Search results

Hi all, I sourced a polished brass letter plate for an upcoming job for a external front door and I was making a jig to router it out and decided to test fit it to a piece of scrap before going ahead. I have made the cut-out to the exact size it needs to be in order to allow for the opening...

I think it's crazy to allow the client to pay for the materials. If any business bought and sold everything for cost price, they wouldn't be in business for very long. I source my materials and sit down work everything out and recommend suitable materials from experience. The materials are...

Yeah, I mean I never do this. If I'm asked 'best price' or the old 'price in cash mate, best price??' it's the same amount regardless. It's disrespectful to try and knock an independent business because you want a 'deal' or would like some discount because you chose to use a local business...

To be fair, people are trying to run the cost down in order to compete and stay in business. If you have a large install which requires say 6 shaker style doors with beading and needs to be sprayed. If you were to make up the doors in a 5 piece construction for example. The amount of time it...

I do ask clients who mention they've chosen to go with someone else, why that was and if they're able to provide the difference in cost as it's great feedback and helps with future clients. But they usually just ignore that email. I am not currently VAT registered, prehaps the pricing needs to...

Thank you everyone for your feedback and thoughts, it is much appreciated. I did think of reducing the overheads by say, letting go of the current unit. But, if you let go of the unit you won't have anywhere to make the higher end stuff and I know if I put the unit back on the market, I won't...

Hi all I thought I’d make this post as I was curious if any time served carpenters called it a day and tried a new career. If so, what did they go into? We are experiencing our quietest year to date. We moved into a premises, invested in some small equipment when we were busy, but in the last 2...

Hi all, I thought I’d create a post (not a pun) as it’s something I find time consuming and can be abit of a head scratcher as it’s a crucial part of the setting out. You only have one attempt at getting it right otherwise, it’s a nightmare. The corner post - The majority of kitchens I’ve...

Pretty much the same. Wren isn't great neither is Howdens, they both have good and bad areas. I mean the last install I fitted was a shaker style kitchen from Wren. The shaker style doors where just edge banded strips glued together with a rebate for the panel. So you have 0.8/1mm edge banding...

As standard, the opening degree is most likely to be 110 unless stated otherwise. You'd only want 90 if you're restricting the door from knocking say a wall or another door/cabinet. Even so, you can buy tip-on restrictors which fit into the hinge cup to prevent a 110 hinge from opening all the...

I have indeed contracted the festool parasite. I own the domino DF500 and do use it for a majority of my builds, it definitely speeds things up! But when you have say 5/6 wardrobe doors to make up, glue up, wait for the glue to set, work on them, finish them and you're just one guy. It still...

I would be interested to find out what other people would charge for certain installs. You know there’s going to be someone out there which will make everything on the client’s driveway, using DIY store material and charge the same as you. That’s life though, it’d be interesting to see the...

Wow some really good advice and feedback with these replies! It's reassuring to see I'm not alone when it comes to the business side of our industry. To illustrate better my approach, I generally try to call the client when a website inquiry is made or reply to their email as soon as I can...

It's becoming more and more competitive here. There seems to be a new carpentry business springing up every month offering similar looking products, but on closer inspection it isn't the same job at all. They're slightly different ways of doing things which I prefer not to do as I feel there's...

Hi all, I thought I would make this thread in hope someone can shed some light on a current dilemna I seem to be facing which is trying to make my process/installs more affordable for the clients whilst also making a profit. Due to rising costs and everything generally going up in all round...

I can see what you mean by working your way out and by creating 3mm - 1/8" step back in order to prevent a flush edge from meeting. A rule of thumb is most small details shouldn't be flush as wood moves and it will never remain flush (eventually). I do prefer everything in one line so everything...

I think plinth blocks look strange, especially when they're oversized or very thick. if it was a period building with existing plinth blocks, this could work but I dont think i'll go for this personally. Thanks though!

Hi, thanks for the your reply! Yeah I did think about that as an option. It's a torus profile if I remember correctly and as you say, just mitre the profile to the floor and not back on it's self into the panelling. It's an annoying detail which will never look perfect :/

Hi all, I have an install coming up which is a section of wall to have panelling attached which is going to be the modern shaker style - meaning no traditional beading to be used around the center panels. The question I have and one I am struggling to make my mind up about is the skirting...

Hi all, I am writing this to ask for your advice and experience with working with hardwoods. I am currently using alot of MRMDF products for my installs for various things such as shaker doors, floating shelves and other minor bits and pieces. I would like to start offering hardwood components...