From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

Yesterday I had a customer climb up my _ _ _ for not wanting to
guarantee their design would work the way they want. "Its YOUR design.
If it works then the mold I make will produce baits that work. If your
design does not work then it won't." It was a very unpleasant exchange
which ended with me adding three (3) dollars signs to the end of their
name on their client file. That is a reminder to me if they ask for
future work triple the price or just don't work for them.

Today I had a customer send me a text telling me a friend of his was
already on the way to my shop to pick up a mold. I don't operate a
retail shop, discourage people from coming by, but will allow it by appointment, and I tell even my friends to call or text me before coming
over. While going back and forth with not one, but two people over it
and trying not to lose a customer I put the wrong tool in a machine
twice wrecking both halves of a mold, and double engraved another mold
while not wrecking it, I ordinarily only engrave the side the clamping
screws go through. I don't know if I saved the customer or not, but I definitely tossed money in the recycle barrel.

One of the wrong tools also broke. I have spares, but still...

I've now got an aversion to restarting the machines to try again. Maybe
I should grab a couple fishing rods and go hit the canal bank instead.

On a positive note. The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin Can
(my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

... and I should really find a way to stick to my rule of leaving my
cell phone in the office when I am on the shop floor. (I don't so my
wife or my mom can reach me if they have an emergency).
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

Yesterday I had a customer climb up my _ _ _ for not wanting to
guarantee their design would work the way they want.-a "Its YOUR design.
If it works then the mold I make will produce baits that work. If your design does not work then it won't."-a It was a very unpleasant exchange which ended with me adding three (3) dollars signs to the end of their
name on their client file.-a That is a reminder to me if they ask for
future work triple the price or just don't work for them.

I meant to add that usually when a customer annoys me to the point that
I annotate I don't want to work for them again I call it a day so I
don't make any mistakes in the shop.

Its not been a very productive week so far.

Today I decided I couldn't take another afternoon out of the shop, so
machines are running again.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:110v2rd$3nt4i$1@dont-email.me...

Yesterday I had a customer climb up my _ _ _ for not wanting to guarantee their design would work the way they want. ...

That's a large part of why I built prototypes as a company employee instead
of for individual inventors. They were still inventors' ideas but running a company demonstrated common sense and patience, increased credibility and reduced risk.

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 2:54 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

"Bob La Londe"-a wrote in message news:110v2rd$3nt4i$1@dont-email.me...

Yesterday I had a customer climb up my _ _ _ for not wanting to
guarantee their design would work the way they want.-a ...

That's a large part of why I built prototypes as a company employee
instead of for individual inventors. They were still inventors' ideas
but running a company demonstrated common sense and patience, increased credibility and reduced risk.

I haven't had one in a while, but the individual inventors in my primary
field that are most annoying are those who want me to do all the
research & development, and taken on all the costs of production for a
small percentage of their (almost always) stupid idea.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 3:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:54 PM, Jim Wilkins wrote:

"Bob La Londe"-a wrote in message news:110v2rd$3nt4i$1@dont-email.me...

Yesterday I had a customer climb up my _ _ _ for not wanting to
guarantee their design would work the way they want.-a ...

That's a large part of why I built prototypes as a company employee
instead of for individual inventors. They were still inventors' ideas
but running a company demonstrated common sense and patience,
increased credibility and reduced risk.

I haven't had one in a while, but the individual inventors in my primary field that are most annoying are those who want me to do all the
research & development, and taken on all the costs of production for a
small percentage of their (almost always) stupid idea.

Not quite as annoying, but right up there are the gross restriction of
trade agreements masquerading as an NDA, and NDAs who sole purpose seems
to be to conspire to conceal unethical behavior, sometimes
retroactively. LOL.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving. The longer steering cable for The Tin
Can arrived today.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 4:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

... and I should really find a way to stick to my rule of leaving my
cell phone in the office when I am on the shop floor.-a (I don't so my
wife or my mom can reach me if they have an emergency).

Get a pager , and only those who might need you in an emergency
should have the number .
--
Snag
I appreciated foreign cultures more
when they stayed foreign ...
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin
Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.-a The longer steering cable for The Tin
Can arrived today.

I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses . I've
got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't have to
drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the shop .
--
Snag
I appreciated foreign cultures more
when they stayed foreign ...
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:110v8c5$278l5$1@dont-email.me...

Not quite as annoying, but right up there are the gross restriction of
trade agreements masquerading as an NDA, and NDAs who sole purpose seems
to be to conspire to conceal unethical behavior, sometimes
retroactively. LOL.

---------------------------

GM was nearly as strict as the Feds about secrecy, including between their
own divisions.

An alternative where leaks can't be contained is to spread false rumors to dilute them. The Japanese did that before Pearl, planting hints of attacks
all over. They had intended to block the Panama Canal by bombing the locks
but found that impractical, partly because they couldn't refuel smaller escorts at sea or unfold and launch more than one bombing plane at a time
from their submarine aircraft carriers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-400-class_submarine

--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking


"Jim Wilkins" <muratlanne@gmail.com> posted:

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:110v8c5$278l5$1@dont-email.me...

Not quite as annoying, but right up there are the gross restriction of
trade agreements masquerading as an NDA, and NDAs who sole purpose seems
to be to conspire to conceal unethical behavior, sometimes
retroactively. LOL.

---------------------------

GM was nearly as strict as the Feds about secrecy, including between their own divisions.

An alternative where leaks can't be contained is to spread false rumors to dilute them. The Japanese did that before Pearl, planting hints of attacks all over. They had intended to block the Panama Canal by bombing the locks but found that impractical, partly because they couldn't refuel smaller escorts at sea or unfold and launch more than one bombing plane at a time from their submarine aircraft carriers.

My only real issue with a necessary and reasonable NDA is the increased liability typically with zero increased compensation.

The thing is in 23 years as a licensed contractor and 16+ years now as a mold maker I've seen one necessary and reasonable.

More than once or twice, I've had people say, "oh yeah, we're gonna rip-off all of our competitors designs. Oh, and by the way, we need you to sign this agreement not to tell anybody."

Others say I can't work for anybody else. In the same trade, which would mean. I'd have to tell all my other customers to go fuck themselves.

Some claim, if I learn anything or any process that is used in any way in any of their product or processes or develop any tools for that purpose. I can't ever use them for the rest of eternity for anything else except for them.

Some are a lot worse and all of them masquerade as a, " simple boiler plate nda "

Now somebody who thinks they're clever is gonna say, "ell, those aren't NDAs," to which I would reply, "No shit sherlock."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-400-class_submarine

--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/17/2026 8:15 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin
Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.-a The longer steering cable for The Tin
Can arrived today.

-a I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses . I've
got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't have to
drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the shop .

I was going to sell my dad's torch rig, but instead I put it out back
under the work shade so I have heat out there without firing up the
forge. Its a lot faster to set a rivet or smash a slide through handle
end. I should sell it, but used torches don't demand much.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/18/2026 1:44 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 8:15 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin >>>> Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.-a The longer steering cable for The
Tin Can arrived today.

-a-a I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses . I've
got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't have to
drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the shop .

I was going to sell my dad's torch rig, but instead I put it out back
under the work shade so I have heat out there without firing up the
forge.-a Its a lot faster to set a rivet or smash a slide through handle end.-a I should sell it, but used torches don't demand much.

I got Dad's big Victor cutting torch . Not that I've ever needed or
used it in 27 years . My everyday use torch is a Smiths A100 , got a
couple of welding and a cutting attachment . Handles 99% of my needs . Forge/foundry furnace burners handle the rest .
--
Snag
I appreciated foreign cultures more
when they stayed foreign ...
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/18/2026 3:39 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/18/2026 1:44 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 8:15 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The
Tin Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.-a The longer steering cable for The
Tin Can arrived today.

-a-a I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses .
I've got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't
have to drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the
shop .

I was going to sell my dad's torch rig, but instead I put it out back
under the work shade so I have heat out there without firing up the
forge.-a Its a lot faster to set a rivet or smash a slide through
handle end.-a I should sell it, but used torches don't demand much.

-a I got Dad's big Victor cutting torch . Not that I've ever needed or
used it in 27 years . My everyday use torch is a Smiths A100 , got a
couple of welding and a cutting attachment . Handles 99% of my needs . Forge/foundry furnace burners handle the rest .

Over the years (not 100% sure how) I wound up with 4 or 5 sets of
regulators. Last year I tested several of them (after mine sprung a
leak) and bought rebuild kits for all of them.

Some of the welding houses will let you turn in an old set for a
discount on a new set of whatever their store brand is, but rebuild kits
were still cheaper on-line.

Reminds me of a big old cutting head I had years ago. A local welding
store told me they could rebuild it for $150 bucks. I got a new tip and
some gaskets for under 30 and it took me less than five minutes to have
it working perfectly. I'm not sure I still have that particular cutting
head, but I do have three of four of them.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:39:57 -0500, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:

On 6/18/2026 1:44 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 8:15 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin >>>>> Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.a The longer steering cable for The
Tin Can arrived today.

aa I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses . I've
got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't have to
drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the shop .

I was going to sell my dad's torch rig, but instead I put it out back
under the work shade so I have heat out there without firing up the
forge.a Its a lot faster to set a rivet or smash a slide through handle
end.a I should sell it, but used torches don't demand much.

I got Dad's big Victor cutting torch . Not that I've ever needed or
used it in 27 years . My everyday use torch is a Smiths A100 , got a
couple of welding and a cutting attachment . Handles 99% of my needs . >Forge/foundry furnace burners handle the rest .

I have 2 victor sets and a Henros (aka Henrob) (aks Cobra).
I use the Henros most. It took a bit of getting used to but it is very economical on acetylene paricularly for the small stuff I genereally
need it for.
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2

From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 6/19/2026 9:59 PM, Clare Snyder wrote:

On Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:39:57 -0500, Snag <Snag_one@msn.com> wrote:

On 6/18/2026 1:44 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 8:15 PM, Snag wrote:

On 6/17/2026 6:03 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On 6/17/2026 2:16 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:

On a positive note.-a The brass fittings for that outboard on The Tin >>>>>> Can (my 16' jon boat) arrived yesterday.

Okay, my attitude is improving.-a The longer steering cable for The
Tin Can arrived today.

-a-a I'm pissed and still waiting on the couplers for my OA hoses . I've >>>> got the new 25 foot hoses , and once they're hooked up I won't have to >>>> drag my cylinders out every time I need some heat outside the shop .

I was going to sell my dad's torch rig, but instead I put it out back
under the work shade so I have heat out there without firing up the
forge.-a Its a lot faster to set a rivet or smash a slide through handle >>> end.-a I should sell it, but used torches don't demand much.

I got Dad's big Victor cutting torch . Not that I've ever needed or
used it in 27 years . My everyday use torch is a Smiths A100 , got a
couple of welding and a cutting attachment . Handles 99% of my needs .
Forge/foundry furnace burners handle the rest .

I have 2 victor sets and a Henros (aka Henrob) (aks Cobra).
I use the Henros most. It took a bit of getting used to but it is very economical on acetylene paricularly for the small stuff I genereally
need it for.

The size is one reason I like the Smiths . It's several steps up from
the Uniweld I started with in a package just a tiny bit bigger . I still
have the Uniweld , it's handy for the really small jobs I sometimes get .
--
Snag
I appreciated foreign cultures more
when they stayed foreign ...
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