Saturday, December 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Price of work
RICHARD RAFFAN'S
DISCRIPTION
The price should be related to the current retail cost of the materials plus the time it would take for a competent professional to make the piece. The diameter x height in inches gives the time in minutes a simple turned bowl should take, so people can use that as a guide and base a dollar amount for the time component on that. So a 10" x 4" should take any professional bowl turner 40 minutes maximum to make, including preparation of the blank and assuming dry wood that is difficult to work. If you charge time at a dollar a minute that make the time worth $40 and material cost might take that up to $60. This is wholesale, so the price should be doubled for retail. This works well for bowls up to 15" x 4". However few amateur turners seem to take this costing seriously, but this is what happens in the real world. My experience has been that not everyone is that impressed by burl or other bits of 'good wood', so for thirty years I've had a set price for bowls of a given size regardless of their supposed good or bad grain, color or whatever. I think the notion of subtracting or adding to the benchmark is an excellent idea. And those who don't care how little they get for their work should donate it to their wood group who can sell at a more realistic price for club funds or the amount can be passed on for a charitable donation. People should be encouraged not to undercut professionals struggling to make a living in an increasingly difficult market. Low amateur pricing has made life difficult for professional turners the world over, and I for one never miss the opportunity to try to rectify that situation.
The price should be related to the current retail cost of the materials plus the time it would take for a competent professional to make the piece. The diameter x height in inches gives the time in minutes a simple turned bowl should take, so people can use that as a guide and base a dollar amount for the time component on that. So a 10" x 4" should take any professional bowl turner 40 minutes maximum to make, including preparation of the blank and assuming dry wood that is difficult to work. If you charge time at a dollar a minute that make the time worth $40 and material cost might take that up to $60. This is wholesale, so the price should be doubled for retail. This works well for bowls up to 15" x 4". However few amateur turners seem to take this costing seriously, but this is what happens in the real world. My experience has been that not everyone is that impressed by burl or other bits of 'good wood', so for thirty years I've had a set price for bowls of a given size regardless of their supposed good or bad grain, color or whatever. I think the notion of subtracting or adding to the benchmark is an excellent idea. And those who don't care how little they get for their work should donate it to their wood group who can sell at a more realistic price for club funds or the amount can be passed on for a charitable donation. People should be encouraged not to undercut professionals struggling to make a living in an increasingly difficult market. Low amateur pricing has made life difficult for professional turners the world over, and I for one never miss the opportunity to try to rectify that situation.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Cherry Burl
A friend dropped a large Cherry Burl by the shop, It has been sitting for 5 years in a barn!! Talk about dry! well I got arround to turning it, even got a cored bowl (gift for the givers of the burl)
4 coats of finish, looks pretty good!
Deep Hollowing III
Here are the stats the bar is 52 length 22 trap section 30" reach of 1 3/4 DOM with a solid plug on the holder end, drilled to fit custom tool holders as well as many of the popular tools (Jordan, Stewart etc).Trap is 36 wide with a 2" roller on the bottom and fixed upper bar. It has an 8" adjustment to accomodate many different lathe heights.Cutter holder, I have made a 90, 60, 45 and straight all will hold many differnt shapes of cutters that are on the market!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Deep Hollowing
I cou
ldn't get all the Pictures on the AAW site so here they are!
This is the deep hollowing bar
The trap
better view of the trap
below is a close up of the boring bar with
oval cutter and slight angle holder
ldn't get all the Pictures on the AAW site so here they are!This is the deep hollowing bar
The trap
better view of the trapbelow is a close up of the boring bar with
oval cutter and slight angle holder
Friday, July 18, 2008
Folkmoot
Here it is one week from the festival and I'm typing instead of turning!!
Working on a number of Norfolk Island Pine small vessels, 4-6" high. Spurtles for a few days next week and I will be ready. Somewhat apprehensive about sales with gas at $4+ but I've committed to do it and perhaps the weather will cooperate!
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