Shop Holmes

[JohnRobHolmes]

Not something I want to risk for million dollar drones as a first try. How about a crawler esc first, they won't fall from a low earth orbit.

[BigSki]

It has to be a tough decision to get rid of the lathe, that machine opened up your production and R&D capabilities to a new level. Could you sub it out and retain access to it for your needs?

[svt923]

Originally Posted by JohnRobHolmes

Also just learned I've been selected randomly for an IRS audit. My undergrad in accounting finally pays off, my books are a cinch to run because of how I set up and use accounts. It's still burning up days of time to deal with.

I worked for a CPA firm for years doing audits, taxes, and bookkeeping so I have dealt with the IRS many times. I can say if you have a basic knowledge of accounting (and an undergrad in accounting puts you well beyond basic), then your records are probably better than 75% of small businesses (I have seen some incredible accounting incompetence out of small companies). Audits go much quicker when the auditor knows they are working with someone knowledgeable.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Originally Posted by BigSki

It has to be a tough decision to get rid of the lathe, that machine opened up your production and R&D capabilities to a new level. Could you sub it out and retain access to it for your needs?

Subbing it out is a huge risk of machine damage, with minimal monetary gain. In my part of the country there are very few machine operators.

Originally Posted by svt923

I worked for a CPA firm for years doing audits, taxes, and bookkeeping so I have dealt with the IRS many times. I can say if you have a basic knowledge of accounting (and an undergrad in accounting puts you well beyond basic), then your records are probably better than 75% of small businesses (I have seen some incredible accounting incompetence out of small companies). Audits go much quicker when the auditor knows they are working with someone knowledgeable.

Good to know. I have multiple accounts to usher the flow of money in defined paths, essentially a real chart of accounts. One account is just for paying myself, everything non business goes into there before spending. Makes it super easy to calculate capital gains.

[BigSki]

How goes things?

[JohnRobHolmes]

Made the big decision, lathe is getting sold. Primarily, I learned yesterday that the uav contract would not renew in full. We wil supply some raw parts, but won't have a need to make housings. I am also getting burned out on being a machinist as a second job. No machine means I'll be back to just one business and task to worry about! I'm quite looking forwards to that. Might farm out lockers and outputs, might just let this be all she wrote.


So with a huge hole in my shop and nothing to worry about, what is next? I'll be hunkered deep into software development and attending to our smaller, yet more productive tools. The little taig mill is extremely useful, although painfully slow. I'll probably upgrade it to servo motors so there isn't the constant worry of losing steps and ruining a part. I'll probably get a 3D printer, finally!

Feels like I'm ready to start college again. Nothing but free time, no worries, and learning in front of me. A good businessman knows what he is good at. A great businessman knows what he is not good at. While I'm a decent machinist, it wasn't the right place for me to spend so much time.

[spoo76]

Well as much as I'd like to see a castle based BLE with an aux function a full on Holmes ESC would probably be the only thing that I'd replace a castle ESC with. Hopefully you can make it programmable via Android and USB OTG or wirelessly


Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[JohnRobHolmes]

i guarantee that every smart phone and computer system will be compatible for on the fly programming.


But short term, we will still use Castle for OEM needs. They make fantastic products.

[BigSki]

Somehow hitting the "like" button didn't seem appropriate, but I'm glad to hear that you're looking at the positive side of it! How's the Hobby House coming along? I really enjoyed the documentaries on the progress.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Lathe is officially sold! should be outta here Jan 2. That was a bit quicker than anticipated. I'm trying to figure out what to do with the huge hole the shop will have.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Originally Posted by BigSki

Somehow hitting the "like" button didn't seem appropriate, but I'm glad to hear that you're looking at the positive side of it! How's the Hobby House coming along? I really enjoyed the documentaries on the progress.

Closing one door gives the opportunity to open another. Although I anticipated a 5 year run with the machine, 2.5 years was still a lot of learning and experience to draw from. It's a bummer to end it early, but at this point I don't NEED the machine for anything. An asset that is not used becomes a liability.


Hobby house is stalled out the last few weeks. Tax audit threw me off. My wife also insisted that I work on our house too. So the past few weeks have been building a wet bar in the basement on Tuesday and Thursday. Getting me pumped up for soldering new copper into the hobby house shower!

[Foxracer11]

^ lol man you think once you get done with school everything flows like a river but problems do come up and as a business major and minor in finance and marketing what your doing is best like to hear that things are still on the up and up and i know you'll find a new toy or tool to fill that spot hope things start to really shine in the new year for your company and self.

[JohnRobHolmes]

Thanks. Thats a decent summary of what's happened

Big old empty void where the lathe sat. I feel like anything is possible! More workshop and inventory will fill it back in fast.

[whitrzac]

You must live in the southern hemisphere.

[slimfire]

Originally Posted by whitrzac

You must live in the southern hemisphere.

Ahahah, thought the same...:-)))



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[BigSki]

How's the Holmes Hobby Hut coming along?

[BigSki]

Did you ever finish the Hobby House?

[JohnRobHolmes]

Not finished, but usable with kitchen and bath. Still needs a little floor and wall work. I'm getting 25 tons of rock dropped off tomorrow to start backyard crawling course construction.

Finally got the shop rearranged after moving out the lathe, just today. We were waiting on the landlord to Sheetrock the walls to fix old crumbling ones. Next at the shop is building an office for myself.

[JohnRobHolmes]

With nice weather comes yard work at the hobby house. I'm quite excited for the work, it will let me flex some creativity of landscaping that is really just for crawling. I'm calling them raised landscape beds.

[mikemcE]

I thought you were going to break down that bulk rock and market bags for home crawling courses !


Hang up and Drive