Question about sales and defects (for those that sell for a living)

It’s really a judgment call that you have to make. Anything built by hand is going to have mistakes, the real skill and artistry is in how you handle those mistakes. I would personally hesitate to sell anything that had obvious visual flaws. Maybe save those pieces to give away as gifts.

Also, unrelated to anything you asked, but keep in mind that if you have a woodshop at home and start selling things, this can have an impact on your homeowners insurance. Not to make you worry, just be aware.

a thought about “fixing” things like this:

with enough thought and creativity, they can turn into features, not bugs. Say, for example, those holes in those corners/edges. Perhaps you could fill them for stability, and then lay a piece of accent veneer (contrasting wood; or a metal) over them. Or, after you chamfer, maybe you can put a gold-leaf (or painted) detail around that edge; then repeat a the material in a detail somewhere on the lid to make it look more deliberate.

Here’s my non-wood real-life example: I was making a tiered prairie skirt way back in 1976. They all had a ribbon around the bottom of the second tier, and mine was to be no exception. I’d purchased a wide ribbon, and thinner matching ribbons to be the camisole straps, and an edging lace to put around the bottom of the camisole and on each side of the strap ribbons.

When trimming the excess seam allowance between second and third tiers, I cut a sliver right out of the top layer of fabric. My sewing coach (mom) thought it was ruined. Nope, I said. I’ll reinforce the cut area, and then cover it with that ribbon—but the ribbon wasn’t wide enough. But the wide + the skinny ribbon was. However, two ribbons butting up against one another looked lame, so I took that edging lace and tucked the top edge under the top skinny ribbon and let it overlap the lower, wider ribbon. It looked GREAT! I had to go buy more ribbon, but this treatment actually meant the lace treatment on the camisole looked more integrated.

So when you have a flaw, see what you can do to turn that into a decorative element.

I guess it depends on where you want to set the bar for your business. As you know, there is a full range of quality in the wood products out there: all the way from particle board imported garbage to custom pieces by people like Chris Becksvoort. So where on that spectrum do you want your work to be? I can only speak for me.

The holes in my shop would be a total re-do. Repairing that with an end grain dowel would be obvious, and I’d rather not do a cut and patch in a spot that’s so visible. (I think it’s the lid?) When a repair is possible to my standard, it should be nearly invisible, so no discount or mention. If it’s bad enough to warrant a discount, it just doesn’t leave the shop or gets given away. If you’re thinking of a production run, maybe you can offer it at a discount, sort of like “scratch and dent sale” idea.

As for squareness, if it looks square (and parts function, like you said) it is square.

Best wishes on your journey!

I’ve been making and selling stuff for quite a while now, maybe 25 years. I’ve found that if I make a mistake, I either make it invisible or, make a change in the design to incorporate the mistake. You look like yo make boxes, so do I. Recently I had one slip in the jig I use to put the angled splines in the corners . At this point in my process I have a rabbit cut on the inside for a lid stop, so rather than trash the box I set it aside to think about it. I ended up cutting the top off the box, about 1/2” which took out the lid stop. I cut the corners for the splines and just glued a full sized piece to the inside of the front for the lid stop and finished the box. That went to a gallery, and sold for quite a bit of money, actually $200 more that the others of mine they had because it was gorgeous.

Defects are only from factories. Anything handmade is not considered a defect, but instead has character with each imperfection. At least that’s my two cents. I’d buy a project just like yours because I like that it is handmade and the design draws to me. The “flaws” wouldn’t make me want to pay less. People who don’t want imperfections should go to factory stores.

Also note that this is not finished but close. Still going to chamfer the top edge final sand and finish.

I struggle with this as well, although I don’t sell my work. I always have my wife come out and look at it. I tell her to pretend she bought it, and tell me what she thinks.

Often the things I obsess over she doesn’t even notice, especially if I’ve “fixed” it.

People will say that fixed mistakes is a sign of craftsmanship and something being handmade.

An apprentice makes mistakes and needs help for fixing them. A journeyman makes mistakes and fixes them later. A master fixes them as he goes.

Someone elsewhere said, fix it so its not noticeable, or adjust to make it a feature.

Fill it and move on only you are going to see every single tiny little defect because you made it. someone that is in awe will overlook tiny flaws(or be oblivious to them completely) because they're in awe

It depends on the mistake, every fuckup can be turned into a decorative feature if you're creative enough. With router slips like in your pictures that means a decorative inlay around the entire inside of the box. That's not exactly economical or viable in this case.

I don't do any custom orders or business at the moment, but I am planning on selling projects on a listing based basis. We're talking musical instruments and cases in my case, so I can't really sell products with defects or blemishes. Those get put aside to be sold as B-stock after they've been fixed or given to a niece or nephew.

I gift woodshop items. The flaws are my signature, no question grampaw cookie made it.

I do furniture repair. One thing I have to stay aware of is any imperfections in my work will always be more obvious to me than anyone else. Get a second (and brutally honest) opinion. If they say it looks fine and you trust their judgement then I would continue to sell it at the normal price. Odds are the client will never see it. And if they do, then you should have some explanation prepared of it being handmade and be open to remaking it for them if they ask.

If it’s visible but “isn’t bad” it’s kind of a judgement call on your standard of work and what your profit margins can handle. Sometimes mistakes happen and you have to roll with it. Where you draw the line is what separates the great wood workers from the mediocre ones. It comes with experience but you have to learn to read your client. For some people, they’ll never notice it unless you point it out to them. Others look at the details and you’ll end up with a lot of back and forth making it a long drawn out process with a less than satisfied client. Usually if I feel like that’s the direction it could be headed I’ll just go ahead and rework it so I don’t have to deal with it over a span of several months. The hit to profits is worth the peace of mind and prospects of returning business.

You could of course be open with them and say here’s what happened. I’m making this by hand and wood does weird things sometimes. If you want, I can remake this for you. Or if you’re ok with it how it is, I’ll take $XX off the price for you.

I sell larger items like cabinets and furniture, so I can't answer all your questions, but I have a couple of things that might be helpful.

First - NEVER point out defects. You will notice way more defects than the typical customer. You will be tempted to point them out as a way of demonstrating your awareness of them, but there is literally nothing good that can come from point out mistakes you made.

Second - I would treat this differently depending on where you are selling. If you're selling at craft fairs or other in person type venues where the customer can handle the exact item before purchasing, then I would let more of this slide than if you're selling exclusively online via pictures. But note that the fewer defects you have the more buyers you'll find.

I don't sell woodworking but I do sell ceramics.

I don't sell seconds. Occasionally I will give them away to family or friends if they like a piece but I don't sell them because I value my brand as a maker more than I value the little bit of income I'd get from discounted seconds.

I can understand and appreciate the opinions of those who don’t sell things with happy accidents but I also understand selling it. I would sell them but as an in person exchange never online. In person they can handle the project and look at it without any camera tricks or just shadows and stuff making it look better than it is.

I think the answer lies in whether this is a commissioned piece where the buyer has preset expectations or if it is sold over the counter to a buyer who has the ability to inspect and accept it as is before paying.

Square corners are likely to be an expectation all around, so for me, I would not want branded pieces that represent my work being sold like this. Maybe I give it away or use it to raise money for charity or just use it myself for something.

As for the dents or holes, you might turn those into symmetric cuts on both ends and maybe even spacing in between, fill with a contrasting wood and call them design accents. There are many ways you can turn unintended situations in woodworking into happy accidents, as long as they look professionally done in the end.

Sandals in the shop -25% on asking price

Remember a beginner makes mistakes, a master knows how to hide them

Oh yeah, square off the hole, put a plug in from the same board — chances are you yourself will have a hard time spotting it after it’s finished, much less a customer

If you are trying to establish yourself as a professional, doing quality work, you don't let ANYTHING out the door that is not right. Everything that leaves your shop reflects on you. If you are straight with your customer and let them know of the deficiencies and they are making an informed purchase, then sell it, but don't sign it.

The miter line should end up at a corner. The eye follows a miter line, and notices when it goes off an edge wrong. A frame and panel lid will have tenoned butt joints, and allow the panel in the top to float as humidity changes.

Try using fewer contrasting woods. Uniform color allows one to see the shape of an object, not just the pieces. This is one reason cars aren't painted with stripes.

Huge huge thanks to all of you thank commented here. You’ve given me lots of great info and it is very much appreciated. Cut and glued some pieces into those defects tonight. I’ll post again once it is completed, still need to cut the dividers for inside , chamfer the top, final sand and finish. Without this sub I wouldn’t have even half the skills I’ve acquired so far.

I'd be more worried about the design of your lid. Looks like a lot of miters and different woods - will likely fall apart within a season