There’s an old joke that goes, “How do you make a million bucks as a professional woodworker?” The answer, of course, is, “Start with two million.” Despite the occasional cynicism of hard-bitten professionals, “going pro” still holds endless fascination for many amateur woodworkers. I asked WoodCentral visitors: How do you feel about the idea of making a living-or part of a living-with your woodworking skills?
“After 30 years of doing woodworking for a living, things are just beginning to get easier. I would not advise anyone to do it; but if you must, then live where overhead is low, though you need access to your markets. Schmooze architects and designers in your area. Above all, develop a style that’s your own. You’d better be doing something I’m not, or it’s likely your customer will end up in my shop.”
“From prices I see at shows, I figure I could make $1/hour, if I went into production. So, I’ll keep my regular job. I’d rather give my work away than sell for what some people sell for. They must work faster than I do.”
“My family brags on my work, but I will always strive to do better. I will teach myself as much as I can, whether I become a pro or not.” “Lately, I have been a professional refinisher. I make some side money and keep classic furniture around for the next generation. Being a semi-pro is pretty good.”
“I’m an artist working in the medium of wood, but I do not make a living at it. I like to sell my stuff because it validates my labor and makes the money to buy tools and materials.”
“It seems that you’d either need several customers who don’t care how much they spend, or you’d need to produce furniture cheaply by cutting corners. I’m not about to become part of the problem, so it’s an amateur’s life for me.”
“If I tried to earn a living through woodworking, besides probably starving to death in a cold shop, I’d have to do what the customer wanted and not what I wanted.”
“I would never consider going pro in the furniture business unless it’s a niche market. I have told friends even a reasonable price would be too expensive, so I’d rather give my work to them as a gift.”
“The best way to wreck a hobby is to turn it into a business.”
“After an injury, I started making little things in my shop to help with the bills. I didn’t have a master plan, I just did what I liked doing, and our needs are being met. I would advise anyone to not take orders, though, and avoid one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture.”
“I knew for me to have good tools, I’d have to make enough dollars for them. Fifteen years later, I have a steady small business. I’m not sure if I could support myself with it, but as a second income in my household, it sure beats working at WalMart!”
“I will be eligible to retire in four years. Woodworking makes up about one-fifth of my current income. I will need to increase markets, work quicker, or charge more, but not hire. I want to work wood, not manage people!”
“I am a custom home builder and design a few custom pieces each year that are truly inspiring to the owners. I need an environment where there is no rush to kick out inspired designs. The best ideas are like tulips. They need a period of time under the surface to develop well.”
“Just build something and sell it. Don’t limit your thinking to overcrowded fields. There are many areas for finely crafted hardwood items of great interest, with little or no competition. Go for an original product, stay focused, have a strong family plan in place, and then stick with it no matter what.”
“I continue to supply my shop with the best equipment available, learn to master techniques, and gain experience. I have 22 years before I retire. I’ll then have 42 years experience in woodworking and may think about turning pro then.”
“Woodworking is a hobby, and to some extent will always be. I am allergic to work, and if I did woodworking for a living, it would be work.”
“The people who know the refinements of proud workmanship will pay for the best, but you can’t put pride on the table for supper. I still have a 40 hour per week job, but only 7 years, 4 months, 17 days and 1.5 hours to retirement.”
“The thing that keeps me going is the anticipation of the day I can quit my day job and make a fortune selling custom furniture. I sadly cash a big check each month and buy more woodworking equipment to fill the void, then spend every free moment learning and building the skills in case I get fired. (I can only hope.)”
“As a professional, I’d give it all up tomorrow and become something parasitic like a lawyer, investment advisor/analyst, or importer … if only I didn’t have to give it all up.”
“After six years of dedicated woodworking, I’ve heard about that ‘real job’ thing more than once. I’m a woodworker, and I fear I’m not fit for much else… for now, anyway.”
“After 29 years on the midnight shift, I can go to my shop and be glad that I did not make a profession of it. I admire the talent of the professionals, and I am going to work to gain some of that skill.”
“The reality is, the more paid work I did, the more I felt the fun slipping out of it. The company changed, and now I can go back to thinking of the person I’m making a gift for instead of worrying if an operation is taking too much time.”
“I have vowed that I will never again make a hobby into a source of income or a major drain on my free time. I’m much happier now, and so is my dear wife, who supported my previous endeavor and suffered in silence.”
“There are lots of us watching the pros, and admiring them. The footprints they’ve left are important to us. Once in a while, we want to see if our foot can fit.”
What are your thoughts on this? Add your comments below!
Comments when this was brought up on SMC aren’t encouraging.
https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?243351-Making-a-Living-Woodworking/page6