How Much MONEY I Make Building EXTREMELY Custom Cutting Boards
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- čas přidán 31. 05. 2024
- I walk you through my step by step build process, sales, profits, materials, overhead, lessons learned and so much more on 6 different patterns totalling 25 very custom end grain cutting boards. We'll call this a complete and unofficial guide on how to price your work. Detailed time stamps below for your viewing pleasure. Please subscribe and further support the channel via the thanks button. Enjoy!
0:00 Intro
0:29 Outlining the video agenda
3:16 Giving credit to mtmwood
3:45 Asking for subscription/thanks :)
4:28 What is a board foot?
7:04 What is a finished board foot?
9:14 Brick Boards - Step by step build process
14:15 Brick Boards - How long they took
15:52 Brick Boards - Total boards, sales & material costs
18:32 Brick Boards - Calculating board footage of reclaimed oak
20:35 Calculating my overhead for all the boards
24:28 Brick Boards - Final Analysis, profits, hourly wage, further analysis 28:11 3D Cube Boards - Step by step build process
31:01 3D Cube Boards - How long they look
32:13 3D Cube Boards - Total boards, sales, profits, hourly wage, further analysis
35:09 Lone Oak Board - Step by step build process
36:54 Lone Oak Board - How long it took
37:53 Lone Oak Board - Sale, profit, hourly wage, further analysis
39:52 3D Zigzag Boards - Step by step build process
44:49 3D Zigzag Boards - How long they took
46:20 3D Zigzag Boards - Sales, profits, hourly wage, further analysis 49:08 Whisky barrel Boards - Step by step build process
51:12 Whisky barrel Boards - How long they took
52:20 Whisky barrel Boards - Sales, profits, hourly wage, further analysis 54:28 Chaos Boards - Step by step build process
56:21 Chaos Boards - How long they took
57:03 Chaos Boards - Sales, profits, hourly wage, further analysis
58:54 SECRET bonus boards ;)
1:00:26 Overall numbers analysis on ENTIRE build - sales, profits, hours, etc.
1:01:21 Capital expenses
1:02:47 Factoring capital expenses into the overall numbers
1:04:16 Potential video income/talking about what goes on behind the scenes
1:07:40 Main lessons learned
1:11:13 Review areas of opportunity i.e. where I could save time & money 1:14:10 My Final Thoughts - was it all worth it? Can you make a living building cutting boards?
1:16:26 Outro and my final ask :)
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▶️ More of my videos
The Biggest, Heaviest and Most Custom Dining Table I've Ever Built
y2u.be/jCm-JQRkTgY
Dining Table Made Entirely from Pallet Wood
y2u.be/JhEVEdB7fPA
The Only Table of Its Kind in the World
y2u.be/npjxCYLcuFs
How It's Made - 3D Patterned End Grain Cutting Board
y2u.be/Jrh_g79Rzh0
From Barrel to Butcher Block
y2u.be/uiu0Hkd6mb0
How It's Made - Optical Illusion End Grain Cutting Board:
y2u.be/S7qLC-lUwHI
Links to products used in this video:
3M Cubitron Ceramic Abrasive 6" sanding discs: amzn.to/3ScCsaD
Festool Rotex Sander: amzn.to/3vDPkfZ
Freud Glue Line Rip Blade: amzn.to/3iW1gE5
Diablo 80 Tooth Fine Finish Blade: amzn.to/3AOU1Up
GRR-RIPPER 3D Push Block: amzn.to/3xVopuF
Gravity Heel Kit For GRR-RIPPER: amzn.to/3D08oHI
3M BlueTooth Hearing Protection: amzn.to/2VVVB8v
Silicone Glue Brush Rockler: amzn.to/3yZumrH
Tape Measure Stanley: amzn.to/2XvzKox
Router Flattening Bit Freud: amzn.to/3CZu9qM
Pipe Clamp ¾” Bessey: amzn.to/3iV9KLL
F-Style clamps Bessey: amzn.to/3k2KhPL
Titebond III Glue: amzn.to/37OE44p
Camera Tripod: amzn.to/2XCxT1q
Sony A6400 4K Camera: amzn.to/3hRPR78
Iphone Tripod Mounting Bracket: amzn.to/3m8pptb
Belt Sander Makita 4”x24” : amzn.to/3g95WEY - Zábava
You know, I've been going through quite a few videos these days about the woodworking business, and most workers don't want to give out even half of the information you just did. The peek behind the curtain, the statistics, the breakdown...this video was more informative and helpful than so many classes and such I've seen and taken in the past. Thank you so much for this information and the walk through your process.
As I can and when I can I would love to help support you and what you do. I love your work and your humor and can't wait to see how you evolve in the future with your tables/furniture and various projects. Thank you again, Ryan!
So glad it was helpful to you!
@graidian hit it on the head. This video was one of the best I've ever seen on CZcams for woodworking or otherwise. It hit me about 2/3 of the way into the video (somewhat embarrassed by how long this took me) that you took the same approach to this video as you do your woodwork. Thoughtful, thorough, & attention to quality. Thank you for taking the time to make this.
nobody wants to go through this level of detail because no woodworkers want to admit that there is almost no money to be made. High intensity labor and high material cost.. combined with a high cost finished product that is limited to high end clients... the juice is not worth the squeeze.. McDonalds managers make more money and do far less work.. Unfortunately.
With your attention to detail you'd likely make a lot more money being a business manger..Most people don't understand these basic principals and this is a major reason why 80% of businesses fail.. Ive come to the realization woodworking can never be profitable or sustainable for me(without youtube revenue), but its something i still love.
This is by far the most detailed behind-the-scene breakdown I've seen on this topic - and I've seen quite a few. I am not a woodworker. I have bought some tools and gathered some practice material to start woodworking as a hobby hopefully sometime soon. I loved watching the entire video and appreciate your sincerity. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’ve been a general contractor working for myself for about 20 years. I make over $200k/year.
I like woodworking, and would love to build things here and there as a little side business, but I know enough about these types of businesses to know there is almost no way to make anything resembling good money making knickknacks like cutting boards, etc. Even nice ones like yours.
It’s fun to do here and there, but as a serious business, it’s a dead end. There’s a reason the small scale but successful woodworkers charge a ton. You just have to. Trying to fight against math is a useless endeavor. Scale can save you, but it’s a long hard fight to achieve it.
People can be smart about the process and make $50-60k a year, but getting up to $120k+ is rough.
But your math logic is great, if anyone can do it, it’s you. As long as you pay attention to the numbers and can grasp the logic behind them, you’re top 5% automatically.
Good info for people who dont think of all the details and gives you specific areas for focus on to reduce expenses to increase profits. Cheap wood that takes a ton of labor to prep and hundreds in tools/supplies is not cheap wood anymore. You Need a drum sander, cheaper source of walnut, dont need to raise grain between grits to cut production time, look into indistrial clamp racks or build them, you waste too much time and energy clamping- moving to clamp another board - moving back to unclamp and clean to move again to unclamp another then move a 3rd tine for final unclamp, buy rubber feet in bulk to cust cost by more than half. Cheaper office expenses ($25/board is 3x to high or include wirh shippinf costs). Look at LEAN manufacturing to eliminate inefficient parts of the process. Split your shop and rent to someone else or rent as storage to lower overhead. Start by taking notes on Kris Devo batching 6ft boards instead of of batching 2 ft boards.
CZcams is a separate set of metrics. Outsource filming and editing so you can spend time in the shop, promote the channel to get subscribers up and get sponsors to supply newer better tools and supplies - laguna, jet, sawstop...even local hardwood dealer or online lumber suppliers
All good info!
Ryan, my wife sat down as I was watching this video and commented that I must 'be in heaven' with all the woodworking and math nerdery going on. 😂 Appreciate your transparency in this video! And it goes without saying, you do great work! Thanks for the ideas for my own board-building and for the entertainment over the last few months.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for such a detailed explanation of the reality behind the scenes of us wood workers. I cringe when I think of what I need to charge a customer but then I also remember that I can't afford to go broke to give them a special built piece either :) I pray you video pays well and will for sure be sharing this to more people. More youtube creatives should do some breakdown videos like this and I hope you inspire them to do it.
Thank you again!!!
Chilly
My compliments on your analysis; it is the most thorough and realistic of any that I have seen on CZcams. So many people forget many of the things that you took into consideration, which is why your assessment is indeed extremely accurate. The challenge you have is that your incremental cost per board is almost flat. In an enterprise that is more manufacturing oriented, the first board would be the most expensive, and then each incremental board would have reduced costs; and those are the ones that help create positive profit margins. You get there by increasing output through increased efficiency and reduced time per unit produced.
All the problems you listed have already been solved within the industry, but they will take capital investment to put into place. Specifics: You need a widebelt sander. (NOT a drum sander; do NOT make that mistake! The frequency and difficulty of changing paper is a killer of productivity.) You need a decent planer and jointer with segmented cutting heads to eliminate blade changes. You need something called a clamp carrier (google is your friend...) and a purpose-built glue roller. (search for it under veneering tool suppliers.) A used sliding table saw would be a good idea as well... See your MTM friend's saw for its value. OK, here's an almost free one; Get a tub and immerse the boards in oil. Let physics do the job! With those tools you could produce double or more the board count in the same time as the ones you made here. Now, do you WANT to do that? A much bigger question that I can't answer for you... Best wishes with your business!
This is really good advice. Especially the wide belt sander vs. drum sander. Thank you for taking the time to comment
Thanks for sharing your incite into your woodworking experience. Many people don't realize how much work and time goes into a project, I'm so glad you shed light on these expenses. Keep up your wonderful content and stay safe in your shop.
This was a massive gift to all of us who are getting started (or hoping to) and well worth my paltry gift. Thank you so much!
I appreciate your honesty and transparency! You are such a hard worker, i really wish you big success. You deserve it man!
WOW just WOW! After reading all the comments, after watching the entire video, that's all there's left to say WOW!
Well done Ryan. You put a lot of effort into this video production. You're work is beautiful and your delivery is thoughtful and informative. Thabk you for all of it ... bumper to bumper excellence!
Your breakdown is excellent. I've been in the photography business for 36 years (wood working is my hobby). There are so many people in both industries who don't understand that the cost of materials is just a drop in the bucket when considering costs. Everyone who wants to be in business for him or herself, in any industry, should see this.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thanks for making this video.
Your cutting boards make resin river tables look like a cop out!
This is a whole different level.
Thank you so much. Your breakdown of time and material are part of the process and should be accounted for when pricing your product. Great video! You make some awesome boards! Very professional work.
This is perhaps one of the best videos on running a business in general not just a wood working business. I grew up with self employed parents and while I work for a school many of these lessons were hard learned from them with similar considerations to be made.
I absolutely loved the detail level shared. Solid cost analysis is critical to every business, yet is too often never properly analyzed, or, even worse, flat out ignored. There are numerous takeaways, including the need to raise pricing and looking deeply into cost-cutting with efficiency gains in materials, labor, and overhead. Well done! Thank you for sharing so openly!
Thanks for putting all this together! I just started my woodworking/CZcams business a little under a year ago and the $ value of time and effort has been one of my big struggles. Just subbed and look forward to more! God bless!
I appreciate how thoughtful and thorough your approach was. Thank you for taking the time to put it all together for us!
Fantastic Video! I've been looking for a video to spell out the details of building a cutting board business. You answered so many questions I've had the last few weeks. Thank you.
Ryan, you touched on an important thing.. well many... one that I find striking is your appreciation for arriving where you are how you did and being thankful for the same. I think that's a worldly trait.. humble to be sure. Thank you again.
I got into this via random feed recommendation, and I must say, this is not only one of the best primers on pricing around, but also for process optimization. Great work.
Great job on the detailed breakdown! You did an awesome job at presenting the information! Hopefully, this video will get to a lot of those who under price their work.
What a cost / profit breakdown!!!! The time and effort to document, video & edit this alone is amazing. I don't do what you do but i can apply this method to my wood-resin casting world easy enough. A HUGE thank you for putting into perspective a subject i'm sure many of us think about but don't apply to it's fullest. Thank you very much sir.
Thank you for your hard work on this video and your other videos. I LOVE your channel! I have learned so much by watching your videos. Looking forward to whatever your next build turns out to be.
Glad you’re getting value out of my amateur projections 😉
This is one of the more educational and encouraging videos SO MANY SHOULD SEE! I'm sure there are plenty of people who see peeps like you selling cutting boards for hundreds of dollars and never think about everything that goes into making them beyond our material costs.
Job well done, Ryan; have a 5-er (wish I could afford more). I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
Thank you Scott!
@@ryanhawkins the board foot thing freaked me out 😂 would be cool to see u do a video about metric. Maybe making a metric board using only metric 😂😂😂
Fantastic thorough info on calculating real costs and maintaining proper profit margins. Thank you!
THAT is an honest and very much appreciated video!!
Thank you so much for the time and work you putted in this video. Its so helpful for someone that is starting a woodworking bussiness.
Great info on numbers here! I have my Spreadsheet Locked and loaded. Change any variable and all the important numbers to watch will update with proper formulas. Thanks a million for taking the time to break this down.
Your frankness with your real numbers is unmatched anywhere! Keep up the great work :D
Thanks for the time you put on this video, and all the information we have always wanted to know about the business. This is the first time I click the "thanks button" but I really think you deserve it! You got a new subscriber here!!
Thanks for the video. Your experience is exactly why I have decided to keep my hobby a hobby. My free time is far more valuable than the 💵. I also enjoy the expression on the peoples faces I give gifts to.
Great video Ryan, it’s absolutely obvious you love what you do and create in your shop! I’m really glad I purchased an amazing board from you last year. It’s awesome and it’s used often, waxed and buffed between using it!🤩👍🏽
Thanks Ron, glad it’s still serving you well!
As someone in the woodworking business myself, the breakdown on cost was enlightening. Thank you for your thoroughness and attention to detail. Blessings on your work!
Awesome video, this is exactly the reason i like youtube you can find jem like this that helps you have an insight on what you usually see in videos. Great work💪
Excellent info. I completed my first (and last) end grain butcher block in 1981 with just basic hand power tools, sanding took forever and I decided to never do that again. I am glad you included the portion on the time to video. While I have never actually timed it, I have always felt that creating a video at the very least, doubled the amount of time it took to complete a project. Steve
Helping the algorithm! :) Thanks so much for this video. I will no doubt be watching it again in the future
This video lines up so well to how I think! I like numbers but I also like to create. I am starting up something small with a partner and I keep track of the hours and materials as meticulously as possible. The overhead is very tricky but ours is very low considering we aren't full time as you. I have taken the accounting route as far as giving tools a time frame of longevity, dividing the cost of the tool by that time frame, and then diving that by the goal of products we aim to sell in a year. Only time will tell if my "formula" will cover everything properly........well as long as we can sell the goal. Thank you for sharing your experience!!!
Hit the nail on the head with the honest info given in this video. I've been running a cutting board business for yrs and while we love doing what we do unfortunately we don't make much overall. Theres alot of other videos out there that make it sound like overhead/time to construct is much lower than reality. Bottom line is you really have to enjoy this work and you have to be willing to work hard at it but not expect as much in return as the typically -Make Easy Money On Cutting Board videos, those people post what most new business dreamers want to hear and they take advantage of it sadly.
Wow, I had no idea the amount of time and effort and hair pulling it takes to do this. I thought I was a hard worker but my hat is off to you young man. Thanks for sharing this with us.
Thank you for this video as a new business owner this helps so much! Already doing so much math in the making side of woodworking is crazy enough!
Thanks Ryan, this really breaks down the profits earned and the hours it takes to produce woodcrafts. I used to wholesale my products, but at the end of the day, it was the same amount of hours for half the cost. I think one big order, I made less than $2/hr. Lessons learned!
That was such an awesome comprehensive explanation on the reality of being in business. THANK YOU!!!
Great insight into cost vs profit. I appreciate you sharing all that knowledge. God speed on your tool upgrades.
I have to say I know how you feel there about all of it most of the things I build end up as gifts cause I enjoy wood working that much or any type of making matchsticks included as you see in the picture of my frog... I only have a weekend to do anything anymore that flies by... but anyway really good video I learned a lot from the whole breakdown process gives me a lot to think about put this toward your tools or whatever
WOW, that's an extremely detailed analysis. Well done, and thanks for sharing !
Great video Ryan! I just recently started an LLC and have sold a few boards…mostly to family. After watching your video I can see I did that at an extreme loss. At about the half way mark of your video I started feeling discouraged, but at least now(and early on in my journey) I have your detailed knowledge to learn with. Im now leaving excited and confident to charge what my heart is telling me to ask for and not feel guilty about it! I also have a guide to billing no matter where the craft takes me. Thank you sir I hope you hit 1.8 million and beyond.
I really liked all the info given and the TIME you invested in explaining everything! new sub!
Thanks! Great breakdown of your project. More people need to run their numbers and understand what their time is worth! Keep up the great work!
Fantastic video Ryan!! Keep up the great work!!
I’m listening to this while making cutting boards for Christmas gifts. How awesome.
this was a great insight on it all. i do things way too simple . and what i learned is i really need to take into account of more than just material cost. thank you .
Amazing on all counts - impressive to see the work output and inputs.
When people want a detailed breakdown of why custom work costs so much I’m gonna refer them to this video. Awesome job.
Thank you for a real life lesson on the economics of running a woodworking business. Well done!
Thanks for watching!
This is the kind of data I have collected on work I have done in the past. It's amazing how many people don't count the little bits and pieces into their costs and really don't see how much overheads cut into profit. Great to see someone expressing a genuine business approach to honest numbers . Too many dreamers out there selling nonsense ideas.
This was awesome, thank you for taking the time to do this.
Glad it was of value to you
This is underrated! GREAT!!! It must have been so much work to put this together. Thank you very much
Awesome video! I'm currently working on a batch of 50 cutting boards (not end grain) and keep wondering to myself if it's even profitable. This is great information to help refine processes and be more efficient.
Awesome video Ryan! Love your work as always but appreciate the effort you put in to this to educate us on the business side of things! As someone who isn’t good with numbers and will just work hard and make sure my accounts in the green it is good to see some of these calculations. Cheers from Northern California!
Glad you liked it!
I thoroughly enjoyed your video. You are a good, honest guy who is very likable and trustworthy..Best of luck to you and know that you have at least one more subscriber..
What an amazing video Ryan!! You poured your heart and soul into those boards and equally so into the filming and information in this video. As a newish woodworker trying to figure out a small business this video has undoubtedly saved me more than $5 but I wanted to send over what I could afford as a small thanks for putting out this extremely helpful content! Best of luck to you in the future, I know you'll get to that $40/hr and well beyond soon enough! :)
Thank you for bravely sharing your experience.
As a hobbyist I'm just glad that how much time it takes me to make a cutting board is about the same as you.
I was starting to question how everyone else does it so fast.
Hope you got that planer and drum sander!
Ryan, love your video's. I recently started woodworking as a hobby, wanted to make some money on the side. This video kind of makes me want to cry haha. You are a machine, so much intensive labor! Glad to hear you find it hard to push trough these long hours of grinding making the boards and are indeed also a human!
Glad you enjoyed it!
So many people dismiss the fiddle factor. Great video and information. I hope you're close to getting that new planer.
Thanks so much for this video and your openness!
Great video. I enjoyed learning all that goes into the business side of woodworking business. I liked the detail.
Thanks for sharing, very informative. I also make boards and have taken the leap to pursue my passion "full time" a little over a year now. It's a scary thing! Best of luck to you, and I believe you will make it work.
Outstanding video! I loved every aspect of how you break down the money behind the build.
Very well and thoughtful explanations!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Geez!!! A lot of info and time into your video. Thanks for all the time you have put in. 1st video I’ve seen of yours. New subscriber. 🇨🇦
This is the greatest cutting board video on YT. Thank you.
This was a great eye opener behind the screens well done, i had to recalculate everything to metric LOL but i use now your formula to calculate a project of my own to see if it is worth it.
I liked and I commented and subscribed
I don’t know what else should I do to give you A little bit of appreciation for the wonderful video that you have just provided for use
Thank you so much 😊
I hope you make it to 1.8 million views on this video. I greatly appreciate this video, it really showed me the ins and outs of this business and everything that goes into it.
I just found your videos and was impressed with your work .
Excellent sumup. Thanks for sharing.
Amazing video, thanks for also clarifying what you make and what you want to make and what that does to the final sales price
So much fun watching this. And so much help. thx
Great video. Always a ton of variables, but it definitely is an outline that can be used to figure out where money can be saved and time could be saved. Usually saving time equates to purchasing better/bigger more efficient machines. Its a tough way to make a living. I have a business that specializes in custom work which has its pros and cons too. For me, I have to do a balancing act between doing what i love and doing what pays the bills. Such is life. Great video! Zero negative feedback from me. I always try to learn as much from someone's process to apply or modify from my own situation! Keek up the good work!
Thanks!
Subscribed for the amazingly detailed and honest content.
Thanks Ryan! Your time, effort and thoughtful approach deserves a small bump. Hope it helps somehow. Good Luck Brother.
Hats off for your unbelievable transparency on this subject! There's so many data/metrics exposed in this video, it would be awesome to have more video done like this by other YT channels. Truly glad you made this one :)
I would also suggest that you reach out to different brand and try to get some sponsorship in the form of more beefed up (industrial) tools. Table saw on its last leg? Reach out to Saw Stop/Harvey/Laguna, I'm sure they would be glad to help you out! Same for the planer... I can hear the little dewalt planer scream when boards goes in and out of it (I know I had one) :D
As someone suggested, go with something that has carbide inserts, it'll pay for itself with the amount you are currently spending on planner/jointer knives.
Anyway comments is getting ridiculously long... like the video ;) So keep at it, you are really inspiring to watch :D
All good feedback, thanks!
Hi Ryan, excellent breakdown of the cutting board process!
I've been in the cabinet making for 18 years and the only thing that have worked for me is using the Toyota system, or in other words the lean manufacturing process. Paul Akers explains it very good. the key is to start slow and be consistent every day. Beutiful cutting boards by the way! 👍
Bro… this is the most well put together video I have ever watched!
Great information for any woodworker out there.
Thanks, Ryan. great job on lessons learned.
Woow amazing I am starting in the cutting boards making in mexico and struggle a lot triying to sell then in around $150 dlls your video makes me realizing that I should look for a better market thanks a lot
Great video, so helpful. Thank you!
What a fantastic video, thank you so much!
that is a lot of detail, thank you for the inside look.
Really appreciate the detail and effort behind this.
Thank you 🙏
@@ryanhawkins The drum sander is my lifesaver. Hope you can get one soon.
amazing video here!! so much info here you dont really find elsewhere! Thank you for that!! Sounds like it is time to go shopping for a nice big planer at a minimum :)
You are an awsome dude! Thank you for making this video for us. You have a great attitude.
Thanks!
Better than any quality earnings call I've listened.
Thank you!
thanks for your time dude. great video
Amazing work, your art is genius 😍 thank you for sharing so much
Hi from Australia.
I Just started on my woodworking journey and my main medium atm is palletwood. Your channel (amongst others) has been a huge inspiration for getting that journey started and figuring out which direction I want to go. Cutting boards are very high on my list, but I am thinking they will be more scrap wood projects, time fillers as I still want to work on bigger projects (once I have learnt and worked upon my skilset).
Thank you again for the inspiration and keep up the great work. All 3 of my youtube accounts are subscribed to this channel. Hope that helps in some way.