Grits,more work getting done

[atahoekid]

Boy that's a great question. I guess it depends on how many hours you think are involved, how much you like the person and what you think they afford. This probably has no bearing on reality but my company charges $150/hr for my services as a safety consultant. Labor at the auto dealer is $100.00/hr and I have no idea what a plumber/electrician charges

[GPW]

Labor , that’s always the problem eh? ... Most “companies “ charge a high labor fee because usually half (or better) goes to the company (profit, overhead, taxes , insurance , etc. etc. ) ... then they double the price of the parts (more profit) ... Always results in a Large bill ... It’s ALL about the MONEY ...
Before everyone became so “Capitalist" (greedy) , they used to work on smaller percentages ... depending on long term and return customers ... and making a modest profit ... Now it’s all about “all the traffic will bear “ within the Market structure (comparable prices ) ...

I’ve always kept track of my hours and charged a reasonable rate , which is why I always have return customers/collectors , and am NOT in the 1% , and can sleep at night (conscience) ... Fine with me !!! For materials , I have to include the time and gas (or shipping costs) to go pick them up ...all part of the cost ...

Bottom line : Charge what you think you’re time is worth ... Time and materials ...


Note: Once you build a Foamie' , the next one goes Much quicker , so can be produced more efficiently, with better quality ... good for you , good for the customer ...

[Mary C]

Hey guys thank you, just what info I needed to think about. The only reason I would even consider it is that the profit (my work part) could go towards building another one for me. My biggest concern is moving the trailer to the outside. I nearly killed myself doing that. Putting it together wasn't hard just time consuming and you are right about the second one being faster, I am not intimidated like I was with the first one and believe me that alone will slow you down It is like walking around the elephant wondering how I am going to eat it and if I can move it. I will have to really think about this one some more and put some more figures together and By Gosh I Have not really finished the first one!!!!

Mary C.

[GPW]

Mary, since these Foamie’s are an ‘ongoing project’ you never really “finish” them anyway ... It’s just in various stages of completion ...

I should have warned you from the beginning .... Foamie’s are ADDICTIVE ... Once you get the first one done (?) , you realize how EASY it really is ...

[Mary C]

Ok i sanded and sanded today. I filled all those cracks and places that just looked ucky (technical term) I think the surface is almost ready for the second coat of gripper. I am doing it in gray. this time I will paint it on and hopefully it will fill the rest of the ucky places so that in a couple of weeks I will be ready to sand again. right now I am looking for some bar steel to make a closure thingy (another technical term) so I can close and lock the back. ok I know you want to see what I am talking about so I will go take

Mary C.

[Mary C]

Ok I used a piece of paper to simulate what I am trying to make.









any suggestions????

Mary C.

[GPW]

Mary , I think we’ve seen offset hasps like that commercially made , and not too pricy ...

[atahoekid]

After playing around with some, I found that aluminum roll flashing is pretty easy to work with (wear gloves, sharp edges.. ) It's pretty thin gauge so it's pretty easy to cut with shears or tin snips, pretty easy to bend over a hard edge too. I think I paid under $10 for a 25 foot roll. Trying to figure out more uses for it on the teardrop. I used it on the bottom of all the door openings to create thresholds. I wish I had a break (brake) to do the bending in so I could get really professional edges and if I had thought about it problem a way to create a DIY version. You can probably find some info on that on the internet but I was satisfied enough with the way things were going without the brake so I just kept going....

[Mary C]

Mel, I need something heavier gauge than flashing. I need something I can use to lock the hatch down with. I am going to put it off till my car gets repaired but that is my next expense. Gotta lock it down with one on each side.

Mary C.

[atahoekid]

If you can't find any to buy, I would sketch it out and take it to a metal fabrication shop and have them cut and bend it for you. Maybe galvanized? Should hold up to weather and stronger than aluminum. I would hope it shouldn't cost too much. I had a shop cut and bend the rock guard for the nose from a heavier gauge aluminum and was surprised at the price. Lots lower than expected. You might look at a couple of online sources like Graingers or McMaster Carr. They are both industrial suppliers who sell a lot of oddball hardware. They have brick and mortar stores too.. Hope you find something!

[Mary C]

Ok while showing off the hatch yesterday I was thinking about some way of holding it up I am all for thrifty but the 1x2s are not working out so good, so lets think how do you make a thrifty hatch holder I came up with a wood dowel inside a pvc pipe with those little metal pins through holes drilled through both but how do i attach them to the hatch and the inside floor?? Ok I will go take .

Mary C.

[Mary C]

ok I need to connect at the bottom either on the shelf ledge or floor The top needs to connect on the side or some type of u around the horizional 1x2 on the hatch.









Mary C.

[ghcoe]

Mel, I need something heavier gauge than flashing. I need something I can use to lock the hatch down with. I am going to put it off till my car gets repaired but that is my next expense. Gotta lock it down with one on each side.

Mary C.

Take a look at these. I am looking at these or similar units to lock my hatch down. These are at Lowe's.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_113108-1277-838 ... 660&rpp=32

[Mary C]

Actually the 4 1/2 double folding is the right fold but I will have to see if it is going to work. Thanks I just hope it is wide enough or I will have to put at least three on the back. That will work. which might not be such a bad thing I will check them out soon.

Thanks George

Mary C.

[atahoekid]

Someone had this posted as a sticky. http://www.tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=7047 Maybe it will work for you?