Re: Homebrew Printed Circuit Boards


"Patrick Turner" <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4612FC39.F59AC965@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I couldn't share a workshop.

It is rare that there are more than two of us there at the same
time. And, economically it makes very good sense indeed.

I enjoy the group dynamic, and find discussion with people
with similar interests, but a totally different approach is
informative. I would feel mean having all that space to myself.

But in choosing a cell.mate one has to be careful. Word
got around by bush.-telegraph, we had no shortage of
applicants.

Gee, I didn't think the word efficiency could be applied to my business
at all...

:-)))

A lot of equipment that passes through is on its way too
or from e-Bay.

CD players over five years with faults are usually consigned to the
scrap bin. Studer, Quad and Denon prof machines are the exception.
Studio analogue recorders and turntables receive lots of TLC:-))

I don't often get involved in repairs, but it is interesting to see
how the system works. Someone brings in an amp. It is checked
over to see what needs to be done, and a price is given. Any parts
not on the shelf are then ordered. The client either then takes the
amp away, or it goes into the storage area. When the parts arrive
the amp is brought to the workshop, and client informed that it is
"under anaesthetic" He can usually collect it the same day.


Real efficiency would be to chuck that 1960 crap and buy modern, but no,
they want it fixed, and for almost nothing, so i say when i get time,
there are 20 ahead of you.
So soon I have a full workshop with everyones's little sick orphan
needing a fix
and waiting for a quiet time, its never happened in the last 3 years.
Some despair, and perhaps even get a bit cranky, and I start saying well
how come you'll pay
a fooking plumber $80 per hour to fix a rotten drain pipe, but you only
wanna
pay me $2? Some grab their gear and go to some other struggling
professional artisan.
Make me a deal I can't refuse I say, and their lips are sealed.
So one reason the shed is so crammed is that a lot of stuff
is on a "long term" fix.
I don't really care anymore about spending a "quiet time" on gear that
takes many hours, and for which I get peanuts.
I don't care that i upset ppl if I won't do their hobby work for them
without pay.
There are a lot of failed hobbyists out there, gunner do this, gunner do
that, and never do anything.
About 1 in every 3 radios is not picked up after I fix them.

I wonder if you are doing too much too cheaply Patrick?
People here are happy to pay Euro100 (AUD 164) an hr
(min charge Euro 55) for prompt and reliable service at
a high standard of workmanship.

I find tools OK, my memory is still good.

We share a lot of the metal working tools, taps, punches,
dies, reamers etc and so returning them to their proper home
is important.

And I have more than one darn screw driver and centre punch.

That's another advantage of sharing a workshop, I now have
access to metalworking and finishing machines that I could not
even dream of owning. In contrast most of the audio test gear
plus the equipment in the listening room is mine. Another guy
has contributed the four computers.

When I do have a big clean up it lasts about a week, and its time for
another.

It's a daily routine for us. 10 mins most, including the kitchen:-)

Iain





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