Don't have a clue???

mark yundt · #11 02-08-2008, 10:32 PM

Pallin ,,I DO believe you! I've seen them too. That's part of the problem being a wood carver and living in the USA. The prices I have to charge vs. the work being done in Mexico,,Thailand,,China,,etc. makes it tough.Generally speaking the work is pretty incredible,,,at really ridiculous prices.
I bought a black laquered verticle box with glass sides. Inside is the most detailed carvings done in cork of all things. A small temple,,trees,,egrets,,simply amazing work, I paid all of $10.00 for it,,,,RETAIL from a gift shop in a MALL? How much did they pay for this to retail it at 10 bucks,,the shipping,handling,paying the carvers? I couldnt' have painted it for that price.

I decided to snap a couple of pics for you,,,could you do that for 5 bucks,,case and all,,considering the retail was 10???? Just wish you could see the layers of detail on both sides not visible in the photos..A local restaurant just had 200 ft of these installed along all the walls and dividers between the booths. Simply amazing stuff.You can see my thumb in the shot,,so you can guess the size for this detail,,and I don't care how easy and fast cork is to carve,,you got to be kidding.

Ashbys · #12 02-08-2008, 11:13 PM

Hey Mark ,

did they spec the wood ? Just wondering as it look like that one was done is 6 -8 inch boards and then placed together .

What a job .

GL on landing it.

mark yundt · #13 02-08-2008, 11:54 PM

Yes they did,,combinations of Teak and Mahogany,,,I'm not sure what this piece would be done with. I just had to order Teak for another job I just got in,,man,,,pricey stuff,,25 a bf..It'll be a neat looking planter for a church memorial garden though. Yeah,,,I said a planter.....

Intial guestimations for this job is somewhere upwards of 2000 bf..If I could post the rest of the elevations and renderings,I know you'd go nuts Gary. Might take a trip or two to New England,,,but I hope we can clinch it.

My guess on this particular piece would be closer to at least a foot wide on the boards. I have the advantage of seeing a table in front of it,,( that's a centerpiece you can just make out at the bottom) Whatever width it is,,it'll be something to have a go at. Plus ,,consider the height of the room,,,this isn't your average home ceiling. I have the suspicion this thing could be huge X really big.

How professional did that estimate sound??? Wait till I get to the price,,,I think it'll be somewhere between,,,,"you 'gotta be kidding",,,and "GOOD LORD!"

Ashbys · #14 02-09-2008, 10:47 AM

I thought so. I was a bit surprised by the teak but a great combination of wood. I am a bit surprised that they would want that rosette for the center for a yatch club. I would have expect a bit more natucal. Like a muti layered 1500's compass center highlighted by the surrounding carving. Leading to ivory points N S E W.
Or each of rosette centers highlighting a compass direction.

But what a carvers dream , 2000 board feet of pleasure. Personally I think Good Lord , is expected .

mark yundt · #15 02-09-2008, 12:11 PM

The 2000 ft won't be in this panel alone. As far as what the finished design will be is to be seen. This was only sent as a general direction,,probably not to be copied directly,,but as a suggestion of style and feel that they are looking for. Who knows,,in a circular design such as this any number of things could be included.
Typical of designers as I had mentioned is,," I like this type of thing,,,got any ideas?"

K Karver · #16 02-09-2008, 03:06 PM

Wish you well on the bid, Mark. Might they let you dream about a yacht on a journey around the world and all the things one might see - not just leaves and patterns? That could be a lot of fun. Different views of a yachters world from the world. Yikes. I could get excited about something like that.

Again, wish you well.

John/ K Karver

squbrigg · #17 02-10-2008, 11:02 AM

Wow Mark, that holds some interesting possibilities. 2000 ft of nautical carving ........... now if they let you get away from leaves and landlubber stuff, I could envision some great images of ships and the sea. But I suppose most of those yacht owneds have never been out of sight of land in their big boats and wouldn't know a real sea if they saw one!!! LOL

I am looking forward to seeing how you make out Mark. Should be an interesting challenge for sure.

Best of luck,

Bob

mark yundt · #18 02-10-2008, 01:35 PM

Yes Bob ,,this holds all sorts of possibilities. I'll find out more of what they are the further along I go.
But just on the assumption that this is something they are interested in,,in this general style,,and I'm not definite on all the dimensions for their particular situation,,,I'm still left clueless.

I have the very same problems that everyone else has ,,,,,HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH A PRICE? The scale might be different,,but the problem remains the same. I have some thoughts about possible approaches,,and have run through some scenarios,,and the results are all over the board.Where do I find a comparable piece and find out what that went for,,how many hours? at what rate? is it a function of materials X some factor? Is it a best guess estimate of time X some hourly rate? is it so many square inches X some number?

And the question remains,,will I price myself out of a job?,,or will they say ,Sure,,that's fine.

This question has come up all over the place on this site. From the Greenman I did as a tutorial ( I have a possible answer to that one) ,,to the cedar indian,,and on and on.

But here I come back to square one,, Don't have a clue....
Anyone care to take a stab at it? What exactly is it worth and why?

squbrigg · #19 02-11-2008, 08:51 AM

Geez Mark, pricing will be a challenge! I would suggest a price per square inch or square foot, whatever seems more appropriate for the size they are discussing. The only way possible to come up with a fair estimate, I believe. As to how it will be recieved....... that question is the one we all face when we do commissions. If they believe the estimate is too high, perhaps they could suggest what their budget can support and you could design something to fit their budget.

I can't do hourly rates because of my limitations, so I use a price per square inch/foot. Lots of other factors for you to consider in establishing your price, but you have more experience in this than pretty well anyone else here, so I am sure you know what those considerations are.

You never know how a client will react to your price, until you propose it. But remember, if they want you to do the work, they have to be willing to pay for it. Wish I could be more helpful.

Bob

achaundy · #20 02-12-2008, 01:46 PM

Being a retired construction estimator, unless you have a design it would be impossible to put an honest price on the job. If this is a design build then you should have a good advantage. The cliant doesn't have a clue on what they want, they are expecting a design. I'm supprised they didn't have an architect do a design and then put it out for bid. Skip