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Thread: Need good tools for a woodworking career

  1. #16
    Woodworking is a good way to make a hard living but a hard way to make a good living...

    That being said I did it for years and enjoyed it. And good equipment does make it more enjoyable. Used equipment is a great way to punch above your weight. An offer like Richard's may be your ticket!

  2. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2014
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    I agree with the others who said CNC. I'm just a hobbyist, but if I was going to try and make it into a living I'd buy a CNC router and laser cutter, then focus on smaller stuff that can be sold online and at local shows. Understanding what will sell in that arena takes its own skill, but is attainable as a single-man shop. I'd fill things out by taking custom CNC jobs from the surrounding "maker" community. At least near me there is a niche for this, and someone that knows how to advertise and hustle could do well. Id only expand into other custom furniture/cabinet work if I got that part of the business going.

  3. #18
    The one-man-shop customers of mine who were really successful in WW’ing all did what I would characterize as fine woodworking. In other words, they had created a niche. One-of-a-kind commission pieces. I think of it like photography. Everyone with a cell phone is a photographer now. The specialists survive. Not sure if this answers your question but hope it helps. Best of luck in your search.

    Erik

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
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    Waterford, PA
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    You are looking to find space in a very crowded market. I own and operate a jobbing machine shop, which in many ways is a very similar beast. There are guys in their garage with a CNC lathe or something that will always undercut you on price. If that isn't enough, there are all the off shore manufacturers actively courting your customers. Still, after 50+ years, we are still successful. One of the most important things you can do when opening a business is to offer something your competitors don't. In our case, it is a fair (not lowest) price, 100% to drawing and on time, every time. Figure out what you can offer your potential customers that will make you unique and then plan your investments accordingly. Any machine MUST earn its keep. The nicest, fanciest machine is useless if it doesn't provide a reasonable return on investment. Good luck.

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Broadview Heights, OH
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    711
    I agree with folks who said the CNC route. I have one, and use it often. I am friends with Steve Knight who used to make Krenov style custom planes using his CNC. After a few years he realized he was more successful cutting signs and other stuff for customers as opposed to making anything. He stopped making planes years ago and now just runs his CNC cutting parts for others. By default, the Amish will never operate in that space. Instead of trying to compete with them in an area where they will always do it better and have that old world appeal and charm you don't (I assume you aren't Amish), do something that will not allow them to compete with you.

    Shopbot, IMHO (sorry Gary) is the way to go. You can buy a turnkey set up for less than $20,000 and be able to cut parts in a 4' x 8' x 8" envelope. You will of course need to teach yourself how to run the software and design parts (no small undertaking), but if I were to go back to working with my hands, this is where I would focus my time. If you are not good with computer skills, it's probably not for you.

    A different perspective. Hope it helps.

    Pete

  6. #21
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    Sep 2013
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    Carrollton, Georgia
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    Brian, I couldn't operate without any of those tools. I would definitely look for used equipment.

  7. #22
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    Mar 2003
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    I have to agree with the sentiment that breaking in is difficult and one must have a niche/specialty where you can shine and differentiate yourself to do so successfully...i'm literally living that this year myself. The tools are honestly just tools that help you do whatever you decide you want to do and want to market yourself as.

    It's hard to tell you what your budget should be to present to your "investor" because there's no one good answer to what you "need" without you being able to clearly define what you want to do and what that will require. I do agree that pre-owned tools offer a lot of value since many folks buy things and either use them infrequently before unloading them or use them until they upgrade to the latest and greatest or bigger because their needs changed. But again, there's no way to advise you and give "a number".
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  8. #23
    Everyone has a CNc. Be different, do different.

    Woodworking makes up about 50% of my work load, mostly because I am too busy with other parts of the industry. I have never tried to be competitive.

  9. #24
    To succeed in doing woodworking for a living, you already are half way there, because you seem to have a rich dad. A few woodworkers I know are surviving because they have the support of their spouses or families or both. Many FWW contributing editors supplement their furniture business with writing and teaching.

    Can you do all of those in addition to producing whatever you have in mind?

    If your woodworking skills are stronger than any other career skills you may have, you should give woodworking a try (assuming your woodworking passion is not short-lived). If that is not the case, keep your day time job and explore woodworking as a side job or moonlighting, or stay hungry as someone has suggested. Woodworking is sexy every bit of it...if you don't need to depend on it to maintain your lifestyle.

    Simon

  10. #25
    If you experience a great meal at a restaurant, Do you say, "The cook must have an awesome stove!" Look at all of the historic furniture pieces build before electricity. The skill is in the person.
    Hello, My name is John and I am a toolaholic

  11. #26
    Quote Originally Posted by John Gregory View Post
    If you experience a great meal at a restaurant, Do you say, "The cook must have an awesome stove!" Look at all of the historic furniture pieces build before electricity. The skill is in the person.
    Good point, John.

    I've often used the example that getting a college degree is like a carpenter buying a power miter saw. You can do good work without it. In the right hands, it will make work much faster. But merely owning one - devoid of other skills - is useless.

  12. #27
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    Jun 2014
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    Western PA
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    That’s funny, but 3-4 local guys I know have family money or wives raking it in. They all do great work, but there’s not the pressure to bring home the bacon, if you will.

    Another facet to consider is design build stuff like built-ins and finish carpentry. I don’t see that work ever getting displaced, and if you are good, then you actually can make a very good living. Once again, I know two guys doing that work together and while they aren’t in the shop every day, they do a fair amount of woodworking for a living. I’m talking hidden/secret bookcase door type stuff.

  13. #28
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    Sep 2013
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    Brian, I would add that, in order to get yourself going, think outside the box and don't be so hung up on producing custom woodwork that "everyone will love" that you don't look for other jobs. Look for things you can do with the equipment you have and are capable of doing, and will help pay the utilities and for materials while you're looking for that custom commission that comes on rare occasion.

    Look around, in everyday life, at all the things that are made out of wood. Think about the ones you can make, economically, and then think about how you can enter the market. You may end up making piece after piece in large batches and it may not satisfy your desire to design and make pieces of art, but it may pay the bills.

    I have been doing this for 15 years and make custom jobs only on occasion. It allows me to set my own hours, be my own boss and commute to work by going down a set of steps to my wood shop. Shy from considering yourself too well qualified to make a living.

  14. Quote Originally Posted by Dan Friedrichs View Post
    Good point, John.

    I've often used the example that getting a college degree is like a carpenter buying a power miter saw. You can do good work without it. In the right hands, it will make work much faster. But merely owning one - devoid of other skills - is useless.
    Hi Dan,

    I think completing a degree is more analogous to a carpenter completing an apprenticeship - both build the knowledge/skills of the individual vs buying something to instantly provide assistance without having to invest in yourself - like buying a saw, or an engineer buying an expensive software package.

    Cheers, Dom

  15. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by John Gregory View Post
    If you experience a great meal at a restaurant, Do you say, "The cook must have an awesome stove!" Look at all of the historic furniture pieces build before electricity. The skill is in the person.
    While the arrow versus the archer trope has a lot of solid meaning it sidesteps the need for speed of production in order to compete in the modern world which makes it near imperative to have a well thought out process and machines to accomplish this. Unless ones last name is Maloof or Nakashima a painstakingly crafted piece of fine furniture is unlikely to sell for more than McDonald's wages per hour unless the process is streamlined.

    It might help if the OP showed some of his portfolio of work. Seeing that would help guide the suggestions. If the OP doesn't have some examples of what he wants to build and sell then this really is more of "I want to start woodworking and hope to be good enough to sell my work and make a decent living".
    Of all the laws Brandolini's may be the most universally true.

    Deep thought for the day:

    Your bandsaw weighs more when you leave the spring compressed instead of relieving the tension.

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