Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | May 06, 2008 07:19pm | #1

   Tom,

   I haven't signed up for Taunton's online, so I can't see the pictures.  Pricing is a really tricky thing.  Are you working on contract or are you trying to get a ballpark estimate for the client?  There's no reason not to use floating tenons instead of regular tenons.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   ASK | May 06, 2008 10:41pm | #2

   I haven't signed up either but I bought 8 wood dining chairs from Macy's and had them sprayed black by a professional finisher.

   Total cost per chair $350.00

   ASK

   
   

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   Edited 5/6/2008 3:41 pm ET by ASK

3. 
   tom77 | May 07, 2008 04:47pm | #3

   Tom,

   Pricing requires a balance between the going rate in the market for equivalent chairs, and your cost to produce the chair. You can get a feel for the market by benchmarking against other custom woodworkers. I have developed a list of websites that I use for this purpose.

   To estimate costs, I prepare a materials spreadsheet for material cost and a labor spreadsheet for labor. I include design, material procurement, and delivery in my estimates. To estimate labor, I outline a process for the project, breaking it down into manageable chunks. Then each chunk is estimated. Add up the chunks and apply some judgment to get your total labor. When you are inexperienced, you need to keep your rates and labor estimates in phase with each other. You will take longer than a pro to get good results, and you should not expect to be paid like one.

   I am currently building my third set of chairs. I am using loose tenons exclusively because it is so much easier when dealing with complex geometry. I have a shop built horizontal mortiser which works really well. The mortising jigs with routers also can work well. You may want to acquire a reasonable vernier caliper to check your mortise and tenon dimensions as you go along. It is a big help.

   Good luck, Tom.