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Working For Woodworkers

October 22, 2015 By Richard Maguire 17 Comments

Over the past few months I’ve been building up some commissions for furniture. I’m picky over the type of pieces that I’d like to build and since I’m not looking to be building furniture full time (been there, done that) I feel I’m right to be choosy and go with pieces that really interest me. It’s a nice luxury to have, but as I completed my the last Workhorse workbench last week, I realised I’d forgotten how wonderful it’s been to be building for other woodworkers.

The Last Workhorse

The Last Workhorse

Making benches for woodworkers brings it’s own pressures; for the first time ever the customer understands how it goes together, and technically speaking everything has to be perfect; you know that they’re looking for a gap in your dovetails. Most other customers don’t give a crap if it’s dovetailed at all, or even if it’s handmade.

Selling furniture on a sales point of it being ‘hand made’ isn’t an easy feat. Firstly because the way it’s made isn’t usually what adds value from the customer’s perspective, and secondly because any value that is perceived in the term ‘hand made’ is watered down by larger companies using it to describe items which have seen little more than a bit of glue scraped off by hand.

Building by hand is the only way that I enjoy to build and so the satisfaction makes the challenge worthwhile, perhaps even interesting. But I’m certainly going to miss working for customers who understand the difference between a top that’s flattened by plane rather than one just stuck through a sanding machine, and knowing that that difference gets appreciated.

Now if I know anything about selling furniture it’s understanding that you are all part of the experience for your customers. There’s a saying that sex sells, but we can’t really go there with furniture, so you should use the next best thing – a nice waistcoat.
workbench top

 

Filed Under: Lifestyle Posts

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About Richard Maguire

As a professional hand tool woodworker, Richard found hand tools to be the far more efficient solution for a one man workshop.
Richard runs 'The English Woodworker' as an online resource and video education for those looking for a fuss free approach to building fine furniture by hand.
Learn More About Richard & The English Woodworker.

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Comments

  1. Rodrigo Meza says

    October 22, 2015 at 3:07 pm

    Thanks for sharing! Have you already chose which furniture projects to make? What kind/style of furniture is it? Congratulations on the Workhorse, a really beauty.

    Reply
  2. Jeffrey Garrett says

    October 22, 2015 at 3:27 pm

    Good luck with your new ventures Richard, I watch to see what you are up to with great interest. I am only sorry that the benches are no longer available from you 🙁 I do understand your needs and desire to explore other ventures and wish you well.

    Ps. That bench looks out of place in the kitchen…. It would be much happier in my workshop!

    Reply
  3. Salko says

    October 22, 2015 at 3:33 pm

    I’ve only ever built furniture by hand have done all my life but I’m not getting any younger so its getting harder to keep up with machinery speeds to maintain my hourly rate. Many hobbyists are just that they have the luxury of time but being in business is s different kettle of fish time is always agsinst you. People may fantasise working wood like they did 200yrs ago and I’m fortunate enough to live that fantasy everyday in my shop but none of it comes without a price. I wish you much success.

    Reply
    • peter says

      October 23, 2015 at 12:22 pm

      yes ever commitments come with a cost, though arn’t we lucky, that we are in a enviroment to make our own choises, cheers Peter

      Reply
  4. Paul Chapman says

    October 22, 2015 at 4:42 pm

    That “last” bench looks lovely, Richard. Good luck with your new ventures.

    Reply
  5. Stefan says

    October 22, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Hi Richard,
    Waistcoat rules!
    Maybe that is the next big thing. Waistcoats for woodworkers.
    Let us think about it. ?
    Cheers,
    Stefan

    Reply
  6. Tomk says

    October 22, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    Bench looks fantastic, but dare I say it, it is too nice. It’ll be a bit like using a Ferrari to pull a trailer.

    Reply
  7. Dan O'Neill says

    October 23, 2015 at 12:39 am

    Hi

    admired your work bench shown on

    Reply
  8. mike murray says

    October 23, 2015 at 2:14 am

    I think I would look a right dicky [doo dah] in a waistcoat, but a brown warehouse coat would be my style for sure. : )

    You did that bench up right Richard. Somebody is going to be lucky when they end up with that one.

    Get in touch with some of the folks on Escape to the Country. I would guess they will have leads on folks that are looking for special hand made furniture to fit the houses they buy.

    All the best and thanks for sharing pictures of that bench.
    Mike

    Reply
  9. Michael Ackerman says

    October 23, 2015 at 5:36 am

    Toad in a hole and cured workbench. The Aga does it all.

    Reply
  10. peter says

    October 23, 2015 at 12:17 pm

    Nicely, stated and well thought through, you certainly are grounded, and have the game worked out. Ta for sharing, cheers Peter

    Reply
    • Dan O'Neill says

      October 23, 2015 at 5:32 pm

      I,ve seen your latest Work Bench and I am hopeing to learn what the workbench cost and what the frelght cost to send bench to Boston area Mass,
      Thank you
      Dan O’Neill a
      dano3690@comcast.net

      Reply
  11. patrick anderson says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:00 pm

    Ah waistcoats. Can’t find them over here for love nor money 🙁

    Reply
  12. Dave Parks says

    October 23, 2015 at 11:23 pm

    Beautiful bench. Unfortunate you don’t still build a couple a year just to supply such beauty to the woodworking community. Since you are not building any more of these, is there any chance you continue to supply leg vices ?

    Reply
  13. Danny says

    October 25, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    I’m not at all sure what waistcoat is, but I love the look. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  14. Peter says

    January 24, 2017 at 5:27 am

    That table (first image) is really nice! what sort of wood were you using there?

    Reply
  15. Greg Gimbel says

    June 25, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    That would be nice to only choose which projects you wanna build. Congrats on reaching that point in your career to be able to choose.

    Reply

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