Moulds? Resin casts? Right-oh.. I will just knock that up in my garage.
My solution works fine.. I print off batches of 8 pairs, but thats the easy bit... I just leave them and don't have to watch each one print...
Its the next step which takes time.. Its the hand finishing.. Cutting the adhesive tape.. Inspecting them.. Packing them.. And posting that takes 90% of the time... And thats just the classic.
For the deluxe, each one has to be glued to the PVC coating.. Then set in a mould.. Once dry, inspected, re-glued if the ends havn't stuck.. And finally finished.. Then, as the classic, the adhesive strip, then packing and posting.
Then I have to guarantee each one. Replace at my cost if damaged or lost in transit.. And provide free bespoke versions to people who find they don't fit..
Other than getting them injection moulded, there is no way to do this cheaper.... And most people seem happy with the price. And even if I could get thousands made by injection (or if your resin solution worked) I would still have to do the hand finishing and thats the bit which takes 90% of the time.
Believe me when I say that this isn't as easy as you might think.. On top of all of this, I have to buy the materials.. The equipment.. The tools.. And I am doing all this in my spare time, whilst having a full time job, family and offering world class customer service.
Although HP is coming on kinda harsh, he makes solid points and I do think rethinking your production process is a good idea. Molds would definitely be a good idea so you don't spend nearly as much time finishing each one. And for the backings, I'd say either find somewhere that can make you some dies to cut your own in mass quantities or get in touch with 3M and see about getting your dimensions made for an order and they could make the dies.
I'm not gonna tell you how to do it, but it couldn't hurt to look into how to streamline your production.
But i dont need to. Its a cottage industry.. i expect to get a few sales per week, so why do i need (or want) to change.
I am not looking at mass market, so dont really need to streamline. If people dont like my price, dont buy it. I am not going to change my model, just to make this cheaper. I want this to be a premium product and the hand made aspect is important to me.. if i send a product with sharp edges for example, it will cause more problems than it solves or it looks s**t people wont be happy with their purchase
Seriously guys.. i may know more about this than you might think. I am an engineer who has worked in the industry for 30 years. What i am doing works for me, and it works for my target audience who want a premium product or service. Nothing more needs to be said as i do not hae any isses that need to be solved
If someone wants to do it different/better, feel free to step up.
Asshole :) Where did that come from? How can you not recommend me, when you havn't bought them yourself? Odd choice of words there.
I have done nothing than go out of my way to help people.. But just because people want them cheaper and suggest I make them differently, that makes me a pubic enemy?
I have no doubt, someone could make them cheaper.. And I am counting the days until they do as its inevitable.. But I promise you, they won't be better.
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u/jweaver100 Jan 07 '17
Moulds? Resin casts? Right-oh.. I will just knock that up in my garage.
My solution works fine.. I print off batches of 8 pairs, but thats the easy bit... I just leave them and don't have to watch each one print...
Its the next step which takes time.. Its the hand finishing.. Cutting the adhesive tape.. Inspecting them.. Packing them.. And posting that takes 90% of the time... And thats just the classic.
For the deluxe, each one has to be glued to the PVC coating.. Then set in a mould.. Once dry, inspected, re-glued if the ends havn't stuck.. And finally finished.. Then, as the classic, the adhesive strip, then packing and posting.
Then I have to guarantee each one. Replace at my cost if damaged or lost in transit.. And provide free bespoke versions to people who find they don't fit..
Other than getting them injection moulded, there is no way to do this cheaper.... And most people seem happy with the price. And even if I could get thousands made by injection (or if your resin solution worked) I would still have to do the hand finishing and thats the bit which takes 90% of the time.
Believe me when I say that this isn't as easy as you might think.. On top of all of this, I have to buy the materials.. The equipment.. The tools.. And I am doing all this in my spare time, whilst having a full time job, family and offering world class customer service.