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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Need to make some money on the side...
Posted by: bondo Feb 8 2005, 02:49 PM
Any current vendors have any tips?
I certainly don't want to step on anyone's toes... I don't wish to compete with any current vendors.
Idealy I'd like to make something that more people could afford vs. just selling a few of something very expensive that only a few people buy. I'm open to ideas, but don't mention any ideas you don't want me to steal 
Here's what I can do:
Welding
Basic sheet metal forming
Basic machining
Powder coating
Anodizing
Perhaps I can just provide a small parts anodizing service? Plenty of people powdercoat, not too many anodize. Any interest in that?
Posted by: Root_Werks Feb 8 2005, 03:45 PM
Many of the things I do net little to no money. I do them because I enjoy the 914 crowd so much. I say go for it and if you do, I would be interested in the anodizing of things (914 trim). 
Posted by: SirAndy Feb 8 2005, 04:02 PM
| QUOTE |
| Need to make some money on the side... |
WILL PROGRAM FOR FOOD!
any takers ???
Andy
Posted by: SLITS Feb 8 2005, 04:06 PM
| QUOTE (SirAndy @ Feb 8 2005, 03:02 PM) | ||
WILL PROGRAM FOR FOOD! any takers ??? Andy |
Gasp
, you have desecrated your German heritage.......WILL PROGRAM FOR BIER
Posted by: SirAndy Feb 8 2005, 04:13 PM
| QUOTE (SLITS @ Feb 8 2005, 02:06 PM) |
| WILL PROGRAM FOR BIER |
dude, i *always* have bier in my fridge!
but even i need food from time to time ...
Andy
Posted by: bd1308 Feb 8 2005, 04:27 PM
dude you should repair stripped exhaust threads on 2.0 heads, and you can start with mine 
Posted by: Cloudbuster Feb 8 2005, 04:35 PM
How about making steel replacements for the rubber bumper tops? Pre-75.
It wouldn't be too hard to make a buck from a couple layers of 3/4 plywood. Bolt a rough outline to the top of the steel bumper, and form with grinder, beltsander and file. Cut that back another 1/16 inch, and begin walloping steel onto it. Make 5 or so for practice. Make another 5 or so to work out some manufacturing tricks to get the labor costs down. Heck. You could even buy John Kelly's DVD and write it off a business cost.
Just saying out loud what I've been thinking for 2 months.
Posted by: ! Feb 8 2005, 05:54 PM
Steel...too much $$, fiberglass...
Posted by: Travis Neff Feb 8 2005, 05:55 PM
How about making some panels that aren't available on the repro market. Like the lower left and right sections of the firewall, where the "X" braces are behind the seats. Very common to have rust through from the sound pad and no-one makes a replacment panel. I am sure there are things out there too. Someone made a bronze firewall shift bushing one time, looked like a good idea (they never made any to sell, just made it for himself).
There's lots of people that don't know how to form sheet metal and lots more than cannot do basic machining.
Posted by: mskala Feb 8 2005, 06:58 PM
I hear there's a sudden lack of new CV joints. Make some with
the -6 splines, too! 
Posted by: redshift Feb 8 2005, 07:08 PM
Make custom aluminum interiors... for yachts.
M
Posted by: SLITS Feb 8 2005, 07:24 PM
| QUOTE (redshift @ Feb 8 2005, 06:08 PM) |
| Make custom aluminum interiors... for yachts. M |
Salt water loves aluminum...for that matter so does fresh water...have any in GA crackerboy?
Posted by: r_towle Feb 8 2005, 07:29 PM
| QUOTE (SirAndy @ Feb 8 2005, 05:13 PM) | ||
dude, i *always* have bier in my fridge! but even i need food from time to time ... Andy |
Technically beer is classified as food...in germany...so you should be fine, although you are talking US beer, so the food quotient is alot less....3% versu 7-9%Rich
Posted by: redshift Feb 8 2005, 07:56 PM
| QUOTE (SLITS @ Feb 8 2005, 09:24 PM) | ||
Salt water loves aluminum...for that matter so does fresh water...have any in GA crackerboy? |
Aluminum?
M
Posted by: SpecialK Feb 8 2005, 08:15 PM
| QUOTE (redshift @ Feb 8 2005, 05:56 PM) | ||||
Aluminum? M |
Apparently SLITS has never heard of a "John Boat" Miles
....they're made completely of aluminum, and last for friggin' ever.Back to Bondo's Q:
What about a service such as repairing and polishing trim pieces and mirrors? I've got 3 sets of sail panel trim, and all of them look like CRAP!
Posted by: bondo Feb 8 2005, 08:28 PM
Hehe well I wasn't expecting to get rich or anything.. More like help fund my 914 addiction. The bumper tops would be out of my league, as well as the firewall panels. The metal forming I can do is just basic cutting and bending, like Engman's stiffening kit. I don't have the equipment to do compound curves. CVs (or anything else that is hardened) would be beyond my abilities as well.
I need to do some anodizing anyways. Perhaps I will post when I'm ready to do it and see if anyone at the time needs the color I'm doing. My tank isn't big enough to do the longer trim pieces, but if there was enough interest I might build a longer one. I have been working on anodizing text/artwork, with some sucess. I need to do some R&D, but something like custom anodized guage faces could be a possibility.
Oh, and I hate polishing, so any parts I anodized would have to be supplied in the finish desired
Posted by: SpecialK Feb 8 2005, 08:33 PM
If you're lookin' for a little part time job to build up the 914 fund, these guys are always looking new help......pretty big turn-around on the novice range
Attached image(s)
Posted by: redshift Feb 8 2005, 08:51 PM
I think the drop on a 200yd range is 'aim at the red dot'..
M
Posted by: Engman Feb 8 2005, 09:12 PM
Uhhh - just so you know - I had to 'pay' for a die set to do the right radius --- it was not cheap. I wish a standard die could have been used!!
I might suggest center caps, or a fire extinguisher bracket.
Then there is the dreaded vendor fee you have to pay!!
M
Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Feb 8 2005, 09:17 PM
| QUOTE (r_towle @ Feb 8 2005, 05:29 PM) | ||||
Technically beer is classified as food...in germany...so you should be fine, although you are talking US beer, so the food quotient is alot less....3% versu 7-9%Rich |
I'm thinking about what you said, as I sit here with my 8% Sudwerk "Doppel Bock" in my hand ................. The Cap'n, relaxin'................................
Posted by: bondo Feb 8 2005, 09:27 PM
| QUOTE (Engman @ Feb 8 2005, 08:12 PM) |
| Uhhh - just so you know - I had to 'pay' for a die set to do the right radius --- it was not cheap. I wish a standard die could have been used!! I might suggest center caps, or a fire extinguisher bracket. Then there is the dreaded vendor fee you have to pay!! M |
Ooh, I see. I haven't seen your kit in person yet, I didn't realize they weren't all sharp bends. I hope to see your kit in person eventually (when I order one)
Posted by: Engman Feb 8 2005, 09:34 PM
No problem - its just that sometimes the "payoff' is a while in coming.
There also is the "stocking" or working capitol to keep items available. The wife has so far only given me raised eyebrows on this.
I am sure that the other vendors on this have similar things.
M
Posted by: Dr Evil Feb 8 2005, 09:59 PM
You get none of my ideas, they are mine, back off. 
Seriously, I sometimes make money, but I sometimes get screwed. Things that I already do:
-Special mirrors
-Gauges
-Interior
-Auto work
-Almost anything for a buck, (Almost, don't get any ideas)
I am currently paying the rent with my upholstery business as I am otherwise unemployed, but it is feast and famine....usually famine, but lately feast (and I am so freakin greatful for that right now). Mainly, I do this all day and couldn't picture just doing it on the weekends. It takes up a lot of time. I, too, made absoleutly sure that I did not make anything that would compete with the other vendors. For instance, I do not offer interior carpet kits because morphenspectra already has them. Lately I have taken a hit becuase he is making door panels for the same price as me, but thems the brakes and I do not take it personally.
Posted by: tesserra Feb 9 2005, 12:26 AM
Andy,
PM me I have wanted to talk to you about programing/computer work.
I've got an idea.
George
Posted by: morphenspectra Feb 9 2005, 01:20 AM
i like to consider my self a sucsessful "vendor" of 914 only parts.three things to say
1."make items no one makes"
2."make items better than others do"
3."make items that less costly than others sell for,at just as good,or better quality"
eBay
eBay
eBay!!!
eBay has been very good to us. great place to sell.
we have no web page and no catalog.just eBay.and we sell alot of items.(and the vendors page here )
i also didnt start this company to get rich.i started it to do something that i love.i retired early to stay at home with my kids.but had way to much spare time.i never thought that it would turn into what it has become.ohh and if youre not makin 50-75 bucks a hour for youre time,to me its not worth it.
i say go for it. but do something you will like not just because you need money
james
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