I finally took the plunge.

[rhipsher]

I've been in the machining industry since 1989. I've had this dream to one day build my own machine shop and just haven't been able to raise the capital. Well times have changed and I decided to make a move instead of just talking about it. I have many contacts that I've done work for over the years after hours in the machine shops that I've managed over the years. Of course I've always had to split the profits with the company when I brought in the work. I decided that I didn't want to split profits anymore. So I was browsing milling machines on ebay and came across this. It was local here in Houston which saves me shipping cost.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bridgeport-m...item2ecd4a1a35
I decided Friday that I would take lunch and drive over and check the machine out. Everything was smooth on it. There were also other people coming at 3:00 to look at it. So I asked the guy are you firm on $2,500 or is it negotiable? He said it was a little negotiable. So I said would you take $2K for it? He said I'll take $2k for it. I called my wife and told her to go to the bank and get a cashiers check ready for it. Then I had to figure out how I was going to get that 2,400lb machine in my garage. So I pick it up Monday. I also need a 3 phase converter. The important thing is I took the first step in the direction of progress. Keep the day job and work on my own thing after hours and on the weekends. There's so much work out there that I just have to make sure I don't over load myself. But my wife and I are excited about it. I look at it as the very first step to being independent and working for myself. You have to start somewhere. And that's just what I did.
But as I was paying the guy for the machine today he said there was a guy in the building behind him that just bought a low mile 91 Admiral blue ZR-1 and he introduced me to him. A guy named Allen Nichols. He invited me and my wife into his building to check his Z out. I was not expecting what I saw OMG? And this was just his man cave where he hangs out. It has a full kitchen and bar plus a pool table in there. I'm definitely meeting the right people including all my other connections because they are all involved in the oil industry in some way. What an incredible day.




Video I took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WSAGEalcmo

[We Gone]

Nice, good luck in your venture. I'll bet the 91 is Quasar Blue!

[rhipsher]

Your right. I meant to say Quasar blue. This guy has trophy on top of trophy for his show cars. They are show only. Of course he has his driver corvette sitting outside.

[efnfast]

Congrats on the purchase.
Will you be doing stuff for the Z's?
Looks like you made a new friend worth keeping.
There are a number of Roto-Phase phase converters on e-bay.

[rhipsher]

Originally Posted by efnfast

Congrats on the purchase.
Will you be doing stuff for the Z's?
Looks like you made a new friend worth keeping.
There are a number of Roto-Phase phase converters on e-bay.

No. That's Carters bread and butter. I'll be doing oil field parts. I've got quite a few connections for this type of work. Got to go file my DBA and get my tax I.D number. Then once the machine is powered up then I'll be making parts immediately and have my sights set on buying an engine lathe. After that the next step is a CNC mill and a building. It's just a growing process. I'm starting out small so there is minimum risk. No SBA loans. Cash only for the equipment that way I own them. Not the bank. Word is it's getting ready to ramp up especially when the Keystone pipeline is cleared for production.

[carter200]

Rick,
Nice talking to you and remember if you need anything you have my number. Take care ole buddy.

[USAZR1]

Congrats,Rick. I'm happy for you.

[FU]

Congrat's..Go get 'em Rick !!!

[John Boothby]

Good Luck!!