Interior/Exterior DIY Fiberglass Splitter With Pics
#26
05-14-2008, 10:18 AM
5th Gear
#27
05-14-2008, 10:24 AM
I like the one you drew up. With less 'fins' though, 4 would suffice IMO.
I like the idea of the top portion of the diffuser going up into the valence (like on the R56 Challenge car) though, incorporate that as well?
Btw, what programs do you use to draw up models?
I like the idea of the top portion of the diffuser going up into the valence (like on the R56 Challenge car) though, incorporate that as well?
Btw, what programs do you use to draw up models?
#28
05-14-2008, 10:41 AM
Looks fantastic! I love it when people can build something that looks like a commercial product at home. Now let me give you my 2 cents on turning this into a business.
When you make something yourself, you don't figure in labor costs. So $75 in materials is wonderful. But then add your time--ex. 10 hours * $10/hr and you get $100 of labor. So $175 + finding a box big enough to ship it. Or maybe you want to let someone else sell it--so whoever sells it is going to want to make a cut--a large cut--maybe 50% of your final price..next thing you know your $75 DIY project is now retailing for $300--and compared to what's on the market--it's not that far off. Now what happens if a month from now, the turnbuckles start to rust? Or they fall off? Are you making enough profit to cover potentially having to issue a fix? Taking them back and rebuilding them or sending out kits for people to fix themselves?
Let's say you forget the retail market, and just charge for labor and sell it yourself---cause you're not going to want to make them for free. You might do a few of them to practice and learn--but when all of a sudden you got 20 people PayPaling you money--and your own life to deal with--work, school, family, etc.. and potentially months of fabrication time--you'll ask yourself why you didn't charge more in the first place or maybe find someone else to make them--but now they charge $15 or $25/hr instead of the $10 you originally paid yourself....
Trust me, I've been there. =)
Good luck on whatever you plan to do. I hope you do make this commercially available, just be smart about how you do it.
Richard
When you make something yourself, you don't figure in labor costs. So $75 in materials is wonderful. But then add your time--ex. 10 hours * $10/hr and you get $100 of labor. So $175 + finding a box big enough to ship it. Or maybe you want to let someone else sell it--so whoever sells it is going to want to make a cut--a large cut--maybe 50% of your final price..next thing you know your $75 DIY project is now retailing for $300--and compared to what's on the market--it's not that far off. Now what happens if a month from now, the turnbuckles start to rust? Or they fall off? Are you making enough profit to cover potentially having to issue a fix? Taking them back and rebuilding them or sending out kits for people to fix themselves?
Let's say you forget the retail market, and just charge for labor and sell it yourself---cause you're not going to want to make them for free. You might do a few of them to practice and learn--but when all of a sudden you got 20 people PayPaling you money--and your own life to deal with--work, school, family, etc.. and potentially months of fabrication time--you'll ask yourself why you didn't charge more in the first place or maybe find someone else to make them--but now they charge $15 or $25/hr instead of the $10 you originally paid yourself....
Trust me, I've been there. =)
Good luck on whatever you plan to do. I hope you do make this commercially available, just be smart about how you do it.
Richard
#30
05-14-2008, 11:14 AM
5th Gear
#31
05-14-2008, 11:32 AM
Your good with autocad eh? See what you could come up with if you incorporated my idea into your design, well, if you want/have the time to lol.
Gonna try to get the program myself.
#33
05-14-2008, 02:16 PM
Looks fantastic! I love it when people can build something that looks like a commercial product at home. Now let me give you my 2 cents on turning this into a business.
When you make something yourself, you don't figure in labor costs. So $75 in materials is wonderful. But then add your time--ex. 10 hours * $10/hr and you get $100 of labor. So $175 + finding a box big enough to ship it. Or maybe you want to let someone else sell it--so whoever sells it is going to want to make a cut--a large cut--maybe 50% of your final price..next thing you know your $75 DIY project is now retailing for $300--and compared to what's on the market--it's not that far off. Now what happens if a month from now, the turnbuckles start to rust? Or they fall off? Are you making enough profit to cover potentially having to issue a fix? Taking them back and rebuilding them or sending out kits for people to fix themselves?
Let's say you forget the retail market, and just charge for labor and sell it yourself---cause you're not going to want to make them for free. You might do a few of them to practice and learn--but when all of a sudden you got 20 people PayPaling you money--and your own life to deal with--work, school, family, etc.. and potentially months of fabrication time--you'll ask yourself why you didn't charge more in the first place or maybe find someone else to make them--but now they charge $15 or $25/hr instead of the $10 you originally paid yourself....
Trust me, I've been there. =)
Good luck on whatever you plan to do. I hope you do make this commercially available, just be smart about how you do it.
Richard
When you make something yourself, you don't figure in labor costs. So $75 in materials is wonderful. But then add your time--ex. 10 hours * $10/hr and you get $100 of labor. So $175 + finding a box big enough to ship it. Or maybe you want to let someone else sell it--so whoever sells it is going to want to make a cut--a large cut--maybe 50% of your final price..next thing you know your $75 DIY project is now retailing for $300--and compared to what's on the market--it's not that far off. Now what happens if a month from now, the turnbuckles start to rust? Or they fall off? Are you making enough profit to cover potentially having to issue a fix? Taking them back and rebuilding them or sending out kits for people to fix themselves?
Let's say you forget the retail market, and just charge for labor and sell it yourself---cause you're not going to want to make them for free. You might do a few of them to practice and learn--but when all of a sudden you got 20 people PayPaling you money--and your own life to deal with--work, school, family, etc.. and potentially months of fabrication time--you'll ask yourself why you didn't charge more in the first place or maybe find someone else to make them--but now they charge $15 or $25/hr instead of the $10 you originally paid yourself....
Trust me, I've been there. =)
Good luck on whatever you plan to do. I hope you do make this commercially available, just be smart about how you do it.
Richard
As far as a rear diffuser goes, those look really cool. I think it'd be better to have one that doesn't chop up the bumper. I've got a few ideas brewing...
#35
05-14-2008, 02:55 PM
3rd Gear
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It's more then you think!
Call me sometime if you want and we'll talk about starting a business from a mod. Five years ago I wanted radiator guards for my BMW bike, made them, posted on some forms, starting getting inquires. So, Bug-Guards for Beemers was formed.
Five years later and several thousand sets down the road I have learned many, many things that we can talk over before you make the plunge. The key is when you make a part for a bike or a car that can break, fall off or do anything you might not expect, even if the customer installed it wrong, you will be sued. Think LLC's (which I formed) or corporations.
I don't want to bore the board with this, when this thread should be on what a nice splitter you made, but if you want to talk more, call me at 443-286-0459 or PM me.
Gene
Five years later and several thousand sets down the road I have learned many, many things that we can talk over before you make the plunge. The key is when you make a part for a bike or a car that can break, fall off or do anything you might not expect, even if the customer installed it wrong, you will be sued. Think LLC's (which I formed) or corporations.
I don't want to bore the board with this, when this thread should be on what a nice splitter you made, but if you want to talk more, call me at 443-286-0459 or PM me.
Gene
Last edited by emsjr; 05-14-2008 at 04:05 PM.
#36
05-14-2008, 03:03 PM
5th Gear
Call me sometime if you want and we'll talk about starting a business from a mod. Five years ago I wanted radiator guards for my BMW bike, made them, posted on some forms, starting getting inquires. So, Bug-Guards for Beemers was formed.
Five years later and several thousand sets down the road I have learned many, many things that we can talk over before you make the plunge. The key is when you make a part for a bike or a car that can break, fall off or do anything you might not expect, even if it is installed the customer installed it wrong, you will be sued. Think LLC's (which I formed) or corporations.
I don't want to bore the board with this, when this thread should be on what a nice splitter you made, but if you want to talk more, call me at 443-286-0459 or PM me.
Gene
Five years later and several thousand sets down the road I have learned many, many things that we can talk over before you make the plunge. The key is when you make a part for a bike or a car that can break, fall off or do anything you might not expect, even if it is installed the customer installed it wrong, you will be sued. Think LLC's (which I formed) or corporations.
I don't want to bore the board with this, when this thread should be on what a nice splitter you made, but if you want to talk more, call me at 443-286-0459 or PM me.
Gene
Hi this the deference between canada and us noboby cand get sued for selling and home made spliter ..Business in the us is more dificul than here
in canada....
MC 2
#37
05-20-2008, 01:33 PM
Last edited by cartar452; 05-21-2008 at 04:12 AM.
#38
05-21-2008, 02:30 AM
5th Gear
#39
05-21-2008, 08:05 AM
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Love the splitter
#40
06-21-2008, 03:21 PM
Just an update...the splitter has had no issues so far. Just got back from a 800 mile road trip last week with mainly highway driving and it held up great. No rock chips just a few bugs. Also, I tested it at 120mph and it held on just fine. The turnbuckles are definitely doing their job as far as holding the front in place and allowing for slight angle adjustments.
#41
06-21-2008, 03:33 PM
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#43
06-22-2008, 08:02 AM
#45
08-11-2008, 02:43 AM
#46
08-12-2008, 01:37 AM
#47
08-12-2008, 04:16 AM
PM me
#49
09-10-2008, 10:41 AM
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