Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 08:06:45 -0700
Reply-To: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject: Re: Online Machine shop resource?
In-Reply-To: <f.4e942474.3073693b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed
I agree with George,
find a local machinist, welder, fabricator, whatever. It may not be
easy where you live, but more than likely there will be one or two out
there.
Adding to what George said, you really have to be in physical contact
with the machine shop, not electronic. Most of the time you are doing
one-offs and prototypes, and believe me, very rarely do they turn out
just how you imagined it on the first try.
When you do find a good machinist, he will be able to advise you
directly and maybe offer improving suggestions. Quite often they do
know more than you :)
Alistair
On 3-Oct-05, at 10:12 PM, George Goff wrote:
In a message dated 10/3/05 4:57:18 PM, thomas.myers@XEROX.COM writes:
<< http://www.emachineshop.com/
I have not used this service - however - the prospect of
Having a machine shop available for all those
Upgrade ideas for your westy seems very tempting. >>
Why use this service? You guys have got to start pulling yourself away
from
these electronic appliances long enough to find out what exists beyond
the
virtual. Whether it is down that dinghy alley on the wrong side of the
tracks or
in some block building in need of a paint job in the Farm Belt, there
are
still tens of thousands of good machinists out there trying to make a
go of a
jobber's shop. I have no doubt that if you poke around a little you
will find
one convenient to you.
It is a better way to approach the fabrication of a one-off. Should you
forget something (quite likely) or make an error in your design, it can
often be
remedied immediately without a bunch of e-mails or waiting for the big
brown
truck to show up in front of your house. Also, the hands in the shop
may offer
some sound advice as they most likely have already been down the road
you are
following. Then, once your work of art is up and running, you can
swing by
the shop and show the guys the result of their handiwork; that will
engender in
them good will which will be beneficial to you the next time you need
their
services.
Maybe the most compelling reason to use a local shop is that some of the
money you pay the shop will be used to pay the men their wages. And
then, should
your father-in-law be an insurance salesman, some of their wages will
be paid
to him in insurance premiums. And then, your father-in-law will use
some of
the money paid to him as insurance premiums to buy his grandson, your
kid, his
first train for Christmas. So, what kind of father would you be if you
denied
your son a Merry Christmas?
George