On Fri, 03 Jun 2005 14:34:02 GMT, "Mike in Mystic"
wrote:

I have no knowledge of the economy in the area where you live, but there are
a LOT of people will to pay a LOT for truly wonderful, custom
furniture/cabinetry.

Sadly the current distribution of income seems to favour those with
absolutely no taste! A bureau made from recycled railway sleepers
(ties) still with the creosote on them and sprayed with lacquer just to
keep the smell in ?

I have a buddy that decided to take the plunge from being a highly
successful computer engineer (i.e. making $100K+ per year salary) to being a
full-time woodworker for hire.

Woodworker or furniture maker ? Things are a lot better for on-site
work. If you're buying a competent tradesman by the hour, then you're
paying a decent rate for it and there's generally little argument over
the time spent and the amount owed. The problem is the invisible work in
the workshop - how can any piece of furntiture possibly take more than
an hour to make, when Ikea will sell you one for an hour or two's
income?