Spindle Production Pics for -e-

Re: Spindle Production Pics for -e-

mcgee

>The picture came through quite clear Ruth. --mcgee

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Don Henthorn Smithville, Texas

>Good work Ruth. I kind of like doing spindles for contractors and furniture repairmen. Hope you get lots of work.

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JanManuel

>Darn it...you mean I missed a chat on spindle turning?

I turn stuff like that too....never could make any $$$ doing bowls, but there is plenty of spindle turning work out there...

I've had folks bring me everything from an oversized cribbage peg to the tip off a church steeple to turn....

Re: Spindle Production Pics for -e-

Stuart Johnson

>I think Terry has spindle turning or a variation of it down for a future topic. There was some discussion last week but that wasn't the topic.

Thanks Ruth!

-e-

>How to price your work? How do you determine an estimate for each job? Seems the hardest part of the work is coming up with how much to charge!!!

How do you find people looking for your skills?

Thanks again!

Re: Thanks Ruth!

John Lucas

>I have the same problem. I'll be interested in your response. Everytime someone brings me something it is usually totally different. Dissassembly of chairs is always unpredictable. I had a lady drop off 3 chairs that needed rails repaired. She drove up in an older Nissan Sentra.

I fixed the chairs and matched the finish so she couldn't tell. It was difficult and time consuming but I didn't price them up front(dumb mistake) I came up with a price that was certainly too low but seemed like a lot of money to me. She drove up in a brand new Ford Expedition to pick them up. I could have easily charged for the full amount of time I put into those chairs. Oh well. I'll get repeat business I'm sure.

Re: Thanks Ruth!

Ruth

>John and -e-,

Pricing is the bane of most turners. Russ just posted his method and Ron has his way of figuring prices. I have to do job by job and person by person.

John, your experience and judging by vehicles has happened to me a few times, it's funny and sad! Keep in mind the ones that drive the expensive cars/trucks aren't necessarily the ones that will pay the most.

I've been doing this sort of work for 10 yrs. and cannot give you exact pricing. The job in the picture was for a dealer who's been coming to me for years, he brings his own wood and tells me to keep what's left. I never put a finish on turnings.

Here's an example:I made 220 porch spindles for a Victorian house restoration project, charged $7.00 per spindle, plus wood, no finish and after the first 8 or 9, they took me 9 min. apiece. I set 3 to 5 calipers and after the first 9, I don't even use them. I use a skew for 99% of the work so some didn't even need to be sanded. That was one job, but I can't price all my porch spindles according to this.

I guess you just have to decide how much you're happy with getting for doing a job. That's the way I do it and I don't compare myself to what someone else is charging. I support myself very well; but someone else might need a lot more because they have a different life style.

I don't think there is an answer to your question of pricing. It's a personal thing! : )

Ruth

Re: Thanks Ruth!

-e-

>thanks!!! it all helps

:>)

Re: Thanks Ruth!

Brad Adams

>-e-,

It's life of 2buckchuck for you! :-)

Brad in Benicia

Re: Thanks Ruth!

-e-

>yea ... :>)

and hopefully, you'll be able to join us soon!