[BernieL]

All must understand where I'm coming from in this post - I'm the luckiest guy in the world! Not only did I get to marry my dream girl (39 years), she went and got her Masters' degree at the age of 50 (after raising our 4 sons), got a good job and encouraged me to retire early at the age of 58 (I had a good Teamsters Pension and she provides the insurance). I told the family I would place them 1st on my list of priorities.

A result - my daughter-in-law asked me to build a swing set for my grand daughters (3 now from her - 2 others from another son). I told her I would build a set they would use for-ever (with their boyfriends once they grew up). I started to build this structure when my oldest grand daughter was 3 ( now 7) and have been adding to it since... This year I added the extra swing beam and the monkey bars seen in the back ground. We celebrated a birthday today and I took a few pictures of my structure being used. Yes... I'm in one of the pictures swinging with an a grandson-in-law??? Once my son hooked up with his partner who already had a son - she became my daughter and her son a grandson... Here are a few pictures to tell the story I'm trying to tell


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[rrich]

Bernie,

LOML was irritated when I was retired, Cinco de Mayo, ten years ago. I laughed all the way to the bank. For the insurance coverage it was CalCOBRA and then 2 months on my own until Medicare. (Thank goodness for Medicare and Senior Advantage)

For family projects I don't mind but the material costs are covered in one way or another.

For neighbors, from scraps I don't care. For involved projects, I tell them what the materials cost and the rest is their responsibility.

When somebody comes by and gives orders, that's a different story. As a minimum, material cost times three. Angles are material times five. Curves are material times eight.

If the project is furniture, the finish depends upon how the order was given.

Nice, I'll find out how they are going to use the piece and finish accordingly. Usually with a satin poly top coat.

But on the other hand, not so nice, the finish is two coats of MinWax Antique Oil Finish and then Johnson's Paste Wax. Then in about a year, "It doesn't feel as nice as when you made it." "Well, you have to apply JPW. Don't use any of that grocery store furniture polish. It will destroy the finish." Revenge is sweet.

The whole thing is that I'm retired and I do this for fun. Make it into a job and I'll extract some sort of revenge. I'm not looking for work.

 

[BZawat]

Hey Bernie, I'd say based upon the pics of the "pay" you've received for this swing set project that you're a pretty rich man

 

[jharris2]

Very cool!

 

[burkhome]

Hey Bernie...Currently vacationing in Rochester. Slate is full otherwise might sneek over and swing with you. You look like a real high flyer.

 

[GeorgeC]

If it was for my children or grandchildren I would be insulted if they even offered to pay. Unless it was for something that needed VERY expensive materials.

George

 

[MeasureTwice]

Bernie, I think you have gotten paid very well for that project! I also think you know that full well! :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Good job on the swingset, obviously it can handle substaintial loads :laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[cabinetman]

If it was for my children or grandchildren I would be insulted if they even offered to pay.

Exactly. For family, it's a freebee. The problem I have is that since I do this stuff for a living, I'm the first choice for whatever it is. Along with doing client's work, I have to squeeze in some family stuff.

As for friends, I would love to do freebees, but it can get expensive. They usually think because I'm in the business, my costs are lower than the stores.

.

 

[BernieL]

I'm very rich in blessings... I'm glad I didn't take this picture 2 years ago when I had an additional 30lbs on me otherwise MeasureTwice would have added OMG to his fun poke. Thanks for the compliments...

 

[gstanfield]

My policy is the same for family and close friends; I will often build stuff to give them and even take requests at no charge (within reason) The only time I'll charge is if they are in a hurry which requires me to put it in front of other projects or if it is something with an expensive material list in which case I have them pay for paterials.

I do woodworking as a hobby though so I'm happy giving stuff away as long as it's done in my timeframe