While compiling a list of the things I ordered and putting together a manufacturer's contact list with phone numbers I've found a snag that could affect everyone buying many of these items.

One place in particular is a "wholesale only" place and while they will sell to anyone with a credit card they do have ridgid minimum orders that will exceed individuals needs for the IM Workshop. Other places also have the minimum order requirments but will allow mix-n-match grit quantities to meet the minumums.

My question is how receptive everyone would be to my doing an initial order for 6-10 participants then selling the "kit" required for this manifold. A kit I will determine to have the right amount of and properly suited tools to the IM Workshop. One that will contain everything I'll be recommending in the right quantities to do the job. No minimums, no ordering from multiple vendors and no extra parts.

The benefit of this is primarily costs and convenience. Because I would buy in quantity we all get the parts cheaper than if we order individually. I'd be happy once I decide on which tools I'll be recommending to provide my suppliers web site so you can view those prices and minimum orders that you'd have to buy and pay for ordering direct.

And for the younger in the crowd that think everything is free I will tell you up-front: YES, I will be making money doing this, make no mistake about it. But I'll still be selling to you for less than you can buy these items for yourself at ANY advertised web site, PERIOD! This is "work", it takes time, effort and a significant outlay of front-money. If you are unable/unwilling to accept that without whining/complaining, you're enthusiastically encouraged to shop around. I'm sick to death of hearing my "stuff is just too expensive." Truth is it's not at all. It's just more quality than you're used to or can afford. Neither of which make it "expensive" as it is very very fairly-priced. If you doubt that check my prices against a machine shop for doing EXACTLY the same work rather than comparing it to what you can do with a hacksaw blade and a file. My stuffs expensive but an under-dash neon kit at $249 or a clown-suit front bumper at twice that amount is not only affordable but a must-have!?! What's wrong with this picture!?! 'Nuf said!

This does not affect/include any tools, products or supplies I have shown you up to this point and is only for actual porting/polishing tools we'll be using in the runners that will be replacing the flex hones I originally thought we'd be using.

It appears I can do this, at first glance, and come in at or better than 15% less than if you could duplicate this exact kit irrespective of required "minimum" orders. Looks like you'd have to spend just over $290+ shipping from 3 sources with "minimums" to match the kit I can offer for at/near the $175 price point including shipping for EVERYTHING. And in my kit EVERYTHING is useable and nothing leftover. Buying direct you'll have unneeded/unnecesary bits & pieces.

Doesnt matter to me as I've already ordered and will have most of my stuff tomorrow. But with the leftovers I'll have from my initial order I could buy a few other things and have enough "extra" pieces to stock 2-3 additional kits. Same with the balance of my initial order which should be arriving Friday.

My initial order now totals over $1750 as I can see I'll be doing a few of these for other people so I ordered more than needed for deepest discounts. Many of the tools however were ordered as a one-up basis for my personal use and I would need to order more of those.

Soon as I get tomorrow's order in I'll take photos of the various pieces tho due to size I'll likely only include one each of the various ginding wheels, flappers, bore laps and mandrels as showing you 12 of each grinding tool will only diminish picture size and not allow for close inspection of the individual tools.

I have come across a sweet, Sweet, SWEET bore buffing/polishing system that will be here Friday. I'll get pics of that up soon as it arrives as well. But I had a free sample to play with yesterday and this piece is incredible! Makes the newly ported runners look like chrome or glass in less than a minute. Not a requirement but once you see a pic of my runners done with it vs the runners that arent there's not a soul here who's gonna want to skip this. Way WAY cool and right at or less than a $30 buy-in for all the tools to do it.

I'll wait on responses from you guys to gauge interest. And whatever I do will be based on initial interest. Those who opt not to get in on this now will be left to their own devices/resources when they do their tool purchasing for manifold work. Tho I will still provide them with my suppliers for this stuff.