The Price of Perfection: Unmasking the Costs Behind The Making of a Wood Masterpiece

Woodworking is an art that involves transforming raw and unrefined timber into a polished masterpiece. Often, people who are interested in woodworking and other types of craftsmanship are told by potential clients that they could create the same item themselves at a much lower cost. However, many fail to consider the time and effort required to create such pieces, and it's a fact that few people work for free. When one decides to pursue woodworking as a business, there are many costs that most people are unaware of, which go into the final price of each individual piece.

Have you ever wondered about the costs involved in this transformation? 

Let's delve into the main components contributing to a woodworking project's cost: materials and labour. 

Material Costs: More Than Just Wood 

You're not just looking at wood when you see a beautifully crafted wooden piece. The material cost includes: 

1. Timber: The primary raw material, its cost varies based on the type of wood (hardwood or softwood), quality, and source. If you are making one item, you are buying just what you need from one source and are not requiring a set of regular suppliers so you can continue sourcing wood. 

2. Finishing Materials: These include sandpaper, stains, paints, and sealants used to give the final product its look and durability. In order to provide options for clients, you are not buying a small can of stain, paint, polyurethane, mineral oil, or other finishing materials; you are buying in bulk so that you have those materials on hand.

3. Hardware: Items like screws, nails, hinges, handles, and other fittings are often overlooked but are integral to most projects. You are not buying screws, nails, hinges, handles, or knobs for one project; you are buying different sizes, colours, and types to meet the needs of many clients. You have to have nails and screws of different sizes on hand. When we see a tray or piece of furniture, most only look at the wood and do not consider the hardware it took to put it together or make it more aesthetically pleasing.

4. Waste Factor: Not all parts of a timber log are usable. Some allowance must be made for the cost of waste material. You may need part of an 8-foot board to make something. Still, based on the cuts for a project, many pieces of wood are left that cannot be used on another project because of size/shape or the quality of the wood, such as knots that need to be more stable to use.
   

Labour: The Journey from Log to Masterpiece 

Labour is the invisible ingredient that transforms raw materials into a finished product. Here's what goes into it: 

1. Preparation: The unmilled wood needs to be cut, planed, joined, and sanded before it can be worked on. If woodworkers bought all milled wood from a store/lumber mill, the costs to make and the end price would be even more expensive. A lot of work goes into making sure the wood is flat and the sides are at right angles for joining the wood together. The wood must be sanded with several grits of sandpaper to be smooth enough to finish.

2. Crafting is the process of shaping the wood into the desired form. It involves various techniques like carving, joining, and assembly. It is important to understand what type of joining and assembly, whether just glue, nails, screws, biscuits, or dowels, are needed to make the piece secure.

3. Finishing: The final stage involves sanding the piece smoothly, applying stains or paints, and adding any necessary hardware. In many cases, the finishing can take as long or longer than the actual creation of the piece. There is a lot of time on a particular piece waiting between steps as the piece has to dry before proceeding to the next step. 

4. Overheads: These include the cost of maintaining the workshop, tools, electricity, and other utilities. If you are making items as a hobby, you can make them with a limited number and smaller tools. When this was just a hobby, we didn't have extensive power tools such as planers, jointers, bandsaws or a drill press. The mitre saw and table saw we had then had small blades that could only cut specific sizes, angles, and types of wood. In order to turn a hobby into a business, there is an investment in more extensive power tools that run for long periods, therefore adding to electricity costs. Most hobbyists do not carry insurance, which is required when you turn your hobby into a business.
   

The Value of Craftmanship

I was as guilty as the next person for not understanding the value of craftsmanship. Until I started investing myself in handcrafted items and seeing the benefits of many times a one-of-a-kind piece or one that last way after the store-bought version is gone, did I understand the true value? Here are a couple of examples that helped convince me.

• We had some wooden furniture made by a local furniture maker in our previous residence. The pieces were constructed entirely from wood, including the joints. Despite being 15 years old now, this furniture still looks brand new and has withstood the test of time. In comparison, we have purchased and disposed of store-bought furniture that has been poorly made and fallen apart since we moved seven years ago. Although we did pay a bit more for the handmade furniture, it is a unique piece made to our specifications.

• A few years ago, we visited a local craft fair downtown and came across a stall selling beautifully crafted cutting boards. The artisan had created an end-grain walnut and maple board that was two inches thick with an exquisite design. As we were purchasing it, someone commented, "I can't believe they are paying that much for a cutting board." However, the board has proven to be worth every penny. I use it almost daily, and it looks as good as new because of the regular cleaning and waxing I do. In contrast, the store-bought cutting boards that I have tend to come apart within a year, have cuts all over, and are made of inferior wood that wouldn't look good in my kitchen. I proudly display this end-grain board on my counter, as it is not just a cutting board but also adds to our kitchen's overall decor.
  

Summary

When you come across a beautifully crafted wooden item, it's worth knowing the journey it has undergone. The cost of such unique pieces is determined by many factors, including the procurement of raw materials and the skilled labour that goes into shaping them. By understanding the value of craftsmanship, we can appreciate the worth of these items.

While mass-produced items are often cheaper, they lack the individuality and uniqueness that come with handcrafted pieces. Many people are happy to own these "me too" items, but others are looking for something that reflects their personal style. As someone who has enjoyed woodworking as a hobby, I discovered that the items people asked me to make were usually unique to their tastes. They may have seen an item they liked, but they wanted changes that made it their own.

For instance, I once made a wine carrier to hold two bottles of wine as a gift for a friend. Another friend saw it and asked me to make a similar one with some changes to match their decor. Although the design was similar, the changes made it unique to their style.

When I decided to turn my hobby into a business, I decided to focus on creating made to order and customized items that cater to individual needs and tastes. Many customers need to see something to know what they want, so I hope to provide them with items that suit their preferences perfectly.