Would you purchase a wooden item (picnic table, bench, chair...) from an amateur carpenter at reduced cost?
Question:I want to improve my carpentry skills, but I cannot afford the lumber to make too many things. The only way I could do it is if I could get people to buy slightly imperfect goods and pay only for the lumber. For example: I would like to build an octagon picnic table that would normally sell for $400. It will cost aprox. $150 for materials. I know that all of my cuts will not be exact and I may have trouble with the angled cuts at first so there might be gaps in the table of no more than 1/8th inch. I'm curious about how many people would be willing to purchase an imperfect picnic table for about $175 - $200. This would allow me to make a few bucks and purchase materials for another table.
Also, where should I advertise these items? On local buletin boards or newspapers?
Answers:
Maybe you should start on a smaller scale, possibly some bird houses or a small wishing well (people love these) both involve fitting proper angles, and the material would be minimal, you might even find some scrap at a job site near your house that you could practice on.
P.S. an octagon consists of eight pieces of equal length fitted with a 22 1/2 degree angle on each end.
To find the angle divide the number of sides into 180
I don't know anyone who would want imperfect furniture even at a reduced cost. If you are artistic with wood and paint, you could find plans on the internet for building rustic bird houses and feeders which could be imperfect and be marketed on craigs.list.com, the internet, newspapers, and artist's street fairs for far less financial outlay.
Not if you want the items to last a long time. Otherwise go for it. But don't expect much for what you buy.
It would greatly depend on how noticeable or if it was a safety hazard. Have you considered build or buying a device to assist with proper angle cuts. Check auctions, rumage sales, post on a grocery store board. Good luck.
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