The Darkside of Woodworking Business | The Truth Revealed

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In this weeks video we take a deep dive in the darkside of the woodworking industry. All of the ugly things of owning a woodworking business are revealed in this video. Although it may be an ugly truth it is a truth none the less, so strap in for a journey into the darkside of woodworking.
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Our goal is to help aspiring craftsmen do what they love for a living! We hope to share our knowledge in the woodworking field and CNC routering through training videos, CNC router techniques, unique projects, and practical applications.

[@StruckWorx]

I’m 50 years old a tradesmen and a custom craftsman and you nailed it with your observation ! Subbed

[@TWC6724]

You are so right on so many things. I’m only a hobbyist who sells things. I really love creating things by hand with mostly hand tools. While some people really appreciate it, there’s a WHOLE lot of people who don’t care about a hand cut dovetails. I think it’s us woodworkers that care more about that Lol. As you said, a lot of people just want a good looking project.

[@johnalligood7150]

John Alligood Worthy of a Change Home Improvements

[@ephraimmarshall6260]

You are the only woodworker I watch for learning and not just entertainment. You have really showed me what it takes to make it in this market and i'm thankful for that!!

[@johndoe6032]

Almost all of this advice can be applied to any business startup. Great info! Starting a small business can be one of the hardest jobs in the world. I think one other thing to add is that it is not for people who want to 9-to-5 it. You have to pour your whole life into your business, at least in the beginning, to have any chance at success. If you can't commit like that, you're better off just keeping it as a weekend gig and keep your 9-to-5 job.

[@lastdaysofhumanity4114]

yeah this is like the brutal truth and also many dont speak about the physical tolling aspect of it. Like I dont even have the energy to work out if i do woodworking and i dont even do it full time.

[@Aaron-nj4ou]

Great video. I get the sense that most woodworkers on KZbin are “content creators” not actual professional woodworkers making furniture for clients. I applaud you for the progress you have made in what is a tough business especially when ikea sells stuff so cheap.

[@lastdaysofhumanity4114]

yeah i can tell you from having a piss poor fitness channel that i deleted, I tried to become a content creator and it was extremely tough, like EXTREMELY! and was taking too much time out of my day to just post videos, let alone edit them,etc all for nothing. I was at it for like 8 years but just posting once in a while and never made a single penny. I could only imagine these successful woodworking channels....theres no way they actually work and have the time for youtube. ITs impossible.

[@oliver299d]

There are many different types of woodworking , where you are at you need machines and less skilled people, there are others that rely on less machinery and more skills and hand work, and there are others like me that use machinery and hand work to do different things. What they don' tell you is this, if you want to succeed in the industry you need to be versatile and be able to make whatever comes your way. I am not interesting in doing production work making the same thing over and over again. others are good with that

[@micgalovic]

Going from passion/hobby to a business can be brutal. Doing it without loosing face is damn near impossible.

[@chrisdockery1706]

WORD ..that's the damn truth brother

[@brianwade8481]

Always appreciate your knowledge, perspective and advice. Thanks Ryan.

[@personalcontent4484]

I've built enough successful companies in the last 25 years, in many different fields and I can assure you that what you just described would be perfectly right in any of them. This is how business works, any time, any where, any type. If it was easy everybody would do it... I love your content as I am a high production man using cncs and machine centres, but in steel products. Wood is a passion and seeing the 2 come together just floats my boat ;) Keep up the great work

[@johnalligood7150]

Yep, you are absolutely right also. John Alligood with Worthy of a Change Home Improvements Eastern NC.

[@American_Made]

When you buy wood, if it matters about the figure of the wood, like buying individual unique pieces, always see the actual piece. If not they will send you crap. Others in your business are not your friends. They are competitors and aren't there to help you, or even be nice. People that you meet in the industry that are nice when you talk to them, are not your friends and many will try to steal any of your ideas if you are successful. I'm in the pool cue industry and found out that many people will never recognize the quality of work I'm putting in. They only see that work if you point it out. In my business you can't compete with the highend guys without the good equipement.

[@JJAH28]

Really good video. Would be great for you to talk about the business side of when you were a hobbyist (as most of us that watch probably are) and explain what you had to do for that. For example, did you immediately get (or even need) an LLC to sell your items? Did you only sell at craft shows? Things like that. Just a thought. Thanks!

[@cutting-it-close]

Great suggestion!

[@johnalligood7150]

John Alligood Worthy of a Change Home Improvements. Eastern NC.

[@magsborren]

Hi from Ireland.Thanks for all your brilliant videos, i learn something new from each of them. Keep up the great work.

[@whitecollarworkshop]

Everything you mentioned applies to every industry and just about every business is faced with all these challenges. My suggestion to anybody who owns a business is to take business course if you don’t have true business training/education. Many companies fail due to the lack of knowledge to run a business.

[@MurraydeLues]

Look at the guys that are way better than you as an opportunity to learn from them. One thing that is so good about YT is the access to so many different ways of doing things. Never be intimidated by someone who has different skills to you. People will look at what you do and say too hard. It's all relative. Keep up the good work.

[@page76metalcraft19]

Another great video thank you. I apply a lot of what you say to my own metal working business.

[@rb67mustang]

Thanks for this video. You are correct! There's so many big companies out there that most of us can't compete with. Even still, I'd like to get into this and start off as a hobbyist and work my way up to the level that suits my needs. Yes, there's always going to people with more talent, but never sell yourself short. There's room for lots of people to get into this industry.

[@cutting-it-close]

Thanks for sharing!

[@floknight5072]

Great video as usual, you r successful because you exactly knew how to stand out and make the difference with the big guys! Congratulations ❤

[@ef2b]

Was wondering if one part of the dark side was going to be that the economy cycles endlessly through good times and bad times and, during bad times, people can give up buying furniture before they give up paying rent, so you better have a business plan that deals with the famine periods. I am still at the "thinking about it" not-a-business stage, so I mean this as a question rather than a comment.

[@Meyerwoodworks]

100%! I started off making high end custom furniture, with very little profit. Production = profit, but selling is THE HARDEST part, second is all the business stuff... website, e-commerce, taxes, accounting, shipping, etc. The step up from hobby to entry-level business is also MASSIVE! Equipment cost alone is unbelievable, and I’m talking Grizzly tools, not Onsrud... it’s HARD.

[@timzeller1541]

Thank you for this presentation. You're so right!

[@joelw6215]

Half way to the 100k. I remember when you had 13-16k followers. Congrats man🎉🎉🎉

[@gameboy398]

you are always blessing us with facts, bless you

[@MonkeyMagicFab]

Great video, thanks for sharing your insights and learnings

[@cutting-it-close]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kingofcastlechaos]

I have been in the woodworking business a long time. The biggest (saddest) lesson is learning that people are dumb as rocks and have zero concept of what it takes to buy material and build their product. Forty years ago at least the majority of people knew what it entailed. These days with the cheap crap from overseas they can get sent the next day clouding their thoughts there is basically zero chance they will not balk/ lose their tiny mind over the quote you give them. OMG I sound old as hell. Forget what I said- "It will be fine......"

[@Eldalion99999]

came from programming into woodwork....if this is the dark side...I can only say......thats adorable

[@matthewblumenthal804]

Good information. The fact remains that people who value quality hand craft and will pay enough to make it worth while are not common. Nothing wrong with wanting something that just works, even if it has no soul. But finding the people that want soul and are willing to pay for it is a challenge. I've been through that in other crafts. These days, I make stuff for myself and as gifts. If someone wants to buy my output, I'll sell to them. If they meet my price. Most don't, and I'm OK with that.

[@johnalligood7150]

Yes sir, you right on target. There's a lot more to it then doing what you love and making a good living. You need to be A BOSS. Worthy of a Change Home Improvements

[@chrisperry3525]

salesman 'attack' every small business of every kind. It's hard to be new to a market and to bootstrap a biz, then you get the hobbyists that charge just the cost of materials. Efficiency of space, time and money - does an $1000 festool actually increase productivity over a $200 tool? The best woodworker isn't always the one that succeeds - you need to be good enough and make a profit.

[@r.b.3666]

Location and population is extremely important as well .

[@StevenAbbott]

My father was a master cabinet maker & carpenter when he retired at 72 he had all his fingers. I am 69 and have all my digits with just a few scars to remind me of lapses in concentration

[@shyskeel7025]

Subscribe 🎉. As a Woodworker for over 15yrs, seen some tools that these You Tubers use they make it looks like if you don't have a festool or a woodpecker your work is not going be perfect😢. Keep shedding the light.

[@LignumFabrica]

I do understand what you are saying but believe me EVERY industry is like this. I have been a production manager in four different industries and every one has the same problems and obstacles. The only difference in them is the way you can approach and solve them.

[@cutting-it-close]

I completely agree! What I wanted to show was that woodworking is different than what we are lead to believe because it is publicized a lot more than other businesses as a fun, we are all in this together business. And then when you get into it, it’s a big industry with a lot of sharks. I wanted to open everyone’s eyes to this reality!

[@LignumFabrica]

@@cutting-it-close Well you got that right! Sharks I would not worry about too much because there is little you can do. Also some competition really is healthy and makes you develop yourself like you did. If you did not see others maybe you would still have the same cnc, same table saw and same shop setup. I am more annoyed by the copycats that do not have sense for moral and steal designs from others and present it as their own. There are few of them on KZbin also. To be inspired and make a variation is ok, as if it wasn't we still would have only one chair and table. But to take the same design and present it as your own...now that is low and more concerning.

[@martinneff4675]

Thank you, I needed that.

[@cutting-it-close]

You are so welcome

[@davidthompson9359]

You have to watch out on your customers work with also. My father was murdered and his shop burned down because he chose to work for the wrong customer, a restaurant owner.

[@pipihonchik]

I am really greatful for your and your team work! I only started in this industry, but with your help I know, that I can do anything! From Russia with love!

[@cutting-it-close]

Great to hear!

[@ProfessorOfEconomics]

Great video. I am also stating out and rehabbing a Laguna IQPro (similar to the one you stated with). I'm sort of shocked how little youtube material there is on how to use this machine. Do you have any recommendations for cnc newbie (I come from a co2 laser background) can learn the basics using this specific machine?

[@cutting-it-close]

I’ll make a video going over it!

[@ProfessorOfEconomics]

@@cutting-it-close That would be awesome. I replaced the controller (expensive!!!) and I'm trying to make sense of the water cooling system. Just the super basics on getting the machine running (water cooling, air compressor, etc) and one super simple project in v-carve would be fantastic.

[@DJ-yj1vg]

The biggest problem I found is that customers don't care how much it cost to build something. All they care is about is whether or not it is the cheapest on the market. And you're competing against cheap flatpack crap from Asia or Sweden.

[@kelvinphillips3528]

Young fella, THANK YOU!!!

[@Ricks2Cents]

*Solid Advice!!!*

[@justjmart5970]

Really appreciate your honesty.

[@cutting-it-close]

Always!

[@user-qu9uq3ow3b]

Woohoo,, this is great information,, thanks a lot bro,, hi have my experiences..

[@waldpetty4134]

The job site table saw clip was so unsafe

[@marbleman52]

@waldpetty4134....Yep, absolutely unsafe. That is an almost guaranteed kick-back situation...a piece of that wood getting instantly embedded in your body faster than one can blink....that is if the wood didn't destroy your face and eyes and you were no longer even able to blink..!!

[@anthonyegner1382]

Great vido very informative eye opener cheers

[@cutting-it-close]

Glad it was helpful!

[@amandaashworth5000]

Great video man. Can you do a video on finance for woodworking business? Would be really helpful. 👍

[@psidvicious]

About proprietary techniques, equipment, etc: A few years back at The World of Concrete convention in Las Vegas, the guys that were running the Caterpillar display got to a point where, they had to refuse entry to all the Chinese guys you always see running around with all the cameras hanging off their necks. They kept crawling up under and all over Cat’s equipment, taking pictures of all the ways everything was put together and all of Cat’s latest innovations with their equipment. Then of course, they go back to China, reverse engineer everything and in 8 or 10 months their Chinese equipment would be equipped with all of the latest engineering Cat had spent all that time and money on.

[@badagaemile542]

Thanks man , been in the industry for 4 years

[@AlwaysHopeful87]

Determining what level of quality is necessary is an interesting topic. Should a business produce the lowest quality that the market will bear, or should they go above that level of quality? I think of difference between the US auto makers and Toyota and Honda. They seem to be on opposite sides of the "perfect" middle ground when it comes to quality. Note, I was a GM guy for decades, now Honda and Toyota, at least for now.

[@celticcraps]

In the spirit of protecting your business where you can, could you share a video about how you went about that? Patents? If you idea is so ingenious and no one else has come up with it? What can you do to hold off the wolves?

[@MrJohnnyboyrebel]

My daughter is an IP attorney and I once asked her about this very topic. She said for a small woodworking shop, getting a single patent would cost thousands of dollars. Much of that goes to researching existing patents and determining if your claims are substantially unique enough. It’s called “prior art” and takes a lot of time. A “claim” is the unique feature(s) that makes your design completely different from prior art.

[@michaeljameson1046]

good words love watt you have built cheers

[@osu122975]

Woodworking as a hobby is fine. Making a living from it.....kinda like making it to the NFL. It's rare.

[@cityboywithhorses6233]

I have been looking for a hallow chisel mortiser. I have been looking at the big names and reading the reviews and I have been surprised by how bad similar and bad the reviews. They arrive broken. The fit and finish is poor and the customer service is very bad. One would think that with all the money at stake, manufacturers would be motivated to build better tools with outstanding customer support.

[@PPHalpert]

I love your intro 😂❤

[@meleader]

This is the unvarnished truth. Making high-end furniture pays minimum wage.

[@storymode9085]

Thank you

[@cutting-it-close]

Welcome!

[@allan801]

First, thank you for your videos

[@cutting-it-close]

Nice!!! And thank you

[@sambonnick559]

I follow sam pilgrim and his philosophy is similar except when he doubts anything he sends a backflip. Much love.

[@bruceeickholdt9293]

All businesses have these issues with sales people

[@gerikbensing]

Hello fellow peacock owner

[@cutting-it-close]

🤣

[@islandwills2778]

the honest truth is you dont need to be good at woodworking to make a business, what i sell i think i could train a chimpanzee to make. Sure it has its craftsmanship but its not complicated. Now am i able to compete with China or the like? No, not really. In small markets i will usually win but i just dont have the marketing. Im not going to trade shows, and i dont have the capacity to serve the large markets. Ive been slowly building up my client base but its slow.

[@scottbionicnerf8727]

I don't want to know....I just want to stay stupid. No one ever said that.

[@Boethius4748]

100% truth

[@wmcrash]

If you think there is a dark side to woodworking, you ain't cuttin' it right!

[@woodworksbygrampies1284]

👍

[@BradsWorkbench]

Im in ur county..... let me know when the game time is 😂

[@snakeplisken2123]

Festool sucks. All the tools feel cheap.

[@flowleopard893]

Every business is cut-thoat these days. Just keep on going, trust me the other guys are also feeling the same pressure. It helps to know this. And the dishonest people won't sleep as well at night as the honest man / woman. So there is that also.

[@TheSMEAC]

The actual very first lie is you conflating woodworking with a woodworking business 🤦🏼‍♂️