Popular Woodworking 2009-11 № 179, страница 16

Wood Whisperer's Build-or-Buy Worksheet

Difficulty of the Project

1 - Very difficult. Will require research, mock-ups, new tools or new skills.

2 - Moderately difficult. Will be a good test of your skills but nothing you can't handle.

3 - Easy. should be a slam dunk!

Urgency of Project

1 - We needed it yesterday.

2 - Can live without it for a couple months.

3 - It doesn't matter when it's completed

Likelihood of You Actually Finishing the Project

1 - I am not much of a completer, but I love starting new projects!

2 - Most of my projects are completed but I occasionally lose interest and abandon one here or there.

3 - I finish every project that comes through the shop.

Recipient Patience Level

1 - If it's not done on schedule, you are in trouble!

2 - It would be nice if it was completed on schedule, but if it takes a little longer it's oK.

3 - As long as it's made by you, your recipient has the patience of a saint.

Cost Savings

1 - It will actually cost more to build it yourself.

2 - It's about the same price.

3 - Building it yourself saves you money.

Your Stubborn Pride

1 - You are easygoing. one less thing on your to-do list!

2 - You prefer to build it yourself, but the purchased piece is welcome in the house.

3 - You never let him/her live it down if they actually purchased a piece of furniture. Quality Level of Store-bought Product

1 - Much better than you could build in your shop.

2 - About the same quality construction and materials.

3 - They can't even come close to your level of craftsmanship.

Visibility the Item Will Get in the Home

1 - No one will ever really even see it.

2 - some people might notice it when they visit.

3 - It's in plain view and would get a lot of attention from guests.

Need for Customization

1 - No specific size/color/species requirements (anything will do).

2 - It doesn't have to be perfect, but there is some consideration given to size/color/ species.

3 - Very specific size/color/species requirements.

If your score falls between 8 and 17, you should buy it. If your score falls between 19 and 27, you should build it. If your score is right in the middle at 18, see below for suggestions on how to break the tie.

island that would look great with a pair of bar stools. Unfortunately, given the close proximity of the kitchen table, we decided against it. As luck would have it, we recently came across a unique pair of stools. Instead of having a full round seat, these stools feature one straight side. The low profile design was a little strange to the eye at first but would fit our kitchen perfectly. I pulled out my phone and began taking pictures from all angles. Although these stools looked pretty sturdy, I just knew I could improve on the design. My mind began to race with all the possibilities but before I could get too carried away, I received a little tap on my shoulder. Apparently, my wife was having a different reaction to the stools. She pointed to the price tag: $90 for two stools. She indicated that the finish would match perfectly. Then she executed the death blow by reminding me that I don't even have a shop right now. I had no choice but to raise the white flag and surrender. With as much dignity as I could muster, I

picked up the box and placed it in our cart next to my Honey Nut Cheerios. Later that evening, I un-boxed the stools and found that they were completely assembled! And to add insult to injury, they had the audacity to be sturdy and well-built. At this point, there was absolutely no way I could deny that purchasing these stools was the right thing to do. Sigh ... so let's see what the quiz would have told us. Here are my answers in order: 2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 = 17

My total score was 17, just barely squeaking into the "buy it" recommendation. That does seem a little odd because at the time of purchase, the decision seemed so clear-cut. So when taking this quiz it's important to remember that it doesn't take into account the fact that some questions carry more weight than others. Perhaps you have a very impatient recipient. Maybe the need for customization is paramount. For me, cost was a major factor. After our recent move, things are pretty tight financially. And from

Store-bought. These two stools were bought rather than made. The low cost, compared with the time and money is would take to make them, wasn't worth an argument.

my estimation, building these stools would have cost me roughly $20-$30 more in wood alone. This doesn't even take into account the finish materials and the shop time. Giving the cost more weight in the quiz would definitely push me deeper into the "buy it" recommendation. So feel free to alter the values of the quiz as you see fit, especially if your score is 18.

If you folks are anything like me, you have this vision in your head that eventually everything in your house will be built by you. But I have to be realistic. In order to keep my wife happy, I need to operate on a certain timetable and occasionally swallow my pride. A quiz like this is helpful to me because it serves as an "impartial third p arty," giving me a gentle nudge one way or the other. Now you and I both know that you will probably just do what you want to do anyway. But at least if the quiz results come out in your favor, you can use it as part of your argument. PW

Marc is a professional woodworker as well as the creator and host of The Wood Whisperer (thewood whisperer.com). The Wood Whisperer (an instructional Internet woodworking show) represents Marc's three passions: woodworking, technology and education.

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our "Wood Whisperer" column features woodworking thoughts and ideas, along with shop techniques from Marc Spagnuolo. Most columns have a corresponding video related to the techniques ~ ^x

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