Hall Mirror Video (Part 2), A Design & Market Challenge

again, great tutorial video.

Now, you didn’t do all this AND the wood show this weekend, did you???

(Great video editing, Matt.)

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks for the video, Gord. It was informative and very well produced.

One thought that struck me while watching this is that I wondered if you had considered making a story pole or plywood jig to eliminate measuring for drilling the various holes. I wouldn’t do anything like this for one or two of these but if I were going to make these commercially, as you have, I would think that something like that would be useful.

By the way thanks for pointing out your “opportunity to add a detail” to the piece. I thought that I had the market cornered on making mistakes.

Thanks Gord.

-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine

Nice video. Thanks

-- Hope Never fails

A delightful project to get new Woodworkers started with minimal tools and expense.
As usual very well detailed and carefully explained.

Great work Gord.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Great video!

-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX

Good videos, nicely done. I have one question though, you said you made dozens of these and sold them through a couple stores. You kept your costs down while producing a marketable product. I won’t argue that it’s a marketable product, they look good, but, I’d be interested to know what your material costs and your time were per unit, and how much profit you made per unit. My guess is you probably worked for about $5 an hour, if that. I don’t mean to rain on anyones parade, you did a nice job, and I do apreciate your efforts, but lets be realistic here on profitability.

Excellent video and tutorial Gord. Apparently teaching/demonstrating is something that comes very natural to you. I agree with Bob#2 – this is an excellent project for some of our newer woodworkers, and something that even the “veterans” might enjoy making.

Woodchuck, your point on profit is well taken – however a LOT of us on this site don’t do this for a living, it’s more a relaxation thing (at least for me). I’m like these guys you see more and more these days on busy intersections with the “Will Work For Food” signs – only my sign says “Will Work For Tools/Wood”. So this is the perfect project for us – Fun to make + cheap material cost + getting paid (even $5) = New tools and having the opportunity to keep playing :-)) Ahhh, life is good.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

I understand Cajun, but it was brought up by the author of this thread and some of us might want to know. If you want to put your health at risk by breathing sawdust and working in a dangerous enviroment, then burn up your tools, electricity, etc. for $5 an hour while the retailer makes more money than you did just to put it on their shelf, hey knock yourself out. Been there done that, not doing it anymore. I won’t even do it for family, most of them allready got more than they deserve from me.

Hello Woodchuck,

You ask a fair question and one that has been asked of me before.
Here are the stats as I remember them, ten years ago.

Material costs…………………less than $20
Finishing cost……(I sent them out) $25
Consumables……………………………….. $10 including transportation costs. (gas money)

Total……………………………………………….$55 each.

Payment………………………………………..$200 each
Less my costs………………………………..$ 55

My profit………………………………………..$145 each

Retail Price……………………………………..$400

And that was ten years ago. Mind you, the big plus here is finding a store whose cliental is willing to pay that price for a piece like that…………………..believe me there are stores out there that have that type of cliental today as well as 10 years ago.

All the best
Gord

-- Informing & Inspiring Today’s Woodworkers: http://www.gordgraff.com

Hello All,

Thanks one and all for your kind words and comments, I’m so pleased that many found this project worth looking at. By the way, some have sent me emails stating that they are going to build the mirror for themselves….........................................I’m happy that I have inspired others to give it a try.

All the best
Gord

-- Informing & Inspiring Today’s Woodworkers: http://www.gordgraff.com

LOL, Gord, did you ever happen to sell used cars for a liveing at a time in your life ? Comeon man.

Hi Woodchuck,

Never was a used car salesman but I have managed to do well selling my work.

All the best
Gord

-- Informing & Inspiring Today’s Woodworkers: http://www.gordgraff.com

that looks great. i am doing a piece with pine now. any chance you could send me a message with that finish so i can try it out on my piece. its a printer table/cabinet and I’m also featuring it in the next few episodes of the teen age woodworker.

the video was great too. i love seeing things like this done and its a great help to actually see these things done when mostly all you can do is read about them. thanks a lot for the great video.

Hi teenagewoodworker,

Message and home email has been sent.

All the best
Gord

-- Informing & Inspiring Today’s Woodworkers: http://www.gordgraff.com

Hello Scott,

I had several templates and various jigs for constructing these mirrors and I was able to knock them off in no time. You think like a production manager and that type of thinking comes in real handy when you want to save time and effort.

All the best
Gord

-- Informing & Inspiring Today’s Woodworkers: http://www.gordgraff.com