- Location
- Western Massachusetts
Alright guys and gals, I'm sharing this ONLY in the VIP section so please keep it quiet elsewhere.
Having said that...
I'm miserable at my job. I still like the work, but I'm sick of all the bull that goes along with it. I'm sick of my boss, my manager, and the way the shop is being run. I want out. Problem is: Life. Now is not a good time for me to drop a job that pays well, is 8 miles from my house, and has almost unlimited overtime opportunity; plus the opportunity to use the machines on my own time to fix or make my own stuff. The pros still outweigh the cons, but it's really getting to be neck and neck.
Once the photo of the t-case shift knob I traded to Dave went around, I had a huge showing of interest here (and elsewhere). That knob was just a quick and dirty manually-turned and polished piece that I whipped up in some spare time early one morning at work. It was plain, simple, and not perfect. I have since come up with a few re-designs of t-case shift knobs, along with MT knobs, and I've come up with a much more presentable design.
Then there's the battery tie down and iron cross wing nuts that I made for my own rig. I had a couple guys saying they'd like one, how much, etc.
All that interest got me thinking about just how many things like that I could really make, and the list is pretty big - and still growing. Not everything is X-related. So I told my wife Allisonn all about this, and she thinks it's great. We've been talking and working out the logistics of me starting my own shop for quite some time now, and it's starting to look more and more like it could actually happen.
Biggest hurdle right now is the money. There isn't much you can do to start a business without some coin. Allisonn mentioned starting a fundly.com account, which I think could be a great way to go about trying to get this done.
NO, I'm not asking for your donations. DON'T send me money.
What I am asking for is your ideas. What would YOU like to see made out of billet aluminum? Keep in mind, it doesn't have to be Xterra-related, or even vehicle-related.
Want some shift knobs? Battery tie down? Valve covers? Oil fill cap? Got an old hot rod you want a custom air cleaner cover for? Maybe a custom emblem? Want an air cleaner assembly for your Harley? Maybe you're really into RC cars and trucks and you want to beef up your steering and suspension components?
Let loose with your suggestions. What do you want to see made out of billet aluminum?
I'll be taking note of your suggestions and using this thread to gauge interest. IF I feel there's enough interest, I'll be unleashing this thread onto the general public of XN. If I continue to see growth in interest, I'll ask around some other forums that I'm a member of, family, friends, Facebook, etc. If I get enough interest from all of those places, I'll look into starting a fundly.com account and take it from there.
Having said that...
I'm miserable at my job. I still like the work, but I'm sick of all the bull that goes along with it. I'm sick of my boss, my manager, and the way the shop is being run. I want out. Problem is: Life. Now is not a good time for me to drop a job that pays well, is 8 miles from my house, and has almost unlimited overtime opportunity; plus the opportunity to use the machines on my own time to fix or make my own stuff. The pros still outweigh the cons, but it's really getting to be neck and neck.
Once the photo of the t-case shift knob I traded to Dave went around, I had a huge showing of interest here (and elsewhere). That knob was just a quick and dirty manually-turned and polished piece that I whipped up in some spare time early one morning at work. It was plain, simple, and not perfect. I have since come up with a few re-designs of t-case shift knobs, along with MT knobs, and I've come up with a much more presentable design.
Then there's the battery tie down and iron cross wing nuts that I made for my own rig. I had a couple guys saying they'd like one, how much, etc.
All that interest got me thinking about just how many things like that I could really make, and the list is pretty big - and still growing. Not everything is X-related. So I told my wife Allisonn all about this, and she thinks it's great. We've been talking and working out the logistics of me starting my own shop for quite some time now, and it's starting to look more and more like it could actually happen.
Biggest hurdle right now is the money. There isn't much you can do to start a business without some coin. Allisonn mentioned starting a fundly.com account, which I think could be a great way to go about trying to get this done.
NO, I'm not asking for your donations. DON'T send me money.
What I am asking for is your ideas. What would YOU like to see made out of billet aluminum? Keep in mind, it doesn't have to be Xterra-related, or even vehicle-related.
Want some shift knobs? Battery tie down? Valve covers? Oil fill cap? Got an old hot rod you want a custom air cleaner cover for? Maybe a custom emblem? Want an air cleaner assembly for your Harley? Maybe you're really into RC cars and trucks and you want to beef up your steering and suspension components?
Let loose with your suggestions. What do you want to see made out of billet aluminum?
I'll be taking note of your suggestions and using this thread to gauge interest. IF I feel there's enough interest, I'll be unleashing this thread onto the general public of XN. If I continue to see growth in interest, I'll ask around some other forums that I'm a member of, family, friends, Facebook, etc. If I get enough interest from all of those places, I'll look into starting a fundly.com account and take it from there.