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Thread: Full Time, Part time?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    90

    Default Full Time, Part time?

    How Many shopbotters are using their shopbot full time as a business VS having a different day job and shopbotting part time? I've read some of the stories about some of the guys losing their day jobs and trying to go fulltime with the shopbot. How are all you guys doing now? I'm not there yet just looking out for the future when big corporation says "thanks for playing".

    Thanks,
    John

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    Terrell, Texas
    Posts
    87

    Default

    John, I'm using it part time at this point, with the goal of full time. It has opened the door on what I can do in the shop, Have been doing a lot of sub work for several small sign shops and cabinet shops in the area.

    Bryan

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    iBILD Solutions - Southern NJ
    Posts
    7,986

    Default

    John,
    I was laid off last year and have been using my Bot(s) fulltime. I don't run them all the time, only when I need to suppliment my fabrication business. Things are tight at times...feast or famine, but I'm still standing and making the mortgage. It takes time to make contacts, so as time goes on, more business will come in the door.

    -Brady

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Jenkins Woodcraft, Vancouver WA
    Posts
    59

    Default

    John,

    I have a day job that pays the bills. I'm building a business with my son that hopefully will keep him busy full time in a year or so. It gives me a great outlet for my itch to do engineering and build my own business.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    468

    Default

    Fulltime and sometimes overtime. We have a full woodshop as well but I have one employee now who just runs the machine, frees me up to do more! I still do the programming and much of the CAD work though. Last summer it was 18 hours a day for four months. Thanks to the Alpha upgrade we can now keep it down to a single shift a day.

    Eric

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2001
    Posts
    2,941

    Default

    Eric, you mentioned "summer" - we also find that spring/summer brings in a lot more work than autumn/winter. This seasonal nature was unexpected when we started out.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    StickMan WoodWorking, Aurora Nebraska
    Posts
    307

    Default

    Right now, I am part-time. I've got enough business coming in to keep making the payments and cover most expense.

    So on and so forth, I continue to look for more and have made contacts that keep me busy with work. I'm also working to develop my "line" of products and projects. We will be gearing up for a Feb. home show.

    I keep the full-time job, that I dislike, in order to support my family and keep financial strength.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    468

    Default

    Gerald, the worst is the 2 months before christmas. Nobody seems to want to do much of anything!

    Eric

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    The Traditional Rocking Horse Co.,
    Posts
    1,164

    Default

    75% of my income comes in the two months before Christmas.
    I make traditional Rocking Horses!

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2001
    Location
    Belle River, Ontario
    Posts
    153

    Default

    My PRT96 sits idle far too much for my liking. Was bought as a "hobby" tool with POTENTIAL! At present am working up to a part time income status. I would love to get full time employment with it and to cut back on the hours (or retire) from my present job that doesn't have the challenges nor the rewards.
    We shall see what the future holds.

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