Commissioned piece....

[sachbvn]

Alright - I was just asked to make a coffee table for someone.

Now - this isn't so much a question of "price".... more a question of... what do YOU consider family, because I know a lot of guys here don't charge their families.


My brothers and parents - I wouldn't take anything for my time, just materials (depending on the size of the project) Extended family.... probably still wouldn't take anything for the time factor.

I have a cousin who is married. His wife asked me to make a coffee table for her mom, for the mom's birthday.

Would yall consider this a "family" project.... or would you charge for it? I don't mean crazy amounts of money....but.... an extra 100 bucks for 20+ hours or so of work??


Zac

[maverick31]

If it was me, I would charge them for materials plus a little to cover the time you will spend building it for them. Depending on what they want would dictate how much money for time. My wife always gets mad at me when people ask me to make things for them cause if I know them even a little I won't charge very much for the item they want even though I probably should. I would consider my couisins wifes mother distant family but I would likley still give the ol' family discount.

[wisardd1]

Tools! Somehow, family members don't mind as much buying you a tool, especially if it will help with their project! Coffee table, hmmm, mortiser, sorby square chisel, new blades for the planer, hand plane, new forrest woodwork II (maybe one for ripping) etc.

[deepsplinter]

I'm in it (mostly) for the money. I do this to supplement my early retirement. All of my friends and relatives know that.

That being said, I give close friends and relatives a big break on their first project. After that, I give them a little break, but not much.

I like Wiz's suggestion...tools. For some reason, I feel guilty taking money from relatives, but have no problem asking for tools. That's how I got my first dust collector.

[lexrex]

"Would yall consider this a "family" project."

No.

[sawduster]

I agree with Chris. Once you start stretching "family" to include cousins and their wives and for the mother of the wives, you are opening yourself up to be taken advantage of. I have a couple cousins who I think of as more "brothers" than cousins, not having any actual brothers, and I might extend family benefits to them and their wives, but unless you are tight with this cousin, I would say no, he's not "family" that would be due the same sort of discount I might give to one of my sisters.

[sachbvn]

I am pretty close with this cousin, we are very much alike in humor and interests, video games, music, movies - we grew up in the same rural town. His wife I know well, and like very much too. I'd have no problem giving them a similar break that I'd extend to my aunts or uncles.... but - being that it isn't really for them even.... I think I'm going to need to make a buck on this one. PLUS - this isn't exactly on the top of my priority list.... I don't have enough lumber to do it off hand, and I've got the craft show coming up - a fiasco with my bottle stopper finishes (well....maybe, I think that one might have been defective.)

I emailed some info on when it could be done, etc..... and we'll see if they are still a go.

Thanks guys!
Zac

[wisardd1]

Invite him over and let him do the work and pay for the wood. It would be good for the two of you if you like him, miserable if you don't

[wisardd1]

Oh, by the way, I only like doing things for others when it is my idea, then it is a true gift. Otherwise, it is an obligation and that can create resentments which can lead to losing friends and family.

[sachbvn]

Wisard - that is actually a very good point....well.... to ANYONE who has an issue with what you charge for something..... "come on over, you do the work, you pay for the supplies".... probably not many would keep biatching about your prices!

Nah - my cousin is a good guy, but we don't like close any more. PLUS - he'd probably just say "pay the man"


Zac

[Leo Voisine]

Everybody will have a different belief system on this stuff.

I would say sure I can do it, and it would be $x.xx dollars.

In the $x.xx - would be materials plus. Sure - make a few bucks on it for the you. Nothing wrong with that.

You can cut a deal - and make some money and just not tell them. Just name the price.

Then the ball is in her court. She says yes - or no. Then the understanding is set - and it's a business deal from that point on.

I do give gifts - but I agree - it's MY idea, not somebody asking for it.

[Ruffnek]

"Would yall consider this a "family" project."

I wouldn't, but the idea of family will vary from individual to individual....it's more than blood relations, too. The social relations are probably more important.

But, I will agree with Jerry that if you start making stuff for "family" at cost only, pretty soon you will not have time for anything else. I don't know about you but my time is my most precious commodity and it will be spent as I want it to be spent. If that involves making a coffee table for a cousin's mom, then that's a decision that only you can qualify.

[autobodyman]

I think this will be a decision you'll have to make for yourself, but I have to tell you my story with family. I made some gifts for my parents over the years, then my mother asked me to remove a wall in their house for them, okay, not a big deal. I did it in my spare time for just the cost of materials, to make a long story short I was starting to run out of spare time (and when I was younger and more organized I had a fair amount) after I built the folks a 28 x 40 garage, I told my mother I was going to have to start charging her for these projects. At first she wasn't thrilled (pissed was actually more like it) and said if I was going to charge her she would just hire a carpenter/contractor. I said that was fine, figured it would be good for her to deal with "the real world" and I'd get back some time for my projects. She soon discovered her ways of telling me how she wanted these jobs done is costly with contractors (she once had me replace the roof on her house, with vaulted trusses but I had to take the existing trusses apart to leave the existing ceiling, because it was Fall and she was worried about heat loss, so supporting the inside ceiling, I took the top of the existing trusses off put the new roof over the old ceiling tied it to the new roof and in the Spring she had me remove the old inside ceiling, pain in the butt and way more work than necessary).

Anyway after having a few jobs done by a couple different contractors, she was back to having me do her jobs and never complained about me charging her for the work. She now asks me if I am interested in certain projects or not, (there are some things I just don't like to do anymore) giving me first choice over other carpenters and there are no hard feelings either way for both of us if I decide it's not something I want to do. Took years to get there but in the end it did finally all work out. I got to tell you though, overall I'd rather work for strangers than friends or family.

~Mike

[sachbvn]

Thanks guys. I decided - well this may be a family project.... it is one that I will have to charge for my time. It will be a decent amount of profit - but, still, much cheaper than getting a similar piece from the Amish furniture places or wherever else you could find REAL wood.

I didn't mention but - I do know my cousin's wife's mother, and like her very much. BUT - I gotta draw the line somewhere. Making a coffee table for no profit is not at the top of my to-do list, and if they want one - that's fine, but I gotta make some money.

I appreciate your input/stories.


Zac

[rrich]

To quote Terry Bradshaw last night... "Is it a close member of the family?" ;D

For the kids, it turns out to be a B-Day or Christmas present.

The neighbor across the street wants a wine rack. I have the materials so probably free. But she'll force something on us.

For other members of the family, probably a 20% discount. Although see my prices thread and maybe I'll be disowned shortly. But then that's MY family.

[wisardd1]

I am just hoping someday I can charge for my work!

dale

[sachbvn]

Wisard your carvings are awesome, you need to find the right market and you'll be in good!! PLUS your santa's would sell well IMO, so be prepares for next Christmas!

Zac

[wisardd1]

Thank you Zac, very nice of you to say.