Making money off your hobby?

[Jas]

I'm in the process of moving into a new place, and in the course of doing so have shown my Rig to the owner of our building, and well he's asked if I could build him a multimedia rig to go with his home theater system with some cool watercooling ans case mods.

I've been in the IT industry for about 8 years now, and have doen everything from enterprise scale builds, and databse development. I've built lots o fcomputer for friends, but never so far had anyoen actually offer to pay me to build them a custom a rig.

I'm just curious who else has had their "hobby" make them some money.

I know Weapon, Cathar, and Thor have, but who else?

[dicecca112]

I do make some money, I build custom systems for people in my town, have an ad in the local paper, helps when you know the editor, I do repairs as well.

[Skeen]

Since I have only built for friends I don't charge anything. But then I don't really offer 24 hour tech support either.

[Jas]

I've got abuot 5 or 6 peopel who I "take care of their machines" for. AKA, if you got beer, ill "fix" it.

Its one thing to get paid to build Sun clusters, its a whoel different ball of wax to make some money doing fun stuff, like whiping out the cutting torch and dremel and making your wife nervouse as you cackel gleefully....

[Acurax]

I make a little when building/upgrading systems for people I know (or my parents know)... only do it if they come to me. I would probably build systems all the time, but I don't want to deal with 'tech support' issues.

[dicecca112]

do what I do, if they have an issue, I will deal with it within the first month for free, after that I charge. I make them sign a standard contract, that explains, I am not there for free tech support, I offer a 30day warranty on the system working, if anything breaks, I will eat the shipping to replace the part or eat the price to replace the component if the RMA fails, or can't be done. And consequently I only use good parts.

Edit: Why is this in watercooling?

[Jas]

Well, I was asking about doing Watercooling builds, not so much general PC builds/fixing.

[honhon]

my friend is an afiliate with tigerdirect.com and he builds the custom computers some people ask for.

[9mmCensor]

I dont do it. I dont want to turn into a tech support b**ch.

I will advise people on getting the right system, but not from me.

[CCUABIDExORxDIE]

ive built computers for my friends, and they always tell me to get something nice formyself and they buy it for me, last time i got a psu for a build, and the other time, i go tmy stickof patriot pc4000 ram.

[Jas]

I'm just worried if I start building WC rigs for people ( so far this is just one guy) Someone is going to drench their rig and blame me.

I'll need to come up with a no-fault contract.

[EWBatOVAclockin]

I like the 30 day contract idea. That's how long it is until RMA's are until there out of the question. Then if your nice you can give free tech support SOMETIMES not all the time. I usually just tell people to "Use common sense" and it usually works or they just give up.

PEACE

[Jas]

I wish my buddy at work had some common sense,

I'm STILL trying to figure out how he jammed an IDE ribbon cable into his DVD-ROM upside down.... I mean, they have the darn slots on them.... And its not like if you put it in upside down its doesn't "fight back".

So, as far as common sense goes......

[EWBatOVAclockin]

Haha yea for some reason people think computer's are like aliens and they just refuse to accept the fact that "The basics" are really common sense stuff :p

PEACE

[FSBxtreme]

One important thing we all should take into a consideration is that when building a new custom rig for someone, they may backout later...so I usually take estimate and get the money first or make them sign a contract: "Will not retract request" or something...

[whitebloodcell]

One important thing we all should take into a consideration is that when building a new custom rig for someone, they may backout later

Not quite building a rig, but I know refuse to buy stuff for friends (who dont have internet access (damn school)) ,after I agreed to get someone an iPod, who then backed out. What the hell do I want with another MP3 Player! Make up your damn minds!

[Electron Chaser]

I do a lot of custom builds for people. I draw the line at air cooling though. Too many things that can go wrong that can hold you liable. Not to mention the upkeep that Watercooling must have in order to run correctly. Which means then you become their digital water boy.

Instead of Deuce Bigelo the fish guy we could call you Binary Bigelo the WCing guy.

[CCUABIDExORxDIE]

electron chaser dont you mean bobby bouche, and binary bouche? thats what adam sandlers name was when he was in Waterboy.

[Jas]

Well, I figure if you are going to build something for someone else to use you have to make it easy for them to maintain it. so...

My thought is to basically use the same fill and drain loop I put together.

Using two Y splitters, the tubing is coiled around liek shown below before it enters the pump. The top line is your fill line. The bottom line is used for easy draining.

Just tell them to drain and then flush the system every 6 months, and they should be golden.

[Electron Chaser]

electron chaser dont you mean bobby bouche, and binary bouche? thats what adam sandlers name was when he was in Waterboy.

LOL that would work too.

WCing is the devil!!

[Jas]

LOL that would work too.

WCing is the devil!!

LOL

[CCUABIDExORxDIE]

its a money devil, thats for sure. ohh yea, check the hot deals jas, i found a mag3 for 30 bucks shipped.

[thorilan]

building highly specialized water cooling solutions has been suplimental income for me for a couple years

[Cathar]

I don't make money from waterblocks, well certainly not so much as to make anyone on the US minimum wage envious in any way.

[9mmCensor]

I don't make money from waterblocks, well certainly not so much as to make anyone on the US minimum wage envious in any way.
And I thought with the price of your blocks, you must have a couple of Ferrari's and villas in Provance. (jokin')

[Cathar]

And I thought with the price of your blocks, you must have a couple of Ferrari's and villas in Provance. (jokin')

Oh I have those, but not from waterblocks.

Making waterblocks is my geeky social penitance for having the good stuff.

[Electron Chaser]

Oh I have those, but not from waterblocks.

Making waterblocks is my geeky social penitance for having the good stuff.


Cathar, the Philanthropist of the WCing world. :p

The fact that he is also the maker of the premier waterblocks on the planet is a definate added bonus. :)

[mysterfix]

I've built a few systems for friends of friends. I didn't make much and none of them included watercooling parts. I think if I did do some custom watercooling rigs i would include a disclaimer.

[ls7corvete]

I dont do it. I dont want to turn into a tech support b**ch.

I will advise people on getting the right system, but not from me.

Ditto.

do what I do, if they have an issue, I will deal with it within the first month for free, after that I charge. I make them sign a standard contract, that explains, I am not there for free tech support, I offer a 30day warranty on the system working, if anything breaks, I will eat the shipping to replace the part or eat the price to replace the component if the RMA fails, or can't be done. And consequently I only use good parts.

I considered something similar, but in the end I realized if that 'contract' is ever used your gonna lose a friend and gain an enemy, simple as that.

I have a friend that does tons of computer stuff, its starting to be painfully clear that he does nothing with computers and relys on other for everything.

[Jas]

My bud from work (pretty much the brother I never had) trys his best. But lately, when a problem arises, that usually means he shows up at my door with a case beer and his puter.

BTW: beer is NOT AND OPTIONAL component to any build or repair.

[lowfat]

I build computers for friends, cause i find it enjoyable. I make maybe $10 build but thats about it. I will never give them any warranty except for help trying to figure out the problem, and i would never install a watercooling system. If someone doesn't know enough about computers to build a computer, they definately shouldn't have a watercooled computer.

[jcw122]

\

I know Weapon, Cathar, and Thor have, but who else?

whose Thor? whats he do?

[godofgorks]

Never buillt computers but just worked on them, friends and family only. I don't ask for anything, other then cost of parts, I just have fun doing it. If they offer to pay I accept gratuitously though, I mean who is going to not take money! :p Anyways, I would build computers, but wouldn't touch water cooling for someone else, at least not till I've built a few for myself. Just the support of an air cooled system would be enough of a headache.

I can see it now when all future computers are watercooled, theoretically, you'll buy a PC from dell or similar and every so often you get a reminder to bring it back to get it serviced, just like an automobile. Every # months or ### hours of running.

[ghettocomp]

I have made only about $100 give or take a couple of bucks. Many of the builds were just rebuilds of old stuff I had scrounged up, and a couple of new custom things.
Honestly, Most of my "Profits" otherwise, were getting the extra parts to keep for myself. Many which are now spread throughout my current comps.

[thorilan]

whose Thor? whats he do?
some people call me Thor for short.

[MVC]

The only person I've ever accepted money from for working on his computer was my boss when I fixed his home machine--and then, only because he was worried about the ethical issues. I've always figured that if I start making money from my hobby, it'll cease to be a hobby. And, between my regular job of developing Oracle databases and my consulting work reviewing research reports, I really don't need a third job and really do need the fun and relaxation of playing with "small" computers.

[sunrunner20]

I'm 17 at the moment and consider my self "professional" level computer work (but not "expert" I've still got aways to go, but im better than some professional's I've talked with...") And have really gotten into for the past two years, currently I have a customer/potential customer base of about 18 people. One very happy customer, one potential custmer that I had to turn away becuase their problem was lack of ram, told them that and said I'd do it for no charge(suck up to the customer :p). Another person I ghetto fixed their comp with a wire tie when one corner of the Intel HSF bracket was broken(90% sure compusa did it) and I'm pretty much gruarnteed that they will come to me whhen the have a problem next.

[voigts]

Being relatively new to WC myself, I have not dabbled with doing that for anyone else. I do however part-time do some hardware/software work in-homes and businesses for people that I have been referred to. Being a tinkerer, I have done everything from replace MBs, to helping a lady order an OEM Systemworks Cd (1/2 of store prices) and install it, to cleaning out spyware (MAJOR problem these days), blowing out so much tar-laden dust from a smokers house that the computer could not even boot (had to actually take apart the PS completely just to be able to get the tar-dust out of it), reinstalling OS's, crawling under a house running 100ft of Cat 5 to install a simple network, etc. I think it is fun as a second job. It keeps me on my toes.

FYI - Having seen what I have of prebuilt systems, particulary HP and Compaq, I don't think I could EVER bring myself to buy a prebuilt system.

[dfonda]

When ever I get paid to do something it sorta sucks the fun out of it.

[whitebloodcell]

When ever I get paid to do something it sorta sucks the fun out of it.

Being paid just makes me happier. :)

[Eric1285]

Yeah, I've only ever been paid to troubleshoot and remove OS problems...namely spyware and adware. I'm thinking about placing an ad in the local paper for system building and more extensive repairs though. I'd probably go to get my A+ certification first, just so I can say that I'm a certified tech. I'll have to work out a contract though...should be a nice second job for the summer, and it'll probably pay more than my current job.

[superdaveviii]

I'll build things for free, so long as they understand the risks involved, such as no fancy warranties or tech support. Only time I've taken money is when I've had to come over to someone's house or take their PC home for repair.

[Enablingwolf]

The two WC units I have assembled I could not give a guarantee past the product replacement/reinstall of the parts. It is an exotic technique and not main stream. So any work I do in that area reflects that. Air is common and gets common repair support. It is hard to make sure there is no leaks, when a person don't know to refill a loop.
If they are savvy enough. I will assemble the loop for them. That is extra though. Since I tend to incorporate hardware support into build costs.

[whitebloodcell]

For building a System for someone, would you just go and order all the components from an online Shop then just charge them £50 or something? Or would you go about a slightly more money saving route, I dunno like trying to get the parts OEM from random places.

[Enablingwolf]

In my case. I work with each client on a personal basis. Each build is different. Depends how much they are willing to pay and thier needs.

[superdaveviii]

First thing I ask them is how much are they willing to spend. I don't accept "as cheap as possible" as an answer, I only work with hard numbers. Then I'll ask them what they intend to use their PC for primarily. Based on their budget and uses, I'll come up with a few possible builds. Some under budget, some right on, and some slightly over. Explain the pro's and con's of each different build, and further customize the build(s) until the person knows what they are getting. Things like retail and OEM are worked out during this phase, depending on their preference/budget.

[lilneel12]

i have made some money making computers, fixing or upgrading people computer