Above 1200 Sq/FT 86's 20HP shop

[Johanfpa]

From reading your threads it is clear to me you are a very handy, knowledgable, inventive and not afraid of hard graft guy so I believe you will excel in your endeavour.
The fact you are not staying on the ride, because that would be the easiest option until the train runs out of tracks, but looking well ahead and in doing so have time to set yourself up while still employed is to your advantage as well.
Some really good advise from others already, this is what makes the forum so great!

Don't believe in only EV in the near future either, over here (UK & EU) they have decided to no longer sell petrol / diesel cars after 2030. Still just under a decade away but unless battery technology makes a massive leap (possible) and they manage to upgrade the power net (unlikely in the time remaining, seeing the huge investments & the amount of work required), I don't see it working out. Even then there are the issues you and others have brought up still left to deal with so I bet 2030 will become a moving goalpost.

So all the best in your new venture and don't be afraid to bounce of ideas on the very knowledgeable & in various fields people on here.

 

[bulletpruf]

Given your skills and background, you could do some custom manufacturing. A friend has a fabrication shop for street/road race cars. He had about 8 bays and several fabricators working for him.

Then he bought a CNC mill and started making his own parts on the side. Pretty soon he bought another mill and then another one. Now 80% of his business is making parts and he can't keep up with the demand.

 

[86turbodsl]

Thanks to all for the compliments and advise. I will be looking at all of it. I am going to be likely doing some online marketing to get my business feet under me, then branching out into some sort of shop manufacturing at some point, when i figure out what i want to do, the shop is more complete and less time input required.

Now to the more pressing issues: The boiler isn't firing. I found a bad temp input. Not sure if it's a module or not, i tried swapping out the cheapo chineseium 4-20 transmitters and nothing fixes it. Programming didn't change, wiring still good. I'm going with the cheapo transmitters killed the module. I will have to put the old temp controller back in place temporarily, and in the meantime, i found some nice AD RTD modules used. So i'll get rid of the junk 4-20s and go full RTD. I should have known better, but good 4-20s aren't very common used and are expensive new. Another instance of offshore junk. The older i get the more i like USA / WestEU made. Ugh. Meanwhile, i get to babysit a boiler all week until the stuff comes in and i can revise programming and wiring. Supposed to be a COOOOLD week here and i am out of the free diesel fuel i've been running in the shop. Stay tuned.

 

[86turbodsl]

Originally Posted by racer-john View Post

A C.E.T. to you engineers.

Certified Engineering Technologist, a grade just below an Engineer.

Hmm. I've not heard that one before. We have some super smart techs, in some cases quite a bit smarter than the engineers. I usually get along great with them as i give them the respect they both earned and deserve. Same team.

 

[ttpete]

Hmm. I've not heard that one before. We have some super smart techs, in some cases quite a bit smarter than the engineers. I usually get along great with them as I give them the respect they both earned and deserve. Same team.

Those with a lack of respect were likely to get EXACTLY what they asked for in our shop.

We installed Marman flanges on tailpipes for emissions testing. The usual request was for 6" beyond the bumper. One of the above persons wrote 6' instead of 6".

And that's what he got, 6 feet. After the laughter died down, it only took a few minutes to correct, and a lesson was learned by the requester.

 

[Strouty]

Maybe it is like when I use CAD for a project, when I say CAD, I mean Cardboard Aided Design....,,

 

[bulletpruf]

free diesel fuel

Free diesel fuel!?!? Please let me know where I can find this!

 

[86turbodsl]

Those with a lack of respect were likely to get EXACTLY what they asked for in our shop.

We installed Marman flanges on tailpipes for emissions testing. The usual request was for 6" beyond the bumper. One of the above persons wrote 6' instead of 6".

And that's what he got, 6 feet. After the laughter died down, it only took a few minutes to correct, and a lesson was learned by the requester.

OH MAN, THAT IS AWESOME!!! I love it! A good laugh had by all. I hope he took in stride. Thanks for sharing.

 

[86turbodsl]

Free diesel fuel!?!? Please let me know where I can find this!

I had a relationship with a guy years ago that flipped houses in the nearest big berg. He would buy a sh*thole old house with fuel oil heat and call me, i'd show up and pump the tank and dispose of everything for him. no charge of course. We lost touch a few years ago, but i had a few hundred gallons in the farm tank that just ran out. I ran most of last year and most of this year.

I did manage to get the old thermocouple heater rigged up and its heating up now.
once we're up to temp, i can turn on the pump and sparkulator and make some heat.

 

[86turbodsl]

Maybe it is like when I use CAD for a project, when I say CAD, I mean Cardboard Aided Design....,,

That works. Sometimes easier too.

 

[ttpete]

OH MAN, THAT IS AWESOME!!! I love it! A good laugh had by all. I hope he took in stride. Thanks for sharing.

That was in the trackside airplane hangar building. It's gone now along with the old wind tunnel/cold room building. If you ever go to the Henry Ford museum, it's next door to it.

 

[86turbodsl]

I must admit, i am not real familiar with the Ford operations. I visited POEE a few times but our office was in Southfield at the time, we didn't go there much. After i left, they moved the office to Dearborn. I was gone by 2000.

 

[86turbodsl]

Rigged up the boiler to run without controls. It works perfectly, but the boiler outruns the floor by a good amount. I am going to have to babysit quite a bit this week. Also the boiler is not real well suited to waste oil so I think I am going to have to build my boiler I designed a while back. At least the burner works well. Oh well.

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[Strouty]

Better than no heat.

 

[86turbodsl]

This is very true.

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[1Garageman]

No advice here, just Good luck to your new future!

You are obviously talented in your field and have the break off from the company you work for and succeed!

 

[86turbodsl]

Thank you. I borrowed a temp controller from work that works terribly. I'm doing a lot of babysitting. Ugh. New controls can't get here fast enough.

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[86turbodsl]

An update: We have now had the company roll out the new internal structure, and it seems i will have a place for a while at least. Good news for me, i will not have a huge fire lit under my **** to get a new company rolling. I will be able to take my time and flesh it out more carefully. Also means the stress will be cut down quite a bit. With covid continuing for at least a while longer, i'll be able to stay home and keep things rolling also.
It's supposed to be warmer this weekend, i'm hoping to get out to the shop and work some more, if my back is willing. I've been pretty sedentary the last couple weeks as my back has flared up again. Been taking it easy. But it's getting better. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[racer-john]

Good news 86.

 

[Strouty]

That sounds like a great update, but please don’t get complacent, we won’t let you, I think no matter what you do, it will be great!

 

[Duker]

Great news on the job front. Gives you time to write up that business plan! [emoji51][emoji106]


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[bulletpruf]

Definitely good news, 86. Good for you.

 

[1Garageman]

Glad to hear the good news!! Did you do anything in your shop over the weekend?

 

[86turbodsl]

Thanks guys. I did go out for a while yesterday and cleaned a bit. Also ran the boiler a bit. Decided to table it for a while until i can get my new boiler built. I was taking it easy still due to my back flaring up again.

 

[Trapps]

I feel your pain, literally (back) and figuratively (job); glad it is working out on the career front.

I spent over two decades in the auto industry here in Michigan, which seems like it's been a nasty roller coaster since about 2008. I was able to make a career pivot out recently.

Having the time pressure lifted is good, but hold fast to your end goal - keep feeding and preparing for the dream. Commit to it by using the short term security you have to prep and even execute your plans!

I am kicking myself for taking 10 years to follow through on my decision to escape the auto industry. I made every excuse in the book - stability, mortgage, kids, etc. I'm happier, my family is happier and I'll live longer for it.

 

[86turbodsl]

Yeah that is a true statement for sure. Roller coaster. I want out. I don't believe in the future ev only push that seems much more like virtue signalling than sound management. I'm gonna do something.

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[86turbodsl]

I am going to just leave this here. Finally.

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[racer-john]

Nice 86.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Nice!

 

[jbmatth]

Congrats!

 

[slodat]

I know that feeling. So good. Congrats!

 

[86turbodsl]

Thanks guys. We're back to uncertainty again here. I really need to get a business or two off the ground this year. At least i have a working lift. Thanks for stopping by.

 

[Strouty]

I can relate to that yo-yo situation. Hopefully things will even out a bit. We are all confident in your abilities!

 

[86turbodsl]

I can relate to that yo-yo situation. Hopefully things will even out a bit. We are all confident in your abilities!

Unfortunately you are right. I hope things even out for you too. Roller coasters are no fun at all. At least not at my age.

 

[86turbodsl]

Been out in the shop cleaning and organizing today. Pulled 5 tig foot pedals out from under the welding table. I may have a problem.

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[racer-john]

YEP, you do.

 

[Strouty]

You forgot about the other one tucked away under the......

 

[86turbodsl]

Hahahaha.

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[ClappedOutBport]

The 330 pedals are worth something...

 

[86turbodsl]

Yeah I need to get em cleaned up and tested and sell em.

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