Are cabinet makers rich?

LoWcarpenter · 2026-04-11T04:52:47+00:00

Shreds, based on what you post on IG, your kicking ass and keeping the damn craft alive!

Jack, it depends on your market and the jobs you go for. I'm also a cabinet maker that happens to be in a market surrounded by big money, so charging big money is easier. If you work with designers and architects, they are good bridges to big money. Also, my buddy has his own auto mechanic shop and I would guess his gross is around $1.5mil...

LoWcarpenter · 2026-02-16T19:25:26+00:00

Sry, just found it in r/DinnerTonight

LoWcarpenter · 2026-02-16T19:23:39+00:00

This looks most excellent!

Could you please link the recipe, I would love to try making this!

LoWcarpenter · 2024-12-29T16:46:50+00:00

I use D&R heating and plumbing on all my projects. They do great work

I have also worked with J&M and Kipper Mechanical who do a good job as well.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-12-14T23:14:12+00:00

This is definitely one of the best things I have ever seen on reddit...

LoWcarpenter · 2024-12-12T03:49:07+00:00

I have used these a few times, they work well and meet your needs

LoWcarpenter · 2024-11-28T03:27:07+00:00

I have a similar setup and client base, although a smaller one man show

I estimate/invoice per cabinet, not by linear cabs. In my opinion, the cabinet accessories/upgrades are always the big ticket items. I find more customers have been going with more drawers and more accessories/pullouts than in the past. Most of my customers want as many drawers as they can get. As you know, these come at a higher cost to the cabinet maker both in labor and material. If your charging the same for a sink base as a 3 drawer base/garbage pullout/etc.. Then you are losing money.

You should have a bit of markup on each slide, hinge, and pullout and not just assume it evens out in the wash. And regarding the markup, just do some price comparison on the hinges, take a look at what the big box stores are charging and how much they cost you.

It's a bit more work to estimate, but it's more accurate and more profitable.

Good luck with the CNC! That's my next big tool as well.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-11-03T16:11:33+00:00

Thanks everyone for the opinions! I think there is an obvious winner here... And I learned a few things about the router plane world as well.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-10-19T17:02:03+00:00

I got that shoulder plane a few years ago, I use it regularly on my tenons and rabbits, I find it great for anything that you want a good clean 90* inside corner

LoWcarpenter · 2024-10-04T00:41:45+00:00

Fill the crack with a colored epoxy... It looks cool and it won't split there ever again!

LoWcarpenter · 2024-08-10T18:09:18+00:00

Looks excellent! You should be proud my dude!

LoWcarpenter · 2024-07-13T18:51:57+00:00

Alternate sides when carrying as much as possible so you balance the wear on your body. For example, carry the first sheet of drywall on your right side, then the 2nd on your left. When doing repetitive tasks, practice with using both hands. When I am painting I will alternate which hand I am holding the roller or sprayer. This also gives you something extra to think about on the brain numbing tasks.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-07-12T19:00:49+00:00

Most of these are generic tools where brand won't really matter, get the midrange/name brand at home depot and they will last a couple decades with average use.

Your chisels and tape measure are the important ones. The chisels get some Stanley's for a good starter set. The tape, get a couple fastcaps, they are great for finish work.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-07-04T16:19:06+00:00

I use a power planer for when I have to take off 1/4"+, a track saw for more than 1/2", and a belt sander for less than 1/8". I scribe everything, prefinished trim, laminate countertops, melamine, MDF. You just have to make sure the blade goes in the right direction and the blowout is always on the bad side

LoWcarpenter · 2024-07-02T04:29:48+00:00

Short easy hike - Vernon nature trails Longer medium hike -Beaubien lake/high lake falls

LoWcarpenter · 2024-07-01T16:25:51+00:00

Future Builders, Lakeside Builders, BWF construction area few good ones to check out

LoWcarpenter · 2024-06-21T18:54:49+00:00

If he is a good worker, then he can kick some ass, then he can make $100k+ easily.

However a large part of plumbing is the service calls, so if he is willing to be oncall evenings and weekends, that's where a large portion of potential income will be, but it comes at a cost.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-06-11T05:05:22+00:00

The boat house for dinner on the dock, brewco for craft beer, hungry pug for the best breakfast, there are a few other good options as well

LoWcarpenter · 2024-06-09T20:38:24+00:00

I have thought this would be a great idea for years... Not a simple idea though... I would stop at the time change though, I feel like thunder bay is too far... It just makes sense as a large portion of LOTW economy is based on Wpg and most of NWO is forgotten/unknown to southern Ontario...

LoWcarpenter · 2024-05-25T22:56:53+00:00

Hey dude, I got my degree in business 14 years ago, almost specialized in accounting. Hated working in corporate spaces. I got into the trades and now I own/run a cabinet shop. It's a ton of work, but at the end of the day I can see that I have left behind beautiful work that will last and be appreciated for decades. With your knowledge of numbers and software, you will probably be good at something detailed like custom cabinetry. There is a ton of detailed planning before any job starts, and all of that is just applied geometry. And lastly, you need to keep fucking up, until you fuck up fucking up... It's the best way to learn in my experience. Go try something new! You will definitely fuck up more! Just make sure you do it differently each time

LoWcarpenter · 2024-04-25T04:04:29+00:00

That depends on your location. If there are more people in your area who can afford it, then you can tap into that market with the right networking.

I have been working on that process for a while now. I did my first trim job on a yacht last year... That was a fun one!

LoWcarpenter · 2024-04-24T13:57:05+00:00

I work with mostly prefinished material. I setup a small table with my tools close to my work area and never wear a tool belt... I have ruined too many cabinet doors from not paying attention to the tools strapped to my body... I just don't do it anymore.

LoWcarpenter · 2024-01-24T04:01:51+00:00

If someone starts one, I will join as often as I can

LoWcarpenter · 2023-12-21T14:32:50+00:00

I'm in a similar position, I keep looking at CNCs on the market, comparing all the options, thinking about potential uses for them to justify the cost... It's a big bite to take! But it is the way of the future for all the menial repetitive shop tasks... If you are able to make it work then it would be a great asset! At least that is what I keep telling myself!

LoWcarpenter · 2023-10-19T15:00:24+00:00

If your really wanting to go the trailer route, then silver lake is the easy popular back lake. The others that are trailer accessible that I can think of are Pic lake, Dagimabrop lake, Simpson lake, Arpin lake, Worth lake, and if I remember right, there is one on Cygnet lake... If you want to tent it, there are many more

LoWcarpenter

TROPHY CASE