My Gray board in my computer room

Brent Zappe · May 21, 2014

I have this gray white board that I write down projects that I am working on. the problem is with in these past couple of years my income has been geting smaller. The Gray board has been showing me that I have been slowing down on the Projects in the shed. The prices for the parts are going up in price and some times I just do not feel that I am makeing any progress at all.I like to stay affordable and have people come to me who need my services but I find out it is getting harder to do. It is only a hobby but still some times it becomes worth the fight to keep doing it. I wonder if you all have the same problem like I do.

dr sportster · May 21, 2014

I like to buy used Harleys and fix them . If I don't sell things on eBay I would have no way to finance this. All projects get leftovers and I sell those . I also go to sales every week and look for tools to resell. Aside from micrometers any machinist tools do well as do auto body tools { I keep the hammers].I also bring tools to a tool consignemnet shop. When I need a part I go on eBay and put in "lowest price with shipping" . Then I am usually getting a part lower than retail. If a seller has alot of bad feedback but has also sold thousands of parts the negatives don't matter. Most negatives I read seem to be from overseas sales. If any hobby I have isn't fun anymore I get a new hobby.
The most expensive thing now is sending out chrome plating, It's kinda hard to tell your wife I need 800 bucks my chrome is ready. Anything you send out for any work be it machining ,plating ,powder coating , you are taking a chance of not being happy . The least work sent out the better.

el6147 · May 21, 2014

I have been a self employed millwight my entire career (I'm 52 years old) if you let someone make you feel guilty about charging for a service they will continue to make you feel guilty every time they have you repair something. if you are doing affordable work you beating yourself up and pleasing someone else .

Charge accordingly to what others in your field are charging , if you do perfect work you have nothing to feel guilty about and you will weed out "ALL" the ones you really did not need as customers , they will find someother mechanic to pray upon.

huntingreen2day2 · May 21, 2014

I have one so i can write down who has what borrowed and what I have that belongs to someone else.

Bret4207 · May 22, 2014

We just got 2 more cork boards and a mess of 3x5 cards to organize the projects. Of course, first you have to list the projects on a separate sheet of paper and organize your thoughts. So far I I'm on my 3rd sheet of paper, both sides, and I haven't even gotten to the garage or house projects yet! :shock:

showcrop · May 22, 2014

Like everyone else I have multiple projects going at once, barn projects, house projects, tractor projects. It seems to work best to try to hit one hard and finish it, but when the inevitable need for something that you don't have on hand comes along, there is always another one already in the works to jump over to.

My Gray board in my computer room

Brent Zappe

Member

dr sportster

Well-known Member

el6147

Member

huntingreen2day2

Member

Bret4207

Well-known Member

showcrop

Well-known Member

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