Homemade Implement Book

[pappy60]

Definitely write it... but instead of publishing it as a hard copy book, put it online for a reasonable price... maybe make a hard copy available if you can get it printed for a fair price, etc..
I built / modified a lot of my equipment, but am older & cannot afford some stuff so built it...
I think Amazon has a way to sell it as a download and eBay definitely does...
Good luck !!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

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

And what could be put in the book that couldn't be found here within seconds doing a "Search"?

 

[/pine]

Most of the DIYers who have the skill and the wherewithal to make their own implements are not really looking for a book telling them how to do it...they are mostly looking for good working plans and material lists etc...

Most either copy a proven design and or build mock ups with softer materials and improvised hydraulic cylinders (pvc) etc...

The thing about technical books is...if a picture is worth a thousand words a (youtube) video is worth a lot more...

 

[ovrszd]

We'll volunteer to be your test subjects.

Post a series of pics with technical explanations in book format of something you have built.

 

[mcfarmall]

If you could get it printed for $20 I'd buy it if for nothing less than the learning and entertainment value. E-books are worthless to me as I prefer the printed words and illustrations so I can take it and use it anywhere and it isn't dependent on some fragile technology to operate. When the world as we know it collapses in on itself, we will need good printed reference materials.

 

[ericm979]

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

Those are not the same books I remember though they're also very interesting. I see one titled "Things That Are Usually Wrong". It's cool that people wrote about the software industry before it even existed!

 

[lennyzx11]

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 go find the Foxfire books at every library I have been to since reading the first one in the late 70s I think.

 

[stuckmotor]

I go find the Foxfire books at every library I have been to since reading the first one in the late 70s I think.

My father had a collection of Foxfire Books before the list was very long. He loaned some to a "friend" who evidently didn't know a loan from a gift. A common problem with book borrowers.

 

[mikester]

Is your book about making implements or making tools for solving problems? Who is your target audience? A manufacturer? Farmer? Hobbiest? First time fabber? Get rich quick trying to patent an idea person?

Id be more interested in seeing a collection of interesting and unique ways of solving particular problems. Show and compare the unique mechanisms. Whats different and how effective is it. Some kind of e-book with video and/or animations go a long way describing solutions over paper.

There are already tons of engineering and manufacturing references out there so you are standing in a crowd waving your arms trying to catch someones attention. Show me 20 different and clever ways of cutting grass or chipping wood and you might catch my attention. You could write a book on just one of these topics. I might read parts of your book if you describe how YOU solved your problem, the choices you made and why, and what was the outcome. If this is going to be a book on a store shelf somewhere Id probably never see it.

Write and publish your book as a blog and you will see what people are interested in. Become an indispensable free online reference. Let google be your friend. Get 10,000 hits a day and you might have something.

 

[rScotty]

Is your book about making implements or making tools for solving problems?

Id be more interested in seeing a collection of interesting and unique ways of solving particular problems. Show and compare the unique mechanisms. Whats different and how effective is it. Some kind of e-book with video and/or animations go a long way describing solutions over paper.

There are already tons of engineering and manufacturing references out there so you are standing in a crowd waving your arms trying to catch someones attention. Show me 20 different and clever ways of cutting grass or chipping wood and you might catch my attention. You could write a book on just one of these topics. I might read parts of your book if you describe how YOU solved your problem, the choices you made and why, and what was the outcome. If this is going to be a book on a store shelf somewhere Id probably never see it.

Write and publish your book as a blog and you will see what people are interested in. Become an indispensable free online reference. Let google be your friend. Get 10,000 hits a day and you might have something.

All good ideas. I too am always interested in reading about new and unique ways that people solve problems, but not much interested in standard "here is how to build one" type of books - unless it shows either a new way of building something, or the evolution of a gadget that does the work in a different way.

As for what media to choose, I have a lot of hard-bound books, bookshelves eith notebooks of copied articles or ideas, and also well-indexed directory of online info from techinical articles all the way to videos. Yours could be in any format you feel comfortable with.
rScotty