Distractions

slim63 · 25/8/18

Well I tried some grey dye on a piece of scrap timber & really didn't like it, I think a different make of dye turns out lighter so may have a go at that at some point

After saying I hadn't made a rally trophy for years I was asked for one today, typical that

Below are the last side tables I did to very specific sizes, the woman has just picked them up & is really chuffed with the finish as its an almost exact match for her sofa apparently

Now we are in discussion about the making of a matching coffee table & her old man is trying to buy the big lamp that has still not been collected

Difficult to photograph but here you go

Comments welcome as usual (y)

slim63 · 19/9/18

More stuff from a twisted mind

A coffee table I was commissioned to make to match the smaller side tables above

A clock I made as a thank you to a friend who supplied a load of parts when I was too broke to buy them myself, she was extremely happy with her unexpected gift (y)

A lamp I made for a lad who already has a couple of workshop stools & a small side table

The small table I'd made previously then refinished because I was bored sold today & the bloke that picked it up also bought another item

The same fella is enthusiastic about my stuff & said he could sell quite a bit for me & make himself a few quid in the process

true to his word he phoned me a couple of hours after leaving to tell me he had a buyer for another big ticket item

my only problem is I am still recovering from a carpal tunnel operation so cant do a great deal at the moment

As always comments good or bad are welcome & ideas even more so as I'm fast running out of them

andyBeaker · 19/9/18

I love it.

Personally I am not keen on the green wood finish but that is just my taste.

slim63 · 19/9/18

andybirdless said:
I love it.

Personally I am not keen on the green wood finish but that is just my taste.

Its actually a blue finish but really difficult to photograph, know what you mean though mate I'm not overly keen on it myself but its what the lady wanted & she is happy so its all good

Cougar377 · 19/9/18

Love the green/blue table and stools... (y)

....and the multi-coloured effect one. (y)

This sort of "artisan" (I think that's what it's known as...) stuff definitely sells....people like to have something different from the norm.
You should give some serious consideration to turning it into at least a part time business (if you can make the time for it).

slim63 · 19/9/18

Thanks Cougar the colours are easy enough to do once you get the hang of it but it is time consuming to do

I am trying to make it a part time business but finding a reliable market is difficult, I don't have the space to make stuff & store it for ages, what I'm thinking at the moment is a website as a showcase of what I can do & then hope for commissions, cant make my mind up if that's a good idea or not? Ebay has been pretty useless so far but I have had a couple of good hits off gumtree

My stuff is slowly getting out there but I don't use FB which seems to be the norm for selling stuff nowadays, I recently met a bloke through the sale of the multi-coloured table who says he can sell stuff through his shops, true to his word a couple of hours after meeting him I got a message that he had a buyer for another big ticket item I made a while ago so I'm hoping that could become a good thing for us both

What I don't want to be doing is banging stuff out on a production line, every item has to be different or there seems little point, it really isn't about the money for me its the joy of making stuff that some folk appreciate, I cant deny a few quid comes in handy though

Cougar377 · 19/9/18

slim63 said:
Thanks Cougar the colours are easy enough to do once you get the hang of it but it is time consuming to do

I am trying to make it a part time business but finding a reliable market is difficult, I don't have the space to make stuff & store it for ages, what I'm thinking at the moment is a website as a showcase of what I can do & then hope for commissions, cant make my mind up if that's a good idea or not? Ebay has been pretty useless so far but I have had a couple of good hits off gumtree

My stuff is slowly getting out there but I don't use FB which seems to be the norm for selling stuff nowadays, I recently met a bloke through the sale of the multi-coloured table who says he can sell stuff through his shops, true to his word a couple of hours after meeting him I got a message that he had a buyer for another big ticket item I made a while ago so I'm hoping that could become a good thing for us both

What I don't want to be doing is banging stuff out on a production line, every item has to be different or there seems little point, it really isn't about the money for me its the joy of making stuff that some folk appreciate, I cant deny a few quid comes in handy though

Have a look at Etsy. Our nextdoor neighbour sells handmade crafts through that.

andyBeaker · 19/9/18

slim63 said:
Thanks Cougar the colours are easy enough to do once you get the hang of it but it is time consuming to do

I am trying to make it a part time business but finding a reliable market is difficult, I don't have the space to make stuff & store it for ages, what I'm thinking at the moment is a website as a showcase of what I can do & then hope for commissions, cant make my mind up if that's a good idea or not? Ebay has been pretty useless so far but I have had a couple of good hits off gumtree

My stuff is slowly getting out there but I don't use FB which seems to be the norm for selling stuff nowadays, I recently met a bloke through the sale of the multi-coloured table who says he can sell stuff through his shops, true to his word a couple of hours after meeting him I got a message that he had a buyer for another big ticket item I made a while ago so I'm hoping that could become a good thing for us both

What I don't want to be doing is banging stuff out on a production line, every item has to be different or there seems little point, it really isn't about the money for me its the joy of making stuff that some folk appreciate, I cant deny a few quid comes in handy though

Maybe try a county show or so thing like that - will cost a bit for a pitch but I would be surprised if it didn't generate some interest.

Don't be afraid to try and get some local tv exposure - local stations are always keen to get some local good news stories.

Minkey · 20/9/18

I think it all looks very smart

slim63 · 21/9/18

Thanks Minkey

I was quite surprised at how many ladies like this sort of stuff to be honest, the best was a mates wife, there house is immaculate throughout & she is very particular about furniture & fittings but when he bought a stool for sitting on in his shed she swiped it for the living room so he had to buy another

noobie · 21/9/18

I would stay away from the wood tops on the smaller tables, it looks too big, clumsy and swamps the hardwork of the metal work. The big table however is big enough that the wood compliments the metal work

Vinterceptor · 21/9/18

Some great ideas there, I like the table ends with all the gears and the clock looks brilliant too, could do with summat like that but a wall mount version

slim63 · 22/9/18

noobie said:
I would stay away from the wood tops on the smaller tables, it looks too big, clumsy and swamps the hardwork of the metal work. The big table however is big enough that the wood compliments the metal work

I have thought about that myself mate, I quite like the chunky look but others are not so sure & have said the same as you, I cant do it at the moment because I just had a carpal tunnel 0peration but in the past I have planed a 45 angle on the bottom edge of the timber which makes it look less chunky, thinner timber just looks crap to be honest but I do have ideas to other things to use as tops, it has to be practical though

slim63 · 22/9/18

Vinterceptor said:
Some great ideas there, I like the table ends with all the gears and the clock looks brilliant too, could do with summat like that but a wall mount version

No problem to make you a clock once my hand works properly again, I have a nice wavy disk I have been keeping for just such a thing

noobie · 22/9/18

On the smaller tables I would use sheet metal, crap steel, and give two options. I know you know rat rods with the rust and faded look, possibly even a bit of verdigris, then possibly a matt varnish to seal it in, the other look again on the cheap metal, is heating it to give like an exhaust blueing/rainbowing? and again sealing it unless the customer wants it raw.

andyBeaker · 22/9/18

slim63 said:
I have thought about that myself mate, I quite like the chunky look but others are not so sure & have said the same as you, I cant do it at the moment because I just had a carpal tunnel 0peration but in the past I have planed a 45 angle on the bottom edge of the timber which makes it look less chunky, thinner timber just looks crap to be honest but I do have ideas to other things to use as tops, it has to be practical though

I have some lovely big chunks of strip oak worktop left over that I have never had the heart to throw out........

noobie · 22/9/18

Might be worth typing into the bay of evil "steam punk furniture" to give you some additional ideas, what they are selling for and what is actually selling?

slim63 · 22/9/18

andybirdless said:
I have some lovely big chunks of strip oak worktop left over that I have never had the heart to throw out........

I would love to use some of that mate, depends on what you want for it & how much a courier would want to get it from there to here

slim63 · 22/9/18

noobie said:
Might be worth typing into the bay of evil "steam punk furniture" to give you some additional ideas, what they are selling for and what is actually selling?

I do have a look every now & then mate, I am always surprised at some of the prices stuff sells for

it seems fairly random on what sells & what gets relisted time & time again, I'm keeping my stuff cheap to compete as its only really a hobby & I don't have massive overheads but maybe folk think cheap= crap ? conversely folk who see it in the metal all go Ooh there is a lot of work in that for the price

At the moment I have a guy who seems quite happy to take whatever I make whenever I can make it, I know he's saving it up for a show in a couple of months & will make money on it but I am fine with that as its easy for me & I'm not greedy

andyBeaker · 22/9/18

slim63 said:
I would love to use some of that mate, depends on what you want for it & how much a courier would want to get it from there to here

I wouldn't want anything for it.

I'll post up some pics and measurements, let's take it from there.

I just like to,see stuff being used.

I also have a huge sheet of ( I think) teak that was the removable leaf from an extending table.....

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