ChuckFlynn.com

How A Hobby Can Be Turned Into A Career

Sometimes what starts out as a hobby turns into a passion and the hobbyist wants to make it his career. Whatever the hobby is, though, is going to be facing stiff competition from businesses that import handcrafted items from overseas. If you want to turn a hobby into a business, you need to create a niche for yourself.

Woodworking is a good example of how this can be done. There are many amateur woodworkers and the manufacturers of woodworking machinery have come up with some fantastic products that allow enthusiasts to get professional results even if they have limited space to work in. Between the high quality saws, routers, lathes and other equipment that is available, items like wooden bar stools and other goods are easily produced.

As great as these machines are, they still can't compete with the far more expensive machines that can mass produce wood bar stools, chairs, tables and other wooden products. It would be completely unrealistic to think that you could make a living trying to compete with companies that can make a hundred stools in the time it takes you to make five or ten at most.

If your goal is to make woodworking your business, you will have to stretch your imagination and make a niche in the market. You will only be able to successfully do this if you perfect your skills in every department, practical and creative. Interior designers, arts and crafts galleries and architects are only looking for the best and you will need to be able to give it to them.

Because even modern bar stools, for instance, are mass produced, designers who want to make a name for themselves will be looking for items that have never been seen before. Because they have a demanding clientele, they will be looking for the best examples of contemporary wooden furniture they can find.

As a hobbyist turning professional, your job will be to excel at what you do. Focus first one perfecting your craft and secondly on honing your creative skills. As a craftsman, these things will come naturally, but as a businessman, you are going to have to push your limits even further if you want to succeed.

Eventually, you will have a portfolio of your best work to display. You will then have to promote your business by getting the right people to look at your work. There is no better way to do this than face to face, but a good website will also be an invaluable aid.

It won't be easy, but entrepreneurship never is. If you work hard and don't let setbacks get you down, you can eventually succeed. You may not be able to give up your day job for awhile, but if you keep at it, you may eventually find that you have to quit your job just to keep up with your demand!

Lathe Turned, Cabinet Handles

Replica compass dial from the Mary Rose together with lid and box Photo Mugs Imitation compass dial for latitude 50 north. Circular horizontal dial with a fake lathe-turned plastic box, with lid. It has an hour scale numbered in black paint and a shaped and engraved brass gnomon that folds flat when not in use. It is also marked with an M. The compass has a steel needle in the form of an arrow and is surmounted by a shallow conical brass pivot. A glass plate covers all. Th...

Milescraft 4700 Turners Press for Joining Pens and Other Turned Projects of All Types $49.99 Evolution has taken a leap forward in the pen turning industry. The Milescraft TurnersPress features a one piece solid steel handle, improved cam linkage for total control and smooth pressing action, flip-over aluminum coarse stops and a micro-adjustable press pad that allows for fine tuning of pens up to 5-3/4" in length. With up to 300 lbs. of pressing force (not that you will ever need it), thi...

Ornament Kit, Mini (1) $5.29 Create stunning decorative and functional hanging ornaments with this Woodcraft exclusive turning kit. Whether you are adding a custom look to a window shade pull, ceiling fan pull, lamp pull or just making a truly unique Christmas tree ornament, this 24k-plated kits will definitely make your home the talk of the town. Add your wood and turning creativity for amazing results. Overall length of the...

Turned Bowls Made Easy Dvd! From the Tree to the Table and Everything in Between! $24.89 Turned Bowls Made Easy was released in November of 2004. Thanks to many of you, this DVD has been successful way beyond whatever Bill hoped or expected. Bills second DVD, Beyond the Basic Bowl: Advanced Bowl Techniques is also available in my store. Bill has worked hard to make Turned Bowls Made Easy different than any other video out there. What makes it so different? Well first of all, it has ...

Christmas Ornaments DVD Set and Turned Lidded Boxes DVD Combo Pack $29.99 This is a combination offer for two How-To DVD's Sets - Fancy Wooden Christmas Ornaments & Turned Lidded Boxes. The first set is intended to teach wood turners with a wood turning lathe how to make fancy Christmas ornaments on their wood lathe. These Two DVDs Will Teach You How To: Hollow a Globe through a 1-1/4" Hole, then make the hole disappear like magic! Turn Icicles so incredible that your...

Wooden Spinning Tops DVD and Turned Bottle Stoppers DVD Combo Pack $24.99 This is a combination offer for two How-To DVD's - Spinning Tops and Bottle Stoppers. I teach you how to make 4 different kinds of spinning tops. 1) Very small at 1/4" 2) A two piece crazy top that gyrates wildly as it spins 3) Beautiful Chatterwork tops that you color with Sharpies 4) Collector Segmented tops with 12 patterns for your PC. Chapter titles: Introduction and Gallery Simple One Pi...

Pure Badger Shave Brush with Lathe Turned Handle (1016) shave brush by Vulfix $27.00 Vulfix Old Original pure badger hair is of the highest quality, carefully graded for hand filled brushes. It is regarded as the quality benchmark by many shaving brush manufacturers. The hair is dark and silver in appearance, immediately identifying it as being of an above average standard and extremely pure. This grade of hair is firmer to the touch and is favoured by traditionalists looking to e...

Super Badger Shave Brush with Lathe Turned Handle (2234) shave brush by Vulfix $68.95 This is a very high quality grade of badger hair, only used in our hand filled brushes. This hair is chosen by the more discerning wet shaver for its softness on the skin and water retention qualities. A unique dark band capped by light, almost white tips makes this hair very recognisable in its appearance. All of our Super Badger brushes are hand made and the tapered head shape is achieved withou...

Super Badger Shave Brush with Lathe Turned Handle (2234) shave brush by Vulfix - Ebony $68.95 This is a very high quality grade of badger hair, only used in our hand filled brushes. This hair is chosen by the more discerning wet shaver for its softness on the skin and water retention qualities. A unique dark band capped by light, almost white tips makes this hair very recognisable in its appearance. All of our Super Badger brushes are hand made and the tapered head shape is achieved withou...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of Replica compass dial from the Mary Rose together with lid and box from National Maritime Museum $24.99 Photo Puzzle, Replica compass dial from the Mary Rose together with lid and box. Imitation compass dial for latitude 50 north. Circular horizontal dial with a fake lathe-turned plastic box, with lid. It has an hour scale numbered in black paint and a shaped and engraved brass gnomon that folds flat when not in use. It is also marked with an M. The compass has a steel needle in the form of an arrow...

Distressed Slatted Shelving Unit (China) $114.99 Shabby-chic slatted wood shelving unit finished in a distressed antique white. Hand crafted with cut decorative peak and lathe-turned finials. Open side and backs for a faux-vintage piece that blends seamlessly with any room.

Wood Crimson Fleurs-De-Lis 'Queen Anne' Parlor Chair (China) $799.99 This handcrafted solid poplar side chair features an upholstered splat and seat adorned with hand-carved double lions in an elaborate floral and leaf motif. Baluster legs and rails topped by lathe turned finials complete this parlor chair.

Mahogany Sandy Tile Queen Elizabeth Sitting Room Chair (China) $579.99 A Victorian Rococo revival design with a hoop back and stylized wheat sheaf splat accent this elegant arm chair. This chair features twist patterned arms and lathe turned spindle legs alongside a carved feather stencil frame.

Mahogany Sandy Tile Queen Victoria Dining Room Chair (China) $579.99 This stylish chair is handcrafted from solid wood in a late 18th century European design. This chair features a carved hoop back with trophy splat, feather stenciled frame, lathe turned legs and a beige tile upholstered seat.