Finding Work For Milling Machine

[ChandlerJPerry]

I thought I would consult the brain trust about this.

Currently my lathe is in pieces, it needs spindle bearings, some other repairs to the spindle, and I need to convert it to a VFD as the electrical panel for it is a mess (missing correct contactors etc), parts no longer available.

Not having a lathe is a big handicap, but I'm in the catch 22 situation of needing to make some extra income to get the lathe working.

Does anyone have suggestions for what kind of customers to target that would have mostly mill work? I've run an ad on Facebook marketplace that recently got flagged and taken down. Apparently promoting services is against the rules. Same story on our local Craigslist equivalent. Craigslist is dead in my area, the prevailing platform is a local service called KSL. I did have some small success doing so, I made around $100 over the course of a month prior to ads getting removed.

Possible projects/tchotchkes to sell wouldn't be a bad avenue as well.

The mill in question is fairly capable. It's a 1400~ lb knee mill, dovetail sliding ram with rotation and nod on the head, 9x42 table. Think 3/4 scale Bridgeport.

I'm not exactly looking to go pro here, but making a couple hundred bucks would greatly enhance the war effort, I'm sure many of you can relate.

 

[NCjeeper]

You can post an ad on Craig’s list. It has to be in the services section and costs 5 dollars a month.

 

[mmcmdl]

If there are machine shops in your area , talk to them . They often get job inquiries that don't meet their minimum costs . Perhaps they would point some small customers your way . Have some cards made up and post them on every board in nearby stores . Get the word out to anyone you already know . Don't be shy .

 

[ChandlerJPerry]

Good idea on the cards, I currently don't have anything I can hand out if I happen to meet someone who's interested. I've not noticed if my local hardware stores etc have a board, I'll check that out as well.

I have the beginnings of a relationship with a local job shop, they gave me some tool steel drops recently in exchange for some donuts. The owner was very friendly, asking him for referrals doesn't seem like a bad idea once I've got a card worked up.

 

[ChazzC]

Good idea on the cards, I currently don't have anything I can hand out if I happen to meet someone who's interested. I've not noticed if my local hardware stores etc have a board, I'll check that out as well.

I have the beginnings of a relationship with a local job shop, they gave me some tool steel drops recently in exchange for some donuts. The owner was very friendly, asking him for referrals doesn't seem like a bad idea once I've got a card worked up.

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[RaisedByWolves]

Pro tip, Cl and FBMP customers are few and far between, and expect far too much.

I had some luck with that but far too many tire kickers and low ballers, not to mention whiners who don't appreciate that you were able to bring the job down to their price range.

Here's what I have been doing. Find broken stuff people will want to buy and fix that to turn a profit. Snowblowers, rototillers, lawnmowers (Kinda) Garden tractors are all items that are usually relatively easy to fix for people with the means, and you can make a killing. However, you need room for your inventory, Ie the items you fixed you now need hold onto to sell, so you may have to pace yourself.

I've been skunked on certain items and have also made $400 for an hours worth of work and $20 in parts. When the mood strikes Ill put out an ad for boat motor repair. The marinas don't want to touch anything that is more than 15yrs old. I usually get swamped with work and have to pull the ad.

Ill even buy parts motors and get those running and make good returns on my time.

Think outside the box. Its not the $100 worth of parts you make, its the irreplicable part that is no longer available that will take your $100 item and turn it into a $500-$1000 item when repaired.

Most likely not the fast option you're looking for, but it will make you good money in your spare time.

 

[mmcmdl]

Here's what I have been doing.

And to add . All the above items are used by Harry Homeowners and they will never go off shore . The above is exactly what I've been doing for years . No one in hell will pay you for a $300 bolt . They'll pay $600 to get their tractor up and running . I'm minutes from Jacks Small Engines in Md . Check out what they charge for an hour of labor .

https://www.jackssmallengines.com/

I do it for cheap beer money and to stay active .

 

[ChandlerJPerry]

Thanks for the tips guys. Snowblowers might be a good target right now since my area gets snow most years. I've got the knowledge and tools to do small engine repair, while I may not find it as fun as playing with machine tools there's no doubt that people always need small equipment.

I've been skunked on certain items and have also made $400 for an hours worth of work and $20 in parts. When the mood strikes Ill put out an ad for boat motor repair. The marinas don't want to touch anything that is more than 15yrs old. I usually get swamped with work and have to pull the ad.

Ill even buy parts motors and get those running and make good returns on my time.

This is really interesting too. Boating is definitely a seasonal interest in my area due to winter, but there are quite a few lakes within a few hours of my city, so I see a fair number of boats around. I know there are a few shops in town that specialize in marine, personally I've never worked on marine equipment.

In terms of snowblowers, what types of repairs would you trend towards, or shy away from? Gummed up fuel systems are an easy win. But say something like a claimed problem with the auger gearbox? There's nothing I'm nervous about in terms of my abilities to fix, more just what makes sense from a money making perspective.

 

[ChazzC]

Thanks for the tips guys. Snowblowers might be a good target right now since my area gets snow most years. I've got the knowledge and tools to do small engine repair, while I may not find it as fun as playing with machine tools there's no doubt that people always need small equipment.



This is really interesting too. Boating is definitely a seasonal interest in my area due to winter, but there are quite a few lakes within a few hours of my city, so I see a fair number of boats around. I know there are a few shops in town that specialize in marine, personally I've never worked on marine equipment.

In terms of snowblowers, what types of repairs would you trend towards, or shy away from? Gummed up fuel systems are an easy win. But say something like a claimed problem with the auger gearbox? There's nothing I'm nervous about in terms of my abilities to fix, more just what makes sense from a money making perspective.

Auger gearboxes can be easy or difficult: ignoring parts available (if you can’t find gears, no one else can and you have a shop so cake make them - even without a lathe), getting the gearbox apart may require significant disassembly of sheet metal structure: not difficult, but time consuming so needs to be taken into account when estimating the repair.

 

[brino]

In terms of snowblowers, what types of repairs would you trend towards, or shy away from? Gummed up fuel systems are an easy win. But say something like a claimed problem with the auger gearbox? There's nothing I'm nervous about in terms of my abilities to fix, more just what makes sense from a money making perspective.

Most people today won't or can't pull the start cord very many times. Small cracks in fuel lines and primer bulbs and gummed up carbs are low hanging fruit. I can usually find replacement carbs cheaper on amazon than spending time cleaning one.

I have seen second stage impellers jammed with one small piece of gravel. The owner swore the engine was seized!
Instant fix if you know what you're looking for.

Another vote for lots of space. You may need to get some scrap machines in to build a decent spares inventory.

Oh and chain saws too!

Good Luck!
Brian