Fish building/man cave build!

[dantimdad]

It’s gettin real now.

 

[dantimdad]

I almost wish I hadn't put the light on my tank.

The Dinos are 10 times worse than I thought. I turned it down to AB+ 20% to allow things to acclimate, but, that few minutes at 80% was enough to really make me disgusted.

I am hoping that the proper spectrum of light, an acclimation period, microbacter 7 and UV will help.

I have only had Dinos once and they were gone in a few days with UV.

How disheartening. Too much money in it now to give up though.

 

[dantimdad]

First dose of microbacter 7 in. Wait 4 hours and turn on UV and skimmer again.

Also added ceramic spheres as suggested in another thread here. Apparently the microbacter will cause the good bacteria to populate it faster than the dinos and that helps outcompete so it dies off. Not so certain it'll help but it certainly can't hurt.

Oh. I centered the dang metal fish finally. lol

 

[That Crusso Kid]

First dose of microbacter 7 in. Wait 4 hours and turn on UV and skimmer again.

Also added ceramic spheres as suggested in another thread here. Apparently the microbacter will cause the good bacteria to populate it faster than the dinos and that helps outcompete so it dies off. Not so certain it'll help but it certainly can't hurt.

Oh. I centered the dang metal fish finally. lol

Good luck with the dinos. They can be a bear.

Centered the fish? How are we supposed to believe you without any pictures?

 

[tharbin]

Good luck with the dinos. They can be a bear.

Centered the fish? How are we supposed to believe you without any pictures?

I agree. I've tried centering my fish and they just keep moving. I need to see it to believe it.

 

[1ocean]

My buddy has an omni from xtool. dang ink is insanely expensive. They keep giving them away to "influencers" and that drives the price up for consumers. He also has to do a bunch of maintenance on it.

I probably will never get one. The market is saturated with makers selling stuff trying to dodge a real job. lol

Last two years, there were over 100 booths at the market and only 3 people were printing, engraving or sublimating. This year there is 17 and only 10 more booths. I am betting we go down to one section next year if at all. We already bowed out of 3 shows this year because of the ridiculous amount of competition and the cost of the booths going through the roof.

This show is a mile and a half or so from the house, cheap and we get put next to Scooter's coffee every year so it's kinda fun.

I make enough money off repeat business to supplement my income (see post above about not winning the lottery lol) so I am not getting out of the business for sure.

Yep, alot of garage printers come and go,
My girl does graphics and helps print at a place here that has aton of M&R eq, two 12 head machines for screen printing, then DTF roll printers, DTG machines. Several embroidery machines that can do alot of hats, shirts at the same time, ALso have all these printers for stickers, banners , car and window graphics, store signs. ALso have a big CnC and a laser for making stuff like mugs and stuff.
Thats where I am going to get to use those machines to make tank lids and stuff someday soon.

 

[dantimdad]

Yep, alot of garage printers come and go,
My girl does graphics and helps print at a place here that has aton of M&R eq, two 12 head machines for screen printing, then DTF roll printers, DTG machines. Several embroidery machines that can do alot of hats, shirts at the same time, ALso have all these printers for stickers, banners , car and window graphics, store signs. ALso have a big CnC and a laser for making stuff like mugs and stuff.
Thats where I am going to get to use those machines to make tank lids and stuff someday soon.

I have made it almost 10 years printing and 6 engraving. Only had the business for about 5. I'm not going anywhere but, I am not planning on making a living off it and my investment in equipment is always paid for by the jobs. I will never go into debt for this. Huge mistake a lot of people make and they get desperate, lower prices just to get the job or raise them drastically hoping to pay it off quickly and it makes the business suffer.

I hear from both sides "Your prices are super low" or "Why do you charge so much?" It's all perspective. Let's be honest, nothing I am doing with this is a necessity for anybody.

With any luck, Saturday will pay for one more small piece of equipment I WANT (not NEED) so I can do a couple more things I really want to. If not, no big deal.

 

[dantimdad]

Good luck with the dinos. They can be a bear.

Centered the fish? How are we supposed to believe you without any pictures?

Thanks.

I am doing a tank cleaning tomorrow afternoon and will post some pics and make sure to take a shot of the two cubes with the metal fish centered.

Sunday we have a local club meeting and after, I am going to the LFS right by it to pic up some ember tetras for the cube. I put in a hybrid long fin pleco yesterday.

 

[1ocean]

Yep once I start making the lid design I am happy with it will be for a super fair price since I did not lay out 130k for a table cnc and 40k plus for a enclosed laser that you can load a 36inchx36inch acrylic sheet up to 1/4 inch thick

 

[dantimdad]

Yep once I start making the lid design I am happy with it will be for a super fair price since I did not lay out 130k for a table cnc and 40k plus for a enclosed laser that you can load a 36inchx36inch acrylic sheet up to 1/4 inch thick

I must confess I can cut clear acrylic up to 3/8” 20x28” and with the pass through handle a bigger sheet on my co2. I almost went much bigger this year but the contract fell through. Otherwise I’d have a 150 watt 44x60 but that still was only 12k

I heard rumblings they aren’t super happy with the guy I lost the contract to so maybe someday. lol

 

[1ocean]

I must confess I can cut clear acrylic up to 3/8” 20x28” and with the pass through handle a bigger sheet on my co2. I almost went much bigger this year but the contract fell through. Otherwise I’d have a 150 watt 44x60 but that still was only 12k

I heard rumblings they aren’t super happy with the guy I lost the contract to so maybe someday. lol

I hope you win that contract back..
Where my girl works they have a big table cnc, that you can put a 4 foot x 8 foot of acylic, wood, coroplast etc and it has like 8 heads it auto picks to use to cut.
Has 4 zones that you turn on that suctions the material on the table down prior to cutting.
I am not sure the max how thick something can be but I know they have cut 1.5 inch thick acrylic for letters for a sign

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I hope you win that contract back..
Where my girl works they have a big table cnc, that you can put a 4 foot x 8 foot of acylic, wood, coroplast etc and it has like 8 heads it auto picks to use to cut.
Has 4 zones that you turn on that suctions the material on the table down prior to cutting.
I am not sure the max how thick something can be but I know they have cut 1.5 inch thick acrylic for letters for a sign

Are we having a CNC table measuring contest? I have one that is 145" x61" for dry cutting and one that is 121" x 61" for wet cutting of stone.

Let's not measure anything else since I know you are a gym rat and I am just a scrawny keyboard puncher hahaha!

 

[1ocean]

Are we having a CNC table measuring contest? I have one that is 145" x61" for dry cutting and one that is 121" x 61" for wet cutting of stone.

Let's not measure anything else since I know you are a gym rat and I am just a scrawny keyboard puncher hahaha!

No contest just sharing stuff about cool machines...
Sounds like you have some cool stuff too....awesome..

We were chating about how people who have no experience go buy some cheap little printer or cutting machine and just push a button and start a company in there garage.
Yet others have alot of money,, like you do also in commercial machines and have years doing it now have to compete with these pop ups..

 

[1ocean]

Are we having a CNC table measuring contest? I have one that is 145" x61" for dry cutting and one that is 121" x 61" for wet cutting of stone.

Let's not measure anything else since I know you are a gym rat and I am just a scrawny keyboard puncher hahaha!

That wet one, so you can cut marble and quartz on it ?
That must be amazing to watch...Thats the kinda cool stuff I like and we were chatting about all the cool stuff out there.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

No contest just sharing stuff about cool machines...
Sounds like you have some cool stuff too....awesome..

We were chating about how people who have no experience go buy some cheap little printer or cutting machine and just push a button and start a company in there garage.
Yet others have alot of money,, like you do also in commercial machines and have years doing it now have to compete with these pop ups..

Actually, I was very frugal with my machine budget. I think both machines totaled less than $40,000.00. I also bought them and upgraded them as I could cash them out. Took years not months.

Check out Avid CNC online. Made in Washington State in a little town called North Bend.

 

[That Crusso Kid]

No contest just sharing stuff about cool machines...
Sounds like you have some cool stuff too....awesome..

We were chating about how people who have no experience go buy some cheap little printer or cutting machine and just push a button and start a company in there garage.
Yet others have alot of money,, like you do also in commercial machines and have years doing it now have to compete with these pop ups..

I am every excited to let everyone know I started a company. I bought a cheap, little printer and cutting machine. I'm now going to be able to print a lot, even in color, and cut wood like nobody's business. In case you are wondering, here are pictures of what I bought.

I am specializing in printing on paper and making a lot of sawdust. I do not know if my business plan is sound as I haven't been contacted for any orders yet.

I am thinking of buying a drill next.

It's so exciting...

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I am every excited to let everyone know I started a company. I bought a cheap, little printer and cutting machine. I'm now be to print a lot, even in color, and cut wood like nobody's business. In case you are wondering, here are pictures of what I bought.

I am specializing in printing on paper and making a lot of sawdust. I do not know if my business plan is sound as I haven't been contacted for any orders yet.

I am thinking of buying a drill next.

It's so exciting...

Is that a Louisville Slugger?

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Is that a Louisville Slugger?

I picked it up at a garage sale. I think it's a Fein saw but when I went to get the serial number off of it, the number had been filed off. I am not sure what that means but I tested it and it makes nice saw dust.

 

[dantimdad]

Are we having a CNC table measuring contest? I have one that is 145" x61" for dry cutting and one that is 121" x 61" for wet cutting of stone.

Let's not measure anything else since I know you are a gym rat and I am just a scrawny keyboard puncher hahaha!

Lowell cheats. He’s been doing this for years. He’s the one who convinced me I could do it.

Plus I’m jealous of his setup.

 

[dantimdad]

Show is a bust.

There are 17 vendors doing sublimation, printing and laser engraving.

It is what it is.

Good news is I’m going to get fish tomorrow.