An old high school friend I talk to here and there makes his entire living off making weapons, armor all kinds of crazy shit. Started on Etsy a few years ago but it wasn’t till late-ish 2018 when he could support his family off it. Now makes a 2-6 grand a month just working a few days a week making weird axes or a chain mail corset or anything ppl request. Ppl submit drawings of written requests all the time. But it didn’t start out profitable ya know. Takes time to build a profitable business.
It's definitely possible to make a living. My wife and I sell on one of the online market places. Look into cnc equipment such lathe, router, milling machines, plasma cutters, lasers, etc.; the dtg printers, UV printers, sublimation, and 3d printers. Many manufactures are making "hobby" versions that can get you started. If you're okay with dealing with customer interactions (email) you can take customization orders or just make a ready to sell items. Browse sites to see what's sells and do your math on profitability. Don't underestimate your time! I work maybe 30hrs per week/ my wife does more like 50hrs and we make a good living.
I feel you completely: I have to sit down all day long and do boring work, which I completely hate. You could potentially work in the virtualization of computer parts, such as intel/amd/nvidia's firmware, as there's a ton of things software-related in those that require working with your hands (ie experimenting with threads)
You could search jobs with AMD/Intel/NVIDIA, but another option would be quantum computers: you develop them with your hands and they're super cool machines.
If you want to try contracting there are a ton of college professors who can't code and need to hire research assistants with software skills.
Also let me suggest a standing desk which will make it feel much less sedentary than if you sit all day. Some people swear by a treadmill or a recumbent bike under a desk but that seems complicated to me
To be honest bro i have been in Dev for 10 years. Get a project car. I spend my nights and weekends working on cars. My friends have them as well. It's fun hard work and challenging. Its an all consuming hobby and can be as in-depth or as light as you need. I have 2 kids and they like to help and we like to take the car out for drives in the summer.
I like it because it's like programming but physical. You have a set of tools and a general idea of what you want to achieve. You can Google your way through problems but there is a tangible finished product. You don't need to get a high dollar muscle/import either. I started flipping shit boxes for fun and extra income.
I recommend starting with one of these options.
If you have lot of free time and a little money (I started with no money) I would start with a common toy i.e a 90s Civic or Domestic Muscle. You can junkyard dive for most parts and they are cheap to work on.
Lots of money and little time. Get yourself a KIT car https://www.factoryfive.com/roadster/
These are great cause you don't need to source any parts and it's just about putting the car together.
This is for the Brave. Buy a classic you love. Half the battle is finding one is decent condition that meets your skill level. Then decide are you going for a resto or a resto mod or like me doing a Pro Street car. This option is where a lot of people start and fail because the of the sheer amount of work and knowledge needed. Fabrication, welding, body work and on and on.
Trust me this hobby has something for everyone and don't forget SAVE THE MANUALS!
Custom video game cabinets and restoring pinball machines is growing. The former can include a computer emulator setup. Many families are deciding to bring the old arcades home.
Get I to manufacturing or the design side of construction. I was a motorcycle mechanic. And now design natural gas infrastructure. It translates very well.
Work as a part time dev. Then make cool chairs or something to sell on Etsy.
An old high school friend I talk to here and there makes his entire living off making weapons, armor all kinds of crazy shit. Started on Etsy a few years ago but it wasn’t till late-ish 2018 when he could support his family off it. Now makes a 2-6 grand a month just working a few days a week making weird axes or a chain mail corset or anything ppl request. Ppl submit drawings of written requests all the time. But it didn’t start out profitable ya know. Takes time to build a profitable business.
It's definitely possible to make a living. My wife and I sell on one of the online market places. Look into cnc equipment such lathe, router, milling machines, plasma cutters, lasers, etc.; the dtg printers, UV printers, sublimation, and 3d printers. Many manufactures are making "hobby" versions that can get you started. If you're okay with dealing with customer interactions (email) you can take customization orders or just make a ready to sell items. Browse sites to see what's sells and do your math on profitability. Don't underestimate your time! I work maybe 30hrs per week/ my wife does more like 50hrs and we make a good living.
blue collar by day, programmer by night
I feel you completely: I have to sit down all day long and do boring work, which I completely hate. You could potentially work in the virtualization of computer parts, such as intel/amd/nvidia's firmware, as there's a ton of things software-related in those that require working with your hands (ie experimenting with threads)
You could search jobs with AMD/Intel/NVIDIA, but another option would be quantum computers: you develop them with your hands and they're super cool machines.
ok, program 4-6 hours a day then browse td.win the rest. MAGA
wanna build an app?
I don't have any advice, but let me tell you, you are not alone...
If you want to try contracting there are a ton of college professors who can't code and need to hire research assistants with software skills.
Also let me suggest a standing desk which will make it feel much less sedentary than if you sit all day. Some people swear by a treadmill or a recumbent bike under a desk but that seems complicated to me
YES, sounds some but changing your desk config makes a lot of difference for your circulation and muscles.
To be honest bro i have been in Dev for 10 years. Get a project car. I spend my nights and weekends working on cars. My friends have them as well. It's fun hard work and challenging. Its an all consuming hobby and can be as in-depth or as light as you need. I have 2 kids and they like to help and we like to take the car out for drives in the summer.
I like it because it's like programming but physical. You have a set of tools and a general idea of what you want to achieve. You can Google your way through problems but there is a tangible finished product. You don't need to get a high dollar muscle/import either. I started flipping shit boxes for fun and extra income.
I recommend starting with one of these options.
If you have lot of free time and a little money (I started with no money) I would start with a common toy i.e a 90s Civic or Domestic Muscle. You can junkyard dive for most parts and they are cheap to work on.
Lots of money and little time. Get yourself a KIT car https://www.factoryfive.com/roadster/ These are great cause you don't need to source any parts and it's just about putting the car together.
This is for the Brave. Buy a classic you love. Half the battle is finding one is decent condition that meets your skill level. Then decide are you going for a resto or a resto mod or like me doing a Pro Street car. This option is where a lot of people start and fail because the of the sheer amount of work and knowledge needed. Fabrication, welding, body work and on and on.
Trust me this hobby has something for everyone and don't forget SAVE THE MANUALS!
Custom video game cabinets and restoring pinball machines is growing. The former can include a computer emulator setup. Many families are deciding to bring the old arcades home.
Get I to manufacturing or the design side of construction. I was a motorcycle mechanic. And now design natural gas infrastructure. It translates very well.