saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 15, 2012 15:45:58 GMT
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Hi all, Just in the process of starting my own business. I am looking into supplying to order banded steels (professionally banded by a local heavy engineering plant near to me) and finished in a powder coated colour of your own choosing, I believe this also includes chromes and metallic. I am looking at prices from £280 to £450 per set (of 4) depending on requirements and finish! All welds will be dressed to ensure complete weld penetrations and all wheels will run true. can also supply standard steel rims (not banded) to match sets as a spare but this will be an additional cost.
Also I am discussing supplying fitted tyres with a local firm so as to enable buyers the choice of wheel/tyre options if required.
Any feedback welcomed, Thanks for your time reading this post
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Nov 15, 2012 15:55:36 GMT
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Would the base price of £280 include powdercoating?
If it's just for the banding itself, you're already pricing yourself out of the market against already established sources.
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saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 15, 2012 16:00:43 GMT
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yes all the prices will include powder coating, I don't like the idea of supplying raw unfinished wheels. As if I was buying them I would want them straight on the car
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Copey
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,845
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Nov 15, 2012 16:01:35 GMT
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seems a good price then seein as they are finished too, do you have any examples of wheels that have already been done?
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2012 16:02:05 GMT by Copey
1990 Ford Sierra Sapphire GLSi with 2.0 Zetec 1985 Ford Capri 3.0 (was a 2.0 Laser originally)
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saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 15, 2012 16:07:19 GMT
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No examples yet as this is a Brand New business and I am working another job to fund it ... I will be getting a test rim sorted soon (next 7 to 14 days) to show the workmanship. Test rim will be white powder coat and most likely the spare rim from my saxo banded to 8j
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,784
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Banded Steels?Dez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Nov 15, 2012 16:20:57 GMT
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theres already for more people offering the service than the demand warrants. lots of people talk about having wheels banded, but the percentage that actually do out of those who talk sh1t about it is miniscule.
james P is the go-to guy on here, and I do a few as well, usually those who want em quicker than james can offer (he isnt doing it as a business so lead times can be quite high.) or more often people who are local-ish and don't want to spend an extra 50 quid or so posting wheels back and forth when they can drop off/pick up instead. I don't actually pick up that many sets though, one a month if I'm lucky- compared to the huge amount of timewasters who contact me who suddenly change their mind/disappear when it comes to handing over the money, usually kids. after all, 3-400 quid is still a lot of cash to yog out on a set of wheels, you can get a really good set of alloys for that if you shop around. I know of at least 4 other people/companies offering the service already too as well as me and james, which have got most regions of the uk covered in a similar fashion.
then theres also some competent engineers who are more than capable of making their own- mr speedy on here did his own, and I'm sure a few other people have too. a lot of the bandeds out there are actually made by people whith the skills themselves, as its a 'free' set of wheels to them. thats why I started doing them, and word of mouth meant I ended up doing them for others.
also, quality is of the upmost importance. personally, I wouldnt go need a wheel with 'dressed' welds. theres absolutely no reason to do it. a slightest flick over with a knotwheel or flapwheel to remove any spatter and thats it. ive bought bad wheels in the past that have broken, thats why I started to do my own, then wheels for others.
reputation is very important too. you will find people reluctant to use you unless you can show examples of your(well, your third partys) work that has been given some stick day-in day-out for a considerable time. thats whats sells james' wheels (and mine too I guess). hes been doing it for a while and people know hes good.
to be honest, I think youre very late to the game. 4 or 5 years ago, yeah the need was there. now, I don't think theres the demand people perceive their is (the majority of the vw scene has moved on to other things, namely custom adapters to fit the most obscure alloys possible), and theres already a lot of people already doing it.
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2012 16:23:22 GMT by Dez
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saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 15, 2012 16:36:09 GMT
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I won't just be banding wheels, I am focusing on other aspects and areas also including alloy refurb and I have a vast array of interesting powder coats available including black/chrome and candy finishes and still am happy to refurb standard steelies
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Banded Steels?craig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Nov 15, 2012 17:14:22 GMT
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Are you leak testing them as well before sending them out? If your selling them as 'ready to go' I wouldn't want to have to get the tyre popped back off and risk chipping the powder coating twice. But if you can get a few sets under your belt and supply a good, quick service I can see there being some work in it.
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Nov 15, 2012 18:03:28 GMT
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depends where in the country you are, i don't know who does them in the midlands?
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saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 15, 2012 18:03:39 GMT
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All rims will be leak tested before being powder coated and again after powder coat. Turnaround time should be around 5 days.
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,789
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Nov 15, 2012 18:18:48 GMT
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As Dez said, I did my own, and that's led to me doing a few more sets. Lots of people talk about getting them done, but not many actually follow through depends where in the country you are, I don't know who does them in the midlands? I'm based right in the middle (ish) of the midlands between Northants and Warks. I don't do it as a buisness tho, but rather as a sideline to my main engineering buisness activites (beer money, shhhhh) There's also a firm over to the west midlands doing them. Average prices seem to be between £40-60 each wheel for banding depending on sizes, and then there's the paint/powdercoat on top Good luck to you if you can make it pay, but as Dez pointed out the biggest users of banded steels (imho) is/was the VW and they're moving on You need to be looking at the 50's/60's/70's era of cars with people creating a 'period modified style' where alloys were not generally available, and that is a very limited consumer base Where abouts are you based? And 5 day turnaround is VERY quick if you can maintain that!
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Last Edit: Nov 15, 2012 18:20:24 GMT by MrSpeedy
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Nov 15, 2012 20:04:44 GMT
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I'm in the midlands and may also be offering a banding service soon. All bands will be full penetration welds , welded by me (I'm coded to bs en 287-1) and we will be offering other services as well such as media blasting powder coating and a fully trained mechanic. We may also offer certification by a fully trained NDT tester at extra cost.
Anyway good luck give it a go, more options available the better for everybody I think. Bond
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MK5 Transit MK1 capri
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Banded Steels?craig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Nov 15, 2012 22:14:00 GMT
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It would be worth advertising on some of the mini sites, they are only recently coming over to banded steels (but they do tend to be on a smaller budget than the VW boys)
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I have seen a set of wheels banded by Bondyfnm. Unfortunately i share a unit with him so can't escape his excitement about them. Having seen the work that goes into them makes me appreciate the finished product. Also i understand that trends change and think as a collective on this forum we should look at doing things which are new and always be on the look out for the next new thing. I myself want to start up a business but having enough work to support me is very important. If people keep on wanting banded steels then the chances of you making money is good but as trends come and go maybe it would be better to be a little more diverse and look at other things you can do so as not to be in just one market. If you go ahead i hope it works out for you. Good luck with it. Will get some pics of bondys up at the weekend.
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1999 micra. Puch bike and nirve chopper.
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saxoman
Part of things
previously chompy_snake
Posts: 106
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Nov 16, 2012 11:40:14 GMT
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craig1010cc I had thought of doing unusual like metric metro wheels and stuff like that, the costs are lower due to smaller sizes too so it may be worth me investigating that route also. I have to get some sample work out first as stated so as people see that I'm serious about what I'm doing so watch this space things will be happening very soon
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bryn
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,913
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Nov 16, 2012 11:55:14 GMT
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Good luck to you, banded steels have been with us for well over 50yrs... So they'll be around for a while yet ;D
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Volvo, Buggy, Discovery and an old tractor.
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MrSpeedy
East Midlands
www.vintagediesels.co.uk
Posts: 4,789
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Nov 16, 2012 12:59:59 GMT
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craig1010cc I had thought of doing unusual like metric metro wheels and stuff like that The big drawback with that is tyres. It's hard enough (expensive) to get standard ones, let alone oversize widths
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craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,998
Club RR Member Number: 35
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Banded Steels?craig1010cc
@craig1010cc
Club Retro Rides Member 35
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Nov 16, 2012 13:15:24 GMT
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craig1010cc I had thought of doing unusual like metric metro wheels and stuff like that The big drawback with that is tyres. It's hard enough (expensive) to get standard ones, let alone oversize widths Indeed, can't see there being a market for them, but for 10's and 12's already done for minis, possibly (although there are a couple of 10x6 sets up at the mo that are struggling to sell for £250)
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Dec 29, 2012 20:36:13 GMT
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Response to the post by DEZ of S@@@@ F@@@@@ ....
Part of your words from your post underlined ...
1. compared to the huge amount of timewasters who contact me who suddenly change their mind/disappear when it comes to handing over the money ( I paid you upfront ... I now know it was a mistake )
2. reputation is very important too ( Sadly you let yourself down with my wheels ).
3. also, quality is of the upmost importance ( I can photograph mine and put on here to show your quality, poor workmanship, you had them 6 weeks and rushed them right at the end to get them done, but trust me I don't want to do this, I just hope for a reply by TEXT or EMAIL ).
When I was interested in having the wheels done, you were quick with email replies on the 9th November ( 3 replies to my questions ), one on 11th, one on 12th and one on 16th Nov. Since wheels were picked up and I got them home ( I never doubted your quality and it was dark so didn't think I would have shabby wheels ).
Welds left, other welds ground down leaving channels in the rims where they needed more weld, all 4 wheels now have grinder scuffs all around the curved inner wheels.
We inspected the 5 wheels I had and saw one was very rusty on the back ( probably been a spare under a car, we decided to have this banded narrow for a spare front wheel. When I got them back you banded this worst wheel as one of my wider rear banded wheels !!!.
Outlining problems ...
I sent a polite TEXT .... Which you ignored
I sent a polite EMAIL ... Which you ignored
I didn't ring because you say your phone is broke.
Over to you Dez, I'm not here to drag your reputation through the mud, but this is the final way you could be polite and answer me. And a chance of giving you your side of it because, I'm like that, I trust everyone and anyone's reputation I think is very important.
Thank You Gary
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Dec 29, 2012 20:59:20 GMT
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Well that's Dez's reputation down the drain!
I am looking at getting some 17" steelies banded towards the middle of 2013, I will bookmark this page so I have a list of people I know to contact.
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Vauxhall Nova Estate Vauxhall Carlton V8
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