Profit from Bootfairs

[jimi43]

Last weekend I picked up this Art Deco chest of drawers for a tenner at the local bootfair.

Very grubby...two broken handles and the top was a complete rightoff...water damage in the extreme with some running down the side.

With the help of you guys and gals here...some Corian samples...a bit of leather and some French polish and beeswax...I am now ready to turn it around at a profit:

If I had thicker samples of Corian I would have got a better handle match but you have to look pretty hard to notice the bottom two are thinner...they are such elegant handles. If I had more time..I would have made four so they matched...but it's nearly Saturday again!

I did have some bookmatched burr walnut veneer but it didn't quite match so I opted for leather...it would wear better anyway and being burgundy, matches the beautiful burr of the original perfectly.

A few years ago these would go for a lot of money but in today's market...I expect to get a small but worthwhile profit.

So if you are considering whether it's worth getting up those extra two hours earlier...remember...there is profit to be made...you just have to beat the dealers!

Cheers

Jim

 

[No skills]

Nice work there Jimi =D>

 

[doctor Bob]

How many hours have you put in, will you make more than min wage at a boot fair?
Surely buy at the bootfair and sell else where, bootfairs return the lowest possible prices.

 

[jimi43]

How many hours have you put in, will you make more than min wage at a boot fair?
Surely buy at the bootfair and sell else where, bootfairs return the lowest possible prices.

You are quite right Bob...but I am not selling it at the bootfair per se...rather to an antique dealer I know who goes there every week... :wink:

FleaBay is usually a waste of time with these larger items...capture zone is limited.

As for the hours...probably lower than the minimum wage but it's something I enjoy that gives me experience and satisfaction...and I might as well make some pin money out of it. :mrgreen:

Then I can go and buy more tools! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[jasonB]

Thats come out very well

Hope you are telling the taxman about all this profit :wink: :wink: :wink:

J

 

[jimi43]

Thats come out very well

Hope you are telling the taxman about all this profit :wink: :wink: :wink:

J

Indeed I am Jason...should get a fairly healthy rebate! :mrgreen:

Jim

 

[jumps]

very nice job Jimi

looking at it my walnut veneer wouldn't have matched either - it's very rich in colour.

good luck with the sale

 

[AndyT]

Nice job! I doubt many people would have taken the trouble you did with the broken handles - but it looks worth it. And satisfying too.

It also seems a sensible solution to the problem of making stuff as a hobby but not actually having any room in your own house for any fresh furniture!

 

[Melinda_dd]

Nice one. It turned out really nice. be interested to know how it goes for your friend.

I love the old burr style furniture... but the partner loves the ultra modern beech!! so don't get to indulge unfortunately!

 

[condeesteso]

Very nicely done Jim - neat handles!. I'd quite fancy trying a boot fair one day... but I'd just come home with a plane or two, so best not eh?

 

[jimi43]

Just to close this thread....I managed £55 for the chest of drawers (got to give my mate a bargain!) but this gave me £45 profit to buy MORE tools...yes Douglas...but not planes...for what I got with £20 of that see the next bootfair thread near you (coming soon!) 8)

Jim