I’m semi-retired now and in the process of getting organized to try to make a few bucks on building furniture. I’d like your opinion on a price point for a coffee table I built (photo attached). Construction is a top of madrone burl veneer wrapped with cherry; base is walnut with cherry bead under the apron. Apron is joined to legs with sliding dovetails. For the finish, I started with a couple of coats of 50/50 BLO/mineral spirits and topcoated with polyurethane. Size is approximately 22w x 52l x 17h.
Although I didn’t keep accurate records on this piece, I have a good idea of how much time I spent on it. It’s for my mother-in-law, so cost and time are no object (yeah, right).
Thanks in advance for your help.
Edited 7/29/2004 4:06 am ET by BArnold
Replies
What were your material costs and how many hours did you put in building it?
All my jobs are strictly billed time and materials. After spending hours of time drawing up designs and doing qoutes, I quit and have only been working for customers at time and materials. Most customers like it because I tell them I would always add an extra cushion to a quote, so in the end they "should" save money. I say should because there is always an exception and some customers change jobs so often it's hard to give an accurate price.
Anyway, once you come to the conclusion of how many $$ and hours it cost you, then you can decide on a per hour fee based on what you think it would sell for in your market (check websites of local woodworkers). This keeps you from underselling both other craftsmen and yourself in the future. Nothing is harder than trying to explain to a previous customer that your price has gone up by 5, 10 or even 15 dollars in 6 months or a years because you were "just starting out and didn't know".
Sorry this doesn't answer your origional question, but it will help you price out other pieces in the future. By the way, gorgeous piece, I mostly build built-ins and do some general const. but hope so move to the more precise and creative side soon.
Jim
Coventry Woodworking
You asked what it was worth, not what it cost you to make. I'd charge $1100 for that, but it's difficult to see how good the finish is. If it's an oil finish, it's worth less in my market. However, what you actually get for a given piece is highly dependent on the particular client and craftsman - if you are a well known, competent, experienced craftsman selling to a client while standing in a well equipped and busy shop you will be able to get more money than a guy in a garage, even if the piece is the same in both instances. I will recommend that you always find out what a client's budget is before designing and making the piece.
Paul Downs
Nice job on the table. $1,000 to $1,400 is a good estimate, depending on where you live.
You can compare yours (as a reference) to some of the ones done by professionals at NW Fine Woodworking in Seattle:
http://www.nwfinewoodworking.com/categories/living/tables.htm
Good luck
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