Gauging Some Interest on A Weld-it-Your-Self Product Line

[Katahdin]

I would be interested and a grapple is in-line with one of the implements I'd like to have in the future. I'm just interested in saving a few bucks and practicing my hobbyist mig welding skills. Theoretically the equipment I have can weld up to 3/8, I'm not going to claim I can weld up to 3/8 because that might insult a professional welder. I'll just say I can stick metal together. :laughing:

 

[john_bud]

Sounds like a good idea to me. But I also liked the eta proposal. A strong 4' rock bucket w grapple kit would get a sale.

 

[CNC Dan]

....
even offering the "special parts" and plans for sale as tubing and plate is not that hard to source, but Eyes for cylinders and or hinges for joints hitch plates
....

I think that would be the best way to offer kits. Sell all the parts that require cutting, drilling or bending. Let the customer source all the straight pieces localy. Then just cut according to a cut list, and weld to the kit provided pieces.

 

[GPintheMitten]

I think that would be the best way to offer kits. Sell all the parts that require cutting, drilling or bending. Let the customer source all the straight pieces localy. Then just cut according to a cut list, and weld to the kit provided pieces.

Good ideas.

 

[JDskidder]

There is a website for off-roading that has apparently done pretty well with weld-it-yourself kits. I think your product has to stand out and appeal to the community to be successful. I wouldn't say their kits are cheap, but they are definitely a bargain and they're quality made in the USA. I can stand behind that. Check them out if you have never heard of them... swagoffroad.com I bet if you contacted him he would get right back to you with answers to any questions you had.

Everett

 

[BHD]

I think lot could depend on the quality of your plans and directions,
ran across this thread from 2008 on plan quality, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/116234-plans-sale-via-net-any.html

I know when I was young and just out of high school (40 plus years ago)I ordered a set of plans of a DIY bull dozer,
when I got them I was totally disappointed, (not that they were not good plans if you knew how to read a blue print) there were pages and pages of drawings but I do not remember a clear step by step process of assembly ( at least not clear to me) and even it there was if one could not make heads or tails out of the pages of blue prints,
years later I rediscovered the set of plans and they were a good set of proper drawings, if there would have accompany pictures with the drawings I think I would have caught on,
to day one has video and even pictures,

what I am saying is if you can do a set of plans that a true newbie can build, with little or no fabrication experience, when I bought the plans I could weld and had built a few things in shop classes, but not off of drawings, or following some one elses plans,

when one draws up some thing and understands things it is hard for one not envision some one else not understanding or seeing it how you see it,

regardless of what you come up with, unless the newbie can read and understand the directions, what you sell I think will depend on how you build your support materials, but this is some thing one may need to keep in mind,

 

[sboyte]

I might have some interest in something like a diy backhoe. I've seen one kit that provided laser cut assembly parts one of the places that it failed to grab my serious interest is that the bucket would require a bend that I would still have to find some way to have done.

 

[94BULLITT]

It depends what attachments you are going to offer and the price as to how well it work. I say sell them as a complete kit in ready to weld form. Let the customer worry about painting. You will have to provide some basic instructions or good pictures.

 

[Millsonwheels]

There have been a few new tools intoduced to TBN members that seemed to get a good following. Jake Rake and Ratchet Rake are two. Lots of folks bought them after hearing about them here.

If you can invent something it could go well.

That would be nice, I have a notebook full of ideas its just finding the time/ Money to implement some. haha

I would think there would be some product that would give some protection on rust and such that would not cause welding issues and could be power washed or scrubbed off for painting,
just a quick net search,
Coatings for Corrosion Protection and Rust Control
OKS Spezialschmierstoffe GmbH - Corrosion Protection
Auto & Industrial Rust Remover, Rust Preventative Paint For Cars
not saying any of these are what one should use but I know some paints cause welding problems and not sure what these do to welds, but they all look thinner than paint,


even offering the "special parts" and plans for sale as tubing and plate is not that hard to source, but Eyes for cylinders and or hinges for joints hitch plates
if one does not have a good drill press, and or a lath or milling machine being able to buy the special parts could make a large difference on making some thing or not,

my two cents,

Yeah Thats kind of what Im going for basically what ever Most people dont have access to do easily putting in kit form that can be easily assembled. Ill look into those coats some more later thanks for that!

It sure would have to be cheap for me to want to do all the welding, grinding, painting and assembly. Factoring in the hours it would take me to do that, I'd be very hesitant to give it a try.

Eddie

My goal is for these to be weekend of even style DIY projects, Im shooting for 8 hours of assembly or less, so It wouldn't be such a daunting task.

Exactly what does "going through the motions" mean?...have you produced /sold any "kits"...do you have a catalog or a list of products available?

Ive been doing equipment repair and welding on the side since I was in middle school starting alongside my dad and grandfather, Ive also been working In a Machine shop since I Graduated college, almost all the time ive been working there ive been scheming about this business for the future. Ive been working with the best CAD designer ive ever met to make these top notch designs to make the most user friendly end products.

So I've just started posting but have lurked and learned here at TBN for ten years. In that time I've seen a lot of posts looking for water runoff ditching tools. I think a 3-point full width universal tool bracket with options for various tools would be a good place to start. Capability to offset the tool in either direction past the tires would be a must. For ditching tools everything from a pointy subsoiler to a middle buster to a swale former would be useful.

Dan

Ill look into it but how hard of a pull would these particular ditching tools put on the tractor? Being offset puts a sideways strain on the tractor where it could break traction very easy if the weight of the tractor wasnt very substantial (in my mind)

I think it's a great idea, a lot of people have a welder and some basic tools but don't have the ability to cut steel into precision parts, machine bearings, etc....etc... You could start with a 4' or 5' grapple kit.

Well to start we are doing the orignal desgins what I would call "full scale" starting with large skid steer tractor design then if we end up with a robust design downsizing them for the compact tractor market.

I am not 100% sure but if you do a search I think, Everything Attachments looked into this awhile back. I think there was a thread by someone who was kind of beta testing the kit concept for them.

Everything Attachments (ETA) had the same weld-it-yourself idea a year ago and solicited interest here on T-B-N.

Either there was not enough interest expressed, or they are continuing work on the concept, because we have not heard anything since.

ETA considers T-B-N an important marketing channel for their brand. Right, Travis?

Ive seen this and I like what they did but to my knowledge they are still not as actively involved in this correct?

 

[Millsonwheels]

I would be interested and a grapple is in-line with one of the implements I'd like to have in the future. I'm just interested in saving a few bucks and practicing my hobbyist mig welding skills. Theoretically the equipment I have can weld up to 3/8, I'm not going to claim I can weld up to 3/8 because that might insult a professional welder. I'll just say I can stick metal together. :laughing:

Yes that is exactly what I am going for, Things that would be great first time welding projects with good instructions and all pre cuts pieces ready to go! You can get by with alot if you only having a small machine using preheating or triple pass techniques.

Sounds like a good idea to me. But I also liked the eta proposal. A strong 4' rock bucket w grapple kit would get a sale.

Ok great to know thanks!

I think that would be the best way to offer kits. Sell all the parts that require cutting, drilling or bending. Let the customer source all the straight pieces localy. Then just cut according to a cut list, and weld to the kit provided pieces.

Its interesting you say that because what throws off a reasonable priced shipping quote more than anything is the long pieces (6' or less) so if this could be done it would end up offering savings all the way around, Excellent idea thanks!

Good ideas.

There is a website for off-roading that has apparently done pretty well with weld-it-yourself kits. I think your product has to stand out and appeal to the community to be successful. I wouldn't say their kits are cheap, but they are definitely a bargain and they're quality made in the USA. I can stand behind that. Check them out if you have never heard of them... swagoffroad.com I bet if you contacted him he would get right back to you with answers to any questions you had.

Everett

I have heard of them being a member of as many off road forums as I am also another excellent one to check out who I got the majority of my inspiration from Is the Goat built rock buggy In a box weld-it-yourself idea check it out : Rock Crawler Chassis | Rock Crawler Parts | Rock Crawler Buggy | IBEX Chassis

Like myself its a college grad who put the emphasis on design and ease of use of his original kit idea.

I think lot could depend on the quality of your plans and directions,
ran across this thread from 2008 on plan quality, http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/116234-plans-sale-via-net-any.html

I know when I was young and just out of high school (40 plus years ago)I ordered a set of plans of a DIY bull dozer,
when I got them I was totally disappointed, (not that they were not good plans if you knew how to read a blue print) there were pages and pages of drawings but I do not remember a clear step by step process of assembly ( at least not clear to me) and even it there was if one could not make heads or tails out of the pages of blue prints,
years later I rediscovered the set of plans and they were a good set of proper drawings, if there would have accompany pictures with the drawings I think I would have caught on,
to day one has video and even pictures,

what I am saying is if you can do a set of plans that a true newbie can build, with little or no fabrication experience, when I bought the plans I could weld and had built a few things in shop classes, but not off of drawings, or following some one elses plans,

when one draws up some thing and understands things it is hard for one not envision some one else not understanding or seeing it how you see it,

regardless of what you come up with, unless the newbie can read and understand the directions, what you sell I think will depend on how you build your support materials, but this is some thing one may need to keep in mind,

My brother in law brought up the idea to my yesterday of the sale of plans, This could aslo be done for the less involved projects if the intwerest was there I suppose.

I might have some interest in something like a diy backhoe. I've seen one kit that provided laser cut assembly parts one of the places that it failed to grab my serious interest is that the bucket would require a bend that I would still have to find some way to have done.

Well that certainly is a possibility but Id hate to step on the guys who already sells plans or kits for those, Such as Cad Digger Plans, etc.

It depends what attachments you are going to offer and the price as to how well it work. I say sell them as a complete kit in ready to weld form. Let the customer worry about painting. You will have to provide some basic instructions or good pictures.

Exactly, Im thinking the savings would be very good if I could eliminate the Final assembly labor on my part. Thanks!