[Marci MN]

I know.. the age old question. For the first time ever, I had a person ask me if they could buy one of my walking sticks. The one I have down in the gallery to be specific. My gnome stick. I had to use it yesterday when we had a Doctors apt. and it was snowing out. My foot is in a walking cast, and its hard to walk on the snow with that cast on, so I took the stick with me to help keep my balance. When I was in the waiting room waiting for my hubby to get done with his CT Scan, a nurse come to get me to let me sit with him while he recovered from his dye injections. (he had to lay there for two hours). Meanwhile she had seen my walking stick.. loved it.. took off with it to show the others and it was gone for awhile. LOL A fella came back to me with the stick and asked me if it was for sale and how much? All I could give him was a blank look. If I didnt need it yesterday for walking... I would have seriously considered selling it. But... I have NO clue on what to charge for something like that. I did tell him it wasnt for sale at the moment since I was using it.

So my question is.. how do you figure a price for your work? The closest I can come to in hours for that stick is 22 hours of carving. Are there other factors to figure in? Do you pay yourself per hour? Cost of stick/stains?

All I keep thinking of is... if I would have sold that stick yesterday... I would be making an order for carving KNIVES today... LOL

[Bartster]

the thing i would do is figure out how much you are willing to work for while selling carvings. alot of people say my prices are good but i dont always charge what i should. but then again i dont sell that often and i am not out to make a living at it. if i sell something every once in awhile to buy more wood then im fine with it. but i have seen sticks go from anywhere between 45.00 and up just depends on the person and how much detail is in it. so i guess what im trying to say is there is no set scale for pricing carvings it is totally up to the carver,and what kinda tools and wood you are wanting at the time.lolol

hope this helps
lotsa luck to you and yours
bart

[squbrigg]

It seems that doctors offices and hospitals are where canes/sticks seem to get the most notice! That's where I got the idea to carve canes, by seeing one that a patient had and it reminded me that : 1) I need to walk with a cane for the rest of my life and 2) I'm a wood carver. Now when ever I go to the office or hospital, I allow more time, cause there is always someone asking about my canes. Maybe it is just that folks end up sitting around waiting there a lot , so they naturally have time to look around more.

Regarding your question, I have found that a plain walking stick, just cleaned up and stained/finished, will go for $25 - $50. One with a little/some carving on it $70 - $100. A cane or walking stick with a fully carved top will go for $200 - $300 +. All depending on species of wood, quality of the carving and market conditions. It is really up to you and your client, what ever you and they think it is worth. I see a lot of canes and walking sticks for sale around at craft sales now, and the prices vary widely.

A site with some canes for sale is at www.canescanada.com/

Bob

[Marci MN]

And canes , walking sticks will become even more famous.. I did see that a magazine called Quick and Easy Painting has an article on how the walking stick is becoming more and more familiar. This is a good thing for us carvers.. *grin*

This stick.. I did it in a hardwood dowel from the hardware store. I trust the strength in this dowel more than a found stick I guess. The nurse sure was surprised to know it was a regular dowel under there.

[jamesfa]

Marci-Mn-squbrigg i think has a good handle on what walking sticks sell for.but you have to decide if you what to sell it,will your customer pay what your asking for,and how badly you want some $$ tobuy more supplies.

you could have offered to make one for him.

Frank

[Marci MN]

You know Frank... what you said was so obvious.. it was like a DUH moment for me. I NEVER even thought to offer to make him one. He could have given me something new to put on a stick for him. *shakin head at self* It would have worked out so well too.. we have to be back there in about a months time. sheesh...dummy me. I will remember that the next time for sure!

[Colin_Partridge]

This is a good thead and one that I can relate to. I had the same problem on a couple I carry around once in a while not that I need them but it is a good way to advertise. What I do is know what I am going to charge for the stick before I take it out that way I am not stuck for an answer. I usually take the stick I dont want to part with and tell them that this one is not for sale but I will carve them another one. That stick that I carved 30 faces into I was offered $500.00 for but I wouldnt sell it I am handing that one down to my grandson.
Colin

[Marci MN]

Some days I wish I had kids to pass some of my creations on too. That has got to be a good feeling.

So far family members (sister, mother, brother in law, and step-granson) have walking sticks from me. And most have other creations I've kicked out over the years.

I would fall over sideways if someone offered me 500.00 for something I made. LOL But then again.... theres books, knives, gauges, sharpeners, aprons, thumb guards, gloves,..... There..spent it all already. LOL