a little experiment today, finding a way to make many Christmas tree ornaments easily.  didn't turn out perfectly, the top and bottom of the cross don't quite line up perfectly.  have more scrap, may try again.  block is 10" long, slice is 1/4" thick, so get 38-40 out of one glue up.  just some teak (left over decking i was given) and pine (2x4 stock).

Pretty slick idea,Dab.

20 hours ago, DAB said:

lumber is not free either.

 

That depends upon where/how you get it.  

20 hours ago, DAB said:

 buy your own tools, have fun, be safe.

I'm beginning to feel that way about vehicles. 

For me, woodworking was an enjoyable but expensive hobby. The tools I used, now being sold at used tool prices and the lumber, hardware and finishes I've used had to cost $$$$.  Was it worth it? Absolutely !  The joy I've experienced with woodworking has been totally worth every cent, but the greatest joy was in providing gifts to friends and relatives that have brought the greatest smiles from everyone. My only regret is that I didn't start my woodworking earlier in life.

what i saved by building our first kitchen alone more than paid for every tool i now have.

 

when we did our first kitchen, our neighbor had someone do her's at the same time.  same footprint, same basic layout.  we spent about 13k on ours, she spent about 40k on hers, and our's turned out better (more storage, more countertop space).  winning!

 

our 2nd kitchen was bigger, 16x11, and everything ran us about 22k:  7k for lumber and hardware, 7k for granite counters (78SF), and 7k for all new appliances.  maybe 7.3k for each.  so about 125/sf for a custom kitchen with 44 drawers, double oven, 5 burner cooktop, and a 10' island that my wife loved to spread out her baking stuff and make a mess.  designed and made it for her, because I loved her.  that's a great reason to do something.

 

add in the 5 bathrooms (2 homes), 2nd kitchen, full bedroom set, other storage cabinets and furniture, and i'm way ahead money wise versus hiring someone to renovate all the above and build custom furniture.  Ikea?  dust and glue, pass.  i want something that will stand up to daily use and look good too.  plus, all this work pleased my wife immensely, so that alone was worth the costs.

Edited October 6, 20232 yr by DAB

I can't say that what I spent for my own tools was justified by the money they saved making things myself.   I can say for sure though that they brought be far more joy than I ever got just buying a piece of furniture I could have built. 

4D

I agree with you guys.  The money is well spent on tool and lumber with the satisfaction and enjoyment you get out of it.  I think every hobby i have is expensive.  I could go out to eat for a lot less money than what i spend on hunting and fishing.  And watching my kids play club sports.....I do not even want to know what the total costs are at the end of the season, but thats what I love to do....spend money i guess

I got payed…

Woodworking for money isn’t for everyone. Its great to give to family or friends, but many have trouble past that. How much do I charge and can I perform fast enough to make money at it. Answer is usually no.

 

I’ve  seen people on woodworking forums say they won’t for  for less than $100/hr and I wouldn’t buy anything except with a set price. One guy on a forum recently said if he screws up a job, he just charges you to do it again. Would you hire him?

 

Furniture making…You really have to be smart to price these kinda jobs. I’ve got one I would trust to finis( a piece, but not sure how good he is at making it.So do you build and let someone else finish it? Do you build and finish it. There is so much more to say….

 

Cabinet  making…..This is pretty easy if you’ve done it for a living, if not you will struggle. it varies from place to place, but the work is the same. I had one woodworker call my cabinets junk, it’s not junk if it’s what the buyer wants. I’ve had woodworkers say they won’t build it unless it’s the best of  materials. That’s great, but not everyone wants to pay for the best..

I did woodworking for wages for a couple years.  After 40 hours in someone else's shop, the last thing I wanted to do was woodworking, so it was hard to find time and motivation to make things that I wanted to make.

 

So I doubt I will ever go back to it for pay on a large scale, but I have been doing fine balancing my own projects with making a couple of production parts that I sell to a vendor.  That takes little of my time, so it's nice to crank some out and get a check for my trouble.  I sure couldn't do it 40 hours a week though!

 

So I prefer this as a hobby too.  It's fun and I'm happy with the results.  I was not always happy with paid work done on a deadline.

On the other hand, I found those couple years in a production shop to be invaluable for learning good production habits.  I still use a lot of what I learned in that shop, and I might not have that were it not for those couple years, so I'm very grateful to have had the experience.

When you work for or making parts, you’re still employed . Sometimes I enjoy the work, but still hate getting up in the morning.,Cabinetry is the same over and over. The furniture company on the  other hand was fun. Only thing it sometimes came with fast deadlines.

For me it started as an outlet from the stress of work. (But love the work don’t get me wrong) now it is just a great outlet. I enjoy building things for friends and family. Sometimes others ask me to do something. I did a market last year and will probably do a few this year as it was fun just to meet some new makers and people. 
 

Of course the wife and kids are always asking for things as well.

I don’t mind doing thing for others, but my daughter always wants those 24 hour projects, and dad is tired and old. 
 

One day projects..we did two

 

Edited January 26, 20251 yr by BillyJack

I worked in a production cabinet shop and a custom shop and that convinced me that I didn’t want to do woodworking as a career.
I enjoy the process of building unique / one off pieces but not the repetition of building the same thing over and over with minor variations.
As a hobby, that is a great thing and I don’t much care if it makes any money or not.

Woodworking as a career isn’t the best paying job, unless you own the company..

 

 

On 1/26/2025 at 9:39 AM, KevTN said:

For me it started as an outlet from the stress of work. (But love the work don’t get me wrong) now it is just a great outlet. I enjoy building things for friends and family. Sometimes others ask me to do something. I did a market last year and will probably do a few this year as it was fun just to meet some new makers and people. 
 

Of course the wife and kids are always asking for things as well.

Very similar with me.  Woodworking provided:
1. Something that could be done in a reasonable amount of time.  Work projects typically lasted 18-24 months

2. Something my mother would understand what I was doing.  Doing data base administration then engineering software products left her stymied.

Already have a job, career and so on.  Woodworking is my therapy for dealing with stressful job.

It is strange as how when I get in the shop sore muscles and other aches and pains or sinus infections just disappear.

6 hours ago, Gerald said:

It is strange as how when I get in the shop sore muscles and other aches and pains or sinus infections just disappear.

As do pencils, tape measures, and other tools.