Cost Justify - Love or Money?

[Malcolm Wheeler]

In Vancouver BC there are very few hardwood vendors and cherry is currently running about $6.50 a board foot. The project I am planning is this one which calls for about a 100 board feet (15% extra) or in other words $650. (no tax)

http://www.woodsmith.com/plans/classic-cherry-bed/
http://www.woodsmith.com/images/plans/classic-cherry-bed/left-1.jpg

Now for comparison - this almost identical bed from a local Canadian retailer is asking a mere $500 ($300 at one of their clearance stores elsewhere in the country)

http://www1.thebrick.com/brickb2c/jsp/catalog/product.jsp?prod=1030QBED&navAction=jump&navCount=0
http://s7d3.scene7.com/is/image/TheBrick/1030QBED?$productdetails$

So my question is this - on the whole do people here at the Creek almost always pay more for their own furniture versus bought furniture? As the title of my post implies, I put it to you that we do this for fun of the hobby, not for economic reasons, or am I wrong here in my assumption? Am I correct to assume that bought will always be cheaper than home made?

[Don C Peterson]

For years I have made the conscious decision NOT to buy furniture that I can make. I refuse to buy junk, and I can't afford to buy good furniture. Yes, I can buy furniture cheaper than I can make it, but there's no way that I can buy furniture of the same quality for anywhere near what I could make it for.

I'd be willing to bet that that bed is largely made up of a combination of small glued up pieces of hardwood or particleboard with a microscopically thin layer of veneer.

[Wayne Hendrix]

For years I have made the conscious decision NOT to buy furniture that I can make. I refuse to buy junk, and I can't afford to buy good furniture. Yes, I can buy furniture cheaper than I can make it, but there's no way that I can buy furniture of the same quality for anywhere near what I could make it for.

I'd be willing to bet that that bed is largely made up of a combination of small glued up pieces of hardwood or particleboard with a microscopically thin layer of veneer.

I wholeheartedly agree. I can very seldom make anything cheaper than I can buy it but the quality of the things I make is much better than what I can buy.

That doesnt even take into consideration the love of doing it which contributes much more than cost.

[Leo Graywacz]

I get this all the time when I quote a price. I get get that a such and such a store for less. Usually, by the time I have all the materials priced out it is already in excess of the cost of the finished project bought at a store.

I can almost guaranty that it wasn't made in the USA, it isn't a one of a kind and there is probably a lot of manufactured materials in it and a lot less solid wood than it looks.

If you are on a tight budget you will have to wait and save up or bite the bullet and just save the money/time and just do the horrible thing :rolleyes: and buy it instead of make it.

[Mark Grotenhuis]

$6.50 a board foot is too high. You need to find a better supplier ... and that's not always easy to do. I'm blessed with a local guy near me who cuts trees himself and sells cherry to me for $3 a bf. Its rough sawn, kiln dried, and needs to be surfaced but I can do that myself. Look in your local classified ads or call some tree service places ... I'm sure someone knows somebody who does it around you for cheaper.
That being said even if you do find a lower price on wood, after you add the hardware, stain, poly, sandpaper, etc, its still going to be about the same (or more) as you can buy it for in the store. But yours will be much better quality.

[Rick Metcalf]

Malcom, Check out the last copy of Popular Woodworking. Great article by Mark Spagnoulo on Build It of Buy It. I agree with others on the quality of the buy-it bed you posted. Check out lumber suppliers that will ship to you as well. Even shipped cherry would be less than you are paying. Best of luck in finding a better price and the bed build.

[Rick Thom]

Being Canadian myself, I'm all too familiar with the Brick who specializes in low to mid-quality (at best) furniture and other goods, bought by large quantity at the lowest price. Their selling feature is usually easy financing not excellent quality anything.
So, if you can produce average or better quality workmanship, make it unique and personalized, use better quality materials etc, you will have an end product that is superior. There's also the sense of satisfaction that comes from having made something that is of heirloom quality that will last generations if properly cared for.
As to price, The Brick is in the business to make money so they buy where and when they can get the bed for the absolute least cost. With our current economy, that may be from a distressed company selling at or below cost. Typically, material prices in Van are high compared to areas of the country nearer where cherry is plentiful, and it's worse still for those Canadian woodworkers living on the prairies. So you can seek better prices or consider alternate species that are less costly in your area but would provide a satisfactory appearance. I'm sure almost any domestic hardwood would look quite fine with that design.

[glenn bradley]

It does cost more to make a quality version of a mass produced piece. The $500 bed would pale next to a handcrafted version of the same. That being said I have purchased furnishings for my home for less than I could buy the materials to make a proper one. These are just place holders so I don't look homeless whilst I populate my home with my own builds.

In this particular circumstance if there is a time pressure being applied by yourself or others, pick up the cheaper piece and use the extra money to buy material for matching nightstands. You will have the immediate gratification and the joy of building.

[jim sauterer]

me and the wife were in jc penney and they had a morris chair for $899.00.from 20 feet away it looked decent.getting closer you could see it was veneered.on the back there was a chunk out of the back leg i dont know for sure i think it was particle board.that chair will probably last 5 or so years.

[Larry Browning]

At my house it is not always about the cost. It is about the time. Many times SWMBO says she needs something either right now or within a period of time I am not either willing or able to meet. So she goes out and buys something I could have made, just not on her time schedule.
Maybe I should change her name to SWHNP (She Who Has No Patience) :eek:

[D.McDonnel "Mac"]

Malcolm,

I know that bed you are thinking of building! I made one in Twin size for my daughter 12 years ago and it is one solid great looking bed. It has aged nicely and has that old cherry patina. I just rewaxed it for the first time a month ago and it shined up nicely! Make the bed and your family will cherish it for generations!

[gary Zimmel]

Nicely said Mac.

You can't put a price on a family heirloom....

[Dan Manning]

Justification? Let me see. I could have just went out and bought my grandaughter a desk and chair when she started school. Driving around to all the stores looking at all the boxed results,,,

My wife asked me one day "I would like you to build her a desk and chair." That's it. No preferences/nothing. I said fine. I went into my little shop and while my grandaughter was playing at the other end of the shop with her 'woods', I came up with this.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt267/Dancamera1/Shop010209011.jpg

After the missus put the 'girly' stuff on it, my grandaughter uses it Every day. Dinner/homework/coloring,etc.
Here with her laptop courtesy of 'PopPop'.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt267/Dancamera1/Shop010209017.jpg
Cost=$0 (Stock supplies)
Time=2 hours.
Enjoyment= Priceless.

[Ken Werner]

Dan, that is just wonderful. Brought a smile to my face, and a glow to my heart. This is part of why woodworking is so appealing.

[allen levine]

I agree with Ken. so many people rate their woodworking on exotic lumber used, type of joinery, finishes, inlays, etc.............this is a piece that will long be cherished and I bet passed down.

[Dan Manning]

I even went to the expense to rout a groove 'old-school' for her pencils. All who see it fall over that detail. Was going to put in an ink-well holder, but, I can only regress so far back...:D

Surprisingly though, there were no screws, only the galvanized pins from my Huskey pin-nailer, and glue. I have stood on the desk to show my wife how good they hold. I also like how the chair back angle turned out and is solid also.

Recently I made my younger grandaughter a toy box. Read: Large. My daughter called and said her daughter climbed in the toybox, tossed the toys and played in the empty box. I guess I'll take my jigsaw and cut windows for a converted playhouse? Make a set of 'front steps' to make it easier for her to get in and out?... Scale table and chair set? The fun never ends...:cool:

It's Tool Feeding Time!

[Mark Warwick]

I can't afford the things i build! I wish i could... Luckily i don't need much. One day i'll be able to build things for myself, but i find as time goes on the things i thought i'd want really don't shine as much as they used to. Even the furniture i used to like just doesn't hold the same interest. What interests me is the face of my clients when they take possession of what ever they have commissioned.

One of my clients was so happy with what i built for them they have left it in their will for me because they don't know anyone else who will appreciate it as much as we all do. (them, and myself). They also don't want their children to have it because they simply don't appreciate such things the way they do.

Woodworking is more then just wood and skills. It is relationship, it is history, it has purpose and has a character of it's own. Sure you can buy that bed for 500 or 600 hundred bobs, but what would it mean to you? Where is the relationship?

[Dan Manning]

Mark,
Well said. For example, I got tired of my paper towells rolling around my shop. I said to myself you dummy, make a holder! Well, with some scrap, a torch for effects, poly and the pin nailer, this is it. Now everyone who sees it, wants one. Go figure. Simple, inexpensive, easy to make, etc. and will last for years. This one has been in my shop for a year or so. Paper has been removed for the photo.

http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt267/Dancamera1/Shop1016013.jpg

[ROY DICK]

Store bought bread, or homemade? :confused:

Roy

[Dan Manning]

Store bought in a pinch, home made for those 'close-your-eyes' butter drippin' gravy soppin' times. That warm 'Supper' bread only mom can make. We used to sneak a look under the pantry towel anticipatin'.

(Cue Andy Griffith's response to Aunt Bee's cookin.);)

I'm fixin to make up a batch of ol' dad's home-brew soon. FIL just give me a 5 gal. Pennsy crock.

Darn, is it back to the shop time again?