User Panel
Posted: 1/20/2015 6:01:34 PM EDT
Hey guys, need some input if you can. I'm a newbie to firearms business. Have been around guns my entire life just new to the business part. Have had my own small business before doing maintainence on foreclosed properties as a side gig and decided the money wasn't worth the hassle of dealing with the banks. I've been looking to start a new business for a while now and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. One night it was like a light bulb turned on and I thought of crcerakoting. Went 3 nights without any sleep because I stayed up day and night doing research on the ins and outs and obtaining an FFL and what not. The plan is to build a shop on my property within the next month or 2 and start getting the equipment I need. I want to start it off right so I'm going to obtain my llc and FFL right off the bat that way if things get to going good and not have to worry about all that. The plan is to eventually become a full service shop and to maybe one day get into machining. I know there are some guys in the central AR area that do amazing work right now and I'm not looking to step on any toes. Anyways, not wanting to ramble on just wanted to get some input from some local guys and introduce myself.
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[#3]
Nice first post, you are a valuable member here
You can bang my sister |
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[#4]
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[#5]
Lol... not sure if I should take that as sarcasm or not?? Anybody have any warnings/criticisms or such? Just trying to find out if this might be a bad idea or market to get into before I jump too far into this. Give it to me raw if need be lol
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[#6]
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[#7]
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[#8]
Quoted:
Lol... not sure if I should take that as sarcasm or not?? Anybody have any warnings/criticisms or such? Just trying to find out if this might be a bad idea or market to get into before I jump too far into this. Give it to me raw if need be lol View Quote Raw? Hahaha, fine. You are brand new here and asking for advice on how to build your business when we have at least one long standing and occasionally respected member here who is already in the business. I'd sa6 you are barking up the wrong tree, or at least not barking up it in the right manner. |
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[#9]
Ok so I have a line of questions for you:
Are you fastidious? Detail orientated? Professional? Are you willing to do what it takes to make sure the customers expectations are far exceeded? How quickly (in you normal life) do you respond to communication? Do you text? Email? Social media? Are you willing to throw everything, including your time, resources, skills, into a business that likely won't pay for itself for a couple of years? Do you have human resources at your disposal (ie help in your weak areas like potentially bookkeeping, accounting, order management), or is it just you? Is cerakoting and/or refinishing of metal a skill you have or something you'd like to get good at? In other words, is something like cerakoting an expert skill you are fully capable at? A side business is most easily executed when it is a skill you already excel at. |
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[#10]
Also... What kind of smoke do you eat? How does one tactically eat aforementioned smoke?
If you BBQ a lot, that would be good to do for cerakoting. Combine the two and I'll eat a baked chicken half and check out the ceramic coating of which you want to peddle Disclaimer: this is a sarcastic post |
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[#11]
If you want to get into Cerakoting, I'll give you all the advice you want.
Be prepared to spend a ton on equipment. You need 2, preferably 3 quality HVLP guns. $350 to $750 each. You'll need a 48 inch blast cabinet with a reclaim system. $1500 to $10,000. A grand in graduated cylinders, stirring rods, and a cleaning/storage set up. 2 grand in Cerakote, to start. A grand in sight pushing tools. A grand in gunsmithing tools. I keep about $2k worth of springs, detents, and other small parts for various guns. You'll need an oven that is large enough to keep any items in it, at least 18 inches from the element. It has to be electric, or not share air with the actual part with parts. Ovens start at 2k. Keep enough money around to cover the cost of any gun you'll work on. USPS insurance won't pay, despite what they claim. You'll need a full shipping section with bubble wrap, etc, as most business for this isn't local. |
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[#12]
Quoted:
Also... What kind of smoke do you eat? How does one tactically eat aforementioned smoke? If you BBQ a lot, that would be good to do for cerakoting. Combine the two and I'll eat a baked chicken half and check out the ceramic coating of which you want to peddle Disclaimer: this is a sarcastic post View Quote What's funny is that there are 4 well known refinishing operations in Arkansas. 1 doesn't have an FFL, the other 3 of us are all firemen. And all 3 of us are assholes. |
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[#13]
Ok so the whole user name probably wasn't my brightest idea and if I can change it I haven't figured out how yet. As far as the other questions go I do have some experience with refinishing metal and painting... I do understand that this would be a litthe different and there would be a learning curve before I could produce quality enough work that I would feel comfortable with. I do have assistance and experience with bookkeeping/accounting.
As far as barking up the wrong tree I do apologize. Like I said not trying to step on any toes. If I'm not going about this the correct way then how do you suggest I should go about it? I was just trying to get honest feedback on if this is something I should pursue. I wasn't intending to offend anyone. |
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[#14]
I appreciate the reply dan. That's the kind of information I was looking for that hasn't really shown up in my research yet. I didn't know of 4 refinishers. I've heard of you and one other. As far as the firefighter thing goes I understand. I'm currently in the bluff on my 24
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[#15]
The air compressor, I forgot it. I have an 80 gallon compressor, and it barely keeps up. That's another 2 grand. In addition to the compressor, you need a high pressure, high efficiency drying system. And all related plumbing, hoses, etc.
Blast media, another 100. And all the gun parts, cerakote, media, some hoses, blast nozzles, blast cabinet gloves, air filters for you respirator, and acetone are all consumables. I sometimes go through 100 gallons of acetone a week. |
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[#17]
So basically you either take years of little bs here and there or a whole ass load of money that you may or may not get back
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[#19]
Quoted:
So basically you either take years of little bs here and there or a whole ass load of money that you may or may not get back View Quote If you want to make money, go big and chance it. I've been in business for two years, in that time I've bought put 3 cerakote companies that tried to do a job here and there and couldn't make it work. One sold me about $2,200 worth of Cerakote, Stencils, and Glassware for $100 and me finishing up 3 of his customer's jobs. |
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[#20]
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[#21]
Everybody has to start somewhere right? This may or may not be the greatest idea I've tossed around but I'm trying to cover all my bases before I dive headfirst into it.
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[#22]
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Me too. I couldn't add the volume you do. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Damn. I'm glad I do my own cerakoting. Me too. I couldn't add the volume you do. I haven't done anything in months and only have a few projects to do once it warms up. I'm kinda done. |
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[#23]
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Everybody has to start somewhere right? This may or may not be the greatest idea I've tossed around but I'm trying to cover all my bases before I dive headfirst into it. View Quote Run with it. Enjoy yourself and learn what you can and good luck making money ETA: meant the luck as well wishes |
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[#24]
Welcome to HTF.
I just came in to say based on username and topic of discussion, I thought this was D_G's troll acct. Good luck in your business endeavors sir. |
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[#25]
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[#26]
Quoted:
Ok so the whole user name probably wasn't my brightest idea and if I can change it I haven't figured out how yet. As far as the other questions go I do have some experience with refinishing metal and painting... I do understand that this would be a litthe different and there would be a learning curve before I could produce quality enough work that I would feel comfortable with. I do have assistance and experience with bookkeeping/accounting. As far as barking up the wrong tree I do apologize. Like I said not trying to step on any toes. If I'm not going about this the correct way then how do you suggest I should go about it? I was just trying to get honest feedback on if this is something I should pursue. I wasn't intending to offend anyone. View Quote Accounting for a cerakote businesses is really really really hard. You can tell its serious by how many "really"s I used. Dan's accountant charges him thousands if not tens of thousands. A month. You should budget for that and look him up if you go big. |
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[#27]
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[#28]
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Welcome to HTF. I just came in to say based on username and topic of discussion, I thought this was D_G's troll acct. Good luck in your business endeavors sir. Ditto. Also. That is not a panda in your avatar. |
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[#29]
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Also. That is not a panda in your avatar. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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Welcome to HTF. I just came in to say based on username and topic of discussion, I thought this was D_G's troll acct. Good luck in your business endeavors sir. Ditto. Also. That is not a panda in your avatar. |
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[#30]
I'm not sure how good the refinishing business is right now, but 2014 was an overall terrible year in the firearms business. I'm just glad I have a full time job to pay the bills. Here's to a better 2015!
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[#31]
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[#32]
Quoted: ...and to maybe one day get into machining. View Quote How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! |
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[#33]
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How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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...and to maybe one day get into machining. How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! Excuse me while I set a spindle speed 10% off and burn up a $600 end mill. |
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[#34]
Quoted: Excuse me while I set a spindle speed 10% off and burn up a $600 end mill. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: ...and to maybe one day get into machining. How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! Excuse me while I set a spindle speed 10% off and burn up a $600 end mill. Pfffft!!! Hell, today I was running a 1.000 solid carbide (a $700 mill) on hardened tool steel at 200% of the programmed spindle and feed speeds. It's all about knowing what the hell you're doing. Left a virtually perfect mirror finish on the part, too! |
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[#35]
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Pfffft!!! Hell, today I was running a 1.000 solid carbide (a $700 mill) on hardened tool steel at 200% of the programmed spindle and feed speeds. It's all about knowing what the hell you're doing. Left a virtually perfect mirror finish on the part, too! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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...and to maybe one day get into machining. How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! Excuse me while I set a spindle speed 10% off and burn up a $600 end mill. Pfffft!!! Hell, today I was running a 1.000 solid carbide (a $700 mill) on hardened tool steel at 200% of the programmed spindle and feed speeds. It's all about knowing what the hell you're doing. Left a virtually perfect mirror finish on the part, too! This is why I pay you the big bucks. |
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[#36]
Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: ...and to maybe one day get into machining. How much experience do you have in this trade? Priced good machinery and tooling (ya know, not that garbage that Harbor Freight sells), lately? D_G wants me to help him add that sort of capability to his shop. I'm figuring on $30,000-$40,000 to get that ball rolling -- with USED equipment! Excuse me while I set a spindle speed 10% off and burn up a $600 end mill. Pfffft!!! Hell, today I was running a 1.000 solid carbide (a $700 mill) on hardened tool steel at 200% of the programmed spindle and feed speeds. It's all about knowing what the hell you're doing. Left a virtually perfect mirror finish on the part, too! This is why I pay you the big bucks. Shit.............. |
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[#37]
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[#38]
Yeah that is why I said MAYBE one day... fellas gotta have dreams right?
On another note thank yall for the input. Given me alot to think about |
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