ssdave
Banned
....
Last edited:
Entry level price to do serious work
- Thread starter ssdave
- Start date
nice job! . plus you need to add electric, property taxes, wages,paint, welding wire LOL
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
all that to avoid one of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R4YD16B/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Leaflessshadetree
Well-known member
That allows a small attachment to fit a large receiver. OP had a large attachment going to a small receiver.I do agree that his solution sounds a bit complicated but I'll assume it works, looks nice and fits well.
Unfortunately he needs to spend more on a compressor, blast cabinet and spray gun. Then of course the paint.
Don't forget labor. How long did it take you x what your time is worth = i'm looking for off the shelf solutions.
If there aren't commercially available products (at a price i'm willing to pay) then i'd do the fab work too. It's a numbers game and things are prices are usually just enough to keep the home shop guys from cutting manufactures throats.
Where's the pictures of your handy work? Show em if you got em!
If there aren't commercially available products (at a price i'm willing to pay) then i'd do the fab work too. It's a numbers game and things are prices are usually just enough to keep the home shop guys from cutting manufactures throats.
Where's the pictures of your handy work? Show em if you got em!
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I do agree that his solution sounds a bit complicated but I'll assume it works, looks nice and fits well.
Unfortunately he needs to spend more on a compressor, blast cabinet and spray gun. Then of course the paint.
whoops, my bad. thought it was the other way around
MushCreek
Well-known member
I would never dare add everything up that way. As far as I'm concerned, it's the journey,not the destination. I enjoy making and fixing stuff. It gives me a lot of satisfaction, and gives me something to do that I enjoy.
driftpin
Well-known member
A reconciliation of sorts, "why do I spend the $$$ I do, on tools?"
The last two sentences could be a GJ mission statement.
sberry
Banned
I do this all the time. Sometimes its easier to drive and fix the old than buy newer.
Packard V8
Well-known member
The flip side of owning tools and being able to understand what's needed and fabricate a solution is it better equips one when it's time to buy new. Understanding how something works helps make a better choice. So often a non-tool guy friend buys cheap junk or something which won't even accomplish what he'd hoped.
Then, there's the satisfaction of "see a problem; solve a problem." Often a GJ guy will be done and using the result and on to the next thing while a non-tool guy is still calling around, asking dumb questions, trying to find anyone competent to get a small project done in a timely manner at a reasonable cost.
jack vines
Then, there's the satisfaction of "see a problem; solve a problem." Often a GJ guy will be done and using the result and on to the next thing while a non-tool guy is still calling around, asking dumb questions, trying to find anyone competent to get a small project done in a timely manner at a reasonable cost.
jack vines
All that, plus the fact that tools do save money in the long run by not having to pay pro's to do everything. My tools have paid for themselves 10 times over. I also do side jobs for relatives/friends for a few bucks (very few, lol).
Plus you don't have to wait for a pro to show up.
Chubbz
Member
You could have saved another $15.
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4...-adapter-65023.html?_br_psugg_q=hitch+adapter
https://www.harborfreight.com/1-1-4...-adapter-65023.html?_br_psugg_q=hitch+adapter
Chubbz
Member
HF can ship to your home. You were already cutting it so what harm is cutting off more? The only time would have been to have it shipped.
Or Amazon Prime it? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001IH8Q0A/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Just pointing out that you seem to want to do things on the cheap. A cut is a cut regardless if it's 6 inches or 18 inches. Takes the same amount of time.
I have the stupid 1 1/4 hitch on my S10 Blazer. Want a Bike rack but also a cargo carrier. I'm just gonna go scrap yard and get a 2in. Might as well while there for other things. Although new bike racks and cargo carriers are roughly the same price. Same with used but you find more of the 2in.
Crabman
Well-known member
And beer to admire a job well done!
Downwindtracker 2
Well-known member
I figure I'm laughing if I break even , on the next job, the tools are free.
Great list !!
Great list !!
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Awesome detailed post and interesting perspective.
There is a satisfaction that comes from making things.
There is a satisfaction that comes from making things.
Aaron_W
Well-known member
The cost of tools never adds up on a job by job basis.
Buying a one off adapter since apparently what you needed doesn't exist would not have cost $30 either.
If you do much DIY the tools pay for themselves pretty darn quick with the saved labor costs.
Pretty sure you know this.
Buying a one off adapter since apparently what you needed doesn't exist would not have cost $30 either.
If you do much DIY the tools pay for themselves pretty darn quick with the saved labor costs.
Pretty sure you know this.
BDT/NWMN
Well-known member
Yep; If You cannot buy something the way You want it built; You build it the way You want.
Snapped-off
Well-known member
Sounds great on the fabrication, but I didn't see any pictures.
Two Speed
Well-known member
For "entry" level, you sure paid a lot to dip your toe into it.
My only
is a $15 tape measure. And maybe leather gloves, those should have been included with your starter welder purchase, along with helmet. Your helmet and gloves are luxury upgrades, not entry level necessities. =-)
Now that you've gone through that exercise, how many times have you used those tools and what is their current per job cost? Couple pennies?
Alex.
My only
is a $15 tape measure. And maybe leather gloves, those should have been included with your starter welder purchase, along with helmet. Your helmet and gloves are luxury upgrades, not entry level necessities. =-) Now that you've gone through that exercise, how many times have you used those tools and what is their current per job cost? Couple pennies?
Alex.
bwringer
Well-known member
Let me just reiterate here how much 1-1/4" hitches suuuuuuuuuuuck.
I mean, I get why they exist, but everything is so much more convenient if you have a standard 2" receiver.
We used to have a Rav4, and although its towing capacity was minimal, you could actually get a 2" receiver hitch for it, which was very, very handy on many occasions. Sure it hauled a small trailer ok-ish, but the receiver made it a great bicycle toter, and my wife used a platform carrier quite a bit.
I mean, I get why they exist, but everything is so much more convenient if you have a standard 2" receiver.
We used to have a Rav4, and although its towing capacity was minimal, you could actually get a 2" receiver hitch for it, which was very, very handy on many occasions. Sure it hauled a small trailer ok-ish, but the receiver made it a great bicycle toter, and my wife used a platform carrier quite a bit.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
I like tools. Don't care what they cost and don't give a damn if I ever use them. I've got a brand new 18" Laguna/Miber bandsaw that doesn't have 10 minutes of run time on it and I've had it for twenty years. Why do it keep it. Because I like it. I have an HTP ProPulse 200 welder that's got less than 10 minutes on it in the last two years. Same story. I never try to financially justify a passion. I have every automotive hand tool ever invented. Hell, I sold TOPTUL for four years and you can bet I keep one of every variety of tool that I ever bought from them for myself. When my car breaks I take it to a shop because I hate working on daily driver cars (race cars are a different animal) and it's under warrantee. I like tools. I don't need an excuse. I have 50 spray guns and only use four of them. One for primer (DeVilbiss FLG5), one for sealer (Iwata W400LV), one for basecoat (Walcom HTE Carbonio Base) and one for clearcoat (Iwata W400 Supernova). That leaves 46 guns (which are just as good - fifteen of which are SATAs and three of which are Teknas) that sit in their boxes. Why, I really like spray guns. Who needs these justification threads. I like tools. That's all the justification I need.
PartsGuy
Well-known member
Hell, I accept new projects from the wife just so I can buy new tools.... I am currently building her a "choo-choo train" built on a golf cart chassis. She has a $6000 budget for the entire completed project (including the cart), I'm donating the free labor, and I'm paying for any new tools I need along the way..... I've already spent close to 1/4 of the budget (out of MY pocket) on new toys to construct the damn thing!
This "train" is for the non-profit organization that she runs, not our own recreation...
This "train" is for the non-profit organization that she runs, not our own recreation...
ZRX61
Well-known member
The cost of the tools used was actually just a buck or two.. you forgot to amortize then over the years of use.
You can only claim the $2600 if you bought them that morning & never intended to use then again
You can only claim the $2600 if you bought them that morning & never intended to use then again
bamawildcat
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2014
- Messages
- 148
I'd look at it differently: tools are a sunk cost. Labor and materials is what I would count.
rsanter
Well-known member
Wow are you thinking about this all the WRONG way.
You did the job to help you wife out.
You saved a bit of money in the process and made a better setup than you could have bought.
It’s not like you bought all that stuff to do that single job and then are throwing it all away....
So that’s no big deal...
What you are fully missing is that by using all, of that and making the wife happy, the next time you buy a tool YOU WANT, you can use this as an example of the benifits of owning such tools
Hell, years ago I made a replacement key for a decorative necklace lock for my daughter.
The thing cost about $5, but she was upset about loosing the lock.
By your accounting I used over $10,000 of equipment to make that replacement key.
The fact that I made it for her and solved the problem (by other means that spending another $5) was worth a million bucks to her. Hell I was her hero
Bob
You did the job to help you wife out.
You saved a bit of money in the process and made a better setup than you could have bought.
It’s not like you bought all that stuff to do that single job and then are throwing it all away....
So that’s no big deal...
What you are fully missing is that by using all, of that and making the wife happy, the next time you buy a tool YOU WANT, you can use this as an example of the benifits of owning such tools
Hell, years ago I made a replacement key for a decorative necklace lock for my daughter.
The thing cost about $5, but she was upset about loosing the lock.
By your accounting I used over $10,000 of equipment to make that replacement key.
The fact that I made it for her and solved the problem (by other means that spending another $5) was worth a million bucks to her. Hell I was her hero
Bob
sberry
Banned
The price to more than ever has went down. The 180 welder was 650 25 or 30 yrs ago and can be had in a box store for 700 today. Hand tools better, HF breaker bar 15$. Paint gun used to be 60 at Sears, can buy the same in Walmart today for 25. Good screwdrivers, 1.50 hf. Sears and other 300 pc tool sets, 200,, so what if a few are hex wrenches, a guy uses them too.
sberry
Banned
Meanwhile the price of a pickup is 3x.