Is Buying Lumber Like This, Cheating?

[Derek Arita]

I'm going to build a rocker from plans I found from Wood Magazine. Turns out, there's a lumber supplier that sells a lumber kit, consisting of pre-planed lumber in slightly over sized lengths, made for this project. The price of the "kit" is pretty darn close to the price I'd have to pay here in NorCal and I'd have to plane it all to size.
Sounds like a great deal, but I feel kind of sheepish about doing it, because it almost feels like cheating. That said, with wood being so expensive these days and with the time savings to dimension all the lumber, it seems like a no-brainer. What do you guys think? Satisfaction is guaranteed. Take a look...
http://www.heritagewood.com/#!__project-pak-2

[Cary Falk]

I don't see it as cheating. You still have to cut out the pieces and make the chair. With all of the mistakes I make I would need some extra.

[Ben Martin]

Not sure, seems to take a lot of the fun and nearly all of the layout of grain/character out of it. Personally, even if this was cheaper I would still want to do it myself.

Satisfaction guaranteed or not, is it worth your hassle to return it when there is blemish in the middle of the focal point of the project?

Ben

[Thomas Canfield]

Cheating? Depends of your definition I guess, but it seems a reasonable approach (shortcut) for someone that does not have the needed planer and jointer to prepare wood to size. Part of the pleasure to me is taking the raw lumber and doing the surface prep work and selecting the best use of the wood to work around the knots and other blemishes, and getting good grain layout. It sounds like the material has gone through a lot of the preliminary stages and then selected/rough sized for use. It should prevent the overbuying and left over material storage problem. Of course, scraps are always nice to have for future and to work out joint fits, stain/finish, etc.

[Peter Quinn]

Cheating? No, compromise, maybe. You have essentially lost control of stock selection at that point, placed to a large degree the aesthetic choices in somebody else's hands. Maybe they do a fine job, maybe the project really doesn't require you to hand pick the stock? Only you can decide that. As far as the milling? If they flatten effectively, and the machines don't tearout the stock, that I can live with. I like flattening my stock, but its really not the most glorious or exciting part of any project IMHO, just an important and necessary step. Its one you could skip and not feel bad, assuming they do it well. Honestly its your hobby, you shouldn't feel guilty having fun, if this kit helps you achieve your goals, hurray for that. If you are entering this in a juried competition, I'd skip the kit.

[Stephen Cherry]

I don't think that it is cheating at all. If you think of a building something as "project management", then you are assigning particular tasks to someone who is more economically able to do it. I've done a little reading about historic furnititure construction, and in the old days the builder would subcontract out parts of the construction other people. For example, the turners would turn, the carvers would carve, the joiner would cut the joints, etc. So there is nothing new to having more than one person work on furniture and I would not waist even a second thinking about whether or not it's cheating.

[Derek Arita]

Thanks for the feedback. As I thought, differing opinions. I'm a hobby woodworker and generally enjoy all aspects of working the wood. I have no time constraints or deadlines. I don't have a lot of experience picking out rough lumber and was hoping that since I moved to northern CA, there would be lots of places offering all kinds of wood at great prices. Well, now that I'm here, I'm having a heck of time finding good lumber yards that sell at good prices. I'm hoping that having the lumber picked for me and partially dimensioning it, I will have a lesson in how to pick lumber, with the benefit of having it pre worked for me, saving me time. My only time contraint is, this project has to be completed by mid October, for my daughter's Birthday. I just finished the a bench for my other daughter and used doug fir. That project ending up costing about $350, so $300 for the Oak does not seem out of line.
Thanks again.

[Mike Henderson]

The problem with any of those "kits" is that you're not building your design, you're building someone else's design. There's two aspects to furniture - design and craftsmanship. Any trained person can build something that someone else has designed (almost anyone can be a craftsman), but to build something you designed is unique.

Mike

[Derek Arita]

Yeah. Unfortunately, I'm just not there yet. I do my best with other peoples plans. Someday, I'll design my own. Right now, I'm busy learning the craft.

[Wade Lippman]

The problem with any of those "kits" is that you're not building your design, you're building someone else's design. There's two aspects to furniture - design and craftsmanship. Any trained person can build something that someone else has designed (almost anyone can be a craftsman), but to build something you designed is unique.

I strongly agree with that. I am a woodworker largely for the design process; actually building it is almost something I have to do if I want to design it. Exaggerating just a bit; anyone can build it, the creation is designing it. Much of the time I don't even know precisely what I am making until I am done; I particularly like turning for that spontinaity.

I would also be skeptical if the pre-milled wood could could arrive without any movement.

[Ed Griner]

Derek, My recommendation is go for it! When you feel comfortable with something more challenging,hit the lumber yard. In the meantime have fun.

[HANK METZ]

Short answer is yes, if you also consider buying pre- made dowel pins, fasteners, glue and finishes cheating too. If a purist, then obtain some low carbon steel rounds, mushroom one end, slot it, grind a taper, file a spiral down it's length, carburize when done, finish in a... Well, you get the idea.:)

- Beachside Hank
Improvise, adapt, overcome; the essence of true craftsmanship.

[Dan Hintz]

Under that definition of cheating, if you didn't fell the tree yourself and cut it into planks, you cheated.

Meh, use whatever leaps forward you need until you hit the point where you feel comfortable starting the work yourself. If it means using pre-cut planks, that's acceptable. If it means using someone else's design until you feel comfortable making your own, I see no issue with that.

This is supposed to be a hobby, you're supposed to have fun with it... when something or someone makes it less than fun, get rid of that something/someone.

[Mike Cutler]

Derek

Other than not selecting your own lumber, it's no more cheating than if you had to "borrow" some time on a machine you didn't own to cut the material to size and shape. If the kit is going to provide you the same basic design you were going to utilize to begin with, go for it.
I personally think that a person can learn a lot from a "kit". It may not be your design, but the construction elements will be fundamental, and apply to any design.

[John McClanahan]

Do what you want to do. ;)

John

[John Coloccia]

I often have my lumber yard plane and cut my lumber to rough size for the intended use. The only reason I don't have them go to final dimension is that the wood's going to move once it sits in my shop for a month.

I often give them little jobs too, like taking some cheap boards and turning them into stickers for stacking wood.

I really don't worry what anyone else thinks. My shop is setup to handle small, guitar sized parts, and small furniture pieces. Anyone who dares criticize my choices had better be offering me the keys to their shop and carte blanche to use it whenever I please.

[Roy Harding]

The problem with any of those "kits" is that you're not building your design, you're building someone else's design. There's two aspects to furniture - design and craftsmanship. Any trained person can build something that someone else has designed (almost anyone can be a craftsman), but to build something you designed is unique.

Mike

Although I agree with you in principle - I think it's safe to say that most hobbyists (and professionals) started out building someone else's designs. I know I did, both as a hobbyist, and later when I attended trade school to become a "professional". By building someone else's design you learn about joinery techniques, and the design process.

So, after thirty years as a hobbyist, and ten as a professional, I wouldn't go the route of a "kit" (or use someone else's design). But 20 or 25 years ago I would have, and I would have been proud of the finished product and learned something along the way. I STILL look at what others have designed and built, including in magazines and websites, because I STILL learn different techniques and styles from doing so.

As someone else said, for many (most?) here on the Creek, woodworking is a hobby - it's supposed to make you happy - if buying a kit fills that bill, then drive on, learn from building the piece, and enjoy yourself.

[Prashun Patel]

Having built a rocker from plans i will say that there is a satisfaction in having made it from lumber that you pick yourself. Part of the challenge is selecting for grain match and proper orientation for the stressed parts.

It is not cheatinng, but you are depriving yourself of one of the lessons in chair building.

Id say make the first one totally from scratch and make the second from the kit lumber.

[Alan Lightstone]

The problem with any of those "kits" is that you're not building your design, you're building someone else's design. There's two aspects to furniture - design and craftsmanship. Any trained person can build something that someone else has designed (almost anyone can be a craftsman), but to build something you designed is unique.

Mike

I agree with one caveat. I've produced what I feel is a few stunning pieces of furniture that were copies of others' designs. Those I don't consider sending to magazines, as they are not mine. That being said, I'm very proud of them, and they take great craftsmanship, but not the complete package. And, no, I don't believe anyone can be a craftsman. All of what we do takes work, and education, and talent.

Both aspects of woodworking take special talents. Some will become stellar at craftsmanship, some will design stunning original pieces which will stand the test of time, and rarely, people can become special at both. Those are the ones whose work we drool over.

This tome over, go build your furniture, enjoy the process, and take pride in the finished work. That's what a hobby is all about.

[Stephen Cherry]

As for the "borrowing" of designs, that is as old as humanity, and there is no shame in it. Look at the klismos chairs by Duncan Phyfe. The main reason people know about Chippendale chairs is that he made a design book that others could borrow from. And he borrowed most of what he did from the French and Chinese.

So if two of the greatest designers of furniture can extensively "borrow", I think that anybody can do it.

[Tom Ewell]

Under that definition of cheating, if you didn't fell the tree yourself and cut it into planks, you cheated.
.

Yeah, I've got a few pieces made from "scratch", cut 'er down, sawmill, sticker, joint, plane, .....etc., way too much work now for this ol' phart.

I've no problem now going to the yard and checking out the s2s stuff, much rather design, fabricate and finish a project than trudge through the woods looking for that potential several years down the road and hoping the bugs don't get to it before I do.

As far as the kit thing, if the order goes well and gratification is gained beyond the picking of the stock then go for it, there is still plenty to do and learn without worrying about choices prior to fabrication.

Once you get the feel and actually have an eye for the "artsy" stuff then go about doing it rough to finish.

[Greg Peterson]

If you feel it is cheating, I doubt anything I can post will convince you to the contrary.

Rest assured that many folks have had to take short cuts along the way due to time constraints, lack of tooling, space, experience.......

For me, the process is its own reward. The final piece is a summation of the decisions and steps.

Some folks like to travel, taking pictures to remember specific people, places and events in their journey. For me, the more steps and processes I can accomplish by my own hand, the richer the final piece will be.

[Jeremy Hamaker]

I say it depends on what you want to do. If your goal is to do/learn the steps that the kit is saving then no, don't get the kit. If the goal is to do the building then yes, get the kit.
An example from my own hobbies: I like 'making' knives. But I have no interest in shaping/grinding blank steel. So I just get a nice pre-shaped and ground knife blank from a catalog. I do the handle work, the assembling/gluing, and the polishing. And I'm totally happy with that. That's the kind of knifemaker I want to be. I don't apologize for it or feel any shame. As has been said: it's your hobby. You define it for YOU! Good luck either way, and post pics!

[bobby milam]

There is no cheating. If I can buy say a stool in the design that I want, cheaper than making it myself then I buy it. If you buy the kit, it will make the end product come faster and therebye giving you more time in the future to make more items that can't be bought that way. The only reason that I build something for myself is because I can do it cheaper, better or customize it to my specifications. If the price is right and it is what you want in an end product by all means go for it.

I do a lot of cnc work. I have no problems using a file made by someone else if it gives me what I want. I didn't look at the link but I assume you still have to finish the items yourself. You'll be just as proud of it in the end either way you do it.

[Mark Patoka]

I don't see this as cheating. From the way the OP reads, you are buying planed lumber cut to the approximate length/width you need. This is not pre-cut parts that only require glue/screws and some stain to slap together like a Snap-Tite model or IKEA chair. You still have to transfer the patterns, cut and shape the pieces and assemble. Still room for quite a bit of error or less than stellar craftsmanship to make a rocker that you'll be proud of. If everythign was pre-cut and shaped, then you'd only be an assembler, not a woodworker.

I also don't understand the "borrowing of designs" argument as cheating. The reason we buy books and magazines is because we see a design/plan we like and build it. If you have a little experience you can alter the design to meet your needs.

[Jim Neeley]

Derek,

The only person whose opinion on this matters is your own.

Some people spend their woodworking hobby working from others plans.
Some people choose to start out following someone elses plan and then migrate to their own designs.
Some people started working from a base plan but "made it my own" along the way.
Some people undertake the whole design / learn the skills practice from the get-go.

Of the latter, some succeed and many get frustrated and quit.

I say choose a path and enjoy it. For myself that involved starting with plans but changing them along the way. Over time I changed more and more. Now-a-days I'm more likely than not to work with only a general idea of where I'm going. The success of that, of course, depends on the complexity of what you are building, your skill at the time and your comfort level at working free-hand.

Let's not forget, your willingness to occasionally throw a piece of stock away to start over if you screw it up too bad. <g>

Jim

[Gary Breckenridge]

Maybe. To avoid any thought of cheating on a project plant a tree and wait 20 years to harvest the tree. Make the logs into lumber and wait another year. Then build the rocking chair because you'll be old enough to need one.

[mike holden]

It is NOT cheating.
I belong to the Society of American Period Furniture Makers and many of us mail order our wood from the specialist mahogany suppliers, trusting them to pick out and send us the wood we need for a chair, secretary, bombe chest, etc.
Your situation is no different.
Mike

[Tim Fulford]

errr dont agree some people can even assemble flat pack furniture! A kit of parts does not make you a craftsman and neither does someone elses design. After all most designs have come from some place else anyway. It takes a craftsman to make a unique design and then create it.

[Bill White]

No more of a cheat than if you use CNC equipment to cut your parts. Go for it, and post pics of the finished project. BTW, I DO NOT consider CNC cutting as a cheat process, just a way to cut stuff batter, faster, and with less waste.

[Jim Becker]

No, not cheating. But not necessarily the way to make your project "sing". One of the most important "finishing" tasks for any project is choosing the material to use...and that includes matching grain and color. Kits are not necessarily going to provide you with the optimal mix in that respect. They are either going to be just randomly chosen material milled to thickness, etc., or the person putting the kit together might have different preferences than you do. That's the trade-off... ;)

[Peter Aeschliman]

Assuming you're a hobbiest, it's an unnecessary question. All that matters is that you are enjoying your hobby.

It only gets into "cheating territory" if you misrepresent your work to others by implying you did everything yourself, including the design.

[Richard Wagner]

Who are you cheating by using materials from a kit? If anyone is being "cheated", it is you. When done with this project there will be some tasks that you will not have experienced. You will have been cheated out of that experience. Other than that, I say go for it if the cost of the kit is reasonable (and you get to make that decision).

One question though. Do you have the equipment that would be required to prep rough cut lumber for your project?

[Guy Belleman]

Great kits. Go for it. Good way to begin seeing how furniture is constructed and the pieces are shaped. Should provide a good result and lead to future millings of your own. Let us know how the kit turns out.

[Prashun Patel]

I'll reiterate something at the risk of being pedantic: I think you made a mistake using the word 'cheat', because we're all having a visceral reaction to it's ethical implications. That's not the point, I believe. A chair puts your construction and joints to the test. Selecting for grain direction is a big part of that. I think it's a valuable learning experience to do that yourself. However, if you're comfortable with that - or have done it enough to view it as outsourceable, then by all means buy the kit.

When I made a rocker, I learned a lot selecting and milling my own parts. Now that I've done it once, I think I might buy a kit the next time - just to save time.

Just my 2cents AGAIN.