Project kits?
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- This topic has 22 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 8 years, 12 months ago by George Bridgeman.
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7 April 2015 at 11:43 pm #126322
Hi all,
I wanted to see if anyone in the UK would be interested in the idea of buying kits of the components needed for the projects on WWMC.
One of the problems I had when starting out was getting hardwoods in small enough quantities for a simple project. I now have a band saw and planer/thicknesser so can mill small components from larger stock.
I also have a surplus of timber at the moment and thought about passing the timber on to others who want to try using hardwoods.
I’ve run the idea past the team and they’re happy for me to offer the service but I am not affiliated with the site and it is unofficial. The kits would be offered on eBay with a buy it now price.
Components would be milled slightly oversized as my shop is fairly dry so may move when they acclimate to a different location. You’d still have to get the components to final dimensions and make sure everything is square but you wouldn’t have to do a huge amount of resawing or thickness planing. They’d be wrapped in pallet wrap to minimise movement until ready to start the project.
I’ve got mainly oak and beech but also some yew, and what I think is cherry. I do also have pine.
I was thinking of small projects mainly, as shipping is always more expensive than we’d like. Think dovetail boxes, walking cane, cutting board, coasters, clock, tote, foot stool. Any others?
Not sure about prices yet but it’d only be cost of wood and a small markup to cover planer knives and band saw blades, and eBay fees.
Would anyone be interested in this? Anything I haven’t thought of? Questions? Comments?
George.
8 April 2015 at 12:01 am #126324I’ve seen this offered in many woodworking stores and I believe they do quite well at it. I think you have the right ideaa about leaving it oversized that I believe is over looked by their suppliers. I wish you well in your new venture.
8 April 2015 at 8:50 pm #126363Good to hear other people think it’s a good idea! I’ll get a few kits together next week and see if there’s demand to keep it up once I’ve used up my current surplus.
George.
I’ve just started getting intested in woodwork this year since seeing Paul’s YouTube workbench video clips and have since subscribed here. Not really much of a clue, where to purchase wood other than the general DIY outlets which, as we know sell general purpose wood. I’ve seen the odd saw mill around but unless wanting to buy in large quantities. I’m guessing, they’d not be too interested in someone wanting to buy small amount for projects? I could be wrong. Please do post a link or path name to your eBay page (if allowed). I hope your venture takes off :-).
@remedy54 There are some sawmills where you can just go and buy whatever quantity you want like the one I use (Great Barr sawmills, Birmingham) but often you can end up buying a lot more than you actually need. For example say you need a 1m long piece, you can’t just go and buy the 1m you have to buy the whole 2.4/3m or whatever else size that it comes in.
Thats why this idea is perfect for not just beginning woodworkers but for all woodworkers that just make projects here and there and do not need to have lots of extra wood lying around.
8 April 2015 at 11:50 pm #126366This isn’t a new idea I’m surpised you already don’t have that in the UK.
9 April 2015 at 12:28 pm #126377@salko i think George is speaking specifically about WWMC projects,some of the craft store’s here in the UK do offer this service but not on anything like George is offering. Btw @george i think its a great idea the milling process can be a bit off putting, if you’re working on a tight budget a mistake in milling can really put your project back,i for one will look at each project you put up (as milling is my downfall).
9 April 2015 at 3:40 pm #126380I think then you should grab yourself some small pieces of pine and start milling them and really get this out of the wAy. Milling is just as important as any part of woodworking in general. Without it your up the wazoo without a paddle. It may seem daunting learning these things at first because you want to start making things but once you learn these important steps your whole woodworking experience will be thoroughly enjoyable. I remember when I first started how difficult it was but i persisted and broke a lot of sweat and tore ligaments and through lots of timber in the bin but it finally clicked and still even after all these years im always either learning something new or improving on what I already know. The key thing here is to be persistent and break sweat. Hard work and just don’t give up.
9 April 2015 at 4:57 pm #126386I can see where you’re coming from Salko, but earlier in my woodworking career, I would have happily paid a premium for ready milled hardwood kits for these projects. Milling isn’t the fun part, and without machines, and even with just the limited array of handtools most of us start with, it can really put you off.
Also there is a certain amount of economy of scale here, if George can offer his kits at a reasonable rate, it could be good for everyone. Sure beats buying DAR pine at your local Bunnings (or whatever your local big box hardware store is), or worse, actual hardwood, at the exorbitant prices they charge.
Maybe George could offer rough sawn/unmilled pieces at a discount, to those who don’t mind doing the hard yards themselves, or want to have a go, but don’t necessarily want to invest in big bits of timber.
9 April 2015 at 9:55 pm #126391@salko You have a point. Milling is a very important skill and must be learned if you want to work with hand tools but you have to be realistic. If someone wants to start out using hardwood over here, you’re going to be looking at milling from a rough sawn 1 or 2″ thick, 12′ long waney edge slab from a local mill, or paying a fortune for PAR hardwood boards from an unknown eBay seller. We can’t buy hardwood in home supplies stores or builders merchants. Even stripwood pine is only available in larger Homebase and B&Q stores.
The purpose of the kits, or splitting a big order as @mooncabbage suggests (great idea!), is to reduce cost and the amount of space needed. Our shops are typically much smaller over here. Mine (10’x16′) is considered large, bordering on huge for a home workshop in England.
George.
9 April 2015 at 10:09 pm #126392i concur George i dont have the space for milling machines (9ftx14ft) or funds to buy hardwood to “practice” on and although i do persevere on all of my other projects milling is the part i enjoy least.
10 April 2015 at 3:42 am #126397Wow I didn’t realise how bad you guys have it and believe me I thought we had it worse, I guess this is the reason why hand tooling has taken off so well in the UK. But something I just can’t understand with all of this. You live in cramped small houses while your dukes and lords live on hectares of land and houses 10 times the size of olympic swimming pools. What’s wrong with this picture?
10 April 2015 at 4:16 am #126399I dunno, my home workshop isn’t huge either. I can’t remember the exact size, but it’d be in the 10′ x 16′ sort of range. Certainly not a lot of room for machines. You can get creative though, a bandsaw with wheels will do most things a tablesaw is meant to do. With the right jigs, a lunchbox thickness planer can do everything a jointer is meant to do, and fit on top of a storage bench. I certainly haven’t got room in my shop to swing big sheet goods around a full size table saw though.
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