PORC

Fascinating article. However, please don't dismiss those of us whom use computers to aid in our everyday lives. These include activities like writing blog posts, returning emails, using Google to search for "block plane cutting angle" AND designing furniture. The computer, sure as hell helps in the inspiration and design process in my shop.

Stunning work. I love the seam up the stocking among other things!

Great tip Dave. I too use a similar folder structure. However, it is in a Cloud-computing folder. I use Dropbox. My client gets a folder, and in there are all of the SU drawings, cutlists and contracts. I now have access to this information on either of my computers, smartphone, or anywhere there is internet access. BTW, anything we can do to keep hair is a very good thing! Cheers.

Great tip Dave. I too use a similar folder structure. However, it is in a Cloud-computing folder. I use Dropbox. My client gets a folder, and in there are all of the SU drawings, cutlists and contracts. I now have access to this information on either of my computers, smartphone, or anywhere there is internet access. BTW, anything we can do to keep hair is a very good thing! Cheers.

Well done. I think we've all been thrown a few of those projects from time to time. I think it looks great!

Great little tip! Thanks for sharing.

Such GREAT info! Thank you for sharing. Now comes the hard part of finding open source images of the wood itself. Aside from taking them yourself, do you have any brilliant recommendations?

Thanks!

That's a great tip! I wish I would have learned that one long long ago. Cheers!

This is simply a horrible tragedy. I hope we all learn from the accident.

Thanks for sharing such a great work. All I can say is WOW!!

WOW, talk about agitating the hornets nest.

Well done Tauton for staying on top of the publishing shift. I also agree that this is more an ebook than app. A bit misleading for sure. Reusing the same material over and over again is not uncommon with your company, and it's for that reason I have not subscribed in several years. However, I fully admit that an actual app that allows the user to browse old magazine articles would be invaluable. I would buy that up in a second. Cheers!

Doug.

I believe your right on target. We sell a luxury experience. When we market ourselves as such, people take notice. Thanks for the great article!

Great drawings! Thanks for sharing your technique.

Great Jig! I hate to be a party pooper, but I would disagree with EngrMike. I wouldn't change a thing. Glue will take the path of least resistance. I don't see a need to relive the edge. If the frame is tight up against the block, there wont be much squeeze out. Just my thought. I'm a far cry from an expert.

Thanks for sharing all of your professional experience with us!

Great post!

You hit on several great points. 'Mental Weightlifting' is a perfect description. Managing cash flow is a key/fundamental rule to success in any business, and I know I struggle with it ALL the time. As my business is slowly shifting more toward furniture and less cabinet work, I am finding the challenge in being efficient with my time, in order to actually make a profit. I HOPE that will come with more time and patience on my part. :)

My question for you is when do you say "That's it! No need for more design, no more tweaking. That's what I want." When I am challenged with these projects, I have a hard time saying enough is enough and just building it. Any suggestions?

Thanks for the great article.

Hi Deb.

I would guess that everybody has there own way of doing things, and with a bit of practice you will find your way as well. My thoughts are:
-Use Quickbooks. It is a very powerful tool that can both help keep your company organized but also help with budgets, forcasting, and tracking of both time, but also materials. I do agree that the IRS is a good entity to satisfy, but my book keeping has much more to it than that. I am able to track every expense and earning on a yearly, quarterly, or weekly basis. Regular comparisons are critical for growth and understanding. Start with a small chart of accounts and add to them as needed.

Check out this link. I've learned a ton from him. and he just did a post a while back about business software for woodworkers.

http://www.woodworkersjourney.com/

Cheers

@JFink-

Have a look at the Wacom Tablets. I use one on the office computer and LOVE it with SU. They aren't cheep, but are amazing! You can get away with most inexpensive and small ones. IMO.

@JFink-

Have a look at the Wacom Tablets. I use one on the office computer and LOVE it with SU. They aren't cheep, but are amazing!

I LOVE my little Bosch Drill. When I bought mine, I also got a small impact gun, flashlight, and case. I already had the little right-angle drill with hex chuck, so now I've got 4 batteries and four great tools. I couldn't be happier with the set-up. I take it to EVERY job. I too don't need the big arm breakers much, so when I do, I pull out the corded 1/2" drill to do the heavy lifting.

Great little review. I agree 100% with you!

@saschafer,

Thank you Steve! I'll have a look. Jason

This really is great! I'd love to make one some day. Can you recommend a good source for all the hardware?

Thanks for the post!

EVERYBODY makes mistakes, and showing how to fix them is very important.

Keep up the good work.
Cheers.

Good looking site.

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers

Thanks for the tips! I've used the all of them you listed except the scale tool. Don't know how I forgot about that one. You hit the nail on the head. There is no one/correct way to do anything. Sketchup is just like that! Finding the best way for a situation and personal preference is key. Again, Thanks for tips!

Thanks for all that great and detailed info.

I am having a great time uncovering all of the in's and out's of Sketchup. Looks like I've got another thing to work on.

Keep up the great tips! Thanks.
Jason

This is brilliant! Every other industry uses think tanks and other professionals to supplement the shortcomings of an individual. (i.e. a marketing pro, an accountant, an employment lawyer) As handy as us woodworkers are, we can all use the help of others. Well done Mr. Boggs.

DUH! (hit hand to forehead)

Right as I was reading your response, I remember seeing that somewhere else. You sure know the ins and outs of Sketchup. Thank you so much for sharing all your info with the rest of us.

Cheers.
Jason

It appears that I spoke my words of gratitude a bit early. It seems that I have made an error somewhere. The plug-in appears to be working perfectly, however when I hit the "run" button, I get a cut list, however no cutting diagram with either the sheet goods or the lumber.

Any ideas where I may have made a wrong turn.

Thanks in advance for your help.

PS-I am on a Mac.

Thank you to fidelfs for the MAC help!

I agree in full. 6,7,8, and 10 have all led to great rewards for me. One of the most important things for marketing is to get out there around your target market. Considering custom woodworking is really a luxury, and not a necessity for consumers, I have chosen to market myself in that circle. I would encourage ALL to follow the blog by Marketing Stud, Seth Godin. Everything you have mentioned has seen some attention at one point or another on his Blog. Great Post!!!

Check it out!

www.sethgodin.com

I'm with you as well! Looking forward to your thoughts. Marketing today is unlike it has ever been in the past.

In my opinion it's also important to identify the difference between truly Custom (from the ground up) and Made to Order. A lot of my clients come to me asking to copy the picture in the catalog of brand X, "but make it longer and not out of Red Oak." OK, I can do that. But that's not really "custom." That to me is made to order with modifications. Some say that they have no idea what they really want, but they really like "these" pictures, and then hand you a pile of 150 pages ripped out of magazines. Well, I can do that too. This is custom. Explaining the difference is important. Personally for me, I am happy to modify a cabinet that is made from brand X in order to fit my clients needs. And yes, the cost of that product is significantly more than the catalog, however much less expensive than the piece I have to design from the ground up.

Clear and simple communication with the correct buyers is critical for me. Clearly explaining perceived value is KEY. That is done on a case by case/client by client basis. Sadly, what we do as "craftsmen" or "artists" takes a backseat to our abilities as marketers and salesmen.

I think this is great! If you have a bit of extra material, and extra time, shop projects are a great way to both improve your abilities designing, but also building. I can't find enough ways to rid the shop of extra materials that seem to be in the way most of the time.