The Making of a Cylinder Desk

• I am in the process of getting my website, http://www.jasbecker.com/, redone and the designer has included a "process" page on which will be described the typical process, start to finish, for an order. My intent eventually is to have a time-lapse video of the construction of a project or two, but in the meantime I am using the photos and drawings from the cylinder desk project to fill the space. I figured that I might as well amass the information and post it to my own blog right now. The website version will feature more images than the five that Blogspot allows.

Most projects begin with an email or a phone call. The customer describes what they need and I take notes then respond with questions. Sometimes the customer knows exactly what they want and my job is to price the project. More often the customer knows only that they want a table or a chest of drawers for example. My job then becomes to draw them out, I ask for dimensions (of the finished item or the objects to be stored within), for wood preferences, for photos of the room, existing decor, and the furniture the new item is to compliment. I ask for pictures (or links to pictures) of things the customer likes; these can be of similar whole articles of furniture, a detail like molding or a door, pictures of other furniture in a particular style, or pieces of art. The more information I can gleen the more likely I am to come up with a design that will suit or to make an accurate estimate.

• The cylinder desk project began with an email. The customer had found me, I believe, on the Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers site http://www.vermontfurnituremakers.com/. In the email he asked: "I am interested in having a cylinder desk made and wondered what your estimate would be to have this made in cherry with ebony handles. I am interested in two designs... as pictured in the attachment?" The attachments included 6 views (2 of which you see here) of the desk that became the inspiration for the project and the one view of another cylinder desk also posted here.

Once I gather enough preliminary information I usually do a drawing, sometimes two, to use as a point of reference for further discussion or sometimes it becomes the final rendering that accompanies the formal project "Proposal." Discussion ensues: what the customer likes or dislikes about the drawing, if I have sent wood or finish samples the customer can specify a choice, is the price within budget and what can be done if it is not. If necessary I will modify or do new drawings. At this point drawings are done for $60/hour with this sum being rolled into the purchase price if the item is ordered.

• In the case of the cylinder desk I responded with drawings, two sets, front and side views, the first set done to the original dimensions and the second done to more contemporary standards with drawers wide enough to accomodate file hangers and a knee hole wide enough to accomodate an executive office chair. The drawings served to assure the customer that I was serious and aided me in my pricing. I sent the drawings along with an estimated price range. I also specified that such a large project would require a three part payment plan rather than my customary 1/2 down and the balance upon delivery; instead I asked for 1/2 down, followed by a 25% progress payment at the end of the first month, with the balance payment being due upon completion of the desk. The customer responded that the range was within budget, he prefered the contemporary dimensions (see accompanying drawing), but asked that I supply more detailed working drawings before sending the deposit. He also asked that I send photos of the project at the end of the first month. I sent the drawings he requested, agreed to send photos (one of which is shown here), he sent the deposit and the project was underway.

Once a design is agreed upon and the price estimate (for custom orders this is a price range: typically a price plus or minus 20%) accepted I send a formal "Proposal" listing the agreed upon particulars including method and cost of delivery. To make the order official I ask that the customer return a signed copy of the proposal to me along with a check for the 50% deposit. Alternatively the customer can call and pay the deposit with MasterCard or Visa; I still require a signed copy of the "Proposal" to be sent.

• The cylinder desk base was completed pretty much on schedule, but the top took substantially longer than I had estimated; the cylinder, its mechanism, along with the pull-out desktop work surface required more construction steps than anticipated (it was not possible to think entirely through such a large project without having made anything quite this complicated in my 20 plus as a furniture maker) and the degree of precision needed was much greater than most woodworking projects require. This is a circuitous way of saying I underpriced the project but would love to make another at the more realistic price ($30,000.00) I will have listed on the redone website.

Orders are scheduled chronologically according to when I receive the deposit. I once had a 12 month backlog (which was good for me but scared a few customers away). Most often the backlog ranges from 1 to 3 months, but I will tell you at the time of contact what my current backlog is. I have several moving companies I use to move furniture. These companies specialize in moving items, blanket wrapped, single or multiple, shop to "in-room" placement and can often be hired to do assembly when required. I have also shipped items to Bermuda, and Hawaii and can arrange for crating and door to door shipping in these instances.

• The cylinder desk was shipped to Hawaii in four pieces. The sections were individually wrapped and crated then added to a container and trucked to a ship, carried to Hawaii where they were unloaded onto another truck and delivered to the customers house.

To view the finished product please check my previous blogspot posting or,http://jasbecker.blogspot.com/2009/04/cylinder-desk.html