[Tony B]

@Plant Powered Woodworks
JohnSmith_InFl (Above) is the man. He is/was a sign painter.

If you are a woodworker/artisan/craftsman, woodworking tools also work very well on plastic, urethane, etc.
As a side note, if he wants painted, not carved and stained, I would drop the subject. If you push anything other than what he wants, it will definitely backfire on you.

 

[Tony B]

The problem is not in charging at this point, but is in the quality. The big box stores are the equivalent of K-Mart which is a notch lower than Walmart. I would strongly advise that you refuse to build anything for anyone you know or anyone that knows anyone you know.

I know this sounds harsh but trying to sugar coat things will not help. Incidentally, shellac is used in the sugar coating of candy. Its been over a hundred years since the furniture making industry used shellac. Might want to question why.

 

[Tony B]

The only pricing guidance I can give is to call other sign makers in your area and see what they would charge. If you charge too little no one will take you serious - just the bargain hunters and if you raise your price just a few dollars, they will be gone and you will feel like you are starting all over again. That is one of the lessons I learned the hard way in my first business.

 

[Tony B]

Seems like a lifetime ago I was distraught by the thought computers were taking over everything. Thjere would be no need for craftsman. What a terrible predicament we put ourselves in. Then one day I had a revelation. What about all the artists that cant express themselves in the art world because they lacked manual dexterity. All these talented people that live in their own mind and cant break out because of physical difficulties. Now with modern technology almost anyone can express themselves and their idea. Just hit the keyboard and let the CNC or 3D printer or whatever and let the thoughts turn into reality. The true creativity and talent lives in the mind and so those without the physical capability, can now become creative talented artisans.