SpudFiles

I've been bored recently and have been looking for some work. I enjoy machining, so I've decided to pursue that. I'm offering my services locally but thought it would be good to offer discounted parts to spudgunners..

Basically..You send me rough details and a plan of what you need made. I'll then consider, check that I can do it/have the materials and I'll get back to you with a quote on postage, materials and labor. I'll make a detailed CAD drawing of the part so you can check it is correct before machining.

The part is made, photos are uploaded for the customer to check and the part is sent when payment is arranged.

Policies:
1) Jobs will be accepted or declined depending on how busy I am, the material and labor requirements for the part, and it's size.

2) Preferably smaller scale jobs only. The price for postage on a large
scale part would be absolutely heinous, and would remove any savings.

3) Extra costs will be incurred if I need to outsource labor or arrange to purchase additional materials.

4) Extra costs will be incurred if I need to turn a lot of non standard threads. I have a variety of taps up to M24, but turning threads on a lathe is a real bastard and I hate it. It consumes a lot of time and has the potential to ruin the work piece. If it's an option, I'll help you redesign to use standard threads.

5) Preferably Australian (or in the vicinity) customers only. Overseas postage costs will be especially bad, and I don't want to take any potential business away from our sponsors. If your in the US, inquire with sureshot or Gort to see if they can make your part.

6) Parts will only be made for spudfilers assumed to be trustworthy. If you seem wonky, your order will probably be declined.

7) When making high tolerance parts such as pistons I require an accurate measurement of the part it must fit into with accurate calipers or a micrometer. If you give me bad measurements or tolerances, expect to have to send the part back for re-turning or need to sand it down yourself.

8) Parts made in exotic or extremely hard to work materials may incur extra costs to cover the likelihood of tooling damage.

9) Complete guns will not be sent. No exceptions.

10) If the part you have requested does not meet safety requirements it will require a re-design or will not be made.

11) I'd rather refund money than send a bad, unsafe or poorly finished part.

12) I'd rather decline a job than do a half assed attempt at it.

13) All payments to be made through paypal. If you can absolutely not use paypal at all another option such as money order may be negotiable.

14) Parts that are sent that have clearly faulty workmanship (i.e. mine, not yours) will be offered a refund, repair or replacement part.

15) Postal security, registration, router etc. is largely at your discretion. If Australia Post steal your part, I can't do jack shit about it.

This is of course assuming that the sponsors don't have an issue with this (as they cater to a largely US market, supply larger parts and complete cannons I don't think this will be a large problem). Also, at PCGuy's discretion.

I believe the first job will probably be a meter for Carlman's hybrid. He will get it done for the price of postage in return for being a preliminary tester. I probably won't take many orders until that's done so I can get some feedback.

Have you considered pre-manufacturing a part in small quantities and then simply offering them for sale? Items such as Mouse
musket pistons, Marshmallow Cannon pistons and ported pipes, etc could be a stocked item.

I would recommend a selection of HDPE pistons machined to fit in 2 inch 1.5 inch, 1.25 inch and 1 inch PVC pipe. People are always looking for good pistons. The larger sizes should have an o ring installed to match ready to go.

To prevent problems with one of our great sponsors, please try not to duplicate items already for sale such as the Shureshot rounds and fuel meter.

Dimensions for the Marshmallow cannon parts are in the Sketchup Library.

I am not in your area so I didn't vote in the poll.

Great idea, I think you should make a few standard parts like pistons for certain sizes that people commonly use. Also, check your number 8, it turned out to be a smiley

Gun Freak wrote:Great idea, I think you should make a few standard parts like pistons for certain sizes that people commonly use. Also, check your number 8, it turned out to be a smiley

Yeh 8)

Thanks for the idea with the pistons, it's good. I realize that pistons are certainly one part of the cannon people could do with being machined.

Does anyone want to be a gunieapig? I need to rustle up some proper material rather than laminating it though.

Of course I won't rip off any of the sponsors ideas. They put a lot of work into their stuff and ripping it for my own benefit would be stupid. However, if someone in Australia really wanted one of their products (rounds, meter etc) but couldn't due to postage or customs I could negotiate to pay a commission to them for the one-off part. Though I definitely wouldn't just use their ideas willy-nilly.

I think its a good idea, but your going to have to find a good, cheap source to provide you with raw materials. Alternatively members could send you an item to be machined, but that would cost more due to the double postage.

You can buy lengths of plastic rod (delrin, HDPE etc) off of ebay fairly cheaply. I have materials ready for smaller pistons already.

Anyone have a small bore cannon they want a piston made for (to be a test dummy)?

I might be in need of your services in the near future, 25mm HDPE pistons
with a hollowed out base. Would it be intrusive of me to ask which side
of Australia you reside in, I assume it.s the east coast as that's far more
populated.

Thank you for making custom parts available to those who don't have
lathes & other such tools.

West. For something as small as a 25mm piston the postage won't be prohibitive at all (I think )

i will be utilizing your services in the near future if you are going to get into it. i'd like to talk about it with you soon

Finished C11Man's piston and will post it to him on Monday when the post office is open.

I know I didn't exactly intend to cater for overseas..but for small scale stuff it's not really an issue. He's a guineapig anyway.

damn dude that was like 8 hours ago that i asked! thats what i call fast service.

so do i get a pic of this or do i have to wait till it arives?

My camera suck the balls, so it isn't a good one. I sent you a PM with details. (need your address as well).

yay i get a GREEN piston! i guess it looks like the right shape too
so now i just have to get the rest of the parts then i can test it!

I sent C11man's piston.

Assuming customs don't take it, and Australia post don't nick it you should get it soon. It's marked as a pneumatic airline component so it should make it through customs easily.

thats GREAT! i just hope shipping wasnt very much and that shipping didnt cost too much