Funding

[starman]

Unfortunately, steady jobs for 14 yr olds are few and far between, at least in the US.... probably as it should be at that stage of your life. Be creative, ask neighbors for a weekly lawn mowing job...should be able to make $30-50/week just doing that. It will get old though...

My advice for young people spudding is to make a parent or close older relation a partner in your hobby. Be honest about your $$ requirements with them...parents aren't as dumb as you think with the whole "forgot the wallet" routine.

If you act as though you are endeavouring on an exciting hobby in a responsible way and not being a sneaky little pyro, you may be amazed the cooperation you'll receive from them.

[Blitz]

Starman raised a good point. A small side-effect of building these things is that you learn how to utilize many different tools, and if nothing else, how to perform work in a hands-on manner. Parents will recognize that.

[daberno123]

If you act as though you are endeavouring on an exciting hobby in a responsible way and not being a sneaky little pyro, you may be amazed the cooperation you'll receive from them.

I'm really lucky that my parents are really cooperative with me and drive me to the hardware store and stuff. My dad tells a bunch of people what I do for a hobby and he thinks its a great way for me to be hands-on with things.

That being said, just ask around. Relatives are perfect starting points; ask if they have any chores around the house they can be done, maybe they have dogs that need to be walked, whatever.

My aunt and uncle have moved close to where i live and since my uncle travels alot I'll be mowing their grass for them during the summer. I'm still trying to figure out how much they'll pay, hopefully it will be pretty reasonable as their yard is very hilly.

[MaxuS the 2nd]

I'm on £25 ($50) a week allowance from the parents just so I don't have to ask them to buy me things. I can save now because I'm done with spudding.

[Blitz]

What's your new poison, airguns?

[MrCrowley]

I can save now because I'm done with spudding.

Why?

[MaxuS the 2nd]

What's your new poison, airguns?

Ahh, no that was always my passion anyway.

MrC: Spudding costs so bloody much over in the Uk, americans can get fittings and pipe that cost literally 10% of what they do over here. On my tennis ball gun, if I was american, it would have cost £30. But since I'm british, it cost £150, and I just can't help thinkingthat I should be spending/saving my money instead.

Although, only PVC is cripplingly expensive, copper and steel isn't.

Do you guys reckon I'd need to weld together a chamber myself if it were to be subject to 3500psi? It would be small caliber, so the chamber would only be 1/2" really.

[MrCrowley]

For PVC it's similar with me...

For 2" fittings(basic):
Americans pay: $.80-$1(NZD)
I pay: $14

For 4" Fittings I pay around $45NZD, while Americans pay around $10(NZD) IIRC.

In America you can get a bag full of 20mm fittings for the same price I could get one here.

[MaxuS the 2nd]

Ridiculous isn't it.

[MrCrowley]

Yeah, I swear over time, mass importing would be a cheaper option and would pay off if you sold it to suppliers

[Blitz]

Make a market out of it.

[MaxuS the 2nd]

It would be cool, but would cost too much to set up and buy bulk stuff.
If I were to sell one here, people would expect to pay me £20 for it and act like I should be grateful.

[hyldgaard]

For once, Denmark is a nice place to live. I get a bit over $1000 a month for being under education, dont have to do anything, the money just arrives at my account every month 8) But then again, we do have some of the highest taxes in the world, if not THE highest.

[SNDM]

MaxUs speaks the truth about prices in the UK.
Sch40 stuff doesnt really exist anywhere near where I live.
I have to buy stuff from England that is 135psi rated.
Blowguns do not exist.

Prices are high.

That said, copper is, as Maxus says, rather cheap (relative to plastic).

To get materials I just go down to these workshop places, or places that deal with metal and ask for offcuts.

[MaxuS the 2nd]

MaxUs speaks the truth about prices in the UK.
Sch40 stuff doesnt really exist anywhere near where I live.
I have to buy stuff from England that is 135psi rated.
Blowguns do not exist.

Prices are high.

That said, copper is, as Maxus says, rather cheap (relative to plastic).

To get materials I just go down to these workshop places, or places that deal with metal and ask for offcuts.

I can help you with those problems. Blowguns can be found for £5 and 230psi rated PVC pipe, although not cheap, does exist. Just PM for details.