Thread: What's it Worth?

Originally Posted by oven1944

Hi all i started this thread hopeing somone would have a answer but it's the same i hear all over from the craftsman... but a craft show they know what to charge for there space....$100 two 500 for a 10+10 space some times you get two days i don't know what two charge for my work any more then you do...if i put a clock on my time my work would never sale. there needs to be away to put a price on craft even if you just want to give it away and i've gave alot away this is the thought i had in mind that's way i said Think, seems to me the folks making the mony is the organizers of the craft show, i've seen craft shops go under alot,
i'm thinking if 4 modelers of different things got togather and had a big shop in back of a store with a stock of all the things you see in a catalog right there to buy on the spot then had a Model class two days a week i think it would work... these or just my thought..
Gary....

You're right, the organisers of a craft show make money, as do the sellers of timber and woodworking tools and equipment, but not us.

I think that the model-making class part would make money, but for the reasons we've all outlined there is no money to be made from making and selling the models themselves - it's pure loss unfortunately, for the reason you mention - $ per hour. That means that to actually sell things, the profit isn't merely zero, it's negative.

We can easily get money for our models, but not enough to make it worthwhile to make them purely for money. You'll always hear the same answer from us because there is no other one.

When I mentioned my guitar earlier, and the possibility of being paid $200 for it, what I didn't mention is the fact that more than $200 worth of timber and parts went into it, without counting either labour or profit in the equation.

Edit: I probably miscalculated with the guitar - let's say close to $200, not more than.

I have only sold one model - 1929 Ford Stake Bed Truck (I have shown this on a post here).

I always send photos of what I make to my sons. My youngest son showed the pictures to his boss. When he saw the Ford Truck, he said that it was just like his dad had used when he was farming. He wanted to know if I would sell it so he could give it to his dad for Christmas and if so, how much would I want for it.

So, my son asked me and I told him I would not sell that one, but would be willing to make another one. As far as price, I had no idea, so I just estimated 50 hours @ $20/hour so I gave him a price of $1000 (I would eat the cost of materials). His boss said OK so I got started.

This time I did keep track of the hours and ended up with 60 in the build. So, I did not get my $20/hour. His boss (and his dad) were both very happy with the truck, so I am glad that I did it for them. Would I make and sell another? Yes, but the price would have to be more in the $2000 - $2500 range.

There is no way I would try to make a living at this, it would turn out to be a job instead of a hobby that I enjoy.

you say you made a Guitar, do you play? i did that over 40 years 100 dates a year at frist it was my Hobby, then a part time Job some times it was real fun but alot of the time was a job from hell lol, i would like to sale 4 wagons a year just to keep the wife of my back about all the tools.. the music was like that at one time all the gear one needs for a band i steel have it all but it more then payed for it's salf in the wenter when brick laying was slow but my shop tools have never came close to there cost....
Gary.....

Originally Posted by oven1944

Hi all i started this thread hopeing somone would have a answer but it's the same i hear all over from the craftsman...
........................
....................
i'm thinking if 4 modelers of different things got togather and had a big shop in back of a store with a stock of all the things you see in a catalog right there to buy on the spot then had a Model class two days a week i think it would work... these or just my thought..
Gary....

It would have to be an internet (virtual) shop. To find 4 modellers living in the same suburb, town, would be difficult.

There are already internet shops like Etzy ...

I have bought from Etzy. I bought a dozen towels made by hand, in the same way and style of the Romans.

It is a virtual shop where Craftspeople of all types can display and sell. When I have a few models up my sleeve (haaaaa ... probably when I'm 101 years old) I intend to join a community like this and put extremely high prices on my 'wares'. If they don't sell, doesn't matter, still getting exposure.

Etzy ... Woodworking ... 3" x 1/4" cedar discs .. $7.25 for 4

Etzy ... Woodworking ... Small flat plywood .. 2 x diamond shape .. $1.90 pair

Etzy ... Woodworking ... Small bird blank ... $8.50

Etzy ... Woodworking ... Shirt buttons from Acacia tree .. $9.70

Etzy ... Woodworking ... Shirt buttons from Coconut husk ... $5.00


So these places do exist. Another is Fine Art America ... I have some photos listed there but have NEVER had an enquiry ... haaa .. But this virtual shop has a big advantage. You just upload your photo and they do all the framing, printing, in many styles of choice, sell, dispatch, and pay you. Trouble is, there are 1000s of people on there with the same idea .. haaa

Its early days for this methodology ... So it probably pays to get a presence on places like Etzy now .. You may not sell ... But you are gathering very valuable experience. And you will be that much ahead of the game by the time it starts to take off. Etzy, in particular is becoming well known.

Gary ... I think you would easily sell on Etzy at a price that would be satisfactory to you ... For many people purchasing from Etzy, money is a secondary consideration, quality and novelty .. but in particular, originality ... is their prime purpose when searching for gifts or ornamental displays.

Cool bananas ... Greg

Thank Greg, some good info i don't need a liveing just some spinding cash to show folks i can make money...i bought some tools from a man that made $60.000.00 a year for years he gave me his mane salers i'll post them on hear. he did this in the 4 months at fairs i'm not in to doing what he did, i love makeing my wagons and miniatures the time i spend in my shop is just soooo fun it's my drug of choce saw dust with a ice COLD Beer i would like to have a shop with a show room and teach kids the art of wood working i have the place on the hiway to Zion Park, just need to build the shop and that's what i did for 35 years just one think $$$$$, LOL, thanks for your input
Gary.....

It's why we have been dubbed "RECREATIONAL WOODWORKERS".
As I was trying to get over in my earlier post it still beats getting or going to a concert and you still have the tools left over for the money you spent.
Regards

That sounds like a nice little plan there Gary... Have you thought of posting it up on Kickstarter or similar to get the funding you need to get it going? You could offer people a free small wooden toy or something when you're up and running as a return on their investment. Maybe a nice model of their choice for much higher donations?

Worth a try in my opinion. Some of the silly projects I see posted there that get a Guernsey is ridiculous. This would finally be a worthwhile project worthy of the investment. If you posted yours up there it would probably be the first one I'd put money on

Originally Posted by oven1944

you say you made a Guitar, do you play? i did that over 40 years 100 dates a year at frist it was my Hobby, then a part time Job some times it was real fun but alot of the time was a job from hell lol, i would like to sale 4 wagons a year just to keep the wife of my back about all the tools.. the music was like that at one time all the gear one needs for a band i steel have it all but it more then payed for it's salf in the wenter when brick laying was slow but my shop tools have never came close to there cost....
Gary.....

The guitar isn't quite finished yet Gary. It's not a 'normal' one, it's a cigar box guitar. Or at least, like a cigar box guitar, since I'm making the box as well. I'm giving it a 1917 'Cyro' cigar box label for a touch of authenticity.
Apart from the box, though, it's a normal guitar - 6 steel strings, truss-rod neck and so on. I'm really enjoying the build. Just putting on finish coats now and making the nut, saddle etc.
I do play, but haven't for many years. I hope I can remember how. I'll find out in a couple of weeks when I put it all together.
There's a link to the build in my signature if you're interested.

Back on topic, I did once think of one place a decent scale model car would sell. If you were to approach Ford Motor Company, or General Motors etc, with a scale model of one of their earliest cars you might find that you could get a decent price for your efforts. A true niche market.
e.g. GMH might be very interested in a well-made model of an FX Holden, or 48-125 to use the correct model designation, from memory. FX was a name given to them after the FJ was released.

Thank you Folks for your input i've enjoyed your thoughts.....
Gary.....