My Wife Asks...

[LessPaul]

So, I've got a long history of diving into hobbies bigtime and then moving on to the next hobby when interest pales or something else new and shiny catches my eye.

Now I'm head-over-heals in love with CNC. There is the issue that this is something my wife doesn't understand in the least. But her bigger issue, and I can't argue with this one, is "what if you lose interest after spending all that money?"

So I figured I'd ask the guys.

So guys, I'm thinking of building the FineLineAutomation FLA-100, which is 80/20 based and is chock-full of CNCRouterParts.com components. I'd be frosting the cake with a Gecko G540 and 380oz NEMA 23s. I'm hoping that buying a kit from a respected company mostly eliminates the "homebrew of unknown quality" issue.

The question -- what kind of a used market for such a critter should my love wither on the vine (love of CNC, not love of wife.) How much purchase day depreciation should I expect?

Yeah I really wanna rationalize this purchase, but hit me with the truth anyway!

Thanks much ... Paul

[ViperTX]

And the reputable company is?

[LessPaul]

Originally Posted by ViperTX And the reputable company is?

Please pardon my ignorance, but I'm not at all sure if your question is a dig at www.FineLineAutomation.com, www.CNCRouterParts.com, or is a joke.

[Zygoat]

he just wants to know who you are talking about.

[Pandinus]

My personal opinion would be that If you get the table running well, and then lose interest in the "HOBBY OF THE DAY," I should think that you could sell the lot for at least what you paid for the kits... If I had the option of starting from scratch, having to find all the components and spending the time to assemble and tune a system before I can use it, or buy a working table that I can learn and Improve on at the same time... for the same price... Just make a small log book with receipts of the price of main components and anyone interested should easily see the value... just keep it hidden from the wife, at least until you can make some side income with your "Investment"

The "working system" should somewhat offset the depreciation of the "parts"

I know where your coming from.. I have "LOTS" of hobbies all relatively expensive it seems, and the gaming computers have to depreciate the worst of all. Well not as fast as drugs or alcohol tho... When my coworkers used to say "you spent how much on a computer??" I'd ask how much they spent in the bar last payday. lol

[Pandinus]

DOH I hate posting in forums... spent some time writing a reply and it gets lost in the ETHER...

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[stevespo]

I don't have any actual data to back this up, just observations over the past few years. The market for "used" DIY CNC machines is pretty small and the depreciation is fairly high.

People go with DIY because they want to learn how things go together, they also want to save money (ha, ha, ha). Buying a DIY machine from an unknown builder is a risky proposition, although it's offset somewhat if it was a kit from a known vendor. Being able to see it operate in person will add value as opposed to buying it off of eBay.

If after a few months you've lost interest in CNC, I suspect you would take a pretty good hit trying to sell your machine. I personally wouldn't consider a used machine unless I might realize a 30-50% savings from new.

Oh yeah, anyone interested in some Gecko 203V, 320s, servos, steppers, linear rails, 8020, power supplies, etc...

Steve

[bknight]

Paul, I'm in pretty much the same boat you are... skeptical wife and all... BUT (and I know this is probably me trying to rationalize this to myself) a decent CNC machine can and will come in handy in regards to other hobbies.

IE, I build computers myself... think of the case mods you can do with a CNC. Think of the new m-ITX mobo's out there and a block of aluminum... I've sunk more into a single computer than I would with the kit you're looking at (I'm looking at the same kit). The PC I'm on now cost as much as one of those kits.

Woodworking... endless possibilities...

So, my advise (the same advise I'm giving to my wife) is not to look at CNC as a hobby in itself, but a tool to use on your other hobbies to make them more efficient with the possibility of turning pure hobbies into hobbies with a profit.

... anyway, now I'm going to work on my wife a little more!!!

[Zygoat]

x2 on it being a tool. its is a tool. (by definition) but this one is amazingly versatile. take her to sears or wherever. show her a table saw. $500 easy. and it only does one thing. (very well) but i think the cnc can do it just as well, if not better, tho maybe slower. then show her a drill press. again $500 easy. ... if you 2 arnt both convinced by the time you leave, dont build it. on your way out show her a snow blower. (at this point she will believe about anything) "what it will shovel the driveway too?" reply "no, i want one of those for Christmas!"

[mactec54]

LessPaul
Take a look at this build I think they are a better deal than what you are looking at

gio666
CNC Parts Toronto

gio666
DIY Aluminum CNC Routor Frame

[DIYaholic]

LessPaul,
Here's what I recommend! You secretly buy a machine (you can always tell the wife you wanted to surprise here with some marvelous creation for her), set it up in my shop and your wife never really needs to know. lol. Just an idea!

Randy,

[brihoo2k]

You could buy it build it work it and lose interest in one day. That way you could sell it to me for 1/10 the price. And then I can convince my wife that it is not an expensive hobby Just kidding Im sure it will bring many years of enjoyment.