Many woodworkers will tell you that D.R. Barton produced some of the finest steel ever put into edge tools. As one of America’s earliest toolmakers, he was well ahead of his time, and his chisels still hold their own against plenty of modern makers. That said, today’s metallurgy has advanced far beyond what was available in Rochester, New York, back in 1832.

I was gifted an old bandsaw, and the bottom tire hops off when it gets up to speed! Is it supposed to be glued to the wheel?

I hear and see woodworkers all the time who are asking about how much to charge for the woodworking products they make or the custom work that they do. By and large, these are relatively new woodworkers, as those who have been selling for a while already have a good idea what they are personally going to charge for their work. It's a good question, but I'm not sure the advice that is offered is all that good. We all know that woodworking is an expensive hobby or side-hustle to get into. That means we have to sell our work for enough to cover our expenses. That's even true for those who are just trying to have their sales income cover the cost of their hobby. But we find ourselves competing with the big box stores out there, who buy by the trainload, largely from the Far East, and sell their products cheap. It's hard to get anything that even resembles a decent price when you're competing on that basis. So, I'd like to offer an alternative sales philosophy for you to consider. That is, instead of trying to compete with the big box stores, who are selling cheap products cheap, make them compete with you. Okay, so what do I mean by that? I mean make products that are so high quality and so beautiful that they can't compete with you. You can't compete with the price of a flat-pack shelving unit; but you can build a shelving unit that's so nicely made and so strong, that it can readily become a family heirloom. You can't make a cutting board as cheap as the bamboo ones that are out there; but you can make a cutting board that's so unique and so beautiful, all your kids and grandkids are going to be saying they want it, when you pass on from this life. Granted, this is going to require some work on your part. You're going to have to invest in yourself, taking the time to learn how to make those exceptional quality products. Don't try and make everything. Pick one or two items or one category of items and learn how to make them exceptionally well. If you do, you'll find that can sell those products at a premium price and you'll have customers lining up to take them off your hands.

Every woodworker has that one project that really pushed the limits — maybe it was the biggest piece you’ve ever tackled, the heaviest to move, or the one that took up every inch of your shop space. Tell us about the largest project you’ve made in the comments! 🛠️ Prize: $100 Sawinery Gift Card (aka more tool money without the guilt 😉) 📅 Winner announced on September 12!