Somebody I know asked me what I would charge for making him a humidor. I did some digging and decided this Fine Woodworking Plan would work well.
So I tried to break it down as best I could, and came up with this estimate:
| Item | Count | Price | Tax Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9/16" Spanish cedar (sq ft) | 1.75 | $11.00 | 10.25% | $21.22 |
| 3/8" Spanish cedar for lining (sq ft) | 1.38 | $11.00 | 10.25% | $16.68 |
| Veneer | 1.00 | $30.00 | 10.25% | $33.08 |
| Wenge | 1.44 | $23.00 | 10.25% | $36.63 |
| Brusso Quadrant Hinges | 1.00 | $52.99 | 10.25% | $58.42 |
| Brusso JB-818 latch | 1.00 | $41.33 | 10.25% | $45.57 |
| 1/2" MDF | 10.25% | $0.00 | ||
| 1/4" plywood | 10.25% | $0.00 | ||
| humidifer | 10.25% | $0.00 | ||
| mill Spanish cedar for box sides | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| cut MDF top and plywood bottom | 0.50 | $20.00 | $10.00 | |
| glue veneer to Spanish cedar | 0.60 | $20.00 | $12.00 | |
| glue veneer to MDF and plywood | 0.40 | $20.00 | $8.00 | |
| cut rabbets for joinery | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| glue up box | 0.50 | $20.00 | $10.00 | |
| cut rabbets for edge band and inlay | 0.75 | $20.00 | $15.00 | |
| cut and glue edge banding | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| cut and glue inlay | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| cut open box | 0.70 | $20.00 | $14.00 | |
| finish outside of box | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| install hinges | 2.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 | |
| install catch | 0.80 | $20.00 | $16.00 | |
| mill Spanish cedar for lining | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| finish lining | 1.00 | $20.00 | $20.00 | |
| cut lining | 0.60 | $20.00 | $12.00 | |
| install lining | 0.60 | $20.00 | $12.00 | |
| Grand Total | $500.59 |
$500 for a humidor seems kind of steep, especially since on Etsy there are plenty of options for $100–$300. My friend decided it’s more than he can afford right now.
Is my estimate way off? How do those Etsy sellers (that are in the US using a workshop, not a factory) make a living? How have you handled requests for custom builds?