Probably a good bet- For those who work wood as a living, after a long day of production in the shop, spending time blogging is probably not at the top of their priorities. [I'm a hobbyist].
Yes or No
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Tough call, been retired for many years and the only cash received is from the odd sale of a wood project, occasional pen( Wife has given away more than have ever been sold
) or other small items? Can I add up the total value of items built for my Favorite daughter and Grangirls?
) or other small items? Can I add up the total value of items built for my Favorite daughter and Grangirls?
Does working in the trade for peanuts count? As a kid, I helped my godfather in his construction/carpentry business summers and weekends, and we'd often stop at the bar on the way home - him for a beer, me for 5 nickle bags of peanuts and a frosty mug of birch beer. We might even run a game of shuffle board bowling. I did pay attention and learned a lot from him, but cars, girls, and technology had a strong lure as I got older. I gave up cars, but returned to woodworking a few years ago as a hobby, mostly for projects in the home that I renovated. New home, fewer projects, but finally a 400-sf shop with good tools to enjoy. Definitely hobbyist and here looking to learn more to enhance my skills.
@Madmark2 - maybe a "probbyist"?
@Madmark2 - maybe a "probbyist"?
Hobbyist for sure here. I have spent my adulthood making things for customers either as a machinist or as an engineer and my home shop is my sanctuary. I do my best to avoid doing any projects I don't WANT to do and I avoid any kind of design demands or having to adhere to a budget. And I ESPECIALLY AVOID DEADLINES in my shop. If I'm building a table and decide half way through that I want to take a 3-week detour to build a new tool for the shop to make building tables faster and/or easier, that's what I do.
Of course, with friends and family, it's hard to strictly adhere to the above avoidances. But even when I agree to do projects for other people, I'm very up front about how much materials are likely to cost, that I'm going to jack that price up 10-25% to cover saw blades/sandpaper/glue/miscellaneous consumables/general tool wear and tear. And that above and beyond that I'm charging $X.XX/hour for my time (depends on whether it's my mom - $0.00, or a friend of a friend of a friend - $40.00. Fortunately people often then realize that the Amish furniture store's price wasn't so outrageous and say "nevermind."
I do have the capability to machine parts in my home shop too so I often agree to make parts that folks can't find for vintage tools. I enjoy getting those tools in working order and I enjoy "leisurely machining." I usually tell those "customer" that I can't promise a quick turnaround and if they have a set deadline that I can help them find someone else to make them. I'm currently about to wrap up an order for a bunch of parts from old Stanley planes for a fellow LJ. I accepted the job before Thanksgiving So even when I'm making stuff for "customers" I do my best to keep deadlines away from the shop. And whenever possible I try to get paid in trade rather than cash. That way the wife doesn't try to take it away ;-)
Of course, with friends and family, it's hard to strictly adhere to the above avoidances. But even when I agree to do projects for other people, I'm very up front about how much materials are likely to cost, that I'm going to jack that price up 10-25% to cover saw blades/sandpaper/glue/miscellaneous consumables/general tool wear and tear. And that above and beyond that I'm charging $X.XX/hour for my time (depends on whether it's my mom - $0.00, or a friend of a friend of a friend - $40.00. Fortunately people often then realize that the Amish furniture store's price wasn't so outrageous and say "nevermind."
I do have the capability to machine parts in my home shop too so I often agree to make parts that folks can't find for vintage tools. I enjoy getting those tools in working order and I enjoy "leisurely machining." I usually tell those "customer" that I can't promise a quick turnaround and if they have a set deadline that I can help them find someone else to make them. I'm currently about to wrap up an order for a bunch of parts from old Stanley planes for a fellow LJ. I accepted the job before Thanksgiving
So even when I'm making stuff for "customers" I do my best to keep deadlines away from the shop. And whenever possible I try to get paid in trade rather than cash. That way the wife doesn't try to take it away ;-)
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