You could also measure your success as your ability to inspire and influence others, and in that regard, I must say you are one of the best. You've truly motivated me (and I'm sure you've done the same for many other woodworkers) to pursue this craft, and I'll forever be thankful for that. Thanks, RC, for your unique approach to teaching others, and for bringing to this world such beautiful pieces of furniture.
Please excuse the length. But I'm hoping I have a thought that can be beneficial to craftspeople trying to make a living everywhere. Back in the 80s, I used to live close enough to Seattle I could go to the fine woodworking gallery. (No affiliation to the magazine) It was a display showroom for a guild/consortium/club of woodworkers where they could sell their items. Everything from picture frames to desks, chairs, and fine boxes, and clocks. I don't know if it's still exists. And I wasn't a member, though I went often enough to see that their inventory changed with some frequency. Guess that allowed members to each get displays for a period of time. While I had made things I needed around the house for years, this is where the bug bit me. Maybe this is an antiquated concept in the days of the social media. But I think people that appreciate wood and fine craftsmanship like to see and touch it before they buy. Locating or creating a club that can rent a small space in a high foot traffic area could be beneficial to many. The maritime center in Port Townsend, Washington was founded by many crafts people that wanted to make a living and pass on their trades. They promote each other, much as you generously did for the other "makers". (I'm old enough to hate that term) Sail makers can recommend a foundry or shipwright, and vice versa, as needed by the customer. Here's hoping this is at least worth a pause for thought and doesn't waste anyone's time.
I recently watched a video on UA-cam which showcased beautiful tool cabinets and benches. Sure enough your hanging wall cabinet was featured in that video. So as far as skill and craftsmanship goes you are certainly getting recognized. Keep up the good work.
You do a really nice job of producing educational & entertaining content w/ a hand tool focus. That's not easy to do. And I'm a teacher who wouldn't have been able to teach for 30 years w/o a supportive & better paid wife. Hopefully you'll be able to keep it going.
Great video! And yes you are blocking that tool cabinet. I am mostly a hand tool guy and fortunately don't need to make money, I chose this as a hobby in retirement (soon approaching I hope). No furniture made yet but making plane and saw tills. Back to that tool cabinet behind you, the research has started.
Honest level headed video, respect. For me, I picked up a university degree in engineering, then rebuilt 4 houses procured under "as is where is deals" in my spare time. I then rented 3 and live in the 4th, doubled the size of the garage that came with the final house and set up my basically a do whatever I can thin to want garage setup. If my career fizzles I have the garage as a turnkey business and rental income to fall back on so I don't feel the looming pressure of "what if I lose my job" which for me is my main reward. Now to find a rich wife....
Excellent video! I’m the a-hole that made a snarky comment about your sawbench video an hour ago. No excuses for that comment, just an apology, I should have taken that walk first! You eloquently state my attitude towards most UTube woodworkers, they’re making a living off social media but not from woodworking itself. Keep up the good work and I have liked and subscribed which I do for very few.
I still remember the day Clark & Williams told me about the most successful woodworker they knew. He started in his garage making pallets for Sam Walton. This developed into an industry making pallets.
I do woodworking because it is enjoyable, creative outlet, I get to make things for friends and family, and did I say it's enjoyable. If you enjoy what you do it isn't ever going to seem like work... (wow, dad philosophy 101 right there :)
05:20 Best advice of them all from you R.C....The rest is "all wrong"...(kidding)...LOL!!! Seriously, over the decades, when asked "how" to make a living from woodworking, is mostly "don't try." All the successful folks I know and have met, from Warren Buffett, to my own mentors I apprentised under is that "happiness" is of greater value than money will ever be, or that, (Mr.Buffett paraphrase here)..."Making money is a side effect of things that interest me and make me happy,"...in other words, money is not, nor ever has been the goal...but it has been the side effect. Just have fun, be patient and exercise basic common sense... I mainly stopped by RC because of your logo (love it!!!) but then again I've had mine for over 40 years and it has served me very well. Similar tasts in aesthetics seems to always find other "birds of the same feather." Nice channel and beautiful work. Fine furniture is not my metier, but I know it when I see it...!!!
R.C.; very well said. I have been watching your content since the beginning…I firmly believe that you will become “successful” eventually (according to your list in this video), heck you are 80% there in my books
Nicely articulated friend. I certainly relate and, as per advice from Will Douglass diversify as much as I need to at any given time to A. Allow me to pay the bills and B. Allow me to enjoy the custom woodwork commissions I am lucky enough to receive. Thanks. Johnny
Thanks for the straight shooting! It's soooo easy to be self-deceived into false expectations. Personally, I'm a successful professional approaching retirement and hope to, slightly, augment my income from my long-time hobby. I won't be betting the mortgage on income from woodworking, to be sure.
Well said sir from a cabinet Maker in England who makes very expensive furniture for the rich and greedy and in oft times should take a long walk on a short pier.... but in my defence, it is irritating to watch you-tube woodworking types with a fine collection of tools and not a clue mangle the trade I have been in for over 30yrs but then it is my fault for watching them..... yes, I have a one off business where people come to me and I name the price and if they don't want it I don't make it and there are no prices on the website etc but I still don't make a killing but treat it as a well paid hobby..... good luck to you.
Great video. What you said needs saying over and over. Making stuff is the easy bit. Selling it is what counts.......if making money is your goal. As you say, though, that's not the only way to achieve success. You might think of yourself as Vincent van Gogh, who never sold a single painting in his lifetime (unless you count one given to a barman to pay off his bar bill).
According to Paul Sellers it is easy to make a good living making woodworking things entirely by hand. I call that Sellers-Nomics because it is not true. Your observations are much closer to reality. If I get what you say correctly, without financial support un-related to woodworking you could not make it. I appreciate the honesty. It's important that this is known to those who want to take a stab at this.
I’m retired now. My career covered custom and then manufacturing. High end custom consumers do not come to you, interior designers do. They will constantly come to you to copy expensive furniture from European designers and want you to copy it. If anything goes wrong they will throw you under the bus and you will find yourself in court.If you want to design, no one buys designs, they copy them. Foreigners would buy my furniture, take them apart and use them for patterns, so quickly that you will see them at the next show. To be considered a designer you need a degree. I use to go to the design shows for doctoral students and you will see stuff like a sideboard someone found at the side of the road and bolted a urinal to it, I am not joking. First requirement of art furniture is that it can not be used, ie a chair can not be used because it has broken glass on it. I wanted to design and was tired of the interior designers so I started to manufacture. Besides the knockoffs, the government trying to put you out of business with taxes and regulations, not getting paid by stores, at least for 90 days, the expensive of shows and having most of your time taken up with feeding the monster you created, it was better. Getting on magazine covers is not that hard, build something really weird and pay a pr firm to promote it. Always good for the ego, except for paying product photographers outrageous amounts of money for a photo that can only be used once except by paying for it again. If you enter a design competition realize that it will say original designs but you will find the winners are knockoffs of classic furniture judged by furniture insiders that won’t let you into the club. I may sound bitter but this is the reality, I worked myself to death but did OK. One thing I always laugh at is all the yt vid titles of “I sold this for $50,000”. How many conference tables do you think are necessary when half of the offices are empty and who buys these? There is probably more money in yt vids promoting a million dollars of tools, cncs, autocarvers, 3d printers, safety, epoxy and courses. If you do stumble across something that works ride the wave until it ends or until you can’t stand doing the same thing over and over again. Good luck to everyone out there.
This is a really, really valuable piece of content. Thanks for letting rip there, even with the beep-outs. It took me a minute to get to the "success = fun being had + lotta quality furniture in my house" definition, but here I am. You listed a lot of great craftsmen who 'made it,' and what struck me was that they all more or less picked a distinct style and perfected it. You definitely have your own style, and I wouldn't compromise that... it's really good! I assume you've submitted your work to the usual suspects of woodworking magazines, so eventually someone will pick up the RC style bug. One thing I've learned: perfect your skill and art (you have), make great pieces of work (you do), then figure out the price (you can)... and then triple it. Doing this attracts folks with more money than sense, because it creates the illusion of exclusivity. A thought.
Great video. I really appreciate your point regarding how many woodworkers there are now days. That’s both good and bad. With UA-cam it’s very easy to find instruction on most anything. But, lots of competition.
I have people that want me to build them furniture for money but I say no. At least right now. I already have a job and for me i love making whatever I want when im inspired to do so. I usually give it away to friends and family. People think im crazy sometimes but I dont want the money to be a factor right now.
I enjoy furnituremaking but cannot make a living out of it. Well, I guess I could, but then I would have to make 60 hours weeks in return for a minimum wage. I gues the "fun" would leave pretty soon. Almost all furnituremakers I know look shabby, are always broke, and chances are they sooner or later get a "real"job when they start a family. So there you have it. With a couple of exceptions it is almost impossible to make a decent living as a furniture maker in this time of Ikea and cheap import from Asia. Sad but true.
The guy who made money in the gold rush sold shovels. There are rare examples of people who make $$$ making furniture in the workshop. But they are one in too many. Be happy wood working.
The idea behind the gold rush vs shovels is that the person who made money sold something other than what everyone was searching for. It was something they needed to reach their goal, to help them dig for gold. To make a comparison with woodworking, we have to find something that is not what everyone is looking for, so it cannot be woodworking products. No one here wants to buy a chair, a desk, or other furniture. However many want to buy patterns, tools, online lessons or in person teaching. This is why the videos about tools are the ones with the highest number of views. This is also why we are watching these videos. Not because we want to buy furniture, but because we want to learn how to make furniture. In other words we are looking for the 'shovel' and we spend money following Amazon links to buy what RC recommends.
You could also measure your success as your ability to inspire and influence others, and in that regard, I must say you are one of the best. You've truly motivated me (and I'm sure you've done the same for many other woodworkers) to pursue this craft, and I'll forever be thankful for that.
Thanks, RC, for your unique approach to teaching others, and for bringing to this world such beautiful pieces of furniture.
Thanks for your kind words. Much appreciated.
Please excuse the length. But I'm hoping I have a thought that can be beneficial to craftspeople trying to make a living everywhere.
Back in the 80s, I used to live close enough to Seattle I could go to the fine woodworking gallery. (No affiliation to the magazine)
It was a display showroom for a guild/consortium/club of woodworkers where they could sell their items.
Everything from picture frames to desks, chairs,
and fine boxes, and clocks. I don't know if it's still exists. And I wasn't a member, though I went often enough to see that their inventory changed with some frequency. Guess that allowed members to each get displays for a period of time.
While I had made things I needed around the house for years, this is where the bug bit me.
Maybe this is an antiquated concept in the days of the social media. But I think people that appreciate wood and fine craftsmanship like to see and touch it before they buy. Locating or creating a club that can rent a small space in a high foot traffic area could be beneficial to many. The maritime center in Port Townsend, Washington was founded by many crafts people that wanted to make a living and pass on their trades. They promote each other, much as you generously did for the other "makers". (I'm old enough to hate that term) Sail makers can recommend a foundry or shipwright, and vice versa, as needed by the customer.
Here's hoping this is at least worth a pause for thought and doesn't waste anyone's time.
A true master woodworker wouldn’t say there’s only one way to do something. Always go with the guy with multiple viewpoints and methods.
It’s nice to see someone speak truth about our passion
I recently watched a video on UA-cam which showcased beautiful tool cabinets and benches. Sure enough your hanging wall cabinet was featured in that video. So as far as skill and craftsmanship goes you are certainly getting recognized. Keep up the good work.
It's actually a cabinet on a stand, but thank you.
You do a really nice job of producing educational & entertaining content w/ a hand tool focus. That's not easy to do. And I'm a teacher who wouldn't have been able to teach for 30 years w/o a supportive & better paid wife. Hopefully you'll be able to keep it going.
Great video! And yes you are blocking that tool cabinet. I am mostly a hand tool guy and fortunately don't need to make money, I chose this as a hobby in retirement (soon approaching I hope). No furniture made yet but making plane and saw tills. Back to that tool cabinet behind you, the research has started.
Honest level headed video, respect. For me, I picked up a university degree in engineering, then rebuilt 4 houses procured under "as is where is deals" in my spare time. I then rented 3 and live in the 4th, doubled the size of the garage that came with the final house and set up my basically a do whatever I can thin to want garage setup. If my career fizzles I have the garage as a turnkey business and rental income to fall back on so I don't feel the looming pressure of "what if I lose my job" which for me is my main reward. Now to find a rich wife....
Excellent video! I’m the a-hole that made a snarky comment about your sawbench video an hour ago. No excuses for that comment, just an apology, I should have taken that walk first! You eloquently state my attitude towards most UTube woodworkers, they’re making a living off social media but not from woodworking itself. Keep up the good work and I have liked and subscribed which I do for very few.
I still remember the day Clark & Williams told me about the most successful woodworker they knew. He started in his garage making pallets for Sam Walton. This developed into an industry making pallets.
Absolutely F&@%#ng (insert loud noise) brilliant. I truly enjoy your approach to sharing your craft. Please keep up the great work!
I do woodworking because it is enjoyable, creative outlet, I get to make things for friends and family, and did I say it's enjoyable. If you enjoy what you do it isn't ever going to seem like work... (wow, dad philosophy 101 right there :)
05:20 Best advice of them all from you R.C....The rest is "all wrong"...(kidding)...LOL!!!
Seriously, over the decades, when asked "how" to make a living from woodworking, is mostly "don't try." All the successful folks I know and have met, from Warren Buffett, to my own mentors I apprentised under is that "happiness" is of greater value than money will ever be, or that, (Mr.Buffett paraphrase here)..."Making money is a side effect of things that interest me and make me happy,"...in other words, money is not, nor ever has been the goal...but it has been the side effect. Just have fun, be patient and exercise basic common sense...
I mainly stopped by RC because of your logo (love it!!!) but then again I've had mine for over 40 years and it has served me very well. Similar tasts in aesthetics seems to always find other "birds of the same feather." Nice channel and beautiful work. Fine furniture is not my metier, but I know it when I see it...!!!
R.C.; very well said. I have been watching your content since the beginning…I firmly believe that you will become “successful” eventually (according to your list in this video), heck you are 80% there in my books
Nicely articulated friend. I certainly relate and, as per advice from Will Douglass diversify as much as I need to at any given time to A. Allow me to pay the bills and B. Allow me to enjoy the custom woodwork commissions I am lucky enough to receive. Thanks. Johnny
Thanks for the straight shooting! It's soooo easy to be self-deceived into false expectations. Personally, I'm a successful professional approaching retirement and hope to, slightly, augment my income from my long-time hobby. I won't be betting the mortgage on income from woodworking, to be sure.
Well said sir from a cabinet Maker in England who makes very expensive furniture for the rich and greedy and in oft times should take a long walk on a short pier.... but in my defence, it is irritating to watch you-tube woodworking types with a fine collection of tools and not a clue mangle the trade I have been in for over 30yrs but then it is my fault for watching them..... yes, I have a one off business where people come to me and I name the price and if they don't want it I don't make it and there are no prices on the website etc but I still don't make a killing but treat it as a well paid hobby..... good luck to you.
Great video. What you said needs saying over and over.
Making stuff is the easy bit. Selling it is what counts.......if making money is your goal. As you say, though, that's not the only way to achieve success. You might think of yourself as Vincent van Gogh, who never sold a single painting in his lifetime (unless you count one given to a barman to pay off his bar bill).
thanks, lots of good points
According to Paul Sellers it is easy to make a good living making woodworking things entirely by hand. I call that Sellers-Nomics because it is not true. Your observations are much closer to reality. If I get what you say correctly, without financial support un-related to woodworking you could not make it. I appreciate the honesty. It's important that this is known to those who want to take a stab at this.
I’m retired now. My career covered custom and then manufacturing. High end custom consumers do not come to you, interior designers do. They will constantly come to you to copy expensive furniture from European designers and want you to copy it. If anything goes wrong they will throw you under the bus and you will find yourself in court.If you want to design, no one buys designs, they copy them. Foreigners would buy my furniture, take them apart and use them for patterns, so quickly that you will see them at the next show. To be considered a designer you need a degree. I use to go to the design shows for doctoral students and you will see stuff like a sideboard someone found at the side of the road and bolted a urinal to it, I am not joking. First requirement of art furniture is that it can not be used, ie a chair can not be used because it has broken glass on it. I wanted to design and was tired of the interior designers so I started to manufacture. Besides the knockoffs, the government trying to put you out of business with taxes and regulations, not getting paid by stores, at least for 90 days, the expensive of shows and having most of your time taken up with feeding the monster you created, it was better. Getting on magazine covers is not that hard, build something really weird and pay a pr firm to promote it. Always good for the ego, except for paying product photographers outrageous amounts of money for a photo that can only be used once except by paying for it again. If you enter a design competition realize that it will say original designs but you will find the winners are knockoffs of classic furniture judged by furniture insiders that won’t let you into the club. I may sound bitter but this is the reality, I worked myself to death but did OK. One thing I always laugh at is all the yt vid titles of “I sold this for $50,000”. How many conference tables do you think are necessary when half of the offices are empty and who buys these? There is probably more money in yt vids promoting a million dollars of tools, cncs, autocarvers, 3d printers, safety, epoxy and courses. If you do stumble across something that works ride the wave until it ends or until you can’t stand doing the same thing over and over again. Good luck to everyone out there.
Brilliant 👏
This is a really, really valuable piece of content. Thanks for letting rip there, even with the beep-outs. It took me a minute to get to the "success = fun being had + lotta quality furniture in my house" definition, but here I am. You listed a lot of great craftsmen who 'made it,' and what struck me was that they all more or less picked a distinct style and perfected it. You definitely have your own style, and I wouldn't compromise that... it's really good! I assume you've submitted your work to the usual suspects of woodworking magazines, so eventually someone will pick up the RC style bug.
One thing I've learned: perfect your skill and art (you have), make great pieces of work (you do), then figure out the price (you can)... and then triple it. Doing this attracts folks with more money than sense, because it creates the illusion of exclusivity. A thought.
You are absolutely right. And by that definition, I'm a success in several areas (including being a doctor).
Great video. I really appreciate your point regarding how many woodworkers there are now days. That’s both good and bad. With UA-cam it’s very easy to find instruction on most anything. But, lots of competition.
Here, here. Thanks for the great observations!
I've always defined success as the achievement of goals. If you set a goal and reach it, you've succeeded.
True but I would add that the goal has to be challenging and take you out of your comfort zone.
Thank you, RC for posting this. Very insightful!
Liked and subscribed I like the real life chat
I have people that want me to build them furniture for money but I say no. At least right now. I already have a job and for me i love making whatever I want when im inspired to do so. I usually give it away to friends and family. People think im crazy sometimes but I dont want the money to be a factor right now.
Thanks for sharing!
I enjoy furnituremaking but cannot make a living out of it. Well, I guess I could, but then I would have to make 60 hours weeks in return for a minimum wage. I gues the "fun" would leave pretty soon. Almost all furnituremakers I know look shabby, are always broke, and chances are they sooner or later get a "real"job when they start a family. So there you have it. With a couple of exceptions it is almost impossible to make a decent living as a furniture maker in this time of Ikea and cheap import from Asia. Sad but true.
Good Points.
I love it when people tell the internet experts to go pound it
I just want nice furniture in my house
Fun for me every time. But maybe that is because I am olde! LOL.
Cutting boards anyone? 😂🤣😅
....with a epoxy river running trough it.
@@fredbosch5392 ok ok but can I get something other than that gawdy turquoise?
😅🤣😂😂🤣🤣🤣😂
The guy who made money in the gold rush sold shovels. There are rare examples of people who make $$$ making furniture in the workshop. But they are one in too many. Be happy wood working.
The idea behind the gold rush vs shovels is that the person who made money sold something other than what everyone was searching for. It was something they needed to reach their goal, to help them dig for gold. To make a comparison with woodworking, we have to find something that is not what everyone is looking for, so it cannot be woodworking products. No one here wants to buy a chair, a desk, or other furniture. However many want to buy patterns, tools, online lessons or in person teaching. This is why the videos about tools are the ones with the highest number of views. This is also why we are watching these videos. Not because we want to buy furniture, but because we want to learn how to make furniture. In other words we are looking for the 'shovel' and we spend money following Amazon links to buy what RC recommends.