Three Quarters Ass DIY Network

Overview

Whatever happened to kit-based DIY projects for grown-ass adults? Sure, there are plenty of educational science kits for a DIY LED Cube or whatever little novelty, but where are the kits that enable an adult DIYer build something of actual value rathe than buying the commercial equivalent? There is no shortage of cleverly engineered DIY projects on the internet that one can emulate if they don’t care to break a “don’t try this at home” disclaimer, and a handful of them are even open source, but most non-engineers are too intimidated by the technical aspects to reimplement the wheel by themselves.

So how do we make a better world for casual DIYers and turn a profit at the same time? Enter the Three Quarters Ass DIY Network: a company dedicated to bringing professional polish to DIY projects by offering professionally designed kits and kit components. The goal here is NOT be another flat-pack company that ships a bunch of “some assembly required” components. The goal is to take the hardest 10-20% of any project, the part that would dissuade most people from taking it on, and package THAT portion of the project as pre-engineered components along with instructions on how the DIYer can complete the project using materials they have sourced themselves locally. For an over-simplified example, think about the wooden sawhorse kits. They consist of a couple of metal brackets to join some 2x4s together to make sawhorses, but the end user of the kit is expected to source their own lumber and cut it to appropriate lengths with a little guidance from the instruction book if they need it. Similarly, our kits should consist of the control electronics for project X or the sheet metal brackets for project Y or whatever so that any DIYer with a high school education can take on projects way above their league.

Why is it a “Network”? Because most of the best ideas for kits will come from outside the company. Honestly, I’m expecting most of the best ideas to come from youtubers and the like. A lot of our kit development may even be able to be effectively outsourced to YouTube creators and similar if we can create a transparent model for them to share in the kit profits. While the particulars can be negotiated and may vary from one creator to another, I see a lot of opportunity for symbiotic relationships with DIY-focused or DIY-adjacent channels. They can provide the idea and the marketing for the kit. We co-develop the kit with them and handle the logistics, supply, sales, and business side, and let the creators stick to what they do best: making captivating things that engage their audience.

Many creators are already doing things similar to this, but on a smaller scale. The simplest version is selling mugs or t-shirts or similar products from your channel on etsy or whatever. Some DIY channels even go so far as to print up little circuit board kits and similar that you can buy and solder together at home. This is just expanding that to the next level and enabling professionally designed big-boy DIY kits.

Youtubers with projects that may be good candidates:

• DIY Perks

• Tech Ingredients

• AvE

Ben’s past or future personal projects that may be good candidates:

• 10ft Subaru roof rack

• passive ipad ceiling baby monitor projector

• universal solar kit for kids jeep

Other Extra Quarter Plan Stubs that may be de-scoped into a project candidate:

• Covered wagons

• Solar boat kits

• Small EV conversion kits for ATVs, motorcycles, or similar