Innovation Frustration

[ih303]

Here's my problem. I've got a ton of ideas for innovations I'd like to make to various aspects of hookah smoking. The problem is getting them from chilling in my noggin to smoking on my coffee table. I just have no idea how to even prototype some of this stuff up without some sort of massive investment on tools and such. Here's some examples...

Clay/Earthware Bowls - Pottery wheel is $400 minimum. Kilns start around $600. This doesn't include tools and materials.

Hookahs - Most hardware stores only sell copper and galvanized steel tubes and pipes. Stainless steel is a little more difficult to come buy and must be welded. I haven't even looked into how much a welder costs.

Coal Starter - Again, building any sort of housing that would resist heat would require metal and welding

Hoses - Tips require a lathe, and the only tubing I found that came recommended on the forum I bought only to throw away once I got it and realized it kinked like crazy.


You see my frustration? I don't have a workshop. And I certainly don't have the money to just go out and buy it all just to try something out. Certainly this is not uncommon. What do people typically do when they have an idea for a new product and don't have the means to prototype it? Any ideas?

[Skoozle]

[quote name='ih303' date='08 June 2010 - 09:12 AM' timestamp='1276006353' post='471072']
Here's my problem. I've got a ton of ideas for innovations I'd like to make to various aspects of hookah smoking. The problem is getting them from chilling in my noggin to smoking on my coffee table. I just have no idea how to even prototype some of this stuff up without some sort of massive investment on tools and such. Here's some examples...

Clay/Earthware Bowls - Pottery wheel is $400 minimum. Kilns start around $600. This doesn't include tools and materials.

Hookahs - Most hardware stores only sell copper and galvanized steel tubes and pipes. Stainless steel is a little more difficult to come buy and must be welded. I haven't even looked into how much a welder costs.

Coal Starter - Again, building any sort of housing that would resist heat would require metal and welding

Hoses - Tips require a lathe, and the only tubing I found that came recommended on the forum I bought only to throw away once I got it and realized it kinked like crazy.


You see my frustration? I don't have a workshop. And I certainly don't have the money to just go out and buy it all just to try something out. Certainly this is not uncommon. What do people typically do when they have an idea for a new product and don't have the means to prototype it? Any ideas?




[/quote]


I don't know how big Rapid City is but around here, I would have the following options.

Clay/Earthware Bowls - There are lots of pottery classes you could sign up for that would give you access to wheels and kilns clays and glazes as well as give you a little instruction on how to work the clay, If you know how to make what you want, you could find a pottery studio that would provide all the materials/equipment you need and allow you to work there for a small fee. Make sure you watch "Ghost" before you go.

Hookahs - You can get a supply of SS tubing off the internet. As far as fitting pieces together for a prototype, use JB Weld instead of actual welding, I'm pretty sure there is a heat resistant formula that is used to repair engines and should hold up for a hookah, as far as machine work, look around for an independent machine shop or even check craigslist for a dude with machine tools willing to do the work for you. If you are specific with what you want done and patient enough to let him do it in his down time, you can get the work done pretty cheap. This guy will be able to do some welding for you once your design is at that stage. With machine work, you get to choose only two of the following three - Get it done fast, Get it done right, Get it done cheap.

Coal Starter - Similar to the hookah situation, but now you might need to bribe your electrician buddy with a 6-pack to wire it up.

Hoses - I don't know either. 3 outta 4 ain't bad.

Good luck!

[ryno]

For any metal piping or parts, check out http://www.mcmaster.com/#

[Skoozle]

[quote name='ryno' date='08 June 2010 - 11:08 AM' timestamp='1276013321' post='471082']
For any metal piping or parts, check out [url="http://www.mcmaster.com/#"]http://www.mcmaster.com/#[/url]
[/quote]

^+1

Also check here for SS tubing: [url="http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/31170-possible-source-for-stainless-steel-downstem-material-found/"]http://www.hookahforum.com/topic/31170-possible-source-for-stainless-steel-downstem-material-found/[/url]

[insidius]

Have you tried going to one of those date-type pottery places? You basically go and pay a flat fee or something and they let you build whatever you want, glaze it, and fire it all at once and you take home whatever you make. Might be good to get wheel/kiln access, at least at first to make a prototype.

[Venger]

I have a friend who is a potter. I wanted a bowl that was smaller than a mini but bigger (deeper) than the alien. Showed her pics of both and decided what dimensions we wanted it to be. It turned out pretty good. I use it every night.we need to tweak a few things but it is very close to what I wanted and she was excited to have the new project.
Ray

[Stuie]

I know Colto got some Stainless tubing from http://www.speedymetals.com for his custom hookahs.

[ih303]

Thanks for all the great feedback, guys.

I might see if I can put some of this stuff together myself after ordering the parts online. I thought about going with some prototype fabrication company, but that seems pretty expensive.

So, let's see... I need to learn to throw pottery, mill metal, blow glass, and weld. Shouldn't be too bad, eh?

[Skoozle]

Or you can head down to your local book store and pick up [i]Hookah Making for Dummies.[/i]

[ih303]

[quote name='Skoozle' date='09 June 2010 - 12:59 PM' timestamp='1276109968' post='471255']
Or you can head down to your local book store and pick up [i]Hookah Making for Dummies.[/i]
[/quote]

Lol... Of course it CAN'T be that easy.

[Fumo1]

[quote name='ih303' date='08 June 2010 - 10:12 AM' timestamp='1276006353' post='471072']
Here's my problem. I've got a ton of ideas for innovations I'd like to make to various aspects of hookah smoking. The problem is getting them from chilling in my noggin to smoking on my coffee table. I just have no idea how to even prototype some of this stuff up without some sort of massive investment on tools and such. Here's some examples...

Clay/Earthware Bowls - Pottery wheel is $400 minimum. Kilns start around $600. This doesn't include tools and materials.

Hookahs - Most hardware stores only sell copper and galvanized steel tubes and pipes. Stainless steel is a little more difficult to come buy and must be welded. I haven't even looked into how much a welder costs.

Coal Starter - Again, building any sort of housing that would resist heat would require metal and welding

Hoses - Tips require a lathe, and the only tubing I found that came recommended on the forum I bought only to throw away once I got it and realized it kinked like crazy.


You see my frustration? I don't have a workshop. And I certainly don't have the money to just go out and buy it all just to try something out. Certainly this is not uncommon. What do people typically do when they have an idea for a new product and don't have the means to prototype it? Any ideas?




[/quote]

Probably the best way to get started is with a good idea for a retrofit part for an exsisting hookah. If you have an interesting design or artwork you could make it to fit say a Mya hookah and grow from there. Otherwise you present yourself with a daunting task unless you have skills and a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[Arcane]

[quote name='ih303' date='09 June 2010 - 04:56 AM' timestamp='1276095393' post='471224']
Thanks for all the great feedback, guys.

I might see if I can put some of this stuff together myself after ordering the parts online. I thought about going with some prototype fabrication company, but that seems pretty expensive.

So, let's see... I need to learn to throw pottery, mill metal, blow glass, and weld. Shouldn't be too bad, eh?
[/quote]
i'll pay up to $1,000 if you make me a jabba the hut hookah with certain modifications to ease cleaning....

[dizzbizz]

I'm not sure what you're schedule is but why not take some classes at a community college? You'd have all the tools you'd need, not to mention a professor to guide you.

[rahl071]

If you want to, you can get threaded SS for the pipes. Then you have that break-down feature like a mya.

[ih303]

I'm excited now. I recently bought a new Dremel and a bunch of accessories which should let me prototype my hookah idea with stuff from Lowes and Hobby Lobby. I'm crossing my fingers that things will go well and my idea will work as well as I hope it will.