What would this Pennsylvania Secretary be worth? I built this about a year ago and a lady I know would like for me to build one for her. It’s made out of black walnut with red oak being the secondary wood. The door panels and the front drop leaf are all cut from same piece of 12″ wide, 2″ thick piece of walnut. Plus, the drawer fronts are book matched from piece of walnut I had that I cut into veneer on the bandsaw. All the drawers are hand cut dovetails.
I know how much material I have invested in it and have an idea of the hours it took(sort of). It took me three months to build but I didn’t have a time log I was keeping track of when built it. So, I figure it would take about 150 hours to complete….Am I wrong??….I just don’t want to under bid so I lose my shirt, then again, I don’t want to over bid so she would laugh at me…
Replies
Pics resized for the bandwidth-challenged. Gorgeous work!
I would charge in the range of $7250-7750 for it. That would be using top quality hardware ( which could easily cost more than the lumber) This price is based on the construction taking 5 1/2 weeks, not including drying time for the finish.
Rob Millard
Around $9,000 to $11,000 AT A MINIMUM.
The secret to good pricing is that the prospect is at first appalled at the price and then gets comfortable with it as they consider the time and talent needed to build a fine piece such as the one you've built.
Surely, anybody remotely familiar with furniture knows a custom built secretary is close to the pinnacle of custom woodworking. Price it that way, please.
Quoting the piece too low, believe it or not, could turn your prospect off.
Edited 3/8/2006 7:21 am ET by BossCrunk
WOW.. I never knew a Pennsylvania Secretary went for that much... I really appreciate all of the info. Thanks guys!
I have no idea about pricing something of that nature, but it is a very beautiful piece of work Mike...Tim
Thanks for the compliments guys!! Dances, nice to see a fellow DIY poster on this site.
Just do us a favor and let us know how it turns out, mmmkay? : )
Jason
The desk you built is beautiful, I know it well, it's the Lonnie Bird piece that was on the cover of FWW in 2004.
I agree with Rob Millard, the brasses for this desk can get into some serious dollars, much more than the wood, if you are using high quality brasses.
I am building two examples of this piece for two niece's, granted I am a amateur (slow and painful builder). I don't think if someone offered me between 6-11k to build them one would make me want to take them up on the offer. But I guess that's why I don't do this for a living.
Best of luck
If it would take 150 hours to make, then the calculation is simple: 150 times your hourly rate, plus materials, plus shop overhead if that isn't incorporated in your hourly rate. If you're self employed, $40 an hour isn't an unreasonable hourly rate, so you are up to $6,000 before materials and overhead. I'd agree with the previous estimates of $7,000+.
If you are doing this for fun, rather than as your primary source of income, then you can charge whatever you want.
John W.
$40 an hour? Too low for high end work.
MVFlaim,
When I make something for the 1st time, I find alot of enjoyment in the project. If I need to build a second of a kind it becomes work. 90% of the creative enjoyment is gone. If this project is going to be real work, you need real pay, and profit.
I think a fair price is in the $10K to $14K range.
Damn well said.
On the average for most pieces of furniture I figure the materials are 7-10% of the total price.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled