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Thread: How much to charge?
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2nd May 2009, 09:43 PM #1
How much to charge?
This question is in response to a job I have been given. A sort of sub-contract by my boss.I have been given the task of restoring an old hand plane. It is a number four 'Borher' that is in a terrible state.
How much should I charge the owner for restoring it?
What I plan on doing to the plane below;
- Remove all parts and clean with mineral turpentine (excluding sole and sides of plane). Scrubbing them with both a soft nylon brush and a rougher stainless steel brush to remove most of the grime.
- Fettle the plane sole and sides up, starting at P80 working to P320.
- Square off mouth of plane.
- Clean up contact points on frog and on plane.
- Smooth frog face.
- Clean up and respray tote and front knob, matching colour if possible.
- Clean up blade and cap-iron, removing glue and grime.
- Sharpen blade and cap iron, flattening the back of blade.
- Polish brass parts.
- Re-assemble and tune plane.
All up it should take around 4 to 5 hours.
The hourly rate I am paid by my boss is $10. Given the estimated time and materials needed I was planing on charging $60. Is this reasonable?
Thank you for your help and any advice you can offer.
Regards,
Harlan"If you can't kill a zombie with it, it ain't a weapon."
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2nd May 2009, 09:53 PM #2SENIOR MEMBER
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in the retail industry, everything is marked up 100%. so basically you should think of an honest number and double it.
i suggest you do the same, ie. charge $120
regards, justin.
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2nd May 2009, 09:58 PM #3
i would go the middle of the road...$80. but make sure your boss loves that plane. just make sure you tell him it will be a days work in it, and it is not a simple job, more than a bit of wet and dry and a can of jet dry. i'm sure he would be ok with it..
glen boulton
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2nd May 2009, 10:00 PM #4
Laborwise, I'd say the $60 made a fair base estimate. (So, I'm cheap. ) Anything above is sheer profit.
But I'm curious... isn't a Bohrer #4 in reasonable condition only worth about $20? (I could be wrong, wouldn't be the first time.)
It'd be a bit daft to pay 3 or 4 times total replacement cost for a restoration & tune up. Or doesn't he know how to tune it himself? In which case, wouldn't it be easier all around for him to buy a replacement and pay you to tune that one instead?
Any sentimental reason to restore this one in particular?
- Andy Mc
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2nd May 2009, 10:24 PM #5
Just curious Harlan, where do you work? $10 an hour is pittance for real work (and what I get for slavework at the mill)
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2nd May 2009, 10:28 PM #6
Depends if you want to stick it up the boss or want to have the boss owe you a favor...
IMHO, this is a good time to buddy up to the boss and be realistic about the price and spend the time as a favor. Yes it is work and an undue task to do this work but times are such that you need to be in close with those who influence the fact you get paid.
You may get screwed in the outcome but IF you screw over your boss, then who knows the outcome. If a satisfactory price is still wanted then charge the hourly rate you are normally paid for what the boss sees to it you are paid.
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3rd May 2009, 12:14 AM #7
At your tender age, and in the current economic climate, this is not the best time to create enemies. You can do that better later on, anyway.
Enlighten the boss with the received wisdom stated above, as well as your proposed plan. Let the boss decide.
Cheers,
JoeOf course truth is stranger than fiction.
Fiction has to make sense. - Mark Twain
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3rd May 2009, 07:50 AM #8
I agree, do the job give it back to the boss and tell him how long it took to do it. - something there "here is your plane back, it took me most of Saturday to do, what do you think of it now?"
He should then dcide what it is worth and willingly pay you.
A good turn like that ,may pay off in the long term anyway. Sometimes life is not all about making money.
Cheersregards
David
"Tell him he's dreamin.""How's the serenity" (from "The Castle")
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3rd May 2009, 08:37 AM #9
Tell him took a day. plus materials.
then ask him what a fair days pay is for an Australian? and give him the bill for the materials as well.Steven Thomas
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3rd May 2009, 08:38 AM #10
you'll get $80 )
Steven Thomas
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3rd May 2009, 09:05 AM #11
but funky chicken he is the same age as you are so $10 an hour is about right. at nearly 2 1/2 times your age I only get $20 an hour
regards Michaelenjoy life we are only here a short time not a long time
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3rd May 2009, 12:16 PM #12
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3rd May 2009, 12:46 PM #13SENIOR MEMBER
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depends do you wish to make money or friends ? is he giving you extra work as a favor? to encourage you? or is it here fix this ? you should advise him before you start spending his money , sounds like a good project . enjoy bob
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3rd May 2009, 04:43 PM #14
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3rd May 2009, 10:22 PM #15
I may not have mentioned this in my first post.
My boss has given me the job to do for the client, meaning he is not paying me rather I am getting paid by the client.
I will by all means let my boss asses the plane and see what he believes the work I have done is worth.
Got most of the plane finished up today, with the exception of the tote and knob.
It came up rather good but by all means not as it would have had it been my own. (Would spend at least a week on my own and gone to at least P600 on the base)
Took some pictures to see what everyone else thinks the work is worth. Has taken 5h 40mins. Still a bit to go (blade not sharpened or flattened and the mouth needs more work, also need to wipe the sole and sides clean and wax them)
From what it was;
To what it is now;
Thanks for the help guys.
Regards,
Harlan"If you can't kill a zombie with it, it ain't a weapon."
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