A Paying Gig

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
Out of the blue this past week I got a call from a custom home builder who is working on one of the "historic" homes in the downtown area. Somehow he got my name while looking for someone to re-make the wood siding on this home in the Five Points area. These older (some antebellum) homes are subject to a lot of constraints so I have to faithfully reproduce the original siding. After a few quick chats and a bid the job will be coming to my shop. I'm still waiting for the final number but I will be making in excess of 4500 linear feet of traditional bevel siding. Could be a lot more based on our last conversation. Next week I'll go to the courthouse and register with the county under the name on the sign on my shop, "Waterfowler Woodworks", and with that my hobby shop will be a business, at least while this job is underway. For now I've put in an order for tooling and this weekend I'll try to get my trailer ready for hauling as well as finishing a few other projects to make room. Going to be a very busy time for me over the next few weeks but I am really excited to be putting years of work of machine restorations and shop construction into something for a customer.

Eric
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No more time to duck hunt for you. You will be too busy making trips to your bank with wheel barrows full of cash. Heck you will probably need to utilize all the available space in your shop. Let us know when the garage sales start on your boats and decoys.
 
congratulations Eric

nice to have your craftsmanship recognized even if the project won't float

pictures when the siding is on the house please-
 
Congratulations, Eric~


Until a few years ago I had a neighbor with milling equipment similar to yours. He shaped the siding and flooring for my shop. I miss Kirk - and his machinery - and wish you lots more paying projects.


All the best,


SJS

 
Leaving your mark in history. That is a very cool project to be apart of and hope it all goes smooth. Hope to see a picture of the completed house.
 

Congratulations!

From hobby to JOB. Oh boy...

Welcome to long hours, 7 days a week, guilt when ya DO go hunting or fishing, no sick days, holidays, etc., and loosing sleep about trying to satisfy customers.

I'm certain that your family will support, and put up with you, until the J-O-B is complete.


Many of us dream of doing what we love, and get paid for it. When that happens, it is a wonderful thing.

Then somewhere down the line (if ya keep at it a longtime) the saying. "Be careful for what you wish for." pops up. [;)]


That said, many of us would have it no other way.

Cuz ya gave/give it yer Best Shot, and the work you do will long outlast you. God Willing.




I wish you success, and all the best.
Vince
 
That is a lot of feet of siding. I'd love to see some pics along the way. Good luck.
 
[size 4] Nice to have someone seek you out. Good way to find out if such work suits you.

Had an interesting discussion with my son (Elsa's husband) about the regulations governing restoring houses in Toledo's Old West End Historic District where they live, and how as an archiect/construction management guy he doesn't see the sense in a lot of the restrictions they impose as they probably discourage many from buying some of the far-gone propertys that are in such disrepair that they eventually are crumbling ruins that no one has interest in..... except for the dealers & druggies.
 
And a new tax write off you have. Hopefully your "business "is registered and you have a Federal tax ID number. Get a good accountant who understands how tools can go into the business and become a write off. Tools are one of the easy things to put into a business.

Mark
 
Thanks for the encouragement. Order for lumber was just made and I'm taking my trailer in today for repairs. Both need about a week's turnaround before I start making wood chips.

Mark, yes I am working with a tax expert to do those things you mentioned.

Eric
 
Congrats Eric
Many ways to go here. Possibly you could rent your shop To the business.
Depending on the lease you could have taxes and maintenance paid for and also a income.
Machinery also could play into it
 
Not doing the job after all. Builder accepted my bid so I placed a $600 order for custom tooling, and placed the lumber order. The lumber supplier, who told me he could fill the order with what he had on the lot, called me a few days later to say he didn't have what he thought he did on hand and it would take a month to fill due to the quantity. He informed me the same day the custom tooling was shipped from the supplier. I informed the builder and provided several options (one more expensive, one less) but never heard anything from him again, despite numerous attempts to reach him by phone/txt. The custom ground knives and cutter-head arrived yesterday. I reached out to the builder again today and he finally responded that he went with someone else when I had issues getting materials. It would have been nice if he had informed me that days ago...

I'm sure there are some lessons here but don't know how I would have done anything differently. I placed the tooling and lumber orders once I was told I had the job. If the lumberyard accurately informed me of their stock situation I would have held off on the tooling order until the builder and I discussed the impacts/options. But that didn't happen so nothing I can do about any of it now.

Oh well, I may never use the knives but the new cutter head can be used for other jobs. No biggie.

Eric
 
Ouch on several fronts. Can you offer to sell the knives to the guy that got the job :)?
 
Last edited:
Eric Patterson said:
tod osier said:
Ouch on several fronts. Can you offer to sell the knives to the guy that got the job :)?
Click to expand...

Not doing that. They are perfect for making wedges for stopping porpoising :)

Eric
Click to expand...

If anyone around here actually built a boat, you may have a market!!!!
 
When I worked in trades, the rule was to get enough up front to cover materials. Unfortunately, not all buyers are reliable.
 
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