Homemade Implement Book

[BrokenTrack]

Over the years I have dabbled in a few things as hobbies.

For instance I have made quite a few of my homemade implements.

And back when I was doing classes on farming, I always included a lesson on making your own homemade implements to keep the cost of farming down so that more profit could be made. People seemed to like the idea of lowering their capital costs, and yet not working so hard at farming. And they really seemed to enjoy how I went about going from concept to build without a lot of fancy machine tools or expensive parts.

But I have also written a few books.

Awhile back I started to combine the two; a book about how to make homemade implements. I kind of organized the book like this

Section One: Implement Design
Introduction
Implement Economics
Design Elements
Fabrication Methods
Testing
Refining
Patenting

Section Two: Implement Specific Tasks
Mowing
Loader Work
Grading
Snow Removal
Tillage
Logging
Haying
Stationary PTO

Section Three: Technical Data
Drawbar Pull
Tractive Effort
Weight Transfer

In any case, I started to write the book, and got fair amount done, but then thought, "Would anyone actually want to read such a book?"

I am not sure? This sub-forum has quite a bit of views, but maybe it is just armchair building? But maybe people would build more stuff for themselves if they had a little guide...encouragement if you will...a little more confidence that they could actually build some stuff for their tractors, if they realized how I break complex machines down into something that works, but is home-built.

I am not advertising here as it is not written yet, I am just not sure if spending the amount of time to write a book on the subject would be worth it? I guess what I am asking is, would enough people pay $20 of hard earned cash for such a reference book? I would not do it for the money, not at all, but writing a book takes a lot of time.

 

[rScotty]

Don't know... I do have a lot of reference books and enjoy the do-it-yourself type of book.
Some are just about the project, and others wrap the project into a story about life style.

For example, Lin and Larry Pardy wrote books about boat-building. Her books about building+life have been best sellers for a generation....and still are.
His book - which is one of the best book on wooden boat building ever written - didn't sell well at all.

I'd have to read a chapter to answer your question.
rScotty

 

[WranglerX]

With today's instant access to solutions (internet) can't see spending $20 for a book that may have a lot of things I have no interest in....

Dale

 

[stuckmotor]

If you'd put up photos of some of the implements you'd show how to build, we might be able give better advise.

 

[ericm979]

I'd buy that book. It's an interesting topic even if I never make my own implement. When I was a kid my library had a bunch of books from the '30s and '40s about making your own shop equipment, which I devoured. If I could find them I'd re-read them. That kind of knowledge does not become obsolete.

With the various options for self publishing these days you're not restricted to trying to get a publisher interested.

 

[stuckmotor]

I'd buy that book. It's an interesting topic even if I never make my own implement. When I was a kid my library had a bunch of books from the '30s and '40s about making your own shop equipment, which I devoured. If I could find them I'd re-read them. That kind of knowledge does not become obsolete.

With the various options for self publishing these days you're not restricted to trying to get a publisher interested.

I loved those books too. Some are available on ebay. Lindsay Publications used to reprint them. When Mr. Lindsay retired, someone else started selling the books then tried to sell out, then changed his mind.... Here's the story Your Old Time Bookstore
For a long time I was able to pull up copies of Popular Mechanics, Popular Science etc. as well as the books they'd published for free at Google Books then I couldn't access them anymore and don't know why. It might be because I'm using an Amazon Fire tablet and they are in competition with Google.
Good luck.

 

[Greenland South]

IMHO wright the book. Publish it on line and charge a modest fee for it. You’ll save printing fees that way. There are literally thousands of people out there that would rather build than buy. Good reference material is typically looked at over and over again. As an example I have a set of Popular Mechanics hard covers that either my dad or grandfather bought in the fifties. While much of it isn’t relevant now, I still look in them frequently.

 

[Sonny580]

At one time it would have been great!---- in todays world, with todays idiot's,---afraid it wouldn't have a chance! People of today don't do anything for themselves,---sad but true!--- me personally I would love to have books of ideas like that!

 

[BrokenTrack]

At one time it would have been great!---- in todays world, with todays idiot's,---afraid it wouldn't have a chance! People of today don't do anything for themselves,---sad but true!--- me personally I would love to have books of ideas like that!

I think that is beginning to change though.

It seems like EVERYONE I have been talking to lately does what I do, if something breaks, go on youtube, find a video on how to fix it, and then fix the problem.

Eventually that will build confidence in people, and I think you will see more and more people taking on repairs. They have too, with 85% of the population living paycheck to paycheck, and failing to even have $1000 in the bank for savings, it is the smartest option...and for an increasing number of people, the only option.

 

[BrokenTrack]

I'd buy that book. It's an interesting topic even if I never make my own implement. When I was a kid my library had a bunch of books from the '30s and '40s about making your own shop equipment, which I devoured. If I could find them I'd re-read them. That kind of knowledge does not become obsolete.

With the various options for self publishing these days you're not restricted to trying to get a publisher interested.

I do the same thing, that is how I have built a few implements; see how they did it back in the 1930's and 1940's...most of the time, home fabrication today can easily mimic how they built things back then.