New Year Goals

[GhostFist]

Just curious as to what goals you lot hope to achieve in wood working for this upcoming year. Myself, I should be inducted into the Film union within the next two months which should bring in a significant income boost, and much needed if I do say so my self. I plan on investing in my first batch of Festools starting with the OF1400 then the MFT/3 then the TS55 followed by the CT36 which I'm hoping will be enough to do my own quality cabinet furniture jobs on the side. I have a few personal projects I'd like to get done/start first of which being a good quality drafting table to build. I love sketchup and all but there's something about the process of drafting out full sized drawings that I really enjoy. I'd be interested in any design ideas or drafting tables you lot have built for inspiration.

My life as a carpenter/woodworker has been a struggle so far to say the least. I've taken the hard road to learn 99% of what i know. I'm a perfectionist and I feel this can hold me back at times as I've seen people make good money off of slapped together projects and I can't bring myself to doing things half arsed. I really need to brush up on the whole business of woodworking, I've been focusing mainly on improving skills and techniques in the craft itself but am admittedly stupid when it comes to the most important factor of it all....making money at it.

Any way, here's to a good New Year and all the amazing things we/ll make in it.
Cheers!

 

[mouppe]

Good post. I am planning to build a couple of Federal side tables early in the New Year, which will involve a lot of string inlay and veneer work. If these go well, I am intending to build a sideboard to complement my dining table in the same style.

I am in for a Carvex when they arrive here...if ever.

 

[Deansocial]

my goal is to clear the garage so its not half full, like literally completly full Upto 4'.  Then set a router table up in there because i cant afford a spindle moulder and make some stuff for home

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Just curious as to what goals you lot hope to achieve in wood working for this upcoming year. Myself, I should be inducted into the Film union within the next two months which should bring in a significant income boost, and much needed if I do say so my self.

Great goals!  Congrats on getting into the film union.  I know a couple of film carpenters and they too feel the money is good, if not predictable.  Interesting work.  They work from designs done in California.  Most everything is balsa wood.  Its light and easy to move, plus during the movie it will likely get shot or blown up - maybe less of that in Canadian film.  They get some fun projects too.  One was a couch where when you pressed a button, machine guns came out blazing.  Not much call for that outside the film industry [laughing].

 

[jonny round boy]

My main woodworking goal for the new year is to finally finish a built-in unit I started about 6 months ago. A couple of months ago I promised SWMBO that it would be done by Christmas, but then something came up...

Slightly still on the woodworking front, I got made redundant the week before Christmas, so I need to find another job fairly soon [unsure]

And on a completely non-wood related level, I need to lose weight. So no different to any of the last 10 years...

 

[ajones]

My main woodworking goal for the new year is to finally finish a built-in unit I started about 6 months ago. A couple of months ago I promised SWMBO that it would be done by Christmas, but then something came up...

Slightly still on the woodworking front, I got made redundant the week before Christmas, so I need to find another job fairly soon [unsure]

And on a completely non-wood related level, I need to lose weight. So no different to any of the last 10 years...

Hi Johny losing your job  chistmas week it just a little bit sh.t [sad] Im sure another will be along in a minute [thumbs up]

 

[GhostFist]

Just curious as to what goals you lot hope to achieve in wood working for this upcoming year. Myself, I should be inducted into the Film union within the next two months which should bring in a significant income boost, and much needed if I do say so my self.

Great goals!  Congrats on getting into the film union.  I know a couple of film carpenters and they too feel the money is good, if not predictable.  Interesting work.  They work from designs done in California.  Most everything is balsa wood.  Its light and easy to move, plus during the movie it will likely get shot or blown up - maybe less of that in Canadian film.  They get some fun projects too.  One was a couch where when you pressed a button, machine guns came out blazing.  Not much call for that outside the film industry [laughing].

We blow stuff up real good here in Canada, and 99% of our projects are American Films shot here. That sounds more like special effects stuff your friends are doing and it is cool. Myself i mostly build sets and the odd prop piece. Couple of films that were shot here recently, Scott Pilgrim and the upcoming prequel to John Carpenter's version of "The Thing" (out soon). I'm hoping Ridley Scott's Alien prequel does some shooting here as Pinewood just bought up our biggest sound stages.....here's hoping.

On another note I hate to hear someone was laid off right before christmas, it happens to me regularly just as business seems to slow down around this time of year. I attempt to save a few months security just in case for around this time of year. Good luck with the new job, it was meant to be just look at it that way. New Shop, New Challenges New Year New Builds.

All the best!

 

[Tezzer]

Myself, I should be inducted into the Film union within the next two months which should bring in a significant income boost, and much needed if I do say so my self.

Ghost, what is the film union and what will you be doing? Is it woodwork related.

 

[GhostFist]

IATSE Local 873, ya it is wood working of sorts as everything is made of wood but it's all very temporary. As in its only meant to last for the duration of shooting. I've done my job when you can't tell that it's a set, space ships excluded of course but still, if you think "wow where did they get that freakin space ship?" the answer is ; we made it... out of wood....and no it doesn't fly. a good portion of interior shots are done in the studio with sets we've built, I could key you into what to look for to tell wether it's a set or not but it kinda takes away from the magic of movies so i wont bother. Film work is a load of fun and i love doing it but you can't rely on it 100%, the industry is very temper-mental.

 

[harry_]

New Year Goal: a minimum of 2X of 2010's work.

Damn, it was a LEAN year! [crying]

 

[GhostFist]

it was an ok year for me certainly better than last year went pretty wimpy towards the end for me. Still nothing to cheer about, I'm praying 2011 brings some big changes, for the better.

 

[joiner1970]

Hopefully get my hand back to normal and hope that work picks up in 2011

OH and lose all that weight that I just gained in your buffet's while i was in Florida  ;D [laughing] [laughing] [laughing]

 

[Rob-GB]

My goal for home is a cabinet for all our cd's, dvd's and books. It is in the "I'm working on a design, love" stage and have so far logged a massive 2 hours cad time to it  [laughing]. I keep sifting through stuff on line to find inspiration and find other cool stuff to take me off track  :-[

Away from woodwork I want to brush up on my Spanish, for a trip to Spain with my mum who has never flown or been outside the UK!

Rob.

 

[harry_]

Hopefully get my hand back to normal and hope that work picks up in 2011

OH and lose all that weight that I just gained in your buffet's while i was in Florida  ;D [laughing] [laughing] [laughing]

Yeah, gotta watch out for those buffets!

 

[GhostFist]

Thought I'd revisit this one as we're once again approaching a new year. Well how did things go with my plans last year? I was NOT inducted into the union due to some bureaucracy, that should take place this Feb, how ever I worked almost exclusively in film this year and had one of my most profitable years to date. So busy in fact i started none of the side projects i hoped to. As far as the business aspect of wood working, I'd say I learnt a fair deal but my one job outside of film this year i had to terminate early due to an unreliable partner. The money I made this year allowed me to clear my debts and invest in some fancy equipment, FESTOOL being just part of that investment. Looking to the future, I would like to keep momentum going, get union politics out of the way, and do more of my own jobs while still remaining financially in the green. A guy can dream can't he? I'd like to incorporate myself if it's a smart thing to do. Having just cleared my debts I'm in no rush to jump back into them. Anyone in Ontario have any advice regarding incorporation?? I can work under my company in film wether union affiliated or not. Obviously I need the advice of a good and trustworthy accountant.

Look for some of my work to be released in the coming year.....
Cosmopolis-Directed By David Cronenberg
Total Recall-Starring Colin Farrel (really cool builds in this)
Resident Evil 5 retribution......you don't have to watch this one, I had a horrible time on this show.

TV series I'm currently working on should be interesting based on the sets alone "Copper" is set in period New York around the time of the film "Gangs of New York". It's being filmed for BBC America. Having a great time on this little series, we've built about four city blocks, 3 stories high, including a flat iron and this awesome barn we set on fire.

Anyway here's hoping for the best for all of you!

 

[mouppe]

Good post. I am planning to build a couple of Federal side tables early in the New Year, which will involve a lot of string inlay and veneer work. If these go well, I am intending to build a sideboard to complement my dining table in the same style.

I am in for a Carvex when they arrive here...if ever.

A year later, here is where I stand with my goals from last year.

Federal sideboards- check.
A lot of other good pieces of furniture including a chest- check.

Carvex- well you know the answer to that one!

 

[sancho57]

I want to drop weight a become more proficient in utilizing the festool system. I can build anything with the tools I have now my TS stationary RT etc. But I want to be able to use only the festool system and sell the stational tools I have. That is both a steep learning curve (well for me) and requires some creativity jig making etc.

Im off work over the Xmas holiday I have some  things I want to build to makemy woodworking  life a bit easier

 

[peter halle]

Work Wise: I am going radical ( for me ) with promotions and non reliance on word of mouth.

Personally: I have some woodworking to do just for me.

FOG Wise:  You / we will have to wait and see!  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Hoping all of you have a great 2012!

Peter

 

[tiralie]

I'd like to incorporate myself if it's a smart thing to do. Having just cleared my debts I'm in no rush to jump back into them. Anyone in Ontario have any advice regarding incorporation??

Hi GhostFist:
In my opinion, I wouldn't incorporate unless you have more than 100K in revenue annually. Also, it's not really an advantage unless you are planning to use a lot of subs and want to protect yourself (personally) from being sued in the event you declare bankruptcy.
In my experience the additional legal costs to set up a corporation, time and money spent on accounting fees for annual financial statements and submission to the government really cancels out any advantages from a tax or personal liability in the event of bankruptcy.
[/quote]

I can work under my company in film wether union affiliated or not. Obviously I need the advice of a good and trustworthy accountant.

I would definitely talk to an accountant about your needs. Do your research and make sure you understand what they are telling you.
Send me a PM if you are interested and I can recommend my bookkeeper/accountant. I have been working with her for 20+ years.

Look for some of my work to be released in the coming year.....
Cosmopolis-Directed By David Cronenberg
Total Recall-Starring Colin Farrel (really cool builds in this)

I am sure I will get to see one of these. Good luck on getting into the union.

Anyway here's hoping for the best for all of you!

Same to you and everyone else!
Tim

 

[GhostFist]

Tim that seems good advice. There's a lot of talk of these film guys all incorporating and bragging about how they're able to write everything off and all. It's always seemed a little too good to be true imo and a lot of people weren't really giving the answers to the questions i've had about the whole thing. Having just payed off all my debts I'm in no rush to create a potentially bigger debt pile due to mishandling my income.
PM on the way