February 4, 20179 yr Sell the project first, then make it. If you aren't known to me, it's money upfront.
February 4, 20179 yr I build a lot of hope chests that I donate to school dinner auctions and various fundraisers in our area. I have it down to a small science and can build one with about 30 bdft of whatever lumber. On average the chests will sell for $700 - $750 and I had one go as high as $1100 once. Of course after each auction I get a call or two from someone wanting one of the chests themselves. Of course I dont try and get the auction prices out of them but I will realistically shoot for about $400 and tell them I need the cost of material up front. I have only had 2 people take me up on it in 16 years. Most freak out and think I'm robbing them. An inlaw saw the dining room chairs I built and wanted a set. They were dumbfounded that I would ask $300 a chair. when they can buy ones in the store for under $100.
February 4, 20179 yr 7 hours ago, Kelso Chris said: I build a lot of hope chests that I donate to school dinner auctions and various fundraisers in our area. I have it down to a small science and can build one with about 30 bdft of whatever lumber. On average the chests will sell for $700 - $750 and I had one go as high as $1100 once. Of course after each auction I get a call or two from someone wanting one of the chests themselves. Of course I dont try and get the auction prices out of them but I will realistically shoot for about $400 and tell them I need the cost of material up front. I have only had 2 people take me up on it in 16 years. Most freak out and think I'm robbing them. An inlaw saw the dining room chairs I built and wanted a set. They were dumbfounded that I would ask $300 a chair. when they can buy ones in the store for under $100. I make and sell most of them for 400.00. I have shipped them to New Mexico, Vermont, Virginia and North Carolina. Crating it and shipping truck line runs around $150 depending on exactly where it is going. I have done a couple of special order ones that went for $1000.
February 4, 20179 yr 24 minutes ago, John Moody said: I pay $1/bf. I imagine the prices for hardwood in AZ are somewhat in line with those in NM. Hard maple is at $4.70/ bf. for less than 100 bf. But, it's 160 miles from me. Edited February 4, 20179 yr by Gene Howe
February 4, 20179 yr 3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: I imagine the prices for hardwood in AZ are in line with those in NM. Hard maple is at $4.70/ bf. for less than 100 bf. You guys need to come see me. Now mine is all rough cut but I pay $1/bf. I usually get the tree and take it to the saw mill. If I take the tree they cut it for .20/bf. To get it kiln dry they charge .50/bf so .70/bf if I take the tree. As as soon as my knee is a little stronger I have about 15 logs on the ground ready to load and take to be sawn. I am buying some Cedar this week and it went up .25/bf to $1.50/bf. Not all the time but I usually get 1000/bf at a time.
February 4, 20179 yr Author 30 minutes ago, John Moody said: You guys need to come see me. Now mine is all rough cut but I pay $1/bf. I usually get the tree and take it to the saw mill. If I take the tree they cut it for .20/bf. To get it kiln dry they charge .50/bf so .70/bf if I take the tree. As as soon as my knee is a little stronger I have about 15 logs on the ground ready to load and take to be sawn. I am buying some Cedar this week and it went up .25/bf to $1.50/bf. Not all the time but I usually get 1000/bf at a time. But you have to ride a donkey to get to it.
February 4, 20179 yr 8 minutes ago, Ron Dudelston said: But you have to ride a donkey to get to it. But it wasn't a bad ride was it? And we didn't see any snakes!
February 4, 20179 yr Author 5 minutes ago, John Moody said: But it wasn't a bad ride was it? And we didn't see any snakes! No snakes but the blindfold was way too tight.
February 4, 20179 yr 9 hours ago, Kelso Chris said: I build a lot of hope chests that I donate to school dinner auctions and various fundraisers in our area. I have it down to a small science and can build one with about 30 bdft of whatever lumber. On average the chests will sell for $700 - $750 and I had one go as high as $1100 once. Of course after each auction I get a call or two from someone wanting one of the chests themselves. Of course I dont try and get the auction prices out of them but I will realistically shoot for about $400 and tell them I need the cost of material up front. I have only had 2 people take me up on it in 16 years. Most freak out and think I'm robbing them. An inlaw saw the dining room chairs I built and wanted a set. They were dumbfounded that I would ask $300 a chair. when they can buy ones in the store for under $100. sounds familiar. i built our kitchen from scratch a few years ago. lumber and hardware for all the cabinets (16x11) ran about 7000. now, if you knock on my shop door with a pile of money and an idea, sure, i'll design and make you a custom kitchen. it'll take several months (it's just me), and i'll charge you about 10x materials costs (maybe more if you want extra fancy details). what?! you say? fine, have a nice trip to IKEA, good luck picking out your particle board and have fun assembling them. i deal in real wood and real plywood. custom sized just for you. you want a cabinet that is 13-3/4" wide, sure, i can do that. you want 30" deep lower cabinets with 28" full extension drawers? yup, i can do that too. we are talking full custom, whatever you can dream up.
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