Carved Picture Frame

[autobodyman]

Before Christmas my Chiropractor asked me to make a picture frame for a photo he has in his office of his daughter looking out a window. I told him it would be expensive, he didn't seem to care. I just told him it would be time and materials. My carving machine was in for repair until just a few weeks ago.


Took me about an hour to set the pattern up and about 4 hours standing over the machine and blowing out the dust.


Here it is roughed out from the machine, you can see where for some reason the machine jumped over about 1/16" about 75% threw the carve.


On my hand carving bench ready for me to start cleaning it up.


7 hours of re-carving, sanding and spraying 4 coats satin poly. Normally for family I charge $15 an hour when I work in the woodshop, for everyone else I try to get $20+ but even at $15 that would make this picture frame $180.00.

I personally don't feel to comfortable charging that much for this but by the same token I don't want him to be asking me to do these kinds of projects thinking it doesn't cost that much (or telling his customers I did it for cheap and end up either upsetting him or others when I try to get my normal rates). I really don't want to do carvings for a living, though I wouldn't mind if I could get what I charge in my BodyShop ($60. an hour) but that seems unlikely so I'd rather keep it something I do for myself.

Any thoughts on how much to charge or what to say to him about this?

Thanks ~Mike

[TDHofstetter]

You're not going to agree with this, of course, but... I figure your shop time & machinery & understanding of that machinery & followup handwork should be marketable for at least $45/hour. I thing you're badly underbidding yourself at $20.

How much per hour does your chiropractor charge? It's surely more than $45/hour. He didn't go to school for twelve years to learn THAT, either.

[fredbelknap]

For your dad maybe you should just give it to him. After all he has made quite an investment in you.

[Stretch]

When I do a favor for people I have no trouble telling them what I should have charged. They need to know that I'm doing them a favor. After I tell them that I ask them not to tell what they paid. The good thing about jobs like this is it gives you a baseline for making up front price quotes in the future. Heck, if it were me, I'd consider trading him a visit or two. Getting a few free adjustments might make it worth your while. Then if people ask him, he can just say he traded for it.

[art3427]

The issue you are dealing with now is why I NEVER charge family, friends or my church for stuff. I tell them up front my above stated policy. If they insist on a price I respond that when I have finished the job to their satisfaction they can pay me what they think the effort was worth. They will furnish the materials I furnish tools, time and talent. But, insist that I will not quote them a price. I am not looking to charge anything.

Most of the time they go to someone else. When they do engage me they usually end up giving me more than I would have charged.

I do woodworking because I enjoy it - not to make money. When you start trying to make a hobby a dependable revenue stream it is no longer a hobby. You are then a self-employed contractor. I done that - got the broken body to prove it.

art

[Mark]

Feb 25, 2010 21:04:53 GMT -6 TDHofstetter said:

You're not going to agree with this, of course, but... I figure your shop time & machinery & understanding of that machinery & followup handwork should be marketable for at least $45/hour. I thing you're badly underbidding yourself at $20.

How much per hour does your chiropractor charge? It's surely more than $45/hour. He didn't go to school for twelve years to learn THAT, either.

I'm with Tim. Skill, Materials and Capital Equipment are specialties not common to "everyone". I've been coached by other "crafters", that to under represent the worth of your creation, implies that every other of similar fashion is grossly over-priced.

Just my .25
Mark

[sachbvn]

Mike,

Your stuff is pretty much..... invaluable so... to put a price on it.... I dunno. Ya can't exactly. Yes - $180 probably does seem like a lot for that to some people, but to people like us.... we know what really goes into it - we know what woodshop time is worth..... to us.... 180 seems cheap for what we know goes into it.

But....... even at 20+ /hr.... I can understand not wanting to make a ton of carvings for people for money. Kind of a tough call.


Zac

[Ruffnek]

For that particular carving, a one-off that required 7 hours of handwork...$180 is too cheap in my opinion.

With a job that takes me away from home for long periods, my time is the most precious commodity I have, and especially my shop time. If I want to make something for someone, that's one thing but if I'm making something that I really don't want to make just because someone requested it, then I expect to be compensated for that time.

[jb34]

First off amazing work. I am jealous of your carving machine and you did a really good job cleaning it up from the jump over. I wouldn't have even noticed if I had just seen the final picture. That is the rustic style I really go for too.

15 an hour huh. well I will say this. Took my cat to the vet yesterday. For blood test and the checkup they charged me 106. 60 was the hospital visit. So to talk with me and look at my 16 year old cat its 60 an hour. But yeah I struggle with this too. You know your hours but its hard to take money from good people. I have people wanting to pay for woorworking or computer work. One is a hobby the other is my profession. With the computer work I do it all the time so its so easy for me and also kind of fun. I know most places to even look at your computer its 200. But its just hard to charge on something so easy for you. Woodworking I have never have anyone not love what I have done. But your nervous about it and being creative on something it means a lot to you that they are satisfied. Had one project that I didn't feel I got the stain right. So I told the guy forget paying me. He was totally happy to pay and wouldn't listen to me. For this frame it is a one off thing to his specifications. If he wanted a cheap imitation like they sell at walmart he should have and would have went there. What I keep in mind to kind of get more over being too nice, and usually I still am too nice. But what gets me over that is ok this took me away from my sons for whatever hours. My time with them well I can't even put a price on it. So they should give me something for doing this for them. If your doctor who is a well paid professional will not pay you 180 I would be stunned and I am sure you could sell it elsewhere. Or go with fred's idea of giving it to your dad or a good man you know who is a father. I am sure your being charged more than 15 an hour for his work. So I think the guys is getting a deal for an amazing piece of work. I never charge family or closely related inlaws though. Doing kitchen cabinets for my mother and father in law right now. they are paying for the wood and stain. I found them a good deal on the wood too. But I expect to handle the rest. Otherwise money often ruins relationships. This is someone who has been charging you. So I would tell him that price. But I know where you coming from on having this dilema on what to charge. If he argues tell him how to log onto wow and see what other woodworkers think of your work.

[imahic]

I'm like Art. I do my carving for a hobby, my own enjoyement and the enjoyment others get when I give them something. If I did it for money it would then become a job. But I bet you would be surprised if you went to a custom frame shop to see what they charge for a similar size frame, not to mention one custom carved. As Tim suggested, the doc don't have any problem charging you for his time.