Wood Working for dollars!

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
Can you guys think of anything I could use my wood working talent to make and sell online? I wanna get back into knife making!! :confused:
 
There are big bucks in custom high end bird houses. Another high end niche is crematory urns. They have to be top quality though. They sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars.
 
What do you LIKE to make? A few ideas:

- Clocks
- Display/presentation boxes
- Mirror frames (buy mirrors at garage sales and re-frame them.)
- jewelry boxes/valet's
- walking sticks

Selling this kind of stuff online is tough, you're better of finding a local market that will support your production level. My brother does the mirrors and sells them to local furniture and interior decorating shops. It also gets him orders for shelving, built-ins, and custom mantels/fireplace surrounds.

J-
 
well custom woodwork is always in demand I don't know about over the internet. Look for some taxidermist in your area they usually need woodwork also on here you could possible sell small boxes for giftboxes for knives. I have had a friend make me some for my knives and they have been a big hit!!
 
Just do something and put it on eBay.

Some time ago, I wanted a suitcase stand for my guest room. I looked on eBay and found a guy who had a whole bunch of 'em up in all kinds of different woods. I selected one and bought it and asked if he could do a second identical for the same price and he said, "Sure."

We chatted a bit. He's retired and he makes these nice suitcase stands in his spare time. I just looked and he's still there. He tells me he does a nice business.
 
Still a high dollar, big mover.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I could use some custom kitchen knife blocks....(hint, hint)

:D :thumbup:
 
Hmm, never woulda thought of knife blocks, thanks Daniel!
Humidors either and I smoke cigars, lol! Thanks Steven!
Gollnick, I don't know what a suitcase stand is, got a pic. :)
I could make some real nice humidors, with inlay in the top and such. Have to use regular wood like cherry and walnut till I got som bucks up to order some exotic stuff online. I'll go that route, make a couple nice humidors and see what folks think!! Shoot, they can even be used for other stuff too, just a box with spanish cedar lining.
 
L6steel said:
I could make some real nice humidors, with inlay in the top and such. Have to use regular wood like cherry and walnut till I got som bucks up to order some exotic stuff online. I'll go that route, make a couple nice humidors and see what folks think!! Shoot, they can even be used for other stuff too, just a box with spanish cedar lining.
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Make sure you do the research, see what others are doing, and do it better, for slightly less money!

Obviously airtightness is key, but so are the little details like piano hinges, brass lock and handles on the sides(maybe)

Work up to one in dyed blue curly/birdseye maple with inlays, around 150 capacity, and i'll give you $750.00 for it.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Hmm, never woulda thought of knife blocks, thanks Daniel!
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You can thank me by making me a few. :D :D :D
(I will gladly pay...I am hurting for some....bad...:o )
 
One of my buds is a master turner - he even teaches a class in wood turning. He turns and sells bowls and pens on eBay. His stuff is exceptionally good so he gets good prices but he is not trying to make a living from it.
 
Judging from the responces already, L6steel be prepared for alot of business from folks needing knife blocks, display boxes etc.

Years ago when I was more active in knifemaking, I kept a coworker who was good at cabinet and furniture building busy. He built display cases and knife storage boxes for me. I couldn't find a source for these anywhere, but he was able to more than help me out many times.
 
This might be a little offbeat, but here goes. Got a wood lathe? How 'bout turning out some nice ball bats? Ball bats are good for batting things besides baseballs, and they are useful in a variety of medium and smaller sizes, too. I've seen little ones advertised for thumping truck/trailer tires to verify air pressure, but they were made of cedar I think, and that doesn't sound like a good choice of wood to me, except for looks maybe. In my opinion, any kind of bat needs to be tough. People who go after bigger fish in saltwater often use a small bat to subdue them after bringing them aboard their boats. I think it's obvious, but small to medium size bats have some potential for defensive use, too. If I was going to turn out bats I'd stick to the standard proportions (though not necessarily the size) of a classic Louisville Slugger. Good luck. :thumbup:
 
Dr. Mudd said:
I've seen little ones advertised for thumping truck/trailer tires to verify air pressure, but they were made of cedar I think, and that doesn't sound like a good choice of wood to me, except for looks maybe. In my opinion, any kind of bat needs to be tough.
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I have a tire thumper from Duluth Trading that's 18" of hickory.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
I have a tire thumper from Duluth Trading that's 18" of hickory.
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Me, too. I got several of Duluth's tire thumpers one year and gave most away as gifts. They are really tough, inexpensive, and potentially useful, but they don't have the "style" of a classically proportioned ball bat. As they say, "Sex sells." Those Louisville Sluggers sure are kind of sexy in their own way. :D Duluth Trading started off selling top quality American made merchandise, but they soon began to have most of their items made "offshore," although still to reasonably good quality standards in most cases. I've just begun to bristle more and more at all the things I see that are made in China. Part of that attitude is just old age creeping up on me I suppose. I recently ordered a Rough Rider canoe pattern pocket knife that I knew was made in China. I have to say it was worth the ten bucks I paid for it, but if you looked close the quality I wanted just wasn't there. After looking at it a few times, I oiled it, wiped it down, and mailed it to a friend of mine who isn't as persnickety as I am about some things. He'll enjoy using it. Pardon my China rant.
 
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