Part Time Moulder Service

Mike65

Hello All, I have been working for a custom cabinet shop making millwork for the past seven year and had plans to venture out on my own until the housing and economy went crazy. When all this started I decided to keep my day job and just go at it part time for a while and ride the wave back up if things turn around.
I've mounted my w&h molder, dust collector, air compressor and generator on a mini trailer along with some specialty jigs in my tool box, now I can make custom trim anywhere, anytime. My clients could be builders, woodworkers, fence and deck contractor or just any one who needs custom moulding and millwork.
I need a good pricing system for this. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

TBFGhost

....unless some guys on here come and tell you what they would pay for an onsite, custom molder, you are just going to get screamed at for asking "what would this cost?" or "what should I charge?"

What you charge is going to be based on what you need the make to cover your cost plus what you want to make in profit. Add the two and see where it gets you.

Leo G

The W&H needs more support equipment than you could normally bring on a trailer. You need a tablesaw to rip to width, a better option is a SLR saw. The moulder produces a lot of chips, are you sure you have enough storage space for it? Plus competing with a high speed 4 or 5 head molder with the W&H is a losing proposition. It sounds like a nice idea, but I think you need to think about it some more. Most builders use a paint grade molding and would require it to be pre-primed. I own a W&H and use it in my shop. To bring it out in the field to produce moldings seems sort of silly. I could see doing it on very rare occasions. But not as a normal practice.

If you have already done this I would really like to hear your successes and what type of clients used your services.

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

SLSTech

I have to agree with Leo, but for another reason. Most sites don't have enough room for another trailer, truck & assorted trash. Most GC's I know either get custom knives made up or hand it off to a shop. It either gets dropped off when specified or picked up.

Pricing on trim varies based off of Quanity, Size, Detail of trim, etc... Would I pay more for you doing it on-site - NO

Between Leo, the Ghost & me - this is about the best answer you are going to get before the bombs start dropping

P.S. buy Michael Stone's book on Mark Up & Profit

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SLSTech

Sorry, I missed this section in your post

If you like your day job.

Don't even think about doing this without the Company Owner knowing about it & approving it.

Don't even think about contacting past clients.

Don't use any company items, wear any clothes with their logo's on it, hand out a business card provided by the company, use pictures of work done for said company, etc...

If I caught you doing any of the above, you would be fired so fast - your head would spin. Also, depending on the circumstances, I might pursue legal action.

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Mike65

Not looking to get screamed at, just trying something new. At my day job I do run a weinig 5 head moulder as well as a gang rip, all my profiles are sized off of the 'standard' sizes of wood I rip there. I buy all my lumber pre sized. In the past I have done just arched trim and wanted to offer a little more such as non standard species of trim, for example maybe some cedar crown, casing and base trim for a custom closet or maybe a custom mantle out of ??? I trimmed my whole house when it was built this way out of rustic alder. My last arching job I had to go back to the site several times for one thing or the other so I thoght it would be easier to take the mill with me.
My thoughts were I would have to charge by the hour since I run everything off a generator plus the cost of lumber with a markup of course. I do have a 1200 sq foot shop with a rockwell shaper, powermatic planer, table saw and other tools if I need them.
So....if this is a silly idea let me know, nicely.

Thanks

Mike65

Also before I started at this shop I told them I made arched trim on the side, they said I could make anything except custom cabinets which is what they do. They do not have a problem with me purchasing lumber there either. I pay the same price as any contractor off the street.

Mike

SLSTech

I don't see where you think any of us are SCREAMING at you.
TBF - quick explanation on pricing
Leo - the god when it comes to woodworking IMHO (Ok, maybe 2nd to Norm), explained a few problems with doing it on a trailer
Mine #1 - why most GC's won't really go for custom milling trim on site - if your installing it thats completely different than what you posted
Mine #2 - A watch your A55 about moonlighting, it can cost you everything

By the way - you might want to post an introduction in the appropriate area, put your location in your profile, & run a search on Price & Going Rate - to see some real screaming & bomb dropping

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Residential, Commercial, & Industrial Infrared Thermography Scans

Mike65

I didn't say you guys were screaming at me but....anyway I have introduced myself and edited my profile.

mike

woodtradesman

Mike, keep your day job till things get better. In the meantime build up your shop and expand you your woodworking services.

BTW, I also think the moulder in the van is a impractical, If any thing start bidding and calculating your jobs with a good amount of extra moulding footage, a generous allowance for material waste and add a few bucks for any extra trips you may have to take to your job sites, that should help you off set any extra effort you may have to produce for your side jobs.

MALCO.New.York

What the Hell is a "Moulder"?????

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woodtradesman

the word Moulder is a variant of the word molder. A molder is a machine that produces moldings (trim, crown...)

MALCO.New.York

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
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KentWhitten

It's similar to a planer unless Mike has something different than what I'm thinking of. Instead of the blades being flat, they have the profile of the moulding.

An on-site service, I don't see as a benefit to a builder or anyone. You need to show the benefit.

Do you have your own shop where you could do this? Then your benefits could be "..in a quality controlled atmosphere" something like that whereas jobsite, what happens if it's raining? What do you do with the shavings?

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Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

Leo G

Look Here

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Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

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Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

MALCO.New.York

Thank You Leo. I still hate you ............ It was the 'U" in molder that I was being a dickabout. (one word).

But...........

I TRULY did not know that such a device actually existed.

Thank You All, for the education!!!!!!

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Leo G

Ya, I know what you were pissing about. And I'll keep making stuff the way I do, can't have the hate stop.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

MALCO.New.York

Please, with a Capital "P", do!!! I need more Construction ****!!! I am tapped out!

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Leo G

Here's a small tidbit to get you by for now



Had to copy the profile of a set kitchen cabinets. Ended up all tablesaw work. Kind of a pain. The color was difficult too. I made it in the shop and brought it there and the color was wrong, the tone was correct. So I went back with my spraygun and some color and got it almost perfect. More than close enough. I used TBII to glue everything together, just to keep it in the spirit of the thread.

__________________
Sawdust Follows Me Everywhere

http://lrgwood.com
Custom Cabinets in Hartford County Connecticut

rbsremodeling

Isn't Moulder the guy from X-Files?

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