c

17/06/2006 7:13 PM

Looking for Real Furniture

Hi all,

I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
craftsmanship.

Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
just west of Boston Mass.

I could have a whack at a set of plans as long as it wasn't too
elaborate, but surely SOMEONE still makes furniture that doesn't come
in flat pack with disposable allen wrenches?

TIA,

carl


This topic has 12 replies

TT

"Tim Taylor"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

20/06/2006 8:31 AM


"Owen Lawrence" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Stephen M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> <caterbro> what (if it's no trouble) would you estimate labor and
>> materials
>> for
>>> something like this at? lets say oak, something Shaker-ish, durable for
>>> a few hundred years - what about a small bureau also, two drawers,
>>> iron hardware?
>>>
>>
>> http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.browse.php
>>
>> Check these guys out to get a price point reference. Their stuff is
>> NON-custom but handmade in Maine. It should just give you a sense price
>> point.
>
>
> Why am I wasting my time making a living as a computer programmer when I
> could be rolling in dough as a woodworker?
> $4k for a bookcase?!
> http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.view.php?from=cat&product_id=211
>
> Does this website appear in snopes.com anywhere?
>
> - Owen -
>
>
NO DOUBT!!! If I'm figuring right, and according to their prices, with my
solid cherry bedroom suite, and entertainment center, and a walnut clock, I
could be comfortably retired!!!

c

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

17/06/2006 9:13 PM


Wilson wrote:
> I'd be interested in what you would consider paying for a nice, real crib??

$1K --> $2K

ballpark. be nice if it was one of those convertible deals, add rails
to turn it into a bed, etc
.
hardwood/exotic wood production pieces from indonesia or whatever are
$300-$800 on average, but i'd go a long way to buy something local,
just on principle.

carl


> Wilson
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> erage> Hi all,
> >
> > I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
> > Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
> > craftsmanship.
> >
> > Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
> > just west of Boston Mass.
> >
> > I could have a whack at a set of plans as long as it wasn't too
> > elaborate, but surely SOMEONE still makes furniture that doesn't come
> > in flat pack with disposable allen wrenches?
> >
> > TIA,
> >
> > carl
> >

c

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

18/06/2006 5:08 AM


Prometheus wrote:
> On 17 Jun 2006 19:13:33 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
>
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
> >Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
> >craftsmanship.
> >
> >Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
> >just west of Boston Mass.
>
> Find a local hardwood dealer, and ask the guy behind the counter. The
> place I buy wood from sells stuff from hobbyists on consignment (and
> at a very good rate compared to the furniture stores, at that) and has
> a pretty good idea of what many of the customers are up to with the
> wood they buy from shop talk. They should be able to at least get you
> started.


excellent advice, thank you.

> Your next best bet is to stop off at construction sites and see if any
> of the guys build furniture- it's a crapshoot, but I know I do
> construction most of the time because most people seem to *want* the
> cheap crap from WalMart, and won't even pay for the price of the
> materials on a custom piece because they could buy Ikea-style stuff
> cheaper.

what (if it's no trouble) would you estimate labor and materials for
something like this at? lets say oak, something Shaker-ish, durable for
a few hundred years - what about a small bureau also, two drawers,
iron hardware?

i ask in all curiosity and defer to your judgement and opinion.

> In Mass., you should be able to find plenty of folks. If not, I'll
> build and ship you whatever you need for the right price.

i do appreciate the offer.

carl

bb

"bf"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

19/06/2006 1:57 PM


[email protected] wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
> Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
> craftsmanship.
>

Well, if you have time until the kid is born, you could try to check
the ads for used cribs. We got a nice solid maple one that way.
Although that was a long time ago, maybe all the good used stuff is
gone now.

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

24/06/2006 3:14 AM

Prometheus wrote:

> Sure, there are $4000 bookcases, and sometimes people even
> buy them- but not as often as you'd like. You're more likely to get
> orders for 20 Ikea-style MDF boxes with some formica on them for $50 a
> pop.

Now that is the high priced spread.

Had a shop next door to boat yard that specialized in doing work for
department store window displays.

Table saws, routers, chop saws, and nail guns were all that was needed
to be in the window display cabinet business.

Home depot 18 wheeler showed up Friday afternoon with a full load of
3/4" MDF.

Friday night till 11:00PM, 6:00AM to 11:00PM Sat and Sunday.

Music on the radio came in straight from Mexico.

Sometime Sunday night, out came the tequila, limes and salt.

Monday morning, everything shipped.

That went on twice a month for about 6 months.

To me, there is a better way to make a buck, to them, they were happy.

Lew

Pn

Prometheus

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

23/06/2006 9:52 PM

On Tue, 20 Jun 2006 08:08:02 -0400, "Owen Lawrence"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Why am I wasting my time making a living as a computer programmer when I
>could be rolling in dough as a woodworker?
>$4k for a bookcase?!
>http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.view.php?from=cat&product_id=211

Say, Owen- I don't know if you're serious or joking a bit, but I
don't recall ever meeting a woodworker who was rolling in dough. Most
cabinetmakers get paid about $6-12/hour in my area, unless they're the
boss- and then they usually make a little less than that after the
payments on the building, panel saws, CNC routers, edge bander, and
other neccessaries that come along with needing to finish work on a
deadline. Sure, there are $4000 bookcases, and sometimes people even
buy them- but not as often as you'd like. You're more likely to get
orders for 20 Ikea-style MDF boxes with some formica on them for $50 a
pop. That nice bookshelf is an usually an odd job that pops up from
time to time and is a little breather from whacking together boxes.

That isn't to say it's not a rewarding job- but I wouldn't be ogling
the retail price. They're certainly making a profit, but I doubt it's
as much as you might think.

>Does this website appear in snopes.com anywhere?
>
> - Owen -
>

Wi

"Wilson"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

18/06/2006 3:59 AM

I'd be interested in what you would consider paying for a nice, real crib??
Wilson
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi all,
>
> I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
> Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
> craftsmanship.
>
> Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
> just west of Boston Mass.
>
> I could have a whack at a set of plans as long as it wasn't too
> elaborate, but surely SOMEONE still makes furniture that doesn't come
> in flat pack with disposable allen wrenches?
>
> TIA,
>
> carl
>

OL

"Owen Lawrence"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

20/06/2006 8:08 AM


"Stephen M" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> <caterbro> what (if it's no trouble) would you estimate labor and
> materials
> for
>> something like this at? lets say oak, something Shaker-ish, durable for
>> a few hundred years - what about a small bureau also, two drawers,
>> iron hardware?
>>
>
> http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.browse.php
>
> Check these guys out to get a price point reference. Their stuff is
> NON-custom but handmade in Maine. It should just give you a sense price
> point.


Why am I wasting my time making a living as a computer programmer when I
could be rolling in dough as a woodworker?
$4k for a bookcase?!
http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.view.php?from=cat&product_id=211

Does this website appear in snopes.com anywhere?

- Owen -

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

18/06/2006 7:57 AM

[email protected] wrote:

>
> Wilson wrote:
>> I'd be interested in what you would consider paying for a nice, real
>> crib??
>
> $1K --> $2K
>
> ballpark. be nice if it was one of those convertible deals, add rails
> to turn it into a bed, etc
> .
> hardwood/exotic wood production pieces from indonesia or whatever are
> $300-$800 on average, but i'd go a long way to buy something local,
> just on principle.

Try the nearest Woodcraft store--they offer classes and the instructor
should be able to refer you to someone who can do that kind of work.

>> Wilson
>> <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>> erage> Hi all,
>> >
>> > I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
>> > Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
>> > craftsmanship.
>> >
>> > Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
>> > just west of Boston Mass.
>> >
>> > I could have a whack at a set of plans as long as it wasn't too
>> > elaborate, but surely SOMEONE still makes furniture that doesn't come
>> > in flat pack with disposable allen wrenches?
>> >
>> > TIA,
>> >
>> > carl
>> >

--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

SM

"Stephen M"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

19/06/2006 7:53 AM


<caterbro> what (if it's no trouble) would you estimate labor and materials
for
> something like this at? lets say oak, something Shaker-ish, durable for
> a few hundred years - what about a small bureau also, two drawers,
> iron hardware?
>

http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.browse.php

Check these guys out to get a price point reference. Their stuff is
NON-custom but handmade in Maine. It should just give you a sense price
point.

-Steve

Pn

Prometheus

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

17/06/2006 11:23 PM

On 17 Jun 2006 19:13:33 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>Hi all,
>
>I need to buy a crib, but everything close to hand seems to suck ass.
>Babie's R Us, IKEA, etc, etc, etc. all crap, all cheap design and poor
>craftsmanship.
>
>Where does one begin to look for people who make real furniture? I'm
>just west of Boston Mass.

Find a local hardwood dealer, and ask the guy behind the counter. The
place I buy wood from sells stuff from hobbyists on consignment (and
at a very good rate compared to the furniture stores, at that) and has
a pretty good idea of what many of the customers are up to with the
wood they buy from shop talk. They should be able to at least get you
started.

Your next best bet is to stop off at construction sites and see if any
of the guys build furniture- it's a crapshoot, but I know I do
construction most of the time because most people seem to *want* the
cheap crap from WalMart, and won't even pay for the price of the
materials on a custom piece because they could buy Ikea-style stuff
cheaper.

In Mass., you should be able to find plenty of folks. If not, I'll
build and ship you whatever you need for the right price.

HS

"Hambone Slim"

in reply to [email protected] on 17/06/2006 7:13 PM

20/06/2006 4:42 PM



"Owen Lawrence" wrote...
>
> Why am I wasting my time making a living as a computer programmer when I
> could be rolling in dough as a woodworker?
> $4k for a bookcase?!
>
http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.view.php?from=cat&produc
t_id=211
>
> Does this website appear in snopes.com anywhere?


Ironic that a guy who once sued other cabinetmakers for building his
designs, is now selling such stiff, lifeless designs seemingly devoid of the
least hint of style. I offer for your consideration this tv cabinet:

http://www.thomasmoser.com/residential/res.products.view.php?from=cat&produc
t_id=209

which looks like a shipping crate, and sells for nearly 9 grand,

compared to my own humble effort at a similar piece:

http://rude-tone.com/work4.htm

which sold for a bit less.


I suppose his customers may be comforted to know that they are paying for
overhead, and whatever the good Mr. Mosers lifestyle may be, and that their
good money isn't being thrown away on those awful designer type persons.


--
Timothy Juvenal
www.rude-tone.com/work.htm


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