you have to be able to 'build' your invention

*THAT* is the key to being a successful inventor, and also the problem...how many people have great ideas for inventions, but no way to make them physically happen, no access to plastics or chemicals or design firms? It seems like there should be a way (I know about those ones who advertise, but I think those are only for getting patents) for idea people to hook up with builders. Whenever I see people on these shows with prototypes that look like more than a school project they put together that morning, yet they talk about working out of their garage and such, I'm always skeptical (i.e. the Marine who made the Hexlight, that's believable, it's little lights stuck on an armband, nothing terribly complicated there, but the credit card protection sleeve, how did he know about or get access to the materials to make it? I guess, as a computer programmer, he may have known about the shielding stuff, but that other part, the 'proprietary' material, how did he create that, or get access to it? I'd wager most of these aren't really 'everyday' people, as many say they've spent fortunes working on the invention, most people don't have that kind of time or money, even if they have the ideas). For instance, they talked about the educational and employment backgrounds of the brothers who helped with the Select-a-Wrench, and also invented the Swivel Sweeper. I’m sorry, but the Swivel Sweeper is nothing more than an old-fashioned (available since before 1900) carpet sweeper with a swiveling head. How many housewives over the last century probably thought of something like that, but they didn’t have the knowledge or means to build it? (and also, the new thing is just a Swiffer with the same type of swiveling head)