Not just advise

Well..I gotta laugh because I was just crying in my beer ( and I don’t drink..lol) about the very thing you just posted..I was telling one of the other LJ’s about my woes of trying to market my pieces to feed my family and the struggles Im having doing so..this is one post I’m going to watch closely..

-- Randall Child

I here ya, I am in the biggest slump of my career. Noknot, I commend you on your efforts, you are a kind man. We need more like you.

-- Jed,Ala,jmwoodworks057.com

Thanks for posting this, that’s great to think in others in need, specially our LJ’s.
I do woodworking (finish Carpentry) to pay the bills, but have now three monts unemployed so i’mnot sure whats next…....

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

This is a nice post that I totally agree with.

I do not know how many times I have said that I am glad that I do this only as a hobby. I simply could not feed my family and keep a roof over their heads if I had to rely on my skills as a woodworker and a business manager. I have always had a great deal of respect and admiration for those who have been gifted with the skills and drive to pursue woodworking as a profession. It involves considerable personal, and at times financial, sacrifice and even when “successful” they are not compensated enough for the skill, time and effort that is necessary to complete a given job.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

well if anyone has any lumber extras or turning blanks I know someone who needs material. Rb needs someone to trow him some links to get his peice sold anyone got any ideas?

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

I’m sure some of the LJ that have crazy skill might trade some one on one skill building projects or consulting for things they need. Take stock of who you know or what you have to help these folks.

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

Hi ..back to post again..had to wait the 60 minutes..lol Scott..I think what noknot is trying to do is get the information highway unclogged and if anyone has great ideas or knows of someone who knows someone to try and help each other out..it couldn’t hurt those that truly believe in their craft and feel that they are “the little train that could”..I have been in the construction industry since I was 13 and have intensive experience in this field, and while the economy is doing terrible.. I have given my ability as a woodworker a try as a means to feed my family.. and I for one am not too proud to admit it’s been hard.. I love what I do and the encouragement and praises are nonstop, but it doesn’t put food on the table, and any help I can find is more than greatly appreciated..I think that’s where noknot is trying to help..if you have stuff that you have made..and have posted pictures of it with intent to sell.. you just never know if someone here at LJ’s might know of someone who’s interested in that sort of thing..

-- Randall Child

I know that LJ’s in Michigan have a few resources available. If you need veneer check with Tearen and most of us have stuff to trade. Times are tough, I know. We all need to pull together and help each other out.

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI

The good thing about a life devoted to quality woodworking is the incredible amount of aquired skills that comes with it. Any good woodworker can easily phase into and excell at about 50,000 other job descriptions if need be. I count myself as fortunate to have chosen a field that prepares me for so much.

You can test this. Try giving an experienced woodworker a ceramic tile job for the first time in his life. It’ll look better than 90% of tile work you’ve ever seen. Its in our DNA to figure things out and pursue quality.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

I would like to start doing wooden Handplanes, so ifsomebody has a spare chunk of birch, I can pay for the shipping costs…..

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

or how bout when people post their projects note more often that they are FOR SALE in the project title?? i think more of us woodworkers need to buy each other’s work, build each other’s #s, get the ball rolling for each other more…I know I have asked others if they would sell me their work for a gift or something in the future (even though I can’t afford their work right now), if you know someone can do something better/faster than you and you need a gift and like their style, and got enough in the account, then why not right? lol

on that note i’m going to be posting some small gifts (<$100) soon with very attractive prices, i’ve been unemployed for 2 months now and living in SoCal it’s pretty hard…also, if anyone wants to BUY some maple/oak/exotic dimensioned wood or maple/olive/exotic turning blanks at great prices please let me know. I won’t list prices cuz it would be so specific to each order, but I promise you, find me your best price elsewhere and I’ll go a good % cheaper….i need to pay bills! Might be willing to meet up with people in nearby proximity as well…pm me if interested Thanks guys! best of luck to you all in these hard times…

RB thanks Im not good with expressing my veiws without yelling so this is a effort in patience for me. Chris If you have anything moai needs post it now and maybe one of us will come up with a trade for him.

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

I have some mamosa I told keith about yesterday I’m going to send him some anyone els need free wood Ill send you some Its going to be green and the tree is only 3”thick and 30 ft tall so if it will help someone that needs it ask.

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

Anytime noknot.. thanks for starting this blog..I know its hard out there and bills are piling up to our necks as we speak, but we all have to pull together and support each other..it’s all about survival now and I think if the ship is going down..the crew would do everything they can to save each other and pray we all get to safety..by that..i mean people in general.. not just close family and friends.. this is the worst I have ever seen our economy and I have lived thru 3 or 4 bad recessions, but when our financial institutions are crumbling and stock markets are failing as well as everything esle.. believe me when I say this, that this recession is different.. so on that note.. lets all pull together.. rack our brains as fellow woodworkers.. help each other out by taking a few second more in our lives to ask people if they might be interested in products we all have to offer.. I was checking Mark Decou’s website and saw all the beautiful canes he has made.. when i go to a gallery or store that I think sells stuff like that..I will be sure to mention to the owner that I know this guys who makes these beautiful hand carved canes.. and so on so forth.. did you all see that Beautiful turned bowl in the newest project?/ My Lord!! we all know someone or someplace that can sell something like that if he wanted to sell it.. so lets all start talking and “Networking” for each other.. my speciality is Maloof Rockers.. and furniture.. I will keep a reference of what others sell and try and market them as I go places.. this is it boys.. time to rally the troops!!!!

-- Randall Child

Miles is absolutely correct, but the problem is that hardly anyone wants to pay for it, it’s custom work and should be priced accordingly unless you plan on makeing atleast 100 of something in a jigged up, mass production enviroment, and even then good luck competeing with the imports. I don’t do carpentry or woodworking for anyone anymore except for a gift to a family or friend of my chooseing. Keep woodworking as a enjoyable hobby and save your ego and sanity if you still have any left. These are not the times to be a carpenter or a cabinet maker, unless your working on your own house, theres too many lookin for work.

I agree Woodchuck.. I think that’s where the old saying comes in..”Patience is a virute”, but that doesn’t stop the bills.. I guess what’s keeping me going is, that ever since I joined Lumberjocks..and have read blogs after blogs..I see woodworkers still making a living at their craft, and i can’t help but think that they are still providing for their families.. there must be a way to do this..I recently spoke with Sam Maloof, who said the recession didn’t hurt his business..and before you say it..I know I’m not comparing apples with apples, but I still see others still making it happen..I just feel that if we all start networking for one another..somehow we can all benefit in our crafts.

-- Randall Child

You know guys, I am always on the look for deals on lumber. I spend many an evening on ebay buying from small wood mills. I also frequent some local mill works for scraps. You can use these rippings on draw guides, and to cover exposed plywood ends. There is really no need to buy lumber for some of these things if you aren’t afraid of lumber dumpster diving….........I do it all the time!!

-- Matt, Houston Texas

Well I havent seen anyone offer to help RBwoodworker do any marketing or offer links to him matt have you found some birch that you can give to Moai thats what this blog is about helping not just agreeing. Read the posts of people that are having trouble and find a way to help not just say you understand you will be suprised at the regeneration of good deed these guys when they get back on there feet will have scraps they can send us hobbiest. Maybe even link our work to there website so lets get ideas rolling

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

Rustic is correct. Many of us here in Western Michigan have been lucky with resources and I for one am always willing to share the wealth. Veneers, dimensional lumber, etc… send me a PM if you are looking for something and I can see what can be done for ya. I am also open to trading materials.

I am not looking to make a buck (just ask LJs Rustic, marcb, and alanealane), but I am always looking to increase my collections of unique materials.

RB, are they all really makeing a liveing from it ? I see every once in awhile that someone will say they built a commission piece for someone, but I bet if you asked what they made per hour after it was all said and done with, it wouldn’t amount to much in most cases.

I am so loyal and PROUD to be a Carpenter, woodworker, Galoot and Craftsman…...That’s I have receive from God, my father and my grandpha, I’ll be ethernaly gratefull about this!

I prefer a milllion times to die trying to make a decent but HAPPY living of this, that WASTE my life with other ocupations, maybe profitable but SO BORING (to me)!!!

Can you imagine what would have been of the greatest Woodworkers, designers and Architects of all times with the NEGATIVE thoughs expresed here???????

YES!!!
This is the time to be a Carpenter, a Woodworker and be PROUD of it!!!

If I receive the good from God, WHY I am not going to receive the bad (hard times like this)?

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

I have one peice of Texas Ebony that would be good for a turner. It’s really the only thing (wood) that I have in my shop right not that I could ship, or send, or ….. If someone needs it, PM me BUT, I’d like it to go to someone that needs to make money, not just a hobbiest. After all, I’m a hobbiest but, I’m willing to help someone in need…
g

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

Hey guys gary gets it help the guys who are trying to make a go of it. anyone have a need or has something to give send me a mes but keep this line open to I only have a few min a day to check this stuff out.

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

Again noknot, this is a great idea! keep it up!

sorry, was confused…

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

Who Is dave

-- projects dont pay,pieces are profitable,production is painfull

I just got a e mail from Marc Decau, and all I can say is this guy knows whats going on here.. some of the e mail was a bitter pill for me to swallow, but when I thought of what he was saying he was dead on..it was a very logn e mail, and I had to read it several times, and it just blew my mind on how intelligent this guy is when it come to business and what condition the ecionomy is in today and what to do about it as an individual woodworker..I will ask him if he minds if I share it with the rest of us.. I think it’s something we all need to read and take to heart..

-- Randall Child

So….who is Dave? And where is the email. Did everyone just go away?

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

so, in original spirit of this thread, I thought i’d throw in my shameless plug for any of you who don’t have the time to scan the hundreds of new projects every day.

Just posted 4 items for sale at very reasonable prices, or so I have been told so far. If you like any of the projects on my profile and have a need for a gift or something, please message me. I NEED to sell these, more than i need wood. Also, willing to take on custom orders with 0 down, 0 commitment, nothing more than good faith of word that if it is acceptable to our agreed standards that you hold up your end once the product is delivered. thanks guys, hope everyone is hanging in there with their heads up!

I spent the past few days repairing rotted soffits on a house. And tomorrow i hope to be doing some fence repair. Unless we can figure out how to make pretty things to look at a neccessity, woodworking crafts, especially on a speculative basis, is in a world of hurt for some time to come.

Theres like a perfect storm against woodworking crafts right now. People don’t have the discretionary money for frills, and imports in stores like Pier One and Target have done a number on the public’s perception of what such work is even worth.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""