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.

 

[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