3 D

[coach]

I am thinking of purchasing the entire package from Vector Art 3D. I recently purchased the starter collection.
Has or does anyone actually sell much of the 3 D materials?
I don't see much of this type work around, in fact I have never seen any.
Just wondering about others experiences.
Thank you,,,Dave

[knight_toolworks]

so far I have not sold any. want too tho0ugh.

[magic]

Same here, I'm making samples and the cabinet guys in my complex all give me the thumbs up (way up) but they're not interested in sub-contracting to me.

How about getting the names of start-up businesses and sending them a flyer. There's probably a few that want their store customized.
This seems to be more in the realm of a sign business or occasionally on the front of a bar counter.

I'm thinking of starting a cabinet refacing business. Then the shoe is on the other foot. If I need installation help then I sub-contract to my neighbors.

[harryball]

From James' point of view... buy the full package! :-)

I have shown a few peices but to date 3D has escaped me so far as doing anything with it. I believe there is good business out there to have and I think you will be dealing with custom builders or home owners that want to add a touch of class to cabinets or fireplaces. However, before I invested in the full package I'd start with the starter set and create a few samples and start trying to peddle them with the full catalog on hand to show "all you have available". Then, when you sell that first job you'll have an idea how things are going to go. Buy what you need or buy the full package.

On the otherhand if you are in the business and want to add this service to your existing work, get the package and go whole hog. (hmmm... wonder if anyone can tell I'm from the South?)

/RB

[ljdm]

I've sold quite a few things using the Vector patterns. Quality patterns, cost is ok, unless you have to buy one of the more expensive ones, and only use it once. If you can lay out the money, of course you save a lot buying the package. Most of the time, it's probably more cost efficient to buy them, my relief drawing skills arent up to speed as yet.

[henrik_o]

I think one problem is that we're so trained to think in terms of what's out there that we miss just how easy it is to create products with the 'bot that are commercially viable yet also true art objects.

I am doing my own kitchen right now, and I've been thinking about the faces (cabinet doors). I started out trying to think of a nice design to do on all the doors, when it dawned on me that I could save a lot of work yet easily come up with something really unique. Let's call it "repetitive" versus "distributed" cabinet door decorations.

Like this, forgive the crudeness of the pic I threw together, but this is a typical "repetitive" design.


8783

What if I were to skip routing that design into each and every door, having to scale it and such, and simply "fit" the doors to one large design? Like this:


8784

Again forgive the crudeness, but imho this is a thousand times more interesting, and a lot less work.

That's the direction I'm trying to go in anyway, just a thought.

[myxpykalix]

David,
I have seen others take the vector art catalog and incorporate it to their websites as a reseller and that makes more sense to me. I have bought several Vector Art 3d files and they are great and the price is right but most I have only carved once. I have bought a couple just because they looked cool but haven't found a use for them yet.
You might try to figure out what type of products you can make that you could apply these designs to before going hog wild.
Think about blanket chests, toyboxes, keepsake boxes, headboards, where some type of design element might be more appropriate than say an animal so you can buy the right models. But either way you can't create yourself what you can buy from JamesB cheaper.

[dray]

Same here.. I have purchased a few from them, but I have gotten better ones for free. I often check to see if they have any new "detailed" additions but nothing has caught my eye lately.

There are hundreds of free 3ds models out there on the internet that you can convert or import into most programs.

Im not cheap, just thrifty lol.. I do my research before spending $$ on anything.

[coach]

well,,,as usual plenty of input to ponder. But nobody to yank the phone from me when I ordered the collection.
I have no choice but to make this work for me.
Then again if I didn't take chances I would still be welding in Massachusetts.
The input here is awesome. I hope someday to contribute instead of always asking.
Dave

[gene]

David,
I think you are on the right track , everyone of us can almost instantly see something and are able to repeat it. there are only a few people able to come up with new products and new designs for items. In order to do new type work you have to have new type of tools . I am intrested in the package also and probably will get it eventually . I dont know if you are allowed to re-sell the individual files but i know that you can sell products with the designs carved in it. The Vectric team has done some very impressive work . Good luck on your new venture , be sure to post photos of your work.

[gerryv]

Speaking for myself only, I think that part of the challenge the 3D sellers are faced with is that what is often really needed is groupings of simple flourishes but when we the buyer look at the offering our eye is trained to look for a "complete" picture. Therefore, the selling artist is forced to offer items that appear that way (complete and too hard to do ourselves.) As expressed, 'Botters like and appreciate them but perhaps realize they may be just too "busy" or complex once integrated into the job at hand to suit many of their clients tastes. I also suspect though that there's a bit more art, if not skill as well, involved in the creation of seemingly simple but classy and tasteful flourishes - but then I'm an essentially unskilled newbie on the hunt for this kind of artistic help.

[butch]

David
Most of what I sell is 3D. Customers are very impressed with the designs. I do lose most of the people who look because of the price, but that is expected. If I can figure out how to compete with resin pours from China, I'll do well.
Butch

[jamesgilliam]

David, With the right market I don't think you will go wrong. I have bought a couple of the collections from James Booth, along with some individual files and had one made just for me. I always cut a couple of the designs for our church auction, or some of the fire department fundraisers in our area as a donation. While some of the prices they bring are huge, I tend to get business from the people that tried to "win" it in the auction, but didn't make the highest bid. The key is to get what you can do in front of people to see.

[gene]

Butch
I think the best way is to sell the quality ,not so much as the product. I have been to several classes and they all say to sell the sizzle not the steak, Marketing is the key to success . Just tell then that you can attach a plastic chinese resin piece on the product or you can craft then a quality product that can be handed down for years to come. 9 out of 10 times this will win them over. I have been thinking about making myself a Gun cabinet with the deer sceene on the doors but i havent had the time yet , I think it would be a very nice touch , or a rod and reel rack with a bass on the top , Both would add to the selling of the products and seperate you form joe blow down the road who sells racks and cabinets...

[butch]

Gene
I agree whole-heartedly. If I didn't offer the carvings, I would be missing 50+ percent of my business and what makes me different from my competitor down the street.* But I need to talk to about 5 or 6 people before I get a sale. Worth it though. Just bitter as I just had a design copied (?) by a company, and offered DU a design close to mine, but priced at $5 and I need $40, so I lost out to Chinese resin pour on price. Way it goes....
Also I do cabinets doors, boxes, plaques, signs and etc. I'm just getting started in this end of the business, but starting to pickup more business as I go because of unique abilities such as carvings.
Butch

[rcnewcomb]

Custom carved bas relief plaques can be a pretty good niche market. Your competitor is a guy with a mallet and set of chisels.

The challenge is to find a customer who is looking for this type of item. Find out who is in charge of military retirements in your area. That turned out of be a great lead for us.

Also, when it comes to 3D carvings, bigger is better. No one is much impressed with a 6"x6" carving done with a 1/32" bit, but carve the same thing in 36"x36" with a 1/4" bit and everyone is impressed.

Learn and refine your glazing technique for finishing. It makes a tremendous difference.

[gerryv]

Henrik, I really like what you've done, especially by literally going "outside the box(es)". This is classy.

I think the artistic use of fairly simple looking flourishes and accents can make a job stand out as being truly custom and unique.

[coach]

Randall, What is glazing?

[rcnewcomb]

Glazing is a finishing technique using a gel stain to bring out detail in recessed areas.

The basic technique I use is:
1. Apply a light coat of finish and let it dry
2. wipe on a gel stain and then wipe it off. The longer you let it remain the deeper the staining
3. (optional) sand or use a scotch brite pad to remove or lighten stain in certain areas
4. Apply finish as you normally would

Examples of before and after:

8785
8786

[phil_o]

Randall,
in step one you apply a light coat of finish, are you referring to polyurethane? Your plaque looks great.
Also, can you tell us a bit more about the military retirements part of your business?

[rcnewcomb]

I've used lacquer and oil, but the technique should work with poly as well. You just need something to keep the stain from soaking in uniformly. The gel stain gets trapped in the little detail areas and provides the contrast.

Regarding military retirements plaques:
When someone has put in 20+ years of service, the person in charge of retirement ceremonies is not going to settle for a cheesy particle board plaque with a faux woodgrain finish with an engraved metal plate. In our area they usually have a carving (V carve or 3D) of some significance to the retiree -- Sea Bee, Seal, Green Beret, medic, logistics, cryptography, etc. Just do a web search for military insignia and you will get an idea.

We found the guy in our area because his day job is working at a lumber company that specializes in woods for architectural restorations. We were working on some projects that required matching the original woods in an older home. When he learned that we could do carving he asked about doing some military designs. We has a great appreciation for woods and carvings. When he had the time, the plaques were hand-carved, but sometimes he would only have 2 weeks notice so hand carving was not a viable option. The fact that we could show the design as well as carve prototypes, and had a faster turn-around gave us an advantage.

You might ask at the military recruiting stations to see if they know who handles retirements. Bring along some V-carve samples of military insignia and a 3D eagle or two to show off. Know which branch of the service you are talking to. An army guy probably won't be impressed with a navy insignia.

Good luck.