Starting my own fab shop!
#1001
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
markku, you need to move to ontario.
as for the tags, i was trying to have them done using a laser to keep the cost lower, rather than water jet. the main difference is cut time, but you can cut more intricate parts with waterjet without worrying about melting the part.
as for the tags, i was trying to have them done using a laser to keep the cost lower, rather than water jet. the main difference is cut time, but you can cut more intricate parts with waterjet without worrying about melting the part.
#1002
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Aaron, I can't believe you got robbed. That sucks major *****. I hope you find the guys man. I have a fear of this too, I had a 42R I liked to show people for the shock factor, now I will reconsider ...
#1003
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
why dont u mock up three manifolds based on qaulity show 1poor 2better 3high qaulity so they can see the difference and charge accordingly to keep the money rolling in just dont tag the cheap qaulity
i bet they will change their minds cause i cant see u going anywhere to get ur qaulity manifolds cheaper than 800 for a 1 off
i bet they will change their minds cause i cant see u going anywhere to get ur qaulity manifolds cheaper than 800 for a 1 off
Or even somehow acquire the manifolds others are comparing to yours. Sooner or later the best way to make something like that stick in their heads is to do a straight up comparo. Hell video yourself dropping a poor quality manifold off your mezzanine and same with yours, whatever. Or have em up for display in the front entrance so ppl see the difference.
Because sometimes when you're good at what you do. It's actually very hard to do what you do very poorly.
I would have a hard time thinking Markku can make a poor quality manifold, lol
#1004
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Thanks a lot guys. Kranked, I appreciate your views on my work. It's great to hear. But I have to say, people in Quebec do not care about quality. I'm at a point where I literally want to lock the doors and strictly work on internet orders. I constantly find myself justifying the price of my work, and I'm starting to hear people who refer to my shop as "a rip off operation". I charge $65/h and that's low for the area. People think I'm crazy when I say a manifold costs $1000 CAD. Or people bring in a manifold they mocked up themselves, and have a look of shock on their face when I present them a bill for 3 hours of welding time.
Anyways, I'm learning quickly that people want the higher quality work, but they want to pay the same price they pay at the corner "welder" shop.
I have to say though, I do have some really good local customers. Guys who never question the price, and guys who understand that it takes more time to do a good quality job. Guys who understand that I'm trying to juggle 20 million things all by myself, and that I can't simply jump on their jobs the minute they walk out the door.
About the logo tags, I wanted to mention on here that to those who I have asked for quotes or even samples, (those of you are on here). I was not trying to waste anyone's time. And it's not that I didn't want to support you guys. When I showed the cad file for this logo to a few shops, everyone told me it was too intricate to cut cheaply, so I made another design, and none of my customers knew what it was (abreviated name, AGMS). So I basically shelved the idea for a while. Now I found a pretty sick local machine shop, and their work is insane quality, and their turnaround is good. I have been making a few parts once in a while, and finally I asked him to look my logo over. He said it was no prob to cut on his waterjet, so that's why I had them done here. Nothing personal to the others who have offered to help. I would have done them for sure if it had been possible to do the original logo.
That's it for tonight. I'm dead dead tired.
Good night!
Anyways, I'm learning quickly that people want the higher quality work, but they want to pay the same price they pay at the corner "welder" shop.
I have to say though, I do have some really good local customers. Guys who never question the price, and guys who understand that it takes more time to do a good quality job. Guys who understand that I'm trying to juggle 20 million things all by myself, and that I can't simply jump on their jobs the minute they walk out the door.
About the logo tags, I wanted to mention on here that to those who I have asked for quotes or even samples, (those of you are on here). I was not trying to waste anyone's time. And it's not that I didn't want to support you guys. When I showed the cad file for this logo to a few shops, everyone told me it was too intricate to cut cheaply, so I made another design, and none of my customers knew what it was (abreviated name, AGMS). So I basically shelved the idea for a while. Now I found a pretty sick local machine shop, and their work is insane quality, and their turnaround is good. I have been making a few parts once in a while, and finally I asked him to look my logo over. He said it was no prob to cut on his waterjet, so that's why I had them done here. Nothing personal to the others who have offered to help. I would have done them for sure if it had been possible to do the original logo.
That's it for tonight. I'm dead dead tired.
Good night!
The tags you got look great!!! Good job!!
#1005
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
markuu, i ]ve got to know. was this past winter any better than the winter of 2008-2009? i know you were really frustrated with funds/costs, etc that first winter. it appears things have gotten better, and they will continue to i'm sure.
have you held that bbq yet?
have you held that bbq yet?
#1006
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
This winter was actually not bad at all. The electricity bill scare of the previous winter was a metering error, and we were in credit with Hydro Quebec for all of this winter and we are just NOW starting to pay electricity again. I also had quite a few good jobs booked for the winter. Things are definitely going much better. There is no such thing as idle time anymore, which is great, but I'm not working on any of my development ideas. I still don't take a pay, which sucks, but in theory, I could. I need to sit down and crunch the numbers to figure that out.
#1007
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
u know what i did i paid my self like 20hr plus charged on top of cost(material,overhead)and i put what ever left over profit in the bank and at the end of he year i pay all overhead cost and give myself a small bonus just to get my electric business off the ground so i could eat buy new tools and eventually i will start qouting jobs based on worth not time.
its hard to compete when people pass off crappy work as good work as long as it wrk ppl dont care til s*** burn up or blow up then they learn
its hard to compete when people pass off crappy work as good work as long as it wrk ppl dont care til s*** burn up or blow up then they learn
#1009
Honda-Tech Member
Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Thanks a lot guys. Kranked, I appreciate your views on my work. It's great to hear. But I have to say, people in Quebec do not care about quality. I'm at a point where I literally want to lock the doors and strictly work on internet orders. I constantly find myself justifying the price of my work, and I'm starting to hear people who refer to my shop as "a rip off operation". I charge $65/h and that's low for the area. People think I'm crazy when I say a manifold costs $1000 CAD. Or people bring in a manifold they mocked up themselves, and have a look of shock on their face when I present them a bill for 3 hours of welding time.
Anyways, I'm learning quickly that people want the higher quality work, but they want to pay the same price they pay at the corner "welder" shop.
Anyways, I'm learning quickly that people want the higher quality work, but they want to pay the same price they pay at the corner "welder" shop.
You cant save everyone. I have people who dont like my prices and go elsewhere and then come back a month later tail between there legs with crap the other guy gave them.
Granted sometimes people will work for cheap, and do a decent job, but kids dont know any better.
You just have to do what your doing, keep a positive attitude and weed out the crap.
I get guys who want me to do a cheap job, or a quick job and i just tell them I cant. I wont cut corners, and make crap, because those are the guys who go and show there projects off and the say ed mig welded this 1" hole in my charge pipe up.
You do very nice quality work, just tell people how it is and thats all you can do, they will be back at some point, just show them what you do and they wont ever forget it.
I have people who have said I was too much money go and recommend there friends back to me who are willing to spend the money.
-Ed @ FFE
#1010
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
I work in aviation and we charge very minimal fees for the services we provide. We have people buying $25,000,000 private jets complain about $60 title search fees to make sure their HUGE investment isn't flooded with bad paperwork and liens. At the same time we have farmer Joe buying a 40 year old crop duster for $30,000 and thinks our $60 title search fee is totally fair and worth the money. No matter what you do people will try to be cheap. A lot of shops have come/gone in Oklahoma City because of these same reason, you just have to find your niche group of people to help and just hang in there and build up clientele that are worth your time.
#1013
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
How's everything going Markuu? Hope all is well.
I would PM you but its always full when I try.
Take care and try to keep this updated, I like watching your photos. They can be resourceful pics.
I would PM you but its always full when I try.
Take care and try to keep this updated, I like watching your photos. They can be resourceful pics.
#1014
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Really sorry if I'm skipping questions, I'm just insanely busy right now. Lots of work going down, and I rarely come on the internet anymore.
My brother is getting married tomorrow, so it's kinda hectic right now. I will post an update with tons of pics probably Sunday.
Thanks guys!!
MK3 1.8T, PT5857SP ... tubular manifold and just about everything under the sun ...
My brother is getting married tomorrow, so it's kinda hectic right now. I will post an update with tons of pics probably Sunday.
Thanks guys!!
MK3 1.8T, PT5857SP ... tubular manifold and just about everything under the sun ...
#1015
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Nice job. You get a ton of the euro stuff.
Love the colours you are choosing, really makes the work pop.
Glad to hear you are busy and working away.
Love the colours you are choosing, really makes the work pop.
Glad to hear you are busy and working away.
#1018
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Thanks guys! Yes, I do a lot of Euro cars, I think I'm just a bit more known in that scene because I am a VW guy at heart. (Mostly the MK1-3 gen cars).
The dog has his own welding helmet, so all is good there ... Actually he doesn't hang around me when I'm welding. He's very smart and picks up habits quickly. I used to always tell him to "go away" when I got ready to weld, and now he'll get up and go to the front of the shop when he sees me turn on the machine or reach for my hood.
The dog has his own welding helmet, so all is good there ... Actually he doesn't hang around me when I'm welding. He's very smart and picks up habits quickly. I used to always tell him to "go away" when I got ready to weld, and now he'll get up and go to the front of the shop when he sees me turn on the machine or reach for my hood.
#1019
Do you even PLEBE R8?
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Just sent my buddy the link to this MK, he is going to ****, just bought one as a project. Lucky owner, thing looks amazing!
#1020
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Markku, do you use the pulser on your 185 or do you prefer constant heat? I just picked up a PT 225 and I'm not sure I like the pulser feature.
#1021
Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Honestly, I wish i could sit in your shop and take pictures of EVERYTHING... like ALLDAY. This thread is the reason i made an accont on honda-tech. I've never owned a honda ( focus owner ) I just enjoy the constant updates with the massive amount of members.
Anyways to my main point. I'm Glad your doing what you love to do. I know if i had the experience And the heart to do this I would try. Great job man and i promice I'll still be back everyday to check for updates
Anyways to my main point. I'm Glad your doing what you love to do. I know if i had the experience And the heart to do this I would try. Great job man and i promice I'll still be back everyday to check for updates
Last edited by woowoo16; 06-10-2010 at 06:57 AM.
#1022
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Thanks a lot guys.
I never, ever use the pulse on the my PT 185. The only button I use on the machine is the post flow and polarity. Sometimes I'll adjust the balance for A/C ... even the amperage is always around 110-120, I use the pedal to dial in the heat.
I never, ever use the pulse on the my PT 185. The only button I use on the machine is the post flow and polarity. Sometimes I'll adjust the balance for A/C ... even the amperage is always around 110-120, I use the pedal to dial in the heat.
#1023
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Long time fan of your work and your shop build has been really inspirational (as I'm about to take the plunge myself in 6 months). Keep up the good work and don't lower your pricing or standards for the cheap bastards out there. People WILL pay for quality...it's just a fact.
Steve
Steve
#1024
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Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Thanks a lot!
Hey guys, we're having a BBQ on Saturday. The local guys should come out! Free food & drinks!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php...0568658&ref=ts
Hey guys, we're having a BBQ on Saturday. The local guys should come out! Free food & drinks!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php...0568658&ref=ts
#1025
Re: Starting my own fab shop!
Markku, excellent work my man. i always find myself making time to check out what nice pieces your making in this thread. i recently decided to venture down this road myself. im in upstate ny, id love to take a trip up and drop by. keep up the good work.