And you thought Lawyers were expensive!!!!!

G.T. · 09-27-2023, 08:07 PM

Hi to all, well the title pretty much sets the pace on what I'm about to relay to you about reproducing quality parts! I've made quite a few items over the years, and also had quite a few made by reverse engineering and having a print to send out to a job shop! Fortunatly, the quality has been good, and even great some times! About 10 or so years ago, I reverse engineered and drew up a print for fxo Bakelite bottoms and sent it away to one of the leading plastic molding companies in the country who shall remain nameless! I had a hell of a time with them as the ruined order after order (1000 pieces at a shot!) we had to revise the mold several times, and still had issues.. I ended up with about 500 parts to sell and they were good and well received... Im my way of looking at their production, I didn't make a repro part, I made a replacement part! With all the Luger quality i could squeeze into it... Well, that brings me almost up to current. about two years ago, I asked them to further revise the mold and run some samples for a tentitive quantity order. it took two months for them to prepare the mold and run samples, excellent results, twice the price, and a small quantity, Lugerdoc has them instock just waiting for the retaining rivets that are currently being blued. If you're ever going to stick a few away, better get ahold of Tom and stick some away because, I don't think they will run anymore for me in the future, and I'm 70 so do the math... not too much of a chance for future runs... But, always inqusitive, I inquired about making Mauser black Bakelite grip sets and the reply was, in order to have them start a new project, you have to be able to generate $250K annually with the company for a floor minimum? Then they will look at your project, but it is still not a sure thing... Dosen't matter, I'm about $249K short at the moment! Probably should have skipped that last beer? Anyway, I'm down, but not out. I need to find a struggling Bakelite shop and retry... who knows... best to all, til....lat'r....GT

09-27-2023, 08:07 PM	#1
G.T. Lifer Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler Arizona Posts: 3,486 Thanks: 1,283 Thanked 3,583 Times in 989 Posts	And you thought Lawyers were expensive!!!!! Hi to all, well the title pretty much sets the pace on what I'm about to relay to you about reproducing quality parts! I've made quite a few items over the years, and also had quite a few made by reverse engineering and having a print to send out to a job shop! Fortunatly, the quality has been good, and even great some times! About 10 or so years ago, I reverse engineered and drew up a print for fxo Bakelite bottoms and sent it away to one of the leading plastic molding companies in the country who shall remain nameless! I had a hell of a time with them as the ruined order after order (1000 pieces at a shot!) we had to revise the mold several times, and still had issues.. I ended up with about 500 parts to sell and they were good and well received... Im my way of looking at their production, I didn't make a repro part, I made a replacement part! With all the Luger quality i could squeeze into it... Well, that brings me almost up to current. about two years ago, I asked them to further revise the mold and run some samples for a tentitive quantity order. it took two months for them to prepare the mold and run samples, excellent results, twice the price, and a small quantity, Lugerdoc has them instock just waiting for the retaining rivets that are currently being blued. If you're ever going to stick a few away, better get ahold of Tom and stick some away because, I don't think they will run anymore for me in the future, and I'm 70 so do the math... not too much of a chance for future runs... But, always inqusitive, I inquired about making Mauser black Bakelite grip sets and the reply was, in order to have them start a new project, you have to be able to generate $250K annually with the company for a floor minimum? Then they will look at your project, but it is still not a sure thing... Dosen't matter, I'm about $249K short at the moment! Probably should have skipped that last beer? Anyway, I'm down, but not out. I need to find a struggling Bakelite shop and retry... who knows... best to all, til....lat'r....GT