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Thread: So....

  1. #1

    So....

    .......I've posted up many threads lately about my personal experiences in dealing with a recent spate of issues, good and bad, with my machinery and computers that I hoped might be of a little interest and possible benefit to others involved in this hobby-slash-business. The sad truth is that the lack of interaction seems to indicate that they're neither. Nothing wrong with that, it's just a fact. Another truth is, at this point in my business life I'm so overwhelmed with the work that just keeps endlessly coming into this place (and the recent spate of issues and the time needed to resolve them) that I seriously have no clue as to how to keep up with it all. So it's apparent to me that I need to re-examine my current priorities, and the obvious immediate change to make would be to spend less keyboard time online, and use that time getting the work out, the email answered and the machines and computers in running order. I can read a lot faster than I can type so I'll always be lurking, and if I think I might have a useful answer or suggestion I'll offer it up. Meanwhile, there's jobs on 10 machines and they're all screaming my name...




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    Last edited by Kev Williams; 10-26-2018 at 9:37 PM.
    ========================================
    ELEVEN - rotary cutter tool machines
    FOUR - CO2 lasers
    THREE- make that FOUR now - fiber lasers
    ONE - vinyl cutter
    CASmate, Corel, Gravostyle


  2. #2
    It's so easy to procrastinate... once you get in the habit of checking the internet forums or social media...!
    Best wishes,
    Ian



    ULS M-300, 55w made 2002 with rotary. Goldenlaser 130 watt, 1300x700 made 2011.
    Flat bed 2500x1300 150/90watt 2 tube laser, 2018 model.
    Esab router, 1989, 4.5 x 2.0 m, conv. to Tekcel, and modded a 2nd time.
    HP L260-60". Roland PNC-1410. Mimaki GC-130 SU.
    Screenprinting carousel 6x4 and 7x4 ft 1-arm bandit vac table.
    Corel Draw X3, Illy, Indesign & Photoshop CS2 & CS5, Enroute 4
    Pencil, paper, paintbrush, airbrush & dagger-liners & assorted other stuff.

  3. #3
    I always read your posts and enjoy learning from them, even though I don't have a laser.
    Good luck catching up on the work - plenty of work is truly a good thing!
    Look forward to reading more of your thoughts here one day soon.
    Fred
    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

    “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

  4. #4
    Completely relate Kev. That's why I don't post much anymore. It's easy to pop in and read a couple things and pop out. Too much stuff going on and things that need to happen that are important to our business.
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    NW Arkansas
    Posts
    1,951
    Blog Entries
    1
    I usually check during the machine running something that takes a bit. Guess that is why some of my posts are error prone, but still want to comment. Yep, learned a bunch here, from most of you guys, Kev for sure from you.
    You've got to take care of work, FIRST, then here or elsewhere after that...
    Woodworking, Old Tools and Shooting
    Ray Fine RF-1390 Laser Ray Fine 20watt Fiber Laser
    SFX 50 Watt Fiber Laser
    PM2000, Delta BS, Delta sander, Powermatic 50 jointer,
    Powermatic 100-12 planer, Rockwell 15-126 radial drill press
    Rockwell 46-450 lathe, and 2 Walker Turner RA1100 radial saws
    Jet JWS18, bandsaw Carbide Create CNC, RIA 22TCM 1911s and others

  6. #6
    I've done some ball park numbers in my head based on how active you are doing jobs, the level of work you do, and the difficulty of work you do. I've also taken into consideration your assumed expenses.

    You should be making "screw you" money, in relative terms. If you're not, that's your problem more than anything else. My gut says you are WAY too cheap and you say "yes" to just about any job. This means you're working all the time and while I'm sure you do well for yourself, you're not rewarding yourself properly for the job you do.

    You could and probably should increase your prices 25% across the board. I'd be surprised if you lost 25% of your business and even if you did, who cares? You're making the same money doing 25% less work. Now you've got time to yourself to spend a few hours on the internet or spending time with family or friends.
    Equipment: IS400, IS6000, VLS 6.60, LS100, HP4550, Ricoh GX e3300n, Hotronix STX20
    Software: Adobe Suite & Gravostyle 5
    Business: Trophy, Awards and Engraving

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Sammamish, WA
    Posts
    7,630
    When I was at that point I hired an artist who worked nights aa a bartender to help out, trained her and paid her $12/hour, back about 2006. It was full time when needed, less when not as busy. Don’t overwork yourself, it won’t take much of a price increase to cover the labor cost, just a bit tricky to deal with employee paperwork (withholding, SS, L&I etc.) if you haven’t done it before.



    Sammamish, WA

    Epilog Legend 24TT 45W, had a sign business for 17 years, now just doing laser work on the side.

    "One only needs two tools in life: WD-40 to make things go, and duct tape to make them stop." G. Weilacher

    "The handyman's secret weapon - Duct Tape" R. Green

  8. #8
    Quote Originally Posted by Ross Moshinsky View Post
    I've done some ball park numbers in my head based on how active you are doing jobs, the level of work you do, and the difficulty of work you do. I've also taken into consideration your assumed expenses.

    You should be making "screw you" money, in relative terms. If you're not, that's your problem more than anything else. My gut says you are WAY too cheap and you say "yes" to just about any job. This means you're working all the time and while I'm sure you do well for yourself, you're not rewarding yourself properly for the job you do.

    You could and probably should increase your prices 25% across the board. I'd be surprised if you lost 25% of your business and even if you did, who cares? You're making the same money doing 25% less work. Now you've got time to yourself to spend a few hours on the internet or spending time with family or friends.

    I dont think OP was asking for pricing advice, he works how he works.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rock Hill, SC
    Posts
    188
    Kev, I have always enjoyed reading your posts and have learned a great deal from you. Thank you for all of the time you have taken to enlighten some of us. Now go and clone yourself a few times and one of you get back on here while the other 2 are running machines.
    Universal 60w VLS6.60 w/ rotary
    RayFine 30w MOPA
    Corel X8, Photoshop

    Fab shop with South Bend Heavy 10, Bridgeport 9x42, 185a welder and a multitude of supporting tools/equipment

  10. #10
    Kev
    I too will miss following your "adventures".
    I live in a very depressed area, so I can not post about issues like you do, but I sure enjoyed seeing how you run your shop.
    I too have learned from you and I do, and will continue, to re-read many of your posts looking for ways to help me.
    Thanks and good luck to you.
    ______________________________
    ULS 4.60, Vision 810, shear, beveler
    Avid Pro CNC

  11. #11
    Kev I can't tell you How much I've learned from your posts and your personal correspondence to help me thanks so much. We all know how much time you spend here and I (we) understand how it can take away from work time. Your family comes first then your business then us Get those in order. Hope you don't completely disappear tho we need you.
    If the Help and advice you received here was of any VALUE to you PLEASE! Become a Contributor
    Rabbit RL_XX_6040-60 watt Laser engraving/cutting machine Oh wait its a 3D Printer my bad LOL
    Lasercut 5.3
    CorelDraw X5

    10" Miter Saw with slide
    10" Table Saw
    8" bench mount 5 speed Drill Press
    Dremel, 3x21 Belt Sander


  12. #12
    I think everyone that Kev's taking time out of his day to help should do a couple jobs for him. Then he'd instantly have a couple 100 people doing the work for him and he could get back to posting his adventures!
    Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
    Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
    Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers

    Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rock Hill, SC
    Posts
    188
    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Shepherd View Post
    I think everyone that Kev's taking time out of his day to help should do a couple jobs for him. Then he'd instantly have a couple 100 people doing the work for him and he could get back to posting his adventures!
    Send the work my way Kev.
    Universal 60w VLS6.60 w/ rotary
    RayFine 30w MOPA
    Corel X8, Photoshop

    Fab shop with South Bend Heavy 10, Bridgeport 9x42, 185a welder and a multitude of supporting tools/equipment

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Cincinnati, Ohio
    Posts
    1,843
    I recognize the position you are in Kev. The last few years have been overwhelming with work. Up at 5am, squeeze a few minutes of laser business in, Day job, home at 4pm, laser business until midnight, repeat. I actually removed my phone number from all of my websites. Took at least 6 months, but traffic did slow down. This year - Late summer there was an odd lull, work dropped to a trickle. It was kind of nice to have something people call "Free Time". That extended.. until I decided to take a real vacation. Then as I had guessed, the flood gates opened wide. Great European vacation, but working my tail off to catch-up now.
    Tim
    There are Big Brain people & Small Brain people. I'm one of the Big Brains - with a lot of empty space.- me
    50W Fiber - Raycus/MaxPhotonics - It's a metal eating beast!
    Epilog Fusion M2 50/30 Co2/Fiber - 2015
    Epilog Mini 24 – 35watt - 2006 (Original Tube)
    Ricoh SG3110DN
    - Liberty Laser LLC

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