Humor for Woodworkers
#25
(02-03-2020, 02:38 AM)EightFingers Wrote: Don’t you know you know you need to drill a hole in the floor under the too-long leg?

Yes, precisely, the floor is uneven.   However a hole is not the best solution.  I'd suggest leveling the whole floor with a #8 jointer plane and winding sticks.   Then they can move the table around and it will set even.

Before I ever did anything to a chair leg that wobbled, I'd rotate it 90 degrees and see if it wobbled on the same two legs or in the same direction to determine if it was the chair or floor that was off.  If it was the floor, I suggested adding cushioned foot pads.
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#26
They could just glue the chair to the floor. That would eliminate the wobble.
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#27
(01-11-2020, 12:30 AM)BrokenOlMarine Wrote: I was showing pics of a small lacewood keepsake box to a friend at work, and another coworker said she would love to have one.  I told her depending on the size, between $100 and $150.  She nearly had a stroke.  I told her the solid brass hinges were $35, the lock was $20, the wood was $30.  Then there are consumables and labor.

I can get a nice box that size for $15 at K-mart, the gal said.  I told her that's where she should go.  The friend who had actually asked to see the pics, said $125 was fine, and was thrilled when hers was done.

Years ago, I sometimes sold a piece here and their to pay for shop consumables, or a new tool here and there, but rarely took "orders.". But, a friend had told a friend that I sometimes made custom boxes and the lady wanted a special box made for keepsakes.  She wanted this size, and those hinges, and oh my, that curly maple...

I asked for the cost of materials up front, estimated the labor, due on delivery.  I reminded her that perfection would be a goal, but not guaranteed since I did the actual work, it wasn't cnc'd.  I worked during my off hours, so... Ten days?  No problem. 
Yes

She called every other day.
When the box was done, it was beautiful, Miss Tina loved it.
The lady shows up, and immediately begins to pick apart the project.  
Imaginary flaws, 
nuances in grain are cracks, 
spaulting in the maple becomes uneveness in the stain.
Play of light on the wax is a scuff.
You get the picture...

Like buying a used car, she is trying to drive down the balance due.

Upset

I reach into the desk, pull out the envelope with her advance, and hand it to her.  I never spent money before it was mine.
" Sorry you weren't happy with the work, but my wife loves it, and her birthday is next week. A win, win. " I said, as I gently escort her out the door. Suddenly,  she finds herself standing beside her car, holding her downpayment, boxless.

I turned and walked back in the shop, closed the door, and turned on the dust collector.  She stood at the door waving for a minute, then got the message.  She got in her car and left. 

So, after a few more picky, whiney buyers, I quit dealing with them.  These days I give away stuff to family, use it in the home, or donate it.

Smile

I might do a rare small project for a friend, but that's not a sale... Sometimes they pay for materials.

When I was a teenager I worked after school and Saturday in a high end cabinet shop. Mostly menial stuff but I learned a lot.
Mario had a two lathes in his shop, a spindle turning lathe and a heavy duty bowl lathe. When work was slow he taught how to spindle turn. 
One day he gave me a drawing of chess men. Each piece had dimensions to follow. When I had time I turned a few pieces. Eventually the set was done except for the Knight. I turned the base and rough sawed the outline of a horse with front legs up in the air. The four pieces were given to a carver to finish. We also made the boards.
Many years later I made my own wood lathe, actually not hard at all. When I retired I made  chess  sets. I gave them out for Christmas presents. 
My uncle said I should sell my work. I never intended to sell anything I made as I do stuff for fun. My uncle called on New Years day , he said he found a buyer for the set I made for him. He told me he got  $400.00 and will be over in an hour with the cash.
He told me the fellow who bought the chess set was a neighbor when they were boys and kept in touch over the years. He owned an art gallery and thought the chess set could be sold easily. Apparently the chess set sold quickly as I got an order for 4 more sets and a check for $800.00 to cover my costs. I received the rest on delivery. This turned out as a nice added income for me. Over the years I made 24 sets .Actually I had 4 more ready to pick up . I got a call Mr. Martin had passed away. I told his daughter I had the 4 sets ready, she told me she is selling the building and it will be torn down along with the rest of the buildings on the block. I told her I would send a check for the $800.00 I had already received.
She told me to keep the money as I honored the contract . 
I tried to sell the 4 chess sets at a community fair, I got ridiculous offers . One women offered $20.00 , and only went that high because she was friends with my wife. I told her to go to Toys Are Us and get a plastic set and cardboard  board for $10.00 or less. She left , I packed up my boards and chessmen, I forgot to mention each set had a finger jointed hardwood box for the pieces. I got a few lookers but no other offers.
They became more presents at Christmas time. 
I made one more set for myself. I saw an article in a wood working magazine ,probably 20+ years ago for a very fancy French based set with all the dimensions. These chessmen were expensive to make as they averaged about 5"+ high for the Kings, maybe 4-1/2" for the queens, etc.
When done I bored a 1/2" x 1-1/4" deep hole and pounded lead wool in the cavity. Felt bottoms were glued on. I made a fancy table with two dovetailed drawers that have mahogany burl fronts ,full  3/4" thick. The table is Honduras Mahogany as are the turned taper legs. The board is Bubinga and Maple veneer that I sawed from stock. The veneer was glued on MDF with hot hide glue. The chess pieces were also Maple and Bubinga. Not for sale , just made it for pleasure. Bubings is one tough wood to turn. Turns beautifully without need to sand but you need to sharpen lathe tools often. Probably took 3x as long to do the Bubinga compared to the Maple.
My wife and her aunt went to Hawaii one year for a vacation. She told a fellow was selling chess sets for $1800.00 and had buyers. I figured they must be hand carved or something similar. My wife said they were just like the ones I sold for $400.00 , but not as nice as mine.
I told her more power to him, if he can get big money then I applaud him.
mike
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#28
(01-11-2020, 06:04 AM)stillgotten Wrote: I couldn't imagine doing this for a living, I enjoy it too much to ruin it like that.
StillGotten --
Exactly so!  I do stuff for my own personal enjoyment or for someone I love.  If I took money for it, the other person would feel entitled to give me advice.  I don't handle that real well.  My (late) Wife occasionally gave me advice, but she was permanently entitled, plus she would sometimes participate in the design or feature inclusion.  That just made it more fun.
Take care,
Russ
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