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IB Oil Tank Hands Free Funnel - drainpipe solution


Phill

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So the question is, what do people think people would be willing to pay for a solution to a 1st world problem that wasn't really a problem in the first place? :lol:

The IB oil tank hands free funnel. No more flexi tubes with the funnel wired to the hinge of your deck lid. No more holding the funnel while you strain your wrist with a 5L can of oil. No more slopping oil all over your cam cover, oil filter and tinware. Slot it in place and pour away to your heart's content.

Below is a finished article. Funnel diameter 100mm, overall length 230mm and a rise of 200mm from your oil tank filler neck. Finished in genuine, solvent weld, ABS waste pipe. Once you have reached the desired oil level, wipe it down and pop it under the bonnet (if you are really want to take it out with you).

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The white bit you see above will be replaced by black on any future funnels.

Alternatively, just the funnel could be produced for those who have some plumber in them and have pipe and fittings lying around.

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How about a shallow, semi-circular cut-out in the lip to slot your oil can nozzle into Phill ? (seeing as you're making a custom piece that's specialised for a single application.) 

Would provide a locating point for the oil can and make it further idiot-proof ;)

Edited by GaryH
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18 minutes ago, GaryH said:

How about a shallow, semi-circular cut-out in the lip to slot your oil can nozzle into Phill ? (seeing as you're making a custom piece that's specialised for a single application.) 

Would provide a locating point for the oil can and make it further idiot-proof ;)

Although its pretty solid I think putting a slot in would tempt people to rest the spout of the oil can on the funnel and it wouldn't support the weight thus risking dislodging the funnel.

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Honestly Haith, how big do you think the oil filler neck is? Unless you're joking of course?

I'm getting the impression no one is enamoured with the idea, oh well :(

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I like it, don’t care about the looks, it’s the usefulness and practicality that counts.

The slotted sleeve that fits into the oil tube neck is great, another option perhaps is attaching it to some flexi pipe which could be held, clipped somewhere for ease of refilling.

 

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41 minutes ago, Phill said:

Honestly Haith, how big do you think the oil filler neck is? Unless you're joking of course?

I'm getting the impression no one is enamoured with the idea, oh well :(

Lol you’re right Phill. Miniature guttering 😂

My wife picked up one of these for me a while back. Something similar anyway. Kinda fits down the neck ok but it turns. And it takes an age to push 9 or 10 litres down it. 

I really like the bespoke funnel idea that clips into the filler neck. Think it just needs tweaking. No flat runs in the pipe work. 

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Edited by Busybee
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6 hours ago, Phill said:

Although its pretty solid I think putting a slot in would tempt people to rest the spout of the oil can on the funnel and it wouldn't support the weight thus risking dislodging the funnel.

Yeah I did consider that as well. 

I think it's a good idea but my point was that if you're making something very bespoke it should be tailored perfectly for the job :)

Edited by GaryH
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Thank you for the improved positivity :)

The design is final as it works and apart from the pipe used it looks OK, although its a funnel and doesn't really need to look pretty.

The diameter of the pipe means it flows quickly. In fact, I would suggest it will flow faster than you can pour out of the oil can as the oil can outlet will always be a smaller diameter. This means the fact that it has a section of level pipe shouldn't matter. 

The purpose of the design is to negate spills and drips so a tray shouldn't be needed.

However, no one has yet to suggest a price? There is no point producing these at a loss (my son will get all profit for uni, not a penny will go in my pocket) so I need an idea of what people think it's worth. Don't be shy, sensible views please.

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22 minutes ago, Phill said:

Thank you for the improved positivity :)

The design is final as it works and apart from the pipe used it looks OK, although its a funnel and doesn't really need to look pretty.

The diameter of the pipe means it flows quickly. In fact, I would suggest it will flow faster than you can pour out of the oil can as the oil can outlet will always be a smaller diameter. This means the fact that it has a section of level pipe shouldn't matter. 

The purpose of the design is to negate spills and drips so a tray shouldn't be needed.

However, no one has yet to suggest a price? There is no point producing these at a loss (my son will get all profit for uni, not a penny will go in my pocket) so I need an idea of what people think it's worth. Don't be shy, sensible views please.

Think you need to lead the way there Phill. What’s your production cost and how much do you want to make? That’s how businesses work out the unit price. Also figure out if you want to sell some to the trade like young Matthew as that’s another margin you need to work into your price. 
To give you an idea in my waxy world, something that costs a pound to make retails at over £5 and VAT. Our margin, then the wholesalers margin. And it’s even worse if you deal with the big company’s who look at our price and then multiply it by 3,5 for retail. 
Not suggesting it needs to be that complicated for you making a few for friends but I reckon you could sell quite a few to the trade if you make them retail ready. I reckon I could sell a few for you!

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As Haith says, how much do they cost in materials? Then we have something to go on

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Hi Phill,

I’d buy one of these off you, mainly to save the aggro of making it myself.

I think it all depends on how much the 3D printing bit is, the cut/filing etc of the slot and your time to assemble it.

The parts are quite easy to find cost of online. I presume it’s 40mm?

Parts wise it’s pretty cheap (in the region of £5 or £6.)

Just add it all up and let us know.😁👍

Kind regards

Russ

 

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Your resident manufacturer here...


3d printing that part would not be straightforward.   It is a very large volume.  The material needs to be durable and oil resistant - probably heat resistant too.  If someone threw a tool bag on top of it, it mustn’t break.  Breaking the design down into multiple pieces might help manufacture but could cause leaks in the joints.

ideally it needs to be blow moulded which is how plastic bottles and tubes are made but the tooling would be £5k+.  You’d then  need to run at least 1000 of them but the piece price could be as low as £2.

You might vacuum form it from recycled ABS sheet.    A vac tool would be in the region of £3.5k.    Piece price would be around £25.  

Edited by Jonny Hart
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2 hours ago, Phill said:

A couple of vids to whet your appetite.

 

 

It looks pretty good Phill. I'd make the funnel bit a tad taller or even square for increased volume. Looked like it was lapping up the funnel wall when pouring quickly. 

1 hour ago, Jonny Hart said:

Your resident manufacturer here...


3d printing that part would not be straightforward.   It is a very large volume.  The material needs to be durable and oil resistant - probably heat resistant too.  If someone threw a tool bag on top of it, it mustn’t break.  Breaking the design down into multiple pieces might help manufacture but could cause leaks in the joints.

ideally it needs to be blow moulded which is how plastic bottles and tubes are made but the tooling would be £5k+.  You’d then  need to run at least 1000 of them but the piece price could be as low as £2.

You might vacuum form it from recycled ABS sheet.    A vac tool would be in the region of £3.5k.    Piece price would be around £25.  

I think this part injection moulded in Polypropylene would be the bunny. Either that or tough nylon. Too complex for vacuum forming. Blow moulding would work. Setup costs would be the thing as you say. But once into it, I reckon you'd sell a lot of these if they were a tenner retail. 

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1 hour ago, Jonny Hart said:

Your resident manufacturer here...


3d printing that part would not be straightforward. 

Then funnel is already 3d printed and takes 6 hours. I have no intention of 3d printing the rest, it would take forever. As above the article you see is what would be produced. It's supposed to be functional, quick and easy.

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My concern about retailing it as it stands is it looks like " its been made in a shed with plumbers fittings"

I think people would probably think "I could have made one like that for a fiver"

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2 minutes ago, Type911 said:

My concern about retailing it as it stands is it looks like " its been made in a shed with plumbers fittings"

I think people would probably think "I could have made one like that for a fiver"

That is true Phill. I know you don't want to develop it but unfortunately, thats how this works. My first Magik Candle prototypes were made from Polypropylene tubes and sheets stuck with silicone from Ebay just to prove the theory. Proper blue peter stuff. Then it went to detailed drawings and then to borosilicate glass and big numbers production. 

Hat tip for doing it though mate. How much would one of yours likely be?

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I also like it Phil. As you’ve pointed out the conventional flexible spout option is rubbish: usually needs tying to the lid hinge, moves around generally looking like an accident waiting to happen then the tendency is to overfill the top part because the flow rate is so much slower than it could be.

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45 minutes ago, Busybee said:

It looks pretty good Phill. I'd make the funnel bit a tad taller or even square for increased volume. Looked like it was lapping up the funnel wall when pouring quickly. 

I think this part injection moulded in Polypropylene would be the bunny. Either that or tough nylon. Too complex for vacuum forming. Blow moulding would work. Setup costs would be the thing as you say. But once into it, I reckon you'd sell a lot of these if they were a tenner retail. 

So £5k for a mould tool and retail for a tenner?    This time next year Rodders...  😂

 

 

50 minutes ago, Phill said:

Then funnel is already 3d printed and takes 6 hours. I have no intention of 3d printing the rest, it would take forever. As above the article you see is what would be produced. It's supposed to be functional, quick and easy.

There has to be a funnel available already that suits your needs surely?

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