Sort of a DIY epiphany!!

Sorry a little OT for DIY.

I have been working on a Brew Stand for the last few months. Designing and sourcing parts. Building and dreaming of when it will be finished. Well I am getting down to the end and I looking back at what I could do differently. Well here is the epiphany.

Get Stuff For FREE!


Samples, Samples, and more Samples.

I never really though of trying it too much during my build, but I received a sample motorized ball valve from a manufacturer in china. FREE. I am receiving stainless steel push buttons from a manufacturer. FREE.

I realized today. If I would have done my homework. I could have received a lot more samples of the things I needed for this project. All you have to do is ask.

Are you saying they are for a company or anything? I've gotten some stuff as samples through my work, but never on my own. Good work! It never hurts to ask

This is how I built everything I ever did in college.

"Hello, I'm working on a student project, could you send me a sample of ..."

I got parts that normally went for $500+ that way.

I've done this where I used to work. Asked for some White LEDs for samples when they were still pretty new. I used them for my prototype PED flashlights for caving and for a reading lamp I made up.

I never thought about asking for samples for something big like Brew rig though. Hurry, everyone order samples before the companies find out what we're up to!

I did use my "Brewery" name if they asked for a business. I just explained how I was going to use the part in my stand and that I was evaluating what might work best for the specific application. The one guy I emailed was very interested in the Brewstand. He thought it was cool.

I asked Sabco for a sample of their Brew-Magic. They said "Certainly just send $$$$$$".

good call. Writing letters does wonders too, if only for some schwag if nothing else. I'm surprised no one has asked for your sources yet!
OT: I drove cross country some years ago and planned on camping in the badlands of south dakota and having an epiphany....didn't happen, i got lost hiking

twst1up said:

good call. Writing letters does wonders too, if only for some schwag if nothing else. I'm surprised no one has asked for your sources yet!
OT: I drove cross country some years ago and planned on camping in the badlands of south dakota and having an epiphany....didn't happen, i got lost hiking

Click to expand...

My sources are the internet. Globalspec and TradeKey helped for this project. TradeKey; under a company listing will say if they have samples.

I found a link to the switch samples on an electronics project site.