What would you Charge? - Woodworking Talk

hubaseball · 01-09-2009, 09:39 PM

So I had someone ask me to make them the below cabinet to these dimensions
5' 3" tall 48" wide 24" deep
They do not want the legs on the bottom and the extra molding around the top. They want it made out of pine. Would you use solid pine boards and glue them up to make the sides? or would you use some pine plywood? What would you charge

Rob · 01-09-2009, 10:11 PM

3/4" knotty pine ply is expensive stuff. #1 pine is expensive stuff. If the sides are captured in stiles and rails, I'd probably go with 1/2" ply. How many shelves? Adjustable or permanent? The doors look like frame and panel from where I'm sitting. Looks like it has a lock on one of the doors.
I'd probably come in somewhere around $1200 with stain/dye and 3 coats of lacquer...delivered within 50 miles.

pianoman · 01-10-2009, 12:21 AM

I`d charge materials X 4...or...$700.00. Looks real simple. Rick

bradnailer · 01-10-2009, 09:03 AM

Definitely solid wood.

joesdad · 01-10-2009, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pianoman

I`d charge materials X 4...or...$700.00. Looks real simple. Rick

Rick, I'm glad you don't live close to any of my customers

Big Dave · 01-10-2009, 10:20 AM

I'm with Rob. Probably $1200 or a tad more.

Gus Dering · 01-10-2009, 10:47 AM

What is going on behind the doors? That would play a big part in an accurate price.

As far as material choice, I would get some #2 pine for the face frame. 3/4" knotty pine ply for the box parts. 1/4" knotty pine ply for the back.
Messing around with solid for the box parts is just not the way to go for structural and financial reasons.

I would order the doors from Decre-Ative Specialties or any other door company. You will have about 20 sq ft of doors. My cost for a solid raised panel door in knotty pine is $12.90. Figure $260.

I can't keep the "doors" open competing with that.
http://www.decore.com/doors_details.asp?product_category=Doors&product_d esc=REVERE&Doors__MMColParam=REVERE+3%2F4&product_ code={7A1989A4-52AA-4057-8684-F4BD2D468B97}&product_root_GUID={3AC143EA-EAFF-4BF6-A0E1-D445E90D9D28}#

I would sub out the finish as well. My area has a ton of shops that specialize in cabinet finishing. They do great work for a fair price.
Plus I hate smelling all that stanky stuff.

Pricing boils down to simple grade school math.
How much will it cost you to do it ?
How long will it take ?
How much do you need to make to cover wages and overhead ?

Sounds simple, but not easy. The last two parts can be tricky. I've been pricing my work for almost 3 decades and it's still not automatic.

For a lot of people the hard part is feeling comfortable with the number enough to say it aloud without feeling like you're picking a pocket. That takes a skill set far more important than good shop skills.

I won't be posting what I would charge for any given project but I will be happy to converse about how to be profitable. I would love to hear what others have to say about outsourcing and the likes. I know this site has alot of hobby shops that may think it's crazy to buy doors or drawer boxes but the OP sounds like he wants to make money with this project. Lets talk about that.

Rob · 01-10-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

For a lot of people the hard part is feeling comfortable with the number enough to say it aloud without feeling like you're picking a pocket. That takes a skill set far more important than good shop skills.

Ain't that the truth.

hubaseball · 01-10-2009, 11:36 AM

Thanks for all replies. I wanted to make sure that I was coming up with a figure that others would charge. Originally I was thinking about $1200.

Gus Dering · 01-10-2009, 11:42 AM

What are your hard costs?
How many man hours do you see in that piece ?

Come on man, lets talk about it.

rag · 01-11-2009, 10:31 AM

My buddy wants me to build a corner cabinet (built in) with a lower section w/ 2 raised panel doors, and an upper section with the same doors.
I thought I would get a price from a kitchen cabinet place as an option to me building it.
$3,000.00......WOW
I though the home market was hurting for business.

Kenbo · 01-11-2009, 10:43 AM

I have to be honest here and say, that after reading all of your posts, I have been cutting myself short. I think that it's time I readjust my pricings. Thanks for the eyeopener. I only make commissioned pieces periodically and am very out of touch with the current pricing. I make enough money at my daytime job and am usually not interested in making a huge profit from a commissioned piece. But I'm thinking that my little profit margin needs an expansion.
Ken