Woodworking commission questions

It depends on size, species, joinery, finish and deadline, so we don't publish a price list. HomeAdvisor's cost guide puts custom woodworking labor at $50–$100 an hour plus materials. Use the estimator for a ballpark, then post your brief free and compare real bids.

Not to a maker directly. You pay the full bid when you accept it, and the platform holds that payment. The maker isn't paid until you confirm delivery, so you're never sending a deposit into a DM and hoping.

When you confirm the piece was delivered. Until then the payment stays with the platform. If something goes wrong, there's a dispute process that looks at the agreed scope, the progress photos and your messages.

You post the brief once. Verified woodworkers with the right skills read it and reply with a price and a timeline. Compare the bids, look at each maker's past pieces and reviews, ask questions, then accept the one you want. Posting is free and there's no buyer fee on top of the bid.

It depends on the piece and the maker's queue. Each maker states a timeline in their bid. Large pieces like dining tables and built-ins take longer, and some makers let new lumber acclimate in the shop before cutting it to final size. Post well ahead of any date that matters.

Pine and poplar are the most affordable and suit painted pieces. Oak is hard-wearing with a strong grain. Maple is hard, pale and a classic for cutting boards. Cherry darkens as it ages. Walnut is dark and usually the most expensive of the common domestic hardwoods. If you're unsure, say so in the brief and ask makers to suggest one.

Oil finishes look natural and are easy to touch up but resist water and heat less. Varnish and polyurethane form a tougher film for dining tables and desks. Epoxy gives a thick, glassy surface and is used for river tables. For cutting boards, ask for a food-safe finish such as mineral oil or an oil and wax blend.

Ask before you accept a bid. Some makers deliver locally themselves, some use furniture freight, and some build tables with removable legs or bed frames that knock down. Measure doorways, hallways and stairs, and put them in your brief.

Yes. Give the size, species, any engraving or carved text with exact spelling and font, and the date you need it. Small pieces are a good way to try a maker before a larger commission.

Yes. Post photos of the damage, the dimensions, and what you want: a structural repair, a refinish, or both. Makers can bid on repairs the same way as new work, and some will want to see the piece first.

Yes. Give the species or sheet material, thickness, exact dimensions, quantity and whether you need edges planed or finished. CNC shops can also cut shapes from a DXF or SVG file.

Maker profiles can show a location. Say 'local maker preferred' in the post if you want someone nearby, which keeps delivery simple for big furniture and makes a site visit possible for built-ins.