Prototype and one-off parts machinist

Inventors and product start-ups, hobbyists such as motorsport and restoration enthusiasts, farms and small businesses needing repair or replacement parts.

Charge per job or per hour of machine time plus materials. Small, fast jobs that larger workshops turn down can be a good fit.

• Machining on a lathe or mill
• Reading drawings or reverse-engineering a part
• Precise measuring
• Clear communication with customers

• Council approval for home-based business, as noise, hours and customer visits may be restricted
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and check whether your home insurance covers business use
• Machine safety, including guarding, eye and hearing protection and metal swarf handling
• Avoid parts for safety-critical uses (such as lifting or pressure equipment) unless you know the standards that apply
• Heavy machines can be hard to fit into a garage, so check floor strength and power supply