A business for the underground economy.

[Magus]

So I had this idea, I used to sharpen/refurbish knives at the local flea market while you watched for a buck+ depending on how wrecked they were, I did a bit of welding and this and that, suppose a group of skilled people collaborated and opened and "out of the van" traveling fix it shop?

 

[SLADE]

Skilled people just want new work in the trades.
Unskilled people want no work.
That leaves you and I.
I don't have a van.

 

[Magus]

Now to expand, I was on the run when I posted.
A large panel van, a portable welder that doubles as a generator+ splitter box.
A portable work bench of the roll away type.
A couple of well equipped grinders, one with a shaping wheel and cutter, the other with a cutting wheel and de-burring wheel/buffing wheel.
tools obviously tailored to the needs of the fix it crew. say a mechanic, a welder and electrician, add a computer nerd to watch the cooler/van and set up on weekends at flea markets and co-ops.

 

[Magus]

Skilled people just want new work in the trades.
Unskilled people want no work.
That leaves you and me.
I don't have a van.

With my little set up, sometimes I'd bring home up to $50 a day. especially if I got to set up next to someone selling knives/cutting tools. I also got a lot of knives out of it I prettied up and sold off later. there was this Mexican kid who would do a cartoon of you for $5, he always made good money! the old lady with her rag bags for a buck a pound did OK, she'd sort them by what kind they were, cut up chunks and sell them. then there are the various mobile kitchens that always do well if they know how to cook!

 

[Caribou]

Spring and fall the mobile tire shops do a fantastic business switching over to/from studs.

 

[montanabill]

Good idea Caribou, i knew there was a reason I have picked up all the tire changing tools.
As far as the knife sharpening and repair van there is a local guy who has a big old U haul van set up to sharpen. He currently is parked in the parking lot of an outdoor sports store. He does a excellent job on everything from axes to scissors. He is a disabled vet so he doesn't work every day.
I have done home repair with tools and supplies in the back of a small pickup, cash and no job too small.
Right now I have a couple of old running motorhomes that would work well for mobile repair.
Anybody want to learn generator repair, car and motorcycle repair, auto and light truck repair and all sorts of tire repair?

 

[dademoss]

I don't advertise, and have a very very short and select client list, cause frankly I don't need/want the work. But, If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the A-Team.

 

[Magus]

Ah, to be twenty years younger.
Oh well. Life keeps giving me grinders lately, (or selling them dirt cheap.)
I look at it as a sign to get back out there and start making stuff to hurt people with! Or trout and bird knives, I still have a ton of Molybdenum strips if I can find them. I make a nice hunter's scalpel for $10 each or two for $15!

 

[Morgan101]

It sounds like a good idea, Magus. There was a guy like that who used to set up shop in front of one of the local grocery stores. He sharpened everything and did a heckuva job. You might try just sharpening in one location, and test the waters. If it is successful expand. Ask people if there is an interest in other services. IMHO it could be a successful business.

 

[Magus]

I did it in my yard for the last two years I had the shop open, didn't advertise though, didn't want them to use it as an excuse to kill my disability, which they tried to anyway.

 

[Magus]

I took it to court. All good. took 5 minutes.