I Need Advice Please.

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hfhanson

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2011
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1
Location
Orlando FL
Hello, I am new to the forum, I have done a lot of wood working and some wood turning. I am 67 years old and had to retire do to health, so now I am on S/S which is not enough income, I have been tiring to find a part time job to make a bit more income, but being 67 years old with health problems I am not having much luck. My question is, if I was to invest in to buying the equipment for turning pens and other items, would it be feasible to think I could make a few extra buck to help with my income? Is there a very good market for this stuff? And what is the best way to market work? Thank you all for any advice or help that you can relay to me.
Harold
 
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It can be done, and you can make SOME money.

YOU MUST BE CAREFUL to divide you expenditure list into a "want list"and "must have" list.

Additionally, I would try to put my investment into the very best quality tools that I could afford. If you find out that you CAN'T do this, cheap tools have virtually no value, where as quality tools hold value fairly well.

Finally, do some research and find out what will sell in your market. DON'T buy a bunch of "stuff" that nobody will buy simply because it is cheap or on sale.

I guess I'm saying do a little research. For me, resort areas are 20 times more profitable than "flea markets, etc", BUT, if you don't live in a resort area, you have the added expense of getting to these markets.

Don't "buy into" what everbody else is making. As an example "bullit pens, antler, cigar pens, etc" do well in many markets. Here, no market for these products.

I hope this helps.

Respectfully Submitted.
 
Hi Harold, I hope you can find something you can make a few dollars doing. One thing that is seldom said mainly because people don't want to hear it is this.....

Do you think you have the ability to make nice pens? I've met quite a few folks who make pens and to be honest, there are a few that just don't have the knack for doing detailed work with smooth finishes.

I absolutely hate it when I meet a fellow turner for the first time and he's showing off his creations, proud as punch, only to see that his pens are horrible and probably wouldn't sell at the local flea market.

Just be realistic with your expectations and just because you see members here talking about selling pens for certain amounts, just remember that it took most of them years to get to the point where they could sell their work. I suspect some of the dismal poor sales stories we hear from new turners might be attributed to the fact that their pens aren't ready for sale just yet.

I still have several of my first pens, not because of sentimental reasons, but because I couldn't sell them for a nickel if I tried, BUT.... at the time I thought they were pretty neat!

Good Luck in whatever you choose to do.
 
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Are you comfortable selling? Are you good at it? Do you have the wood working skills or are good with your hands and tools. WHere will you sell them? It is do able but it is no easy task. IF your selling in a retirement community you will run out of friends and customers quickly. You can end up with an investment in tools and other related accesories that may not pay a return for quite a while. Do you enjoy wood working enough to do it whether you make money at it or not.
 
Pens do not sell themselves. Making even a few bucks extra is no easy task if it requires setting up booths, traveling hundreds of miles to shows only to be rained out, etc. Its a great hobby and it can provide some extra income, but those who are successful at it would probably not consider it part time work or be able to perform with health issues.
 
BRobbins629 said:
Pens do not sell themselves. Making even a few bucks extra is no easy task if it requires setting up booths, traveling hundreds of miles to shows only to be rained out, etc. Its a great hobby and it can provide some extra income, but those who are successful at it would probably not consider it part time work or be able to perform with health issues.
Click to expand...

It's part time ONLY IF you consider ordering, receiving, accounting for, and then finally MAKING inventory Monday afternoons through Friday mornings, loading trucks Friday afternoons, driving Friday nights, unloading setting up tents displays, etc in the wee hours of Saturday. Selling 10 hours on Saturdays, 8 hours on Sunday, traveling Sunday nights...........

THEN, if it was a successful show, you get to do it all over again on Monday.

Bruce, I know that YOU know it's not all "rock & roll"! BUT THEN AGAIN, maybe it is like rock & roll.........to a "roady".
 
It looks as if you have alot of experience woodworking, so branching out into pen turning should be an easy transition. Kind of making your hobby work for you.
 
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Harold, if it's something you enjoy doing, and you like the products you produce, I'd say give it a go.

I recommend you start small: buy inexpensive tools and purchase only a few components and blanks at a time. Learn the value of your merchandise so you don't sell too high or too low. Spend lots of time researching.

Many of us started without the intention of making money and found a hobby that pays for itself. When you realize you're making more than you're spending you can start investing a little more & grow.

It isn't a matter of being able to make money, it's a matter of how much money you can make. That is dependent upon your talent, passion, salesmanship, investment of time, customer base, and many other variables.

Good luck and have fun!
 
hfhanson said:
Hello, I am new to the forum, I have done a lot of wood working and some wood turning. I am 67 years old and had to retire do to health, so now I am on S/S which is not enough income, I have been tiring to find a part time job to make a bit more income, but being 67 years old with health problems I am not having much luck. My question is, if I was to invest in to buying the equipment for turning pens and other items, would it be feasible to think I could make a few extra buck to help with my income? Is there a very good market for this stuff? And what is the best way to market work? Thank you all for any advice or help that you can relay to me.
Harold
Click to expand...

Just think about how much money you will make if you don't try.
 
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