Lots of the shops here are so used to working on the same thing all the time, they welcome any sort of additional small jobs. Most are quite eager to help some local Joe Blow just so they can do something a little different.
Over the summer I stopped at one local shop that does large jobs for mining companies because I needed a special bushing made. The owner said "We typically don't do one-off stuff that small, but I never get to do any shop work anymore. I'll go out and turn that down when the guys go to lunch, stop back in a couple hours."
You never know what someone's answer will be unless you ask. Worst they can say is "no". Not sure about other folk, but my ego isn't so easily bruised that I'd avoid asking. Especially when there is a chance to save some money and build local relationships and contacts.
