Woodworker's Journal 2009-33-1, страница 12
the woodworker's journal The Cost of Beauty Recently some of you have challenged my species selection on various projects (those ebonized ash legs on our bubinga table in the April issue, for example). You are, of course, free to choose which species to use on any of our projects, but the letters raise an important question for all woodworkers: "Why don't you just stick with regular wood — like plain old red oak? Is it really worth it to spend the extra money?" Talk about your loaded question! Here comes my equally loaded answer. My opinion is that the most common and visible mistake woodworkers make occurs when they select their material. To put it bluntly: if the wood you are using is boring to look at, your project will be, too. Sprucing it up with a cool stain or shiny finish will just give you a shiny, more colorful, boring-looking project. (You don't need to ask how I know this ...) Purchasing stock with more attractive figure will cost additional money, but it will yield more attractive results. With an online price survey, I found I could purchase flatsawn (i.e., "plain old") red oak for about $3.30 a board foot (bf). For quartersawn red oak, a much nicer grain pattern to most folks' eyes, the cost doubled to $6.60/bf. Even a math-challenged editor can tell the quartersawn costs twice as much. How does that impact a real project? Let's use the example of our Arts & Crafts bookcase from the August 2008 issue (we built it from quartersawn longleaf pine at about $6.50/bf). The bookcase requires roughly 32.5 board feet of solid lumber. To build it using flatsawn red oak would set you back $107.25. In quartersawn red oak: $214.50. If you opt for the traditional choice of quartersawn white oak, which sells for $7.10/bf on my price survey, your material cost would jump to $230.75 for the project. It seems to me that if you are going to invest 30 to 50 hours building a wonderful project, the additional hundred bucks (in this case) for great-looking lumber is well worth the investment. Choosing between a well-made but plain-looking project or a well-made and gorgeous-looking project? For me, the answer is easy. Especially if your name is going to be associated with the project for the next 50 years (or more!). I understand that beauty is often in the eye of the beholder, but this beholder likes to look at beautiful wood. And, within reason, I am ready to bear the cost of that beauty. What's in Store for Stumpers: With this first issue of the new year, we are making a couple of changes. We've moved Stumpers into our Questions & Answers department, where it seems to naturally fit. In addition, we are revamping our What's In Store department, and I've put Joanna Werch Takes, my senior editor, in charge of that task. Our art department has made a few smaller changes to the magazine, all aimed at improving our presentation. Drop me a line and let me know what you think. This is your magazine; I want to know how we're doing for you! —Rob Johnstone JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 Volume 33, Number 1 ROB JOHNSTONE Editor in Chief JOANNA WERCH TAKES Senior Editor CHRIS MARSHALL Field Editor JEFF JACOBSON Senior Art Director JOE FAHEY Associate Art Director MATTHEW BECKER Content Coordinator LARRY N. STOIAKEN Publisher DANA SEVERSON Advertising Director ALYSSA TAUER Advertising Operations MARY TZIMOKAS Circulation Director KELLY ROSAAEN Circulation Manager MEG CLARK Direct Mail Manager Founder and CEO ANN ROCKLER JACKSON Editorial Advisors NORTON ROCKLER JOHN KELLIHER Contributing Editors MICHAEL DRESDNER RICK WHITE GEORGE VONDRISKA ADVERTISING SALES J.F. Van Gilder Company 12740 Hillcrest Plaza Dr., Suite 295 Dallas, Texas 75230 DAVID BECKLER david@jvgco.com TERRIMATHIS terri@jvgco.com JIM VAN GILDER jim@jvgco.com Phone: (972) 392-1892 Fax: (972) 392-1893 Member Audit Bureau of Circulations Magazine Publishers of America EDITORIAL INQUIRIES ROB JOHNSTONE rjohnstone@woodworkersjournal.com 763-478-8255 JOANNA WERCH TAKES jtakes@woodworkersjournal.com 763-478-8303 CHRIS MARSHALL cmarshall@woodworkersjournal.com 614-746-2985 SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES (800) 765-4119 or Write Woodworker's Journal, P.O. Box 56583, Boulder, CO 80322-6583. E-mail: woodworkersjournal@neodata.com. Include mailing label for renewals and address changes. For gift subscriptions, include your name and address and your gift recipient's. BOOK SALES AND BACK ISSUES Call: (800)610-0883 www. woodworkers] ournal. com VISIT OUR HOME PAGE: ©2009 Rockier Press Inc. Printed in USA 12 |
