Quoted from lordloss:To me this seems like a great oppritunity to get into the wireform business for someone. I looked into it and the home model of a wire bending machine will run you about $10k.
Assuming each person is paying $175 or so and you have 55 orders, thats nearly enough to cover the machine costs on the first run. Not counting labor and material costs, there is a real opportunity here.
The $$ definitely there. It also involves some critical welding of the rings, as well powdercoating. Definitely an "art" to it being done correctly, IMHO. Being I have the only proto ( with one minor modification to the attachment point to be made for a professional look) I'll want to find someone close, and that I can trust, as it's now my only ramp (Matt never sent my original back).
Any ideas/ names of someone who can handle this would be appreciated. I've made the custom metal bracket myself (easy) to completely eliminate any plastic need, and want to make this available as a complete kit. I also want to include the ramp, without the wireholes in it. My local shop(s) can handle the ramp, and my powdercoat guy is one of the best I've seen. Going to convince them they can make a little money on this ( as they both have pretty large operations, and have generally just done things for me as a favor to a fellow business owner.
You can go back on the BM66 thread and see the powder done for my coindoor to match my LE...Absolutely flawless ( not a job for a part timer)...his powder guy has been with him almost 20 years, and he even stated that type of large flake on the black was very hard to exactly match. Stunning..I've been spoiled ever since.
Machine shop does large work for industrial, as well as NASCAR contracts. The ramp and bracket will be child's play for them. Going to ask them if they can recommend someone that can make the wireform (they might even do it, I'm not sure).
Overall, I was so excited Matt would do this, as he possessed the skills. My frustration has hit a wall, however...e-mailed again a couple days ago. I own a small/ medium sized business (25 employees, 7 figure #'s), and simple, accurate communication is all I'd asked. Truly hope he's ok, as he seemed excited to do this, albeit at a slower pace than I had hoped even initially.
I can appreciate him not having the time or desire...can't appreciate not receiving a basic e-mail communicating as such ( seems to be the norm in this niche hobby, unfortunately).
Don't give up, Bat-fanatics, there is a way.......mark