Tracking Shop Hours

[Mike McCoy]

Hi Terry,

 If you use a Palm type device there is a nice program out there at
www.eb7.com called TEAK, Time, Expense & Auto Keeper, you can download a
trial version.
 Personally I just use a multi-section notepad if I'm tracking hours for
some reason, it's too much trouble otherwise if you're jumping from one
piano to another. For estimating I also use Newton or Joe's guide.

Mike


Mike McCoy RPT
Chapters 170 & 190 PTG
Langhorne, Pa
mailto:mjmccoyrpt@earthlink.net
----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrell" <mfarrel2@tampabay.rr.com>
To: <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2001 10:32 AM
Subject: Tracking Shop Hours


> This post follows up my post on old upright rebuilding. Does anyone have
any
> great tried-and-true methods for tracking shop hours - hours spent on
> individual projects - and better yet, broken down into specific tasks. I
am
> hopelessly (or nearly so) disorganized, and I would rather try to cast a
new
> plate in my shop that try to track my hours. How do you organized folks
out
> there do it? I remember the Journal cover from a-ways back with Ted ......
> (the wonderful dude from England) on the cover standing in front of his
> super-neat tool storage in his shop (he can likely tell you it took him
14.7
> hours be build that shelving) - so I know you organized techs exist - you
> can't hide.
>
> It's horrible. I have rebuild a couple pianos and actions, but I still
don't
> know how long it takes to rebuild a piano or an action (or at least not a
> accurately as I would like). My troubles may be compounded by the fact
that
> I have my shop structure attached to the back of my garage at home. It is
> common for me to walk by, go into the shop, and do 15 minutes of work
(glue
> on 3 damper felts, glue on a keytop, file 6 hammers, turn 12 capstans,
level
> 4 keys, etc.), and go back to cooking dinner or scolding the dog.
>
> Any input??? Thanks.
>
> Terry Farrell
>
>