £ 50 to make, then I am gonna have to think very hard about it.
 
Rescued attachment DSC01159.JPG
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eccsmk
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 07:24 PM |
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it sounds like a really good idea to me
most of the stuff i had machined/made was through large companies at large sums of money.
i hope you do go for it and it goess well for you
also there is a u2u on its way to you shortly
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trextr7monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 07:28 PM |
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Flak man it is a pity you are so far away - we have some pretty good facilities and I'm sure you could have used 'em for free on the
basis of "demonstrating" to a few kids
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14016102@N00/ (cut and paste this dodgey link)
Our most recent pics are here:
http://s129.photobucket.com/albums/p211/trextr7monkey/
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flak monkey
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| posted on 1/7/09 at 08:16 PM |
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Prices will depend mainly on the cost of the material to be honest. Obviously as time goes by you build up a stock of material which can be used for
other jobs too.
[Edited on 2/7/09 by flak monkey]
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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NS Dev
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| posted on 2/7/09 at 06:22 AM |
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if its spare time and you arleady have the kit then go for it, nothing to lose.
Just remember to pay yourself a reasonable hourly rate, its amazing how money disappears on things.
At Retropower we now work on £35 an hour, which seems to be keeping a balance of work coming in vs money coming in.
Only problem we have is keeping the balance between work that we are aiming to do, and jobs that are falling into our laps that are not really
"up our street", but work is work so we do them anyway (welding transit, lots of refinishing work, engine swaps, etc)
Go for it though, as said, nowt to lose!
Retro RWD is the way forward...........automotive fabrication, car restoration, sheetmetal work, engine conversion
retro car restoration and tuning
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iank
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| posted on 2/7/09 at 06:36 AM |
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Since you're in a position of doing it in your spare time be honest about the time you have and don't overcommit yourself. Be prepared to
give honest lead times and let people know early if it's going to be late.
Good way to get other people to buy your lathe/milling machine
Might also be worth 'mass' producing some bits that are generally useful and can be sold at a sensible profit - distributor blanking plugs
for pinto and crossflow that are going efi seem to be asked about fairly frequently for example.
Hope it all works out for you. Be careful to keep the tax-man happy and think about any warrantee issues before it happens. At some point something
you make will fail (inevitable fact of life) and you need to have yourself covered against any consequential failures.
--
Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level, then beat you with experience.
Anonymous
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flak monkey
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| posted on 2/7/09 at 08:48 PM |
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Thanks for the support so far guys, time to turn (no pun intended) it into reality!
Now updated the orginal post with some sample prices as a guide
Looks like I will be set up within a month as long as my lathe delivery goes smoothly next week *fingers crossed*
I can swing up to 19" (480mm) in the gap or 13" (325mm) with it closed so can do some pretty large stuff, right down to model engineering
stuff (2500rpm spindle)
David
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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