Sell

Getting out of wood working, or going in another direction? How much for just a copy of your grayscale designs?

I agree that you'll never make money doing woodworking like we do. I know that on these four couch tables I'm making for a customer to give at Christmas time....I'm making maybe $100 on the four total, if you want to add in just the materials and allow for sand paper and stain/finish. I have gotten away pretty much from doing plaques, and concentrated on orders that I take from family/friends for specific furniture pieces. I use the 1013 as a way to enhance the furniture with minimal decorations on legs, side posts, etc.

Without covering labor as a cost, I'd say I make 20 - 30% on my pieces. With labor, I'd lose about the same amount. But since most of what I do is for family, it is worth doing what I love.

I have all the type of equipment you're selling, so the grayscales would be interesting as a stand alone offer.....and you could sell copies of them to all interested parties.

Another idea for money making Bob.....you are very good at making grayscales. Since there is only time involved, and no inventory costs involved, why not just develop patterns that people can pick and place into their designs for carving? Think of what most people are interested in carving.....school logos (college), NFL teams, other sports, etc. A pre designed set of grayscale images for pick n place use would probably be interesting to many buyers, and the cost is only in your time. Maybe keep your machine for test carves if the design requires it, that gives you a source of income without the deadlines. I know your artistic bend would lead you to develop things people like, I still love the IU design I got from you a while back - The outline of the state with IU and Hoosiers inside.

The tables I'm making for a customer each had a different logo (Purdue, Notre Dame, IU, Cubs) which I had to go look for and grayscale up. Having a library of items would save time and probably produce better results.