Post by tinkerpearce on Apr 21, 2021 21:47:27 GMT -5
I, Tinker, have a cunning plan!
OK, maybe not so clever. I've been making pistol grips for years, and getting better as time has gone on, and it occurred to me that perhaps I should offer them for sale. There's still improvement needed, and I would need to streamline the process to make them affordable but it seems like it could be doable and be a nice way to modestly supplement my income. I made this pair to see how much time it takes, which would give me an idea of the price. Even for exotic hardwoods labor is far and away the most expensive part. These are Maple, hand-sanded to 3000-grit and finished with five layers of lacquer.
So, how much labor start to finish? I'm gonna go with ouch. At my standard shop rates and material costs these would be $250, which seems rather high... or like I'd need to be rather high. But I have a small CNC router, and if I can get the inside cuts modeled and have the machine do that part it would cut a decent chunk off that price... Anyone know how to do 3D modelling?
I'll start with the S&W K-Frame round-butt and go from there; K-frame square, J-frame etc. Work my way into Ruger single-actions and others (way simpler than the DA revolvers!) Basically I'd do them the way I do knives, as one-offs put up for sale individually, at least to start. Guess I'd better get busy learning to do 3D models...
OK, maybe not so clever. I've been making pistol grips for years, and getting better as time has gone on, and it occurred to me that perhaps I should offer them for sale. There's still improvement needed, and I would need to streamline the process to make them affordable but it seems like it could be doable and be a nice way to modestly supplement my income. I made this pair to see how much time it takes, which would give me an idea of the price. Even for exotic hardwoods labor is far and away the most expensive part. These are Maple, hand-sanded to 3000-grit and finished with five layers of lacquer.
So, how much labor start to finish? I'm gonna go with ouch. At my standard shop rates and material costs these would be $250, which seems rather high... or like I'd need to be rather high. But I have a small CNC router, and if I can get the inside cuts modeled and have the machine do that part it would cut a decent chunk off that price... Anyone know how to do 3D modelling?
I'll start with the S&W K-Frame round-butt and go from there; K-frame square, J-frame etc. Work my way into Ruger single-actions and others (way simpler than the DA revolvers!) Basically I'd do them the way I do knives, as one-offs put up for sale individually, at least to start. Guess I'd better get busy learning to do 3D models...