Thread: Cheese Knife Handles

Hi Brian

I think your pens establish a price point for your work.
a custom cheese knife would be about the same amount of work as one of your Biros.
take away the cost of the supplied blade and you're still looking at around $20 each.

Brianne,

Lovely handles. You have the patience of Job.

Somewhere I have read that if one has a full time job and does craft work on the side for money, one should charge twice your per hour rate at your full time job for craft work. That sounds reasonable to me.

I make bowls and sell them through a craft shop. The shop gets 40% of the selling price.

I make the very best bowl I can and then ask the shop owner, "what do you think we can get for this". She knows what will sell and about what to charge. I made a spectacular bowl from highly figured locust stump and told the owner that I thought it was a $100 bowl. She agreed and we agreed to price it at $95 so it would sell. It did within two weeks.

Some of my things have taken two years to sell. Everything I have taken there has sold.

Occasionally I will make something and show it to a friend or acquaintance. Sometimes they must have that bowl. I charge what they would pay in the shop.

Originally Posted by Paul39

I make bowls and sell them through a craft shop. The shop gets 40% of the selling price.

I make the very best bowl I can and then ask the shop owner, "what do you think we can get for this". She knows what will sell and about what to charge.

Like Paul, I make bowls and bowl like forms. I please myself as to what I make, and finish to a standard that meets my own expectations, which is usually higher than what is required.

In my case the gallery owner, as did his predecessor, expects me to price the pieces. To help with this I keep a database (going back ten years now) of the sizes, woods and photo images of all past pieces and how long they take to sell. This is useful with the pricing of the next batch to go to the gallery.

My prices have gradually gone up over the last 15yrs. I also keep an eye on the prices set by the other turners, and I expect they are doing the same with mine. I'm still selling everything I make, some pieces a little slower than others, which suits me. Some of the more expensive pieces sit there longer, but they serve to attract attention, which then draws buyers in to look more closely at my less expensive pieces that are my regular sellers.

I'm happy to share off-forum (PM me) a sample of my current pricing with any forum member who is regularly selling their work through a gallery. But keep in mind that your market may be different to mine. Something is only worth what someone will pay. Your 'someones' may have more or less money in their pockets or different priorities as to what they will spend their money on.

I turn for my own satisfaction. That is my reward. It also happens to pay for itself in that it is positive on the bank balance, ie. until I decide to buy a another lathe, or whatever bit of kit takes my fancy. As my wife can see the sales coming in each month she doesn't blink when I spend some of that on the workshop. I know, I'm very fortunate to be in that position.

BUT, I could never make a living from just turning. There are very few turners anywhere that can. So, let's get realistic, the prices we charge have nothing to do with making a living. We turn for pleasure and by selling our work we can continue to do what we love doing and then others will hopefully get pleasure from owning or giving our pieces to others. And in doing so we also support our local galleries who are run by excellent people (in my experience) who add aesthetic value to our lives.

Apologies for the long post, but one thing led to another. Hopefully some bits of it will be of some use to someone... )




Stay sharp!

Neil

Very good looking knives. I always find they go down well as gifts.

What finish?? I only use CA theses days and tell people NOT to was the knife ( especially in the dishwasher!!).
My advice iswipe with a damp cloth, or if needed wash only by hand withe a warm soapy cloth and wipe dry immediately.