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Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

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Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#121
post #55

Here's a tour of the late Grant Imahara's workshop. He worked on robotics and, I believe, props in there? He's got a pretty significant amount of capability -- "CNC mills, laser cutters, lathes, paints, electronics, work tables, and, of course, multiple 3D printers" -- built into a space that looks closer to a 1-car garage than a 2-car garage. edit: here's the actual link https://youtu.be/hsCSTO8SaQU

Link: https://youtu.be/hsCSTO8SaQU

Oh my gosh, thanks, can't believe I forgot it.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#122

well, you can manufacture a gun [0] from materials procured from your hardware store. Of course that would likely be illegal in many juridictions first to manufacture, then to sell. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Luty#Firearms_design

Manufacturing tends to be legal in most states as long as it's not an NFA item. Selling requires the appropriate FFL license and often times a fairly high class, requiring a business address.

There are a few makers who operate as small "satellite" FFLs but typically it's more profitable to just be a reseller or do transfers for $30 a pop.

Making and selling accessories though is very doable and can probably make solid money. Lots of random little connectors or mounts that you can charge an arm and a leg for.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#123
post #13

The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. The problem with the space isn't really the cap…

I'm curious, what legal issues are we talking about here? What is not legal about running a business out of one's basement, and what law were they "ratted out" for breaking?

compressed gas storage, flammables, chemical storage, hot work, etc are often governed by local law over and above needing a property zoned for light industry.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#124

You're thinking of this in reverse. First find something you want to manufacture, then figure out how to build it in your garage. Don't be the solution searching for a problem!

Prototyping can be done easily. CNC or 3D Printing? Protolabs. PCBs? Oshpark. Get a prototype made first, it is going to be a little expensive, but less than investing in a bunch of manufacturing equipment.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#125
post #13

The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. The problem with the space isn't really the cap…

In reviewing neighborhood covenants whilst searching for a new home, I was surprised to see some of them make explicit the fact that running a business in your home is allowed, provided that it doesn't generate significant traffic/parking.

I suspect that is because home based businesses are explicitly protected in many localities in the US. AKA, the HOA couldn't actually tell you that you couldn't do it if they wanted to.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#127

Here's a tour of the late Grant Imahara's workshop. He worked on robotics and, I believe, props in there? He's got a pretty significant amount of capability -- "CNC mills, laser cutters, lathes, paints, electronics, work tables, and, of course, multiple 3D printers" -- built into a space that looks closer to a 1-car garage than a 2-car garage. edit: here's the actual link https://youtu.be/hsCSTO8SaQU

I think that's more 4 car garage than 2 or 1 car. It also has quite a tall ceiling and industrial power and ventilation hookups.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#128
post #13

The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. The problem with the space isn't really the cap…

>The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. Nobody is checking what's going on in garages…

My next house is going to be so far from my neighbors that if they were complaining about noise from my basement they would be admitting to trespassing.

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#129
post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're not the first person I've heard this from; when you say "many are now posting lists of open contracts you can bid on" where are they posting these things? https://sam.gov/content/home is what my cursory Googling found, is this what you mean, or is there some other, more relevant site involved?

There is even a movie about this https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2005151/

Eh, I was thinking more like, "Build us a web portal for viewing the status of and requesting more ." than, "Run guns for us cheaply."

Re: Ask HN: What can you realistically manufacture in your garage?

#130
post #13

The legality should interest you. I saw someone have their small business shut down by police because they were running it out of their basement. It wasn't the noise or pollution (which realistically are the nuisances you're going to be inflicting on neighbors) but the excess cars parked and delivery trucks coming and going down the street. One neighbor ratted them out. The problem with the space isn't really the cap…

I'm curious, what legal issues are we talking about here? What is not legal about running a business out of one's basement, and what law were they "ratted out" for breaking?

You need a "Home Occupation Permit". The details will vary by municipality, but here are the requirements for Sacramento CA, just to pick a random example: https://www.cityofsacramento.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/EDD...

"The following occupations are eligible for a Home Occupation Permit subject to restrictions discussed in the next section. If the occupation is followed by an asterisk, the use is also subject to special conditions also discussed below. Eligible home occupations are:

1. General office uses, such as accountant, administrative assistant, answering service, appraiser, architect, attorney, bookkeeper, broker or agent (real estate, insurance, etc.), counselor, consultant, drafting service, engineer, interior decorator, secretarial service, word processing service, and other office uses whose characteristics are substantially similar to those listed.

2. Commission merchant, direct sale product distribution, internet, or mail order business.

3. Dressmaker, tailor, fashion designer.

4. Mobile vehicle glass installation and mobile vehicle detailing.*

5. Pet services, such as pet sitting, pet grooming, pet training, and veterinarian care.*

6. Office for contractor, handyperson, janitorial service, landscape contractor, gardening service.*

7. Artist.

8. Tutoring.*

9. Small equipment, appliance, and computer assembly, repair, or reconstruction.*

10. Healing arts professional, including physician, surgeon, chiropractor, physical therapist, acupuncturist, and somatic practitioner.*

11. Hair stylist, barber, and manicurist.

12. Swimming instructor.*

13. Cottage food operation as defined in section 113758 of the California Health and Safety Code."

=================

I saw somebody get dinged for this once for running a Twitch stream out of their garage and accepting donations, one of the only times I've seen the modern "contractor" trend work out in anyone's favor:

- https://nitter.net/happyf333tz/status/1036846647945261056

- https://nitter.net/happyf333tz/status/1040074413599678465

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