Reed writes:
I got a call from a client a few months ago asking if I would finish a
pencil post bed that someone else had started and never finished.
I was told that all the wood was ready but nothing else had been
done. I said that I would have to see the wood.
I consulted with Jeff Jewitt about the finish. After working up samples
and getting the approval of the client, I used dilute water based dye,
the wetted the surface with Boiled linseed oil and allowed that to dry
for a day and brushed 2 coats of garnet shellac.
I let that get hard and rubbed with 0000 steel wool and wax.
A few days after I had delivered the bed, the client called and said
that there was a dent in one of the posts, she did not know how,
but could I fix it. I had to deliver a chair that I had repaired the
woven seat in anyway, so I said I would see her later that day.
I did not charge for the touch-up or the repaired chair seat, about
1/2 hour. Before I got home, about 10 min, the client had called
my wife to tell what a great guy I was.
I was just thinking ... I wanted to charge her $800 for making the
bed, but after doing sone research I instead charged $1850 + $135
for some extra curly maple that I needed to finish the job,
and she still loves me!
Reed Spaulding
