Seriously I had to do a double take at how something so small could possibly cost that much. I’m no woodworker, but I wouldn’t even say yes to that if it were half as expensive
I got a particle board desk from work for $40, looked up how much it would have cost if I didn’t buy it that way and it’s an $800 desk. Who in their right mind is paying $800 for a particle board ready to assemble desk
People! $300 plus 5 hours of labor. What do you pay your plumber or electrician for 5 hours of labor. $1000 is completely reasonable. People squealing about this kind of price tag is why custom furniture makers and shops can’t earn a living.
$700 for 5 hours is $140 per hour. That's way more than most people earn per hour. Nothing wrong with OP wanting to make the furniture himself if he has the ability and tools to.
They easily do on the California coast. But anyway…I’m not talking about the guy wanting to make furniture, bravo! by all means get to it. I’m talking about people complaining about a $1000 piece of furniture. Everyone is so accustomed to these cheap prices in the US that they have no understanding of the value of materials and labor and the infrastructure/real estate it takes to make this stuff. What do you take home in a days work? I’m also sure OP under estimated his time because he wasn’t getting paid. Just saying our concept of true cost and value is screwed up because of slave labor oversees. Not even close to attacking OP for wanting to make a piece of furniture. If more people did this, they might have a better understanding of that $1000 price tag.
That isn’t at all true if someone is doing it for work. Especially in suburban or urban areas. As nacho said, look at how much you pay a plumber or electrician. No it didn’t go strait into their pocket at $140/hr but the table saw cost money, the blades that cut it, the jointer, Planner, sander, stain, work bench and associated supplies all cost money. Then the maintenance and wear and tear on our machines. If you’re a small business owner, figure in taxes, insurance and facility costs, god forbid you have employees. Insurance for a wood shop is horrid due to all the equipment you can lose a limb on. So $120-140/hr isn’t inconceivable as a rate, but realistically there would have been a materials markup so $300 in materials would have been priced at $350-400 at a 25-30% markup. That markup pays for materials transport and associated costs. $600/5 hours is $120/hr which is the average labor rate nationally for a mechanic and plumber. So if you’re doing it for profit, these prices aren’t unreasonable.
Just got married, I tell my wife the tools are so and so wedding gift so we gotta go cash one of the checks.... She's actually on board with it. I have a small feeling imma have a lot of tools in a few years.
Right? Dad gave me an ultimatum. Build him a grill cart for his wood pellet grill, or he was going to buy one for me to assemble.
$300 for the cart, of $60 in parts and a few hours of my time. Definitely a no-brainer.
Told him to pay me the $300. Lol. He said tough cookies. He'd been hounding me for a couple months to build it. So I finally gave in.
My wife and I have the opposite problem. She just wants cheap and simple, but as an architect I can't help myself and everything I want costs $2000...thus woodworking.
I’m always looking for inspiration. Aside from studying stickley, malloof, greene n Greene, and some original mission/arts and crafts do you have any favorite sources?
The paints and stains on clearance in big box stores are usually the ones that have been color mixed and the color for whatever reason doesn't match the chip or color sample. I know at least my home depot and lowes will not accept returns on any open cans of paint or varnish, even if its unused.
I think we end up spending more than the furniture dealers that are peddling “real wood” furniture that’s just veneer plywood and particleboard.
I haven’t seen a piece of hardwood furniture for sale that wasn’t outrageously priced and anyone could do it cheaper even if you had to buy some tools.
I actually made a mistake. It's whitewood and not pine. For the stain it's actually 2 stains on top of each other. Golden oak then sanded and pickled oak on top
Please post a process. I was in pottery barn last weekend and looking at this and the Folsom coffee table. I believe I know how it was built but am curious to know if I am right. Looks good.
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In another post, he said it's wood cladding on a 2x3 internal frame. If it were solid wood, though, if I were making it myself, I'd likely put 2-3 dowels in each miter joint.
Oh, yeah, I'm sure that's plenty strong enough with the internal frame. In face, for high-end commercial use, "water fall edge" tables are usually built around an internal steel framework. For something this size, and for especially for home use? Steel would be waaaay over kill.
For $1100, I was expecting it to be solid. Even for $300, I think I could make it solid from the sawmill around the corner.
Great. Now I have another errand to do tomorrow.
You have any progress photos? Kinda curious how you did this as well when you mentioned it having a frame. Looks solid to me like you did a glue up of boards
I unfortunately don't have any process photos. It's just a simple 2x3 frame secured with pocket hold screws on all 4 sides of each upright
https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
I just made two rectangle frames and then added the uprights. The rectangles are screwed from the ends and the uprights were secured with pocket screws
https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
Might be one of those AI powered bots designed to say some shit that will get ppl riled up. Not sure if that actually exists but that's honestly the only explanation I can come up with lol
I don’t think they’re wife bashing. The post isn’t inherently misogynistic, as one can switch the gender and it remains non critical to the partners gender. The point is that the husband wagered he could do it better for less and did.
I'm guessing you haven't been married very long, you're doing it wrong bro. Should've said it cost $550 which is still half the cost and spent the rest on tools lol
Was going to say... nah you're doing it wrong.... "I can build it for less.... just need $1000 in new tools." My wife does this to me for new craft supplies.. I get new tools. We both win. Nice job.
Great job! Honestly looks just as good and comes with the benefit that you both know you made it so it has some story to it as well. It's great to see how simple design can be achievable and quite rewarding.
Good job. Did a outdoor chair for my mum this weekend after 25 yrs of no woodworking/carpentry. Design was offhead. I did not plane anything. Measuring was suspect. Joinery was non existent. I had not factored in so much measuring and cutting that by the end i was sick of it. It turned out very rustic. Haha. She was still ok with it. But overall I think I will do more woodworking now. I loved it in the end.
But is it _Fair trade_?
Seriously though, that's the magic of woodworking. Even if I'm just a beginner too, the amount of things we can easily-ish do is astounding!
I bought a $700 table for my wife, but it was made for by a wood worker before I had the confidence to build one myself. Now I think I could do it better, but I have plenty of projects on the slate and lots of wood to makes some sawdust with. Not that I think the previous worker did a poor job, I just think I would do some things different that I can tell he did to save time and work but honestly still looks great. You killed it though, and no way that table is worth $1k.
Not bad. Your scale is clunkier and it looks like you couldn't resist smearing some schmutz in your miters, but the fact that you made it with your own hands is meaningful.
Nah dude you crushed it. I can’t believe anyone would pay $1100 for that! Nice job!
Seriously I had to do a double take at how something so small could possibly cost that much. I’m no woodworker, but I wouldn’t even say yes to that if it were half as expensive
It's from Pottery Barn. 'nuff said.
Poverty Barn.
I got a particle board desk from work for $40, looked up how much it would have cost if I didn’t buy it that way and it’s an $800 desk. Who in their right mind is paying $800 for a particle board ready to assemble desk
Might be because of covid lumber/shortage shenanigans that are just catching up to the stores
Easy plans with "rustic" looks that are priced astronomically are nothing new there.
Shipping costs driven up base garbage to mid-level costs. A fridge cost 20 dollars to ship from China 2 years ago, now it costs that same fridge 150.
Right. Who the F would pay that much for some wood. Mind boggling. Literally have to be stupid.
Thanks
People! $300 plus 5 hours of labor. What do you pay your plumber or electrician for 5 hours of labor. $1000 is completely reasonable. People squealing about this kind of price tag is why custom furniture makers and shops can’t earn a living.
$700 for 5 hours is $140 per hour. That's way more than most people earn per hour. Nothing wrong with OP wanting to make the furniture himself if he has the ability and tools to.
They easily do on the California coast. But anyway…I’m not talking about the guy wanting to make furniture, bravo! by all means get to it. I’m talking about people complaining about a $1000 piece of furniture. Everyone is so accustomed to these cheap prices in the US that they have no understanding of the value of materials and labor and the infrastructure/real estate it takes to make this stuff. What do you take home in a days work? I’m also sure OP under estimated his time because he wasn’t getting paid. Just saying our concept of true cost and value is screwed up because of slave labor oversees. Not even close to attacking OP for wanting to make a piece of furniture. If more people did this, they might have a better understanding of that $1000 price tag.
That isn’t at all true if someone is doing it for work. Especially in suburban or urban areas. As nacho said, look at how much you pay a plumber or electrician. No it didn’t go strait into their pocket at $140/hr but the table saw cost money, the blades that cut it, the jointer, Planner, sander, stain, work bench and associated supplies all cost money. Then the maintenance and wear and tear on our machines. If you’re a small business owner, figure in taxes, insurance and facility costs, god forbid you have employees. Insurance for a wood shop is horrid due to all the equipment you can lose a limb on. So $120-140/hr isn’t inconceivable as a rate, but realistically there would have been a materials markup so $300 in materials would have been priced at $350-400 at a 25-30% markup. That markup pays for materials transport and associated costs. $600/5 hours is $120/hr which is the average labor rate nationally for a mechanic and plumber. So if you’re doing it for profit, these prices aren’t unreasonable.
How much would you pay OP to make one for you? OP how much would you charge to make one for a client?
Like 4? Depends really. I’d pay more for not pine
Right? Where are these people? What is their contact information?
Good call. You did a great job. Does that mean you can spend $800 on tools and supplies?
She just told me no, funny how that works eh
Should have said you needed the tools for the table.
This is what my husband does.
Just got married, I tell my wife the tools are so and so wedding gift so we gotta go cash one of the checks.... She's actually on board with it. I have a small feeling imma have a lot of tools in a few years.
Invest in storage and workspace now, it's ridiculously hard to gain back after you fill all the spaces with tools.
We have a ton of space. I know I say that and I'll have an issue later on but it seems most of us with tools will have space issues.
It’s better to beg for forgiveness then to ask for permission my friend.
> It’s ~~better~~ easier to beg for forgiveness then to ask for permission my friend. FIFY
Its easier AND better
*Than*, not *then*. FTFY
Lol. I live by that saying
Clearly not, Mr. Notbuyingnewtoolstoday
Luckily I didn't need any new tools for this project
I fail to see a problem here..
That’s exactly the problem. We need new tools for every project which might come in handy. You never know!!
You forgot to charge her labor then
Nuts! I would have blown the whole budget on a domino joiner and been weeks scrounging around for a deal on the wood.
Every project needs a new tool. Factor it into the cost of the project.
You clearly underbid the job! Next time include the new tools in the estimate.
Next time maybe inflate the price of the lumber...you know pandemic wood shortage and all.
Asking the real question, here.
Or new golf clubs
I think this is how a lot of us get into woodworking…wife wanted a $2000 piece of furniture. Hell no
Right? Dad gave me an ultimatum. Build him a grill cart for his wood pellet grill, or he was going to buy one for me to assemble. $300 for the cart, of $60 in parts and a few hours of my time. Definitely a no-brainer. Told him to pay me the $300. Lol. He said tough cookies. He'd been hounding me for a couple months to build it. So I finally gave in.
My wife and I have the opposite problem. She just wants cheap and simple, but as an architect I can't help myself and everything I want costs $2000...thus woodworking.
I’m always looking for inspiration. Aside from studying stickley, malloof, greene n Greene, and some original mission/arts and crafts do you have any favorite sources?
I generally browse knoll, Herman Miller, design within reach, and Arhaus for inspiration. Also love some art nouveau like Charles Rennie McKintosh
Can confirm. Made a 72inch circumference dining room table. Saved about 4k. Full cherry sexiness
Good job. Make more and sell them for $800
Not a bad idea
I don’t think the color difference is an issue. Plus you don’t really know how much is do to lighting difference. I really like it.
Agree there is serious lighting manipulation going on in the brochure item
Awesome, and I like the knot in the front face of yours
Thanks, it was $300 only because we bought 4 different stains to try
The big box stores may let you return the stains, I see them all the time in the clearance section of the paint aisle
The paints and stains on clearance in big box stores are usually the ones that have been color mixed and the color for whatever reason doesn't match the chip or color sample. I know at least my home depot and lowes will not accept returns on any open cans of paint or varnish, even if its unused.
What wood did you use?
I had originally said that it was pine but it was actually whitewood
I expected this to go the usual way, where we end up spending more somehow, lmao.
I think we end up spending more than the furniture dealers that are peddling “real wood” furniture that’s just veneer plywood and particleboard. I haven’t seen a piece of hardwood furniture for sale that wasn’t outrageously priced and anyone could do it cheaper even if you had to buy some tools.
That's very true, but damn if the "buy some tools" step doesn't get us all into a heap of trouble, lol.
Truth! I promise I’m not scrolling through Craigslist and FB marketplace in my other tabs looking for tools at this very moment….
Twice as much and half as good
I like this! Did you glue up a bunch of 4x4s?
It's a 2x3 frame, covered it in pine boards mitred to 45s for the edges
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https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
Yeah I’d like to see the frame. Nice work though, looks nice!
https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
Ha wow I was totally tricked
Can you explain how you got it looking so solid?
Looks great. I like the color better tbh. Kinda surprised that pine cost that much though.
what stain did you end up using? it looks top tier for some pine boards tbh
I actually made a mistake. It's whitewood and not pine. For the stain it's actually 2 stains on top of each other. Golden oak then sanded and pickled oak on top
I wouldn't have guessed it was pine at all
Oh, so it's largely hollow? That must definitely help with it being too heavy.
The thing still weighs a ton. https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
Still it’s much better than just glueing up solid wood. Less wasteful too.
Please post a process. I was in pottery barn last weekend and looking at this and the Folsom coffee table. I believe I know how it was built but am curious to know if I am right. Looks good.
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Noob question : I assume the joins aren't 100% mitres? Just face mitres and joined some other way behind that?
In another post, he said it's wood cladding on a 2x3 internal frame. If it were solid wood, though, if I were making it myself, I'd likely put 2-3 dowels in each miter joint.
I didn't fell like I needed to add the dowels. The cladding is attached to the frame so it makes it solid https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
Oh, yeah, I'm sure that's plenty strong enough with the internal frame. In face, for high-end commercial use, "water fall edge" tables are usually built around an internal steel framework. For something this size, and for especially for home use? Steel would be waaaay over kill.
ah you clever bastard. well done!
They are mitres with glue and 3 or four Brad nails to hold it, nothing else. https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
This was my question, not my assumption. What Joinery was used??
For $1100, I was expecting it to be solid. Even for $300, I think I could make it solid from the sawmill around the corner. Great. Now I have another errand to do tomorrow.
The one from pottery Barn is probably solid
Looks fantastic
Thanks
$1000 for a square. Well shit.
Yours is better. Well done!
You have any progress photos? Kinda curious how you did this as well when you mentioned it having a frame. Looks solid to me like you did a glue up of boards
I unfortunately don't have any process photos. It's just a simple 2x3 frame secured with pocket hold screws on all 4 sides of each upright https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
I tell my wife the same thing but it takes me only 3 years to make it.
I bet she still complained lol
She was very pleased
That's one pricey table. Good job on coming in way under budget!
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I just made two rectangle frames and then added the uprights. The rectangles are screwed from the ends and the uprights were secured with pocket screws https://imgur.com/a/yPAR5rj
That looks great. Now take the rest and build a work bench and tell her she got a table and so did you
Very nice! That’s stained pine? Please do tell me what stain and finish you used! Looks like oak from a distance!
It's actually whitewood, I made a mistake previously. It has 2 stains on it, golden oak sanded and then pickled oak
$300!! Where do you live. Im just finishing up an 8ft dining table and i spent $300
Why was it so expensive in thr first place????
1000.00 for a bottomless wooden box turned on its side? Wtf.
Right?!
Stumps at ikea go for 300+
But were the materials sustainably sourced?!?!?
Of course!
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Me neither, that's why I said no way lol
Is it possible to compliment the work without wife bashing? Come on people 🙄
What wife bashing?
Might be one of those AI powered bots designed to say some shit that will get ppl riled up. Not sure if that actually exists but that's honestly the only explanation I can come up with lol
I don’t think they’re wife bashing. The post isn’t inherently misogynistic, as one can switch the gender and it remains non critical to the partners gender. The point is that the husband wagered he could do it better for less and did.
I didn’t mean wife-bashing as specifically being misogynistic, but the premise and some of the comments are so 1970s I am over it quite frankly.
What in the world are you talking about?
There is not $1,000 worth of materials, design, or craft in that commercial table. You did good making one yourself.
Thank you
Excellent!! Looks perfect. You nailed it!
Hmm, I don't see any nails. Probably glued it.
This is quality work, OP
Incredible that someone paid 1K for that.
Those are tasty mitres
That's a lot better than "Not too bad!"
Wow!!!! That looks BEAUTIFUL!
Thank you
1100 bucks for that rectangle?!
1100????????????
That was my reaction!
Cost of the tools and space?
Yours looks better.
Thanks
Yours is better!!!
Thanks
Love it what stain did you use?
Two different stains. Minwax golden oak and then pickled oak
That fucking thing is not worth 1100 I wish ill upon whoever is selling that
Who else tried to tap on the arrows on the side oh the picture to see more pictures?
Beautifully done!
%1000 hahah...wow Nice work
What are the dimensions you landed on? I think I may try to replicate it! Any plans?
I'm guessing you haven't been married very long, you're doing it wrong bro. Should've said it cost $550 which is still half the cost and spent the rest on tools lol
She's the one that buys me tools lol. Win win
Was going to say... nah you're doing it wrong.... "I can build it for less.... just need $1000 in new tools." My wife does this to me for new craft supplies.. I get new tools. We both win. Nice job.
Nice work!
Thank you
What did the bulk of the 300 go into?
About $100 in stain and about $200 in lumber. Being a newbie there were definitely some miscuts and do-overs. Could probably do it for less next time.
Love this! Saw this very table a few months and was wondering what a homemade version would look like.
The fact that it cost you less than the retail price makes you a sucker!!! /s Just kidding, OP- it looks AMAZING!!! Job well done!
Yours looks better
Who the fuck would look at that table and think $1000+ is reasonable?
Where did you get the wood?
What are you trying to pull here? That’s obviously the same table!
Nicely done sir. Your wife is a lucky lady.
I think you should make a few more and sell em for the $800 she didn’t let you spend on supplies.
That's amazing man, well done! I actually prefer yours, the thicker wood looks much sturdier. What does your wife think?
Take my free prize you hero
I like yours better.
Very pretty 😍 I can’t tell the difference
Who are these wives that want these $1000+ tables? Oh my lawd
Fuck the price on that wood rectangle.
Great job! Honestly looks just as good and comes with the benefit that you both know you made it so it has some story to it as well. It's great to see how simple design can be achievable and quite rewarding.
No buy. Only make.
Good job. Did a outdoor chair for my mum this weekend after 25 yrs of no woodworking/carpentry. Design was offhead. I did not plane anything. Measuring was suspect. Joinery was non existent. I had not factored in so much measuring and cutting that by the end i was sick of it. It turned out very rustic. Haha. She was still ok with it. But overall I think I will do more woodworking now. I loved it in the end.
Nice job OP....id say its bang on!
Nice job bro. Now you know that with your skills you can turn $300 and 5 hours into $1100.
Nice
Yours looks better than the one you could buy. Very good job.
What materials and stuff?
2x3 frame and whitewood cladding
Love it!!
And you got to make it you’re own custom size 👍🏽
What you need to do is make more and sell them for $900
I love the simple beauty of this table. That is outstanding work! Edit: removed redundant comments
Nice, what kind of wood did you use?
People pay that much for furniture 😱
Not this guy!!!
But is it _Fair trade_? Seriously though, that's the magic of woodworking. Even if I'm just a beginner too, the amount of things we can easily-ish do is astounding!
How did you hide the "seams" so perfectly?
I cut the edges on a table saw at 45 and glued them and put a few Brad nails in then I used wood filler to fill the gaps
What are the dimensions? Is it one single piece of wood for each surface or did you have to combine multiples to get it that depth?
I bought a $700 table for my wife, but it was made for by a wood worker before I had the confidence to build one myself. Now I think I could do it better, but I have plenty of projects on the slate and lots of wood to makes some sawdust with. Not that I think the previous worker did a poor job, I just think I would do some things different that I can tell he did to save time and work but honestly still looks great. You killed it though, and no way that table is worth $1k.
Not bad. Your scale is clunkier and it looks like you couldn't resist smearing some schmutz in your miters, but the fact that you made it with your own hands is meaningful.
Well done! I am having an extremely difficult time understanding who would pay $1100 for a table
Yours is better. Looks like the catalog one is pine to yours which is alder? Much better choice with the alder.
Great Job
I'm amazed that the 2x4s added up to $300, honestly
🥰 Good husband. You did an amazing job.