FC

03/07/2005 1:38 AM

Can I get some opinions of my work?

I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
opinions?
http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor

I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
Ferg


This topic has 14 replies

ll

loutent

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 9:30 PM

Hi Ferg,

Nice work to start, but like anything else, it
depends if you are actually selling your stuff.
If you are, then no problem in your market.

If you are selling too much to keep up then you
should raise your prices a little at a time.

If you are not selling much, the you need to refine
your design and/or market. See other posts for
design suggestions.

I don't think that worrying about how much you
make/hour is a good business model. It's better
to make something that people really want and
then adjust prices accordingly. Or, just do
what you like for the fun of it and hope to cover
expenses - or give stuff to friends/relatives.

Me? I'm retired and enjoy woodworking. Don't worry
too much about the time involved. Monday's (non-
holidays) have become a favorite day of mine.

Lou



In article <[email protected]>, Bob <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Ferg,
>
> Nice looking projects and as Thomas said, I would opt for rounded edges and
> corners and maybe practice your jointery and get rid of the screws and
> nails. Otherwise, great work and looks nice.
>
> Bob
> "C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> > appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> > some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> > opinions?
> > http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
> >
> > I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
> > Ferg
> >
>
>

tt

"tom"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 2:54 AM

I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
opinions?
http://community.webtv.net/Fer=ADg_/Fergsoutdoor
I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha.

Your
prices are _very_reasonable. I predict that you will be swamped with
orders if you keep this up. Tom

g

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 6:32 AM

Unless you are getting your lumber free, or you have access to slave
labor, seems to me you are under charging, or you are making under
minimum wage. Have you worked out your costs, including all materials
and labor, and you're still making a profit??
The work looks good. You could expand you're line to maybe 5-6 items.
Where do you sell, aside from on the web?

FC

in reply to [email protected] on 03/07/2005 6:32 AM

03/07/2005 11:41 AM

I knock out a chair for about $22 material cost, and it takes about 2
1/2 hrs to build, so i figure i am making somewhere between $10-12 an
hr, give or take. My first order of 4 chairs took about 10 hrs to build.
I appreciate everyone's opinions. Thanks

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to [email protected] on 03/07/2005 6:32 AM

03/07/2005 4:51 PM


"C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I knock out a chair for about $22 material cost, and it takes about 2
> 1/2 hrs to build, so i figure i am making somewhere between $10-12 an
> hr, give or take. My first order of 4 chairs took about 10 hrs to build.
> I appreciate everyone's opinions. Thanks

OK for a cash generating side line, but not nearly enough to sustain a
business. I want to earn at least $25 to $30 an hour so I'd have to charge
double that to cover overhead. That would put your chair in the $175 range.
I did not see your original post so I did not see the chair. Just because I
want to price it that way, does not mean a buyer is willing to pay that
much.

f

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 10:13 AM



John Smith wrote:
> Looks very uncomfortable. Maybe you could buy some cushions and charge
> more?

Or tell the customers where they can get cushions so they get to
pick out the colors and patterns they want.

--

FF

f

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 10:22 AM



C F wrote:
> I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> opinions?
> http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>

I agree with the other observation that easing the edges with a
roundovah bit or radiusing plane would add a nice touch.

Also, you might consider puting diagonal braces between the seat
and the uprights of the b

If you are interested in expanding your line, planters to go
on either side of the bench might be an idea.

Your stuff looks good to me.

--

FF

TB

"Thomas Bunetta"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 7:08 AM


"C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> opinions?
> http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>
> I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
> Ferg
>
Rounded corners and relieved edges are more people friendly...
Tom

TB

"Thomas Bunetta"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 7:08 AM


"C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> opinions?
> http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>
> I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
> Ferg
>
Rounded corners and relieved edges are more people friendly...
Tom

BG

Bob G.

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 12:01 PM

On Sun, 3 Jul 2005 01:38:55 -0400, [email protected] (C F) wrote:

>I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
>appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
>some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
>opinions?
>http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>
>I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
>Ferg
=======================
I DID NOT look at your work...

BUT I can tell you that the only person you have to satisfy is
yourself... If your happy then the fat lady has sung...game over....!

I have been a"practicing" woodworker for over 40 years and I have
always been happy with my work....BUT I do admit that looking at some
of my "earlier" work really makes me wonder ... lol

Bob G.

Nn

"No"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

06/07/2005 7:21 PM

First thing I thought, before I even saw your work, was Ugh, WebTV. If you
are trying to make a business out fo it you should get a proper site to sell
online or sell via e-bay.

The stuff looks OK for what it is and its a starting point for you. I too
wonder about the slant in the arms.

Try putting one up on e-bay with no reserve and a starting price at your
materials only cost. See what happens.

Good luck.

"C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> opinions?
> http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>
> I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
> Ferg
>

JS

"John Smith"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 4:23 PM

Looks very uncomfortable. Maybe you could buy some cushions and charge
more?

Bb

"Bob"

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

03/07/2005 4:57 PM

Ferg,

Nice looking projects and as Thomas said, I would opt for rounded edges and
corners and maybe practice your jointery and get rid of the screws and
nails. Otherwise, great work and looks nice.

Bob
"C F" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
> appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
> some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
> opinions?
> http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor
>
> I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
> Ferg
>

Pn

Prometheus

in reply to [email protected] (C F) on 03/07/2005 1:38 AM

04/07/2005 4:31 AM

On Sun, 3 Jul 2005 01:38:55 -0400, [email protected] (C F) wrote:

>I am fairly new to woodworking, I guess a novice would be the
>appropriate term. I made some outdoor furniture and was wondering if
>some of you that have been doing it for a while can give me your
>opinions?
>http://community.webtv.net/Ferg_/Fergsoutdoor

Looks like it's carefully made, but doesn't look very comfortable.
Specifically, the seat is flat (if you've got a bandsaw, you could put
a dish in the frame the slats screw onto to make it more comfy) and
the arms are angled downwards, instead of tilted back a little or
flat. Might just be me, and I haven't sat in one, but that seems like
a combination that would make a guy feel like he's about to slide out
of the chair!

OTHO, they're a bargin at what you're charging, so if you like them,
keep it up!

>I can take criticism, but try not to be too harsh, haha. Thanks ,
>Ferg


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