Turning blank prices question(s)

Re: Turning blank prices question(s)

Ruth

>Mike,

Check the prices in the turning catalogs. Also go to eBay and check the "completed items" to see what sold and how much. Checking the current auctions only tells you what people are "asking".

As to the size, I would buy any size blank knowing I could cut it up for bottle stoppers, ornaments or pens. For instance, I have a 12" swing but could get a 10" bowl plus a box or ? out of a 20" blank.

Good Luck.

Ruth

Re: Turning blank prices question(s)

David Eaves

>Hi Mike,

Don�t know about set levels in US prices. However, I think your linear pricing structure will lose you money. The way I read it you will scale your prices by inch of diameter. So say a 4� blank cost $8 an 8� blank would cost $16. But if you think about the area, it has not just doubled it has quadrupled (pi x r^2). Thus the 8� blank should cost $32.

Looking at the suppliers I buy blanks from this is exactly how they price it. Linear in thickness (ie a 2� blank is twice the price of a 1� blank the same diameter) And the price scales by a square law in the diameter direction. E.g. some prices taken from a suppliers catalogue.

Ash 5� diameter x 3� �2.73 (UK pounds)

Ash 10� diameter x 3� �10.92 (UK pounds) (If you divide by 4 you get 2.73)

Hope this helps

David

Re: Turning blank prices question(s)

TDaniel

>Mike, you need two factors at least. One is the desirability of the wood; the other is the size vessel it will make. I figure a 3 x 12 bowl takes about 3 bd ft. Geen cherry is about $4 per bd ft.; that would make it $12. If it is nice boxelder with a lot of red I might triple that. I never cut it round; just make it rectangular, leaving about 2" more in length than in width with most woods. Sycamore and other woods that tend to endcheck badly I might leave 4 to 6" longer. I also prefer to cut blanks in lenths that would make several bowls rather than individual bowls; this way if you do have endchecking you can trim it off and still have saleable wood remaining. Double coat the ends with anchorseal and single coat the rest. My blanks range from $1 per board foot to about $15 per foot. Grain and color is what sells. Another pricing method that I use is 10% of what I think I could sell the wood for if I turned it. In other words, if I have a piece of wood that I think will make a $300 bowl I would not take less than $30 for it. There are other ways to price but this is how I do it.

TD

Re: Turning blank prices question(s)

John Trant (aka Boxes-n-Bowls)

>Hi Mike,

As you may know, I sold quite a bit of wood last year to the CAW turners mainly because I had more wood than I could turn. Much of it would simply dry out and crack before I could get on the lathe. The idea was to get rid of my excess (which pleased my wife to no end), recoup a little cash for Anchorseal, chainsaw tune-up, a couple new band saw blades, etc, and provide quality blanks for a cheap price for CAW members that did not have the means to prepare their own blanks. Now, if wished to run a business, then everyone is correct in that pricing by the diameter isn't the method you should use; it should be calculated in bd ft. Remember, I was providing a once-a-month service and wanted an easy mechanism to price my blanks on the spot so the "$1 per inch of diameter" rate worked for me. Otherwise, I would have to do the measurements and calculations for each blank, attach price tags, replace the tags that were torn off during moving and transport, etc, etc, etc. Tooooo much like work.

Just for your information, I will *not* bring wood to April's CAW meeting because of the arrangement with Exotic Woods but I will bring in wood for the next several meetings starting in May. If you wish to do so also, we need to chat off-line or at this weekend's meeting.

John

Re: Turning blank prices question(s)

Mike Schwing from Md

>Thanks John. I did not know you had done this with the CAW.

I have no plans (or desire) to start a business doing anything like this. I just happened to be in a place at a time when the partnership worked out. Just like you - I have a lot of wood available and the time/energy to harvest it. I had previously asked my friend if he'd want a few of my blanks for his retail shelf, brought them in and traded for some flat lumber. At that point he started talking about the show thingy, next thing you know, I've volunteered to provide him with blanks. Upon reflection, I'm happy to help a friend out and forge an even stronger relationship with a business I already frequent, but the time/effort might not be worth it.

This will likely be a one time thing for me. But who knows.

As it turns out, the pricing decisions will be entirely up to him. I'll either take the return blanks or leave them at his retail store. No matter what - hope someone finds them of value. Each one of them would be a blank I'd be happy to turn on my own, and the business owner is a very fair and super nice guy, happy to help him.