Hello All

[GuyboR]

Dan,

Sorry if we all sound like we are jumping down your throat. That is NOT the norm here with the SFA. If you come in as a know it all, or walk into the room with a chip on your shoulder you will put people on their heels from the get go. That is what you have done...IN MY OPINION.

There is a wealth of knowledge here in the SFA and it is shared freely. Appreciate it, and respect it and it will continue to be shared. Be confrontational and people will pull in their helping reigns and you will have to learn the way most all of us did....by paying for the education yourself thru mistakes.

Best of luck with your new endeavor.

[ash20ash]

Dan.

You better back up and realize what your getting in to. I was in the same position your in 7 tears/years ago. I doubt very seriouslly if I would still be around with out the SFA.

You will need huge amounts of advice and help to "Make money" in this biz.

So you better check yo self before you wreck yo self.





You have a world of knowledge at your finger tips. Dont ruin it

[Todd B]

Yeah, Todd B. !!!!!

[Todd B]

At you Dan R

[Todd B]

Dan

Don't think that this is the normal response you will receive when asking for help!

Look at what you have said.

You have basically said that all granite guys you have had a dealing with are idiots and useless. Maybe they are! Maybe some of those are here.

Or maybe you selected the lowest price Everytime and got what you paid for! Lowest service, lowest quality and the lowest amount of respect! Maybe if you did some homework and started trying to find a good fabricator then you wouldnt be here.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that you have basically told some of the best fabricators that it is easy and that anyone with a bit of cash can clean up and take the world by storm. Making such a statement can get ones back up.

Truth is if your serious about starting a business making stone tops. This place will be your go to guy.

[Vadim]

I find this post interesting having the same enthusiasm about becoming a stone shop owner some 7 years ago. I have to agree with all of the seasoned fabricators that have given their honest replies. If someone had told how difficult it was going to be starting a fabrication shop I would have not believed them. Every single one of them is not exaggerating buy any stretch of the imagination. This business in particular is difficult. Is it possible to make a living? Yes. Is it worth the blood sweat and tears it will take to first learn the art, establish contacts, set up lasting business relationships, prove yourself in the market, withstand the pressures of shifting economies, work long hard hours, risk you health, wealth?

I will let you answer that for yourself....

But if you chose to embark on this journey the guys apart of this organization are hands down some of the best guys you will ever find. Listen to their wisdom. Many of them are the dominating leaders not only in their regions but the industry as a whole. Their operations operate like clockwork and pump out tops so fast its ridiculous. They have a few things to say. With out this organization I don't think I'd still be in business. The information gathered here has saved me countless times.

Good luck

[Floqsc]

here is my .02 cents worth. There are a lot of things that can go wrong. Being new to the business you do have a lot to learn. It may look easy from the outside looking in and it is Always easy to talk bad about someone else and how they did the job.
Laser templating is good. Rememeber though you Must have a good person using that tool. Then a good water jet to cut it with. If it is not templated right then the fit will be off.
Installation: You Must have a good installer as well. To be a good installer you must be a Great fabricator. Reason being is that if you have to make modifcations in the field you need to know how to do so. In the feild it is harder to do, remember you are no longer in your shop which makes it harder to do in the field. That is why you need to be a Great fabricator.
All parts Must come together to make a Great end product for your customer. This means your stone supplier must supply you with good material. Do you have a shop or a way to unload the slab? Do you know what to look for in a slab? Would you reject a slab for poor quailty? that is just step 1.
Then into fabrication. As I said you would have a lot to learn in fabricating as well. I've been in the business for 20+ years and feel I can still learn. In trying to teach someone i wish I could download my brain like a computer because there is always something I have forgot and do not remember untill I need to use it.

This is just a few things that came to mind this morning. Good Luck and Welcome to the Stone business.

One more thing on keeping install dates and times. If you get busy and you want to promise a date Always give yourself Extra time. Tell them 2 weeks instead of one week, You can ALWAYS mmove install date up and be a Hero. Move it back after you have told them a week and it takes two and they will rememeber that and go else where next time.

[Stonecuttter]

Just saw this thread.
Where'd he go?

[Todd B]

He saw Dan R's desk, brought 1 slab of black pearl and broke it. Then gave up on the idea!

[Ken Lago]

[Curtis R. Marburger]

had dreams of a full bull nose black pearl desk top , shattered into shards

[Floqsc]

Don't be to Harsh on the guy. You Never know. He may have learned more than we know and be SO Busy he does not have time to be on here anymore.