should i keep making cabs or not..

DPtwiz

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I know, i probably look like a total flake at this point.. I'm making cabs, i'm done making cabs.. I just don't know. I really want to go in another direction at this point, but it doesn't look like i can really fully switch over to what i really want to do. Money-wise, i am not set up to do fine woodworking, space wise, building cabinets is still tough with what i have to work out of.

Also, Jpopson will no longer be painting cabs, so painted will no longer be an option, he has other priorities that are more important to him, and i fully understand and support his decision to no longer paint.

I can't paint, i don't have the proper space/ventilation/equipment/time to do it myself at this point in time. So, i guess i'll still be making cabinets for a while, but with some things going on in my personal life (not so different in some ways than Jpopson) i won't be able to work off deadlines. It will be more of a situation where it gets done when it gets done.

Beleive me, i can't afford child support if things continue the way they are at my house. I am almost healed up from surgery, stitches come out Tuesday morning, they somehow didn't put in the Appt for monday. I'll be back to working on the ordered cabs i have, then go from there. I'll throw up a post when i am able to take on some new orders, probably in the next two weeks. Thanks for the patience and the business! Brett
 
I dont know you personally nor have I had any business dealings with you either, but from what I can gather the work that I have seen you produce has been TOP NOTCH, and it would be a shame to see you give up on something that I assume you enjoy doing! Especially when you are SO close (location) and I havent had the opportunity to purchase any of your work (YET)
I know that I got into this hobby because it is FUN for me, if I could make a living doing it I WOULD, but the instant it stops being fun then it just = work...
From my limited point of view, I would suggest filling the orders that you have and maybe taking some time to pursue other aspects of this (or any other hobby) that you ENJOY!

Long story short, HAVE SOME FUN it sounds as if you could use some!

Come back well rested and all healed up and take it from there.
 
The cabs you're building are top notch. I'm sure anyone who has purchased one would agree. If you have other things in life that are more important (I'm sure you do), take care of those first and do what makes you happy. If you chose to build a cab here or there for someone and it gets done when it's done then so be it. I'm sure you'll do what's right for you and your family and that's really all one could ask for. Hope your surgery was a success - Barry
 
I know, i probably look like a total flake at this point.. I'm making cabs, i'm done making cabs.. I just don't know. I really want to go in another direction at this point, but it doesn't look like i can really fully switch over to what i really want to do. Money-wise, i am not set up to do fine woodworking, space wise, building cabinets is still tough with what i have to work out of.

Also, Jpopson will no longer be painting cabs, so painted will no longer be an option, he has other priorities that are more important to him, and i fully understand and support his decision to no longer paint.

I can't paint, i don't have the proper space/ventilation/equipment/time to do it myself at this point in time. So, i guess i'll still be making cabinets for a while, but with some things going on in my personal life (not so different in some ways than Jpopson) i won't be able to work off deadlines. It will be more of a situation where it gets done when it gets done.

Beleive me, i can't afford child support if things continue the way they are at my house. I am almost healed up from surgery, stitches come out Tuesday morning, they somehow didn't put in the Appt for monday. I'll be back to working on the ordered cabs i have, then go from there. I'll throw up a post when i am able to take on some new orders, probably in the next two weeks. Thanks for the patience and the business! Brett
'Child support'? Damn Brett, she sure hates the games doesn't she?

If it was to go that direction, fight for the kids and make her pay child support.

Sorry to hear that man, I hope whatever is best will work out.

-Tim
 
I sure hope you don't stop! I'm saving up to buy a few when you take on new orders.
 
I sure hope you don't stop! I'm saving up to buy a few when you take on new orders.


+1 on that. If you do decide to stop, which I can understand, give us all one last chance to buy cabs. I thought this would last a long time, so I didnt buy yet, but if things change I will buy the cabs I am looking for. I am sure there are a few of us out here that will buy cabs on your last run if you have one.
 
Someday if and when I decide to sell my Dragons Lair system it will read something like this. "Dragons Lair in a DPtwiz rebuilt cab for sale" 1 Million dollars! haha..

Seriously, your cabs are great but you gotta put family first. Take care of that issue and i'm sure everyone here will understand.
 
Thanks guys. Yes, she does not like arcade games. She also doesn't like me in the garage every spare moment i have. I also set crazy deadlines i can't keep. sometimes i can but at the expense of not spending any time with my family. I have 4 kids, 2 are mine, and 2 are ours, and it's really tough on her to do 100% of the parenting for the last 18 months while i was in the garage the entire time when i wasn't at the day job.

I made 7 cocktail tables recently, started on a wed morning at 9am cutting them out, and by Friday at 7pm, i had them all assembled and out the door. I worked 42 hours in 3 days to get it done. so, i guess i will work through the current orders and then post up i can take on more. THanks again guys, Brett
 
Wow - that's a lot of work. I wouldn't stop if I were you because you seem to enjoy it (or else why start in the first place?) but maybe put a limit on how many cabs you make in a week or something?

Also, do you ship these things or are they local pick-up only? Keep up the great work!
 
You shouldn't stop making them , but you need to take your time . Theres no rush and your already on the way to burn yourself out . I'd tell people wait time varies , this is a side job when I have the time after my day job , could be a month or two . If you do a good job , which from the pics I've seen they look really good , people will have no problem waiting .
 
How about you keep making sign templates, which I simply love? They're smaller and easier to cut too. Start throwing in EL kits with instructions.


SSL11658.jpg

SSL11662.jpg
 
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Put your family first dude. Make cabinets when and if you have some spare time. I don't think anyone would complain if their cabinet wasn't cranked out in a day. Just be up front about the lead time and make your wife and kids the priority.
 
I agree with the previous posters. Put family first or you won't have one. Set a schedule so that everybody knows where you are going to be. Do like several have done that run hobby businesses and be closed on weekends or every other weekend.

Don't burn yourself out. Put a limit on the "hobby" and take time to spend some of that money doing fun stuff with your kids.

ken
 
Actually I was kinda holding off on my order because I knew you were getting swamped with orders, I figured I would wait until things died down and then talk to you about a cab or two.
I completely understand about feeling burned out, especially when you have deadlines. Just like the other posts, I would say force yourself to scale back and give time to your wife and tell her you appreciate her being patient while you started this project. And definitely take time off for the kids.
 
Like everyone else I hope you continue.
You don't have to take on a ton at once, but please at least do it here and there.

You're doing a great service to the community with these cabinets, and I'm sure everyone appreciates it.

If I had a way to get stencils I'd love to look into the painting. It'd give me an excuse to buy a HLVP sprayer. Any excuse to buy more tools is great. :p
 
I've got the facilities as of last week....and have 7 cocktails and a couple uprights with real nice paint jobs :)

But I also dont have the stencils, would like to buy me a nice large format printer though!
 
Don't burn yourself out.

It's much better for *us* and *you* if you take your time and do them when time permits. Just be upfront about it and keep cranking the cabs out -- slowly, when you have the time to do it.

Think of the Elektronforge model -- do great work but do it when it fits in to your schedule. Some people will gripe about the delays but too bad. People will wait for a great product and if they don't then too bad for them.
 
i have an HVLP gun, and looks like i'll be doing some damage to the new sears card for a compressor. I'll probably make a booth from pvc pipe and plastic sheeting and spray in the driveway.
 
How about you keep making sign templates, which I simply love? They're smaller and easier to cut too. Start throwing in EL kits with instructions.


SSL11658.jpg

SSL11662.jpg

Man that rocks!!!!!!!

That concept is exactly how your other sign should be illuminated.




..
 
Don't burn yourself out.

It's much better for *us* and *you* if you take your time and do them when time permits. Just be upfront about it and keep cranking the cabs out -- slowly, when you have the time to do it.

Think of the Elektronforge model -- do great work but do it when it fits in to your schedule. Some people will gripe about the delays but too bad. People will wait for a great product and if they don't then too bad for them.

What he said. I think you and me both have the same problem of balancing out time - I can do one thing really good for some time, while other things slack, then, the opposite. Can never seem to be able to split time or "stop" on one thing to move onto the next.

Perhaps put hours on your shop - Tues/Thurs only, MWF for kids/family/life - that could be a start.

Then change your sig to Former former Cab Maker :)
 
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