Who we are...
I am basically a one person operation but that isn't totally true. I
couldn't possibly do everything that I do without the help of many who
are mentioned in general below. I plan on hiring my first full time
employee next year. He has filled in for me when I have been on travel
so that all orders continue to go out daily. I have many friends and
customers throughout the world that have helped to make this business
work and I want to thank them for all they have done.
What we strive to do...
Besides the obvious of making a great product and delivering on our
promises, we like to make parts that are a small part of a larger
assembly, that the manufacturer refuses to sell to the public, causing
the public to spend needless money and waste a perfectly good part. If
I can produce a part, sell it to a retailer or wholesaler and we can
both make a small profit, and they sell it to the consumer where they
save money and time compared to what it would have cost, than that is
the part I want to be making. For example, a horn kit for an 850 Volvo.
In the past the horn would get stuck on because of cheap plastic
insulators. The only fix was to clip the wire or replace the whole
steering wheel at $300. I redesigned the horn parts and came up with a
fix for $40. IPD, a Volvo wholesaler can buy these parts and make a few
dollars reselling them to their customers, saving them hundreds.
What the business is...
Like the homepage says, I just wanted a gear for my car and no one
would sell it to me. I work as a photojournalist, so I am constantly
meeting new people. One of those was a model maker who showed me the
art of plastic injection. I started off, and currently still working,
out of my garage and livingroom making parts for all types of cars and
other various items. The latest is for a local photographer who
invented a flashcard holder that mounts under your 35mm digital camera.
I am working to mold that as I type, well when I stop typing. If you
don't know about injection molding, it sounds very simple but is
actually very complex and takes a very large investment to make even
the smallest piece of plastic.
I have a better appreciation for my
laundry basket now. Just an example: A mold base from DME will run
$1400 before I even start cutting on it. When the tools are cut into
harden steel, fitted into the mold base, kickback pins and ejector pins
are put in place along with cooling lines, I have about $5k invested
before I know it. Then there is the actual injection machine which is
hard to put a price on because they vary so greatly in size and
features. Let's just say, I don't like to talk about it much.. Mine is
realtively small, weighing in at 2200 lbs, about 12 x 6 x 3.5 feet with
a really cool red light that flashes when something is wrong. Remember,
these machines are three phase and just about 100% of residential homes
only have single phase.
Another $4k later, and I have a digital phase
converter in the corner of the garage. The support crew for all this
equipment includes an electrician, service rep, a company to replace
the 115 gallons of hydralic fluid, plastic supplier, machine shop(on
call for emergencies), mold base supplier and rep, a few good friends
that will bring cold beer over when you are running hot plastic. Then
there is the granulator for regrinding all the wasted plastic back into
pellets, mold temp. control unit, engine hoist to lift the molds
(200lbs), forklift, machinist granite table to pull molds a part for
changing, and the list goes on. I never sat down and thought about this
before. No wonder no one ever bothered to do this.
More about who I am...
As I mentioned, I am a photojournalist by trade. For this reason,
please excuse my spelling and grammar (that is what editors get paid
for). I currently work full time at the NASA Langley Research Center for
the public affairs office. After hours I am shooting for all of the
wire services and doing corporate work around the Tidewater area. When
I am not shooting, I enjoy my time with my three children and wife.
Once everyone is asleep, or at least down for the count, I head to the
water for an evening of fly fishing for Rockfish and whatever else will
bite. Eventually I sleep for a few hours and fill in what is left with
running the injection machine, filling out orders, answering emails and
working on this site. I think I sleep. I grew up in Bethesda, MD and graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, IL with a B.S. in Public
Affairs and Minor in Photography. I have lived in WV and GA before
coming to Newport News to settle down. If you made it this far and like
to fish, you have an open invatation to come out anytime with me on the
water. One of the future jobs I would like to do is get into being a
fly fishing guide in the lower Chesapeake Bay. I am studying on my own
for the Captain's License now. (Very long test)
I have been making plastic parts since Aug 2001 and between this job
and photography I have been able to meet many wonderful people. I hope
to continue on with the plastics and eventually make it a full time
job, going out on my own. As many of you know, I can be reached almost
anytime, anywhere. If it wasn't for all the above mentioned equipment,
I am a laptop and a cell phone. Thank you for all your support over the
years and if you have a part you would like to make or would just like
to say hello or go fishing, call anytime.
Jeff Caplan
Odometer Gears, LTD
757-593-3478
