One of the biggest challenges when embarking on a new project, especially one that is a large piece of furniture, is how much money should you spend. As a hobbyist, I do not have access to corporate rates or discounts afforded to makers who build full-time, nor do I think I should. But this imposes another problem; how much is too much? You want to allow the project to progress unhindered by any financial limitations if possible. In that ideal state, your skill, tools, and materials would be perfect – that’s just not realistic.
When I started this project, I realized that cost would be a factor so I would only spend as much as I could afford. If I did not spend a lot of money, high quality workmanship would still remain, however there were some techniques I wanted to pursue in this project that would increase costs. I have made pieces in the past where I used cheaper hardware or decided against a type of wood due to expense, but for this project, I was focused on using the best material and hardware I could afford so the research I was doing on myself would not be limited.
My first major decision was the wood for the carcass. I knew I wanted to use walnut—an already expensive wood. I decided to take that choice to the next level and purchase a couple boards wide enough to make the entire case. Purchasing lumber is an adventure in itself, but generally, the wider the hardwood board, the costlier it is. The reason for this approach was to allow continuous grain of the wood from one side to the other. If you look at the case starting at the bottom of one side and follow it around the top to the bottom of the other side, you can trace the grain continuously. That continuity comes at a cost.
The second decision was the hardware. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I opted for cast hardware for its look and quality, and because it is true to campaign style. This was a very challenging decision as I could find less expensive hardware at local stores, but I knew that I would be sacrificing the look of the project. Again, I wanted this project to be about the making and not limit what I was doing. There is something about using quality hardware and the experience of installing it – when you project is done, it is like the icing on the cake.
My final cost decision on materials (and this was a tough one) was the wood used for the drawer sides. Most woodworkers would gasp at using curly maple for a hidden area such as drawer sides, but I had seen this in the original version of the project and really loved the look—it’s a hidden gem.
There were also some tool decisions I made that had some significant cost implications. I wanted to try my hand at hammer veneering the drawer fronts and this required some specific tools. With the research I did online, I found I needed a glue pot, brushes, and a veneer hammer in addition to the glue itself. There was not a local place to purchase these tools and materials, so I ended up purchasing from an American online store—shipping, duty, and the exchange rate definitely impacted the cost. It was an unfortunate surprise.
I also decided to invest in some hand tools for this project. These tools will last my lifetime and probably that of my kids, but they were expensive nonetheless.
Each of these decisions came with financial impact but really allowed me to create a piece I am proud of and will last for generations. As we make things, we must always balance the vision in our head, the process we go through, and what the final project will actually be. Some of these decisions involve money and have to be balanced with your desire to have the “perfect” piece. I’ve learned through this that there are some places to cut corners and there are other places where the investment really makes the experience and final project shine. Each one of us has to come to our own conclusions.