will saw repair make me money ?

[Steve Bullman]

In my opinion you can make money out of anything, proving you are a)passionate about what it is you are doing, and b)have a bit of imagination and drive with your marketing etc.

 

The first point is important, your customers will pick up on this first based on the work and enthusiasm you put into fixing their saws.

 

Sounds to me based on your first post that this is purely a money making venture and you might be lacking point a?

[Rob D]

Possibly in the end you could make a living but like all things it takes a good bit of time, lots of hard work and more time...

 

 

It's boring but work out a business plan or just a plan... how will you get saws to repair? Is it worth looking at having an internet component i.e. a website whereby you organise the collection of a saw and then return it repaired?

[spudulike]

Your own financial position is also a factor - if you are based in London with a £300k mortgage then forget it but if you are knocking on 60 years, have no mortgage and got most of the typical tools and a suitable workshop then it is a possible business but won't make you rich.

 

It also depends on your own ability and how well you can adapt to working on this sort of kit - it can sometimes get pretty involved and isn't just a case of swapping parts out! The better you are, the more busy you will be - Stevie B is spot on on what he says - you can tell a good tech from how he enthuses about what he is working on and what he can do to help fix an issue!

[treequip]

You can make money but it wont be fortunes.

 

The specialist tools mentioned are needed for more involved work but turn over is vanity and profit is sanity. Someone on here made mention of the buzz from resurecting a saw, I get mine from profit. Leave that kind of work to those who want to put the time in, stick to repairs that can be done with the minium of tools and effort and dont pay much for the saw in the first place.

 

The business modell is, buy cheap fix and sell on, if a punter brings a saw that needs more than an hour spending on it send em to B&Q for a new one.

[Adamam]

To look from a slightly different angle, I have found that saw repair/resale is the second most lucrative hobby/earner combination I've encountered.

 

The best by a long chalk used to be guitar/amp/drum repair/resale, but there are fewer opportunities these days. Time was I'd be making £300-£500 a week for maybe 4 hours work in my spare time. Not these days though. Too much competition and ever dwindling supplies.

 

Saw repair is fun, and it seems pretty easy to pick something up for £75, fix for £30 parts and a few hours labour and sell for £150-£200. If viewed as primarily a hobby (which it is to me), I reckon it provides pretty good returns.

 

As a hobby though.

 

YMMV.

[GardenKit]

 

Rich.....Barries £100 tool was a spark tester, I have a spark plug with the electrode bent away from the central electrode, he has a business to run and can see why he has this, I can get to where I need to be with my spark plug:thumbup:

 

 

 

On the subject of tools, dont be fooled by the tools that I have.

I worked for many years on basic budget tools, relying on knowledge and common sense for diagnostics. It is only recently that I have been flush enough to start treating myself to more complex testing 'toys'

I always managed OK without them and would still do, its just a bit quicker sometimes with them.

[NI Tree]

On the subject of tools, dont be fooled by the tools that I have.

I worked for many years on basic budget tools, relying on knowledge and common sense for diagnostics. It is only recently that I have been flush enough to start treating myself to more complex testing 'toys'

I always managed OK without them and would still do, its just a bit quicker sometimes with them.

 

well said i have as well got a way with basic tools, but find its not the diagnostic tools that are dearer but the engineering type tools

[waterworks]

I bought a used and abused Stihl Ms200t for £160, and it's back to life now for a carb kit, 1 rubber buffer, 1 chaincatcher, bit of pull cord, a chainbrake handle, and a re ground chain, £ 50 of parts, this one is for my own use not for resale.

 

would there be a profit on that saw if i sold it ?

[spudulike]

I bought a used and abused Stihl Ms200t for £160, and it's back to life now for a carb kit, 1 rubber buffer, 1 chaincatcher, bit of pull cord, a chainbrake handle, and a re ground chain, £ 50 of parts, this one is for my own use not for resale.

 

would there be a profit on that saw if i sold it ?

 

A little - depending on age - around £60-80.

 

On the subject of tools, I have made some of the diagnostic tools I use out of tools not specifically designed for the job I use them for but if they do the job and saves me paying the higher prices for manufacturers specialist tools then I am happy!

[daveindales]

Sure, there is money in repairing and selling saws, but is it viable as a main source of income?..... No. If you want to earn only £500 per week you need at least fully service 2 saws every day. Repairs take longer. So thats 10 saws a week and you only scratch a living. It will take years and an excellent reputation to get that much saw business. And this is assuming you have premises and tools already.

I have put this very simply, so no arguments please.

 

Could it provide pocket money?......Yes.

 

Very good, common sense post. Totally agree