my intro to wood working #9: For what it is worth

Sounds disheartening, you could always give away the semi completed trucks for someone else to finish. That way you get the satisfaction of helping someone out, and you get them out of your sight.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Also take into account that the practice you get during even failed attempts has a value in and of itself.

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

you could look at it differently. your time is more valuable than what you can charge. That means you obviously have something more valuable than your craft. I’d look at it that way and be happy that you are so fortunate.

I’ve got a two month old with an unfinished crib. My time with her is more valuable right now than the shop time. The crib will get done when it gets done.

Maybe equating money with value isn’t the best thing to do? Value seems to be a rather changeable and arbitrary term. People do things with no “point” because it brings satisfaction and nothing in terms of money at times. How else do you explain a hobby like golf? Putting together a jigsaw puzzle with the kids? These things can take a LOT of time and offer zero to negative financial gain, but then maybe the value is to be found somewhere else. Add to that the fact that you’d be hard pressed to find any tangible value in our currency beyond what people BELIEVE it to have. Can’t take a $20 dollar bill to a bank and exchange it for an ounce of gold can ya? What I’m trying to get at is maybe the feelings are a result of the way in which you see the activity and what you need to do is evaluate whether or not the effort brings enough in non-tangibles to make up for the lack of tangibles. If it is just being bored with doing the same type of project over and over, then that has a pretty simple solution.

I don’t know if any of this helps at all, you seem to have a pretty decent handle on it already. Just hope to add a little bit of perspective. On a personal note, I have spent thousands of dollars on tools and materials, tens of thousands in time. I have not made back all that money from selling my work yet. However I have made many people happy, including myself with what I have done. That makes it worth it for me. I have a real love of wood, the material is beautiful and provides challenges, you could say it speaks to me. It also does something towards giving relief from the culture of mass manufactured, soulless PRODUCT.

-- Ooo, er.

If you enjoyed it prior to selling them, stop selling them. As you said you had no costs as the wood was given to you, the payment you got from before selling them was the enjoyment of building your skills and creating an object. Charging for them changed your perspective and maybe you felt the HOBBY now had to pay, that (in my opinion) is not what a hobby is about. Its for relaxing and enjoying a job is for counting costs and payng the bills. IF you don’t need to sell these (and it sounds like you cannot afford to sell them) stop selling them, give away or toss the sore reminder semi finished trucks and restart the HOBBY. My two cents…ignore as appropriate:-)

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

The Woodworking industry large and small is not usually a place to get rich. Some of them that have there own pod cast and are masters of masters are fortunate to trend water it’s more of a passion then a great career for many. Although there some who have done well.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

you took what could have been a relaxing minimal stress hobby and turned it into a pressurized monster. i’m sure you didn’t mean to. you just got in over your head. for most of us, keep your hobbyi and business separate. money is made by efficient production and having an edge, of which you are not set up for either. neither am I nor most amatuer woodworkers. it is difficult to just make a little money. that’s why companies continually invest and grow. you either have to invest, gear up and make a lot of whatever you are building, or have such a special product that people wil pay through the nose. wooden toys aren’t that special. based on your post, you strike me as a kind considerate person, but maybe a bit naive about what the average woodworker does in his shop. as long as you don’t cut your hands off, you probably have made the same mistakes most of us have. they are fixable. it’s part of the process. you learn more from you mistakes anyways. now, zip up your man suit, go back in the shop and finish what you started, but on your terms. you’ll feel much better.

-- david roberts, houston area, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but that has never been a problem for me."

There are times when your mind gets in the way of your soul dont think about whats not right just do what you love. In the last few years I have went from a tool throwing monster to not expecting anything and it helps to go back to what bit you and overcome it. TI also have a crib that isnt done and my girl is 6 today I dont think she will need it.

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

couple of suggestions (an alternative view from davidroberts)
1. one way or another get rid of the trucks
2. take a break from woodworking until the day you realize how much you miss it

-- criticism: the art of analyzing and evaluating the quality of a artistic work...

Read fivethree & fivefour
This is exactly why I won’t do work for money. It makes it a job. If I end up getting some money, I’m real OK with that. If I don’t, I had a good time doing what I did and I enjoy the sense of accomplishment. Now, when it comes to my employment, I charge heavily. I expect to get paid well because I do a good job. My hobby is a joy and I won’t let money spoil it.

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

Only a few will ever get paid extremely well for what they put in to wood working,,,I know I will never be a MILLIONAIRE by making sawdust but I get so much satisfaction from the reactions of others to what I do that sometimes I just give it away.,.I charge for the projects I am asked to make to enable me to be free-er to not charge for some things I want to make. I pick and I choose what I do and what I don’t do now.
Don’t know if this make sense or if it helps but…...from Larry the wood guy and Larry the cable guy…

GET’R DUN

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

Retired for the past 7 years, I was a therapist for many years. I worked with thousand of folks with many kinds of problems and one of the things that I always tried to convey to each of them was a belief that each of us has worth in us that only we can really find.
In the ninth grade I made a mahogany bookcase in shop for my Mom. She treasured it all her days and bragged on it to anyone who crossed her threshold. I remember how much I loved shaping, planing and finishing that beautiful wood. I was able to put my heart and soul into that bookcase and it turned out to be the most valuable thing in my Mom’s house (in her opinion).
High school ended, I went to war, then construction provided for my family … then divorce and single parenthood … and back to school to become a therapist. All that time … no shop time.
8 years ago I started my shop and retired the next year. Friends who knew I had a passion for woodwork asked me to build stuff for them … and I did. I put the same kind of love into each piece as with the bookcase. I didn’t ask for money ( how can I put a dollar amount on my heart and soul?) but they paid me what it was worth to them ….. and I was amazed. Every tool in my shop was bought with proceeds from those projects …. and I’m tool poor. I made a cradle for my granddaughter … and God helped me. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. African Mahogany and Cherry. Delivered when she was one week old. It swings so smoothly and quietly … she couldn’t stay awake in it.
I say … if you need to make money then go get a vocation at school or somewhere that can teach you how to market your energy. But if you want to work with wood ….. make things that money can’t buy … with your heart and your soul.
good luck,
don

-- Don in San Diego, Ca.

Rob my heart goes out to you. You have just confirmed a fear I have always had, the fear of turning my fun into work. I have had friends and family ask why I don’t sell my work and I have kicked the idea around but you have just saved me from any thoughts of doing that. My reward is the look on the face of the receiving party. The smile, the look of gratitude and sometimes wonder that when they realize the piece they are holding is really theirs. I lack the skills, planning and drive that makes a person able to sell what they create, I just don’t have what it takes to make things fast and cheep and sell them high. Just not my nature. As Don said above, make things money can not buy-memories of working with dad in the shop are priceless. I hope you regain your “center” and follow your heart and not your wallet. I pray things get better for you – this too shall pass.
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

Hi Rob

I guess the first thing you have to ask yourself is. Why do you do wood working? I have been a custom designer/builder of furniture and cabinets for over 35 years. I also did wood working on the side for many other reasons. Personal projects, barter for work I could not do myself, make some extra money and gifts for friends and family. When I did jobs for other people I had a pretty good idea how long a job might take but I never kept track of my hours. I always told myself, when I get done I would have X amount of dollars in my pocket. I took pride in my work and it was more important to me that the job was done right and the customer was happy. Did I make alot of money doing woodworking? Don’t know for sure. I do know it gave me alot of extras for me and my family I would not of had. Hang in there buddy! You do some beautiful work!

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Read skarps post again.
Go to your workshop, and remove the trucks.
Burn them.
Now while breathing fresh air, think of something to make of no “worth”, which will only have value to you. I would respectfully suggest a shop-made tool, complex jig, tool handles, shop furniture, etc.

And when you feel like making it, do so.

And when you feel balanced again, make things for the sake of Art.

Selling art for money isn’t evil. Making money at anything isn’t inherently evil. But the moment your work changes because of it, or your methods, or your though processes, or your personal valuation of the work, the materials, or yourself (such as the value of your time) changes due to it, you’re no longer making art. The trick is to make the art for art’s sake, pure and clean…then when it’s DONE, go flog it like a product (if you want). The art remains art, and when it’s done, it can go to work for you. It’s hard sometimes to maintain that seperation, to not allow one to taint the other, but the struggle is an internal one, and can be won.

-- "That which has in itself the greatest use, possesses the greatest beauty." - Unknown Shaker