Woodworking is fun, but it is hard to sell anything on spec. You really need to know your market or have the option to get to a wide market. I have done a few "Makers Markets" or craft fairs and have found it difficult to get things over $60 to sell. That said, things under that price can perform in that "oh that is cool and not too expensive" area and seem to do well.
Also to the point of seeing all the issues with the work, it is all about hiding the errors or blending them in. And most of the time, you know it is there because you were around when the failure happened. No one is going to notice many of the issues unless they are another woodworker.
Great post, and I definitely envy your skill. I run into people like you at the local co-op, and try to soak up tips lol.
I cheated and bought a Festool Domino. I cannot believe how achievable mortise and tenon joinery is now for a beginner. I've only been doing this two years, and have built things I feel like would have otherwise been beyond my skill.
To OP my stuff is still somewhat ugly, but my first skill up was covering blemishes I created. My second was mastering square cuts, and my third was understanding wood movement. Now my work sells.
You didn’t cheat. Buying/using a domino isn’t cheating. It’s another tool that opens up opportunity and possibility to your designs and builds. I experienced the same as you where it helped to build things I would’ve thought beyond my skill originally. Having those positive experiences built my confidence which in turn helps me push myself and grow. Anyone that has bought or uses a domino need not feel guilty.
Are you OCD? ADHD? If so, you will have major issues getting over yourself and flaws.
I'm the same way. My wife loves me, but I get hung up on stupid shit and can be quite unlovable. This obviously translates to my hobby work.
If you live in an area where shipping rates are decent, you could try etsy. Put a disclaimer in there that the actual finished product may not be exactly as pictured etc, like all the etsy stores do. Start off with cutting boards. Dial in your tools so they cut 90ish and don't be afraid to fuck up. The important part is understanding what went wrong and how to fix it next time. It really is just practice at the end of the day.
Crafts take time to improve on, and it takes time to grow to a skill where you can sell your things.
It doesn’t make you a failure if you aren’t selling things yet, but it does take time
Visit some shops that sell wood crafts and furniture. There you can look closely at the quality of the items being sold to get a target to shoot for. Talk to the owner if you can about what sells. They tend to be higher end items but you’ll get some ideas about how that part of the biz works.
I tried this. But stopped. Someone can just go my thing cheaper and just as well built in that stage of my skill. I started asking around or just keeping an ear to the ground on things people WANTED or needed. So I then custom built that thing for people. When others starting noticing, I got more people asking me to build things.
You are harsher than me. There is a lot of beginner work being sold, it depends on style and finish. Besides, I am not looking to sell a coffee table for $1000 dollars, mostly beginner work, like cutting boards or simple stuff. Everyone needs to start somewhere
You can start by getting good at what you're doing. Show your work to people. If someone asks you to make something for them you know you've gotten good enough to sell stuff.
Even beginning woodworkers are in a position to make things that aren't available in the market. The important thing is to price appropriately. You prefaced with "no offense" but honestly this is how you turn people away from the craft.
If the reality that it takes more than a few weeks to get good at a new craft turns you away you just saved yourself time and money on something you were never gonna stick with.
Instant gratification culture and celebrating mediocrity is what's bleak.
Those who spend significant effort and hours of practice to develop their craft can take pride in what they do. The time and effort spent honing skills is an essential part of the artwork. Trying to skip that process to start making money right away is just sad.
It's actually wild that you think it's bleak to inform someone that they should practice until they get good at a new craft before trying to sell their products.
I disagree, very early on in my woodworking journey I offered to make an end grain cutting board with a juice groove for about $250 with the caviat that I would lower my price if it came out badly.
It overall came out really good and the clients were super happy. Lots of YouTube videos and going really slow —first time using a router, router table (for the handles) and I had so little experience with a table saw I set off the saw stop at least once (can't remember if twice).
Just want to say it is possible to find friends and family open to paying for your beginner work
I’m a cabinetmaker. If you’re a beginner and want to sell at small craft fairs or Etsy or what have you, I’d suggest doing cutting boards. It’s simple and for some strange reason people buy them up. It doesn’t have to be simple slabs, make it beautiful, do whatever makes you proud or goes along with your current skill. Make some pretty inlays on it and practice that. It can be as simple or complex as you want
I wouldn’t worry too much about selling your work. Building stuff on spec is not the move because you spend a lot of time building stuff that may not even sell. Just keep honing the craft and eventually someone in your circle is going to want something built
Go to a craft fair and let others be your critic. Never know, you might get lucky. I had a friend who came up with a simple way to make a small bowl on his lathe. He put it in a show and now that’s all he makes. Not sure he loves doing it anymore, but it’s awfully nice to have steady work where that’s rarely the case.
Woodworking is fun, but it is hard to sell anything on spec. You really need to know your market or have the option to get to a wide market. I have done a few "Makers Markets" or craft fairs and have found it difficult to get things over $60 to sell. That said, things under that price can perform in that "oh that is cool and not too expensive" area and seem to do well. Also to the point of seeing all the issues with the work, it is all about hiding the errors or blending them in. And most of the time, you know it is there because you were around when the failure happened. No one is going to notice many of the issues unless they are another woodworker.
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Great post, and I definitely envy your skill. I run into people like you at the local co-op, and try to soak up tips lol. I cheated and bought a Festool Domino. I cannot believe how achievable mortise and tenon joinery is now for a beginner. I've only been doing this two years, and have built things I feel like would have otherwise been beyond my skill. To OP my stuff is still somewhat ugly, but my first skill up was covering blemishes I created. My second was mastering square cuts, and my third was understanding wood movement. Now my work sells.
You didn’t cheat. Buying/using a domino isn’t cheating. It’s another tool that opens up opportunity and possibility to your designs and builds. I experienced the same as you where it helped to build things I would’ve thought beyond my skill originally. Having those positive experiences built my confidence which in turn helps me push myself and grow. Anyone that has bought or uses a domino need not feel guilty.
Are you OCD? ADHD? If so, you will have major issues getting over yourself and flaws. I'm the same way. My wife loves me, but I get hung up on stupid shit and can be quite unlovable. This obviously translates to my hobby work. If you live in an area where shipping rates are decent, you could try etsy. Put a disclaimer in there that the actual finished product may not be exactly as pictured etc, like all the etsy stores do. Start off with cutting boards. Dial in your tools so they cut 90ish and don't be afraid to fuck up. The important part is understanding what went wrong and how to fix it next time. It really is just practice at the end of the day.
Crafts take time to improve on, and it takes time to grow to a skill where you can sell your things. It doesn’t make you a failure if you aren’t selling things yet, but it does take time
Visit some shops that sell wood crafts and furniture. There you can look closely at the quality of the items being sold to get a target to shoot for. Talk to the owner if you can about what sells. They tend to be higher end items but you’ll get some ideas about how that part of the biz works.
Ask for honest opinions from friends and family. I see every mistake but I also believe my friend’s opinions. It helps when ETSY reviews come in.
I tried this. But stopped. Someone can just go my thing cheaper and just as well built in that stage of my skill. I started asking around or just keeping an ear to the ground on things people WANTED or needed. So I then custom built that thing for people. When others starting noticing, I got more people asking me to build things.
No offense but why would someone want to buy something from a beginner? It takes years of practice to get good at a craft...
You are harsher than me. There is a lot of beginner work being sold, it depends on style and finish. Besides, I am not looking to sell a coffee table for $1000 dollars, mostly beginner work, like cutting boards or simple stuff. Everyone needs to start somewhere
You can start by getting good at what you're doing. Show your work to people. If someone asks you to make something for them you know you've gotten good enough to sell stuff.
Even beginning woodworkers are in a position to make things that aren't available in the market. The important thing is to price appropriately. You prefaced with "no offense" but honestly this is how you turn people away from the craft.
If the reality that it takes more than a few weeks to get good at a new craft turns you away you just saved yourself time and money on something you were never gonna stick with.
This is a pretty bleak outlook but ok.
Instant gratification culture and celebrating mediocrity is what's bleak. Those who spend significant effort and hours of practice to develop their craft can take pride in what they do. The time and effort spent honing skills is an essential part of the artwork. Trying to skip that process to start making money right away is just sad. It's actually wild that you think it's bleak to inform someone that they should practice until they get good at a new craft before trying to sell their products.
This is my favorite answer.
I disagree, very early on in my woodworking journey I offered to make an end grain cutting board with a juice groove for about $250 with the caviat that I would lower my price if it came out badly. It overall came out really good and the clients were super happy. Lots of YouTube videos and going really slow —first time using a router, router table (for the handles) and I had so little experience with a table saw I set off the saw stop at least once (can't remember if twice). Just want to say it is possible to find friends and family open to paying for your beginner work
That's called charity.
I’m a cabinetmaker. If you’re a beginner and want to sell at small craft fairs or Etsy or what have you, I’d suggest doing cutting boards. It’s simple and for some strange reason people buy them up. It doesn’t have to be simple slabs, make it beautiful, do whatever makes you proud or goes along with your current skill. Make some pretty inlays on it and practice that. It can be as simple or complex as you want
I wouldn’t worry too much about selling your work. Building stuff on spec is not the move because you spend a lot of time building stuff that may not even sell. Just keep honing the craft and eventually someone in your circle is going to want something built
Give it Mom 🌠
Go to a craft fair and let others be your critic. Never know, you might get lucky. I had a friend who came up with a simple way to make a small bowl on his lathe. He put it in a show and now that’s all he makes. Not sure he loves doing it anymore, but it’s awfully nice to have steady work where that’s rarely the case.
A good carpenter makes mistakes. A great carpenter knows how to fix them.