Hand Made versus Hand Crafted

[Denise]

Noticeably hand made (or hand crafted if there's a machine involved) is good.

This is a quote from Seth on the "well finished" thread. I have never seen that distinction being made before. I'm wondering what others see as the definitions of hand made or hand crafted?

[Suze]

for me (and the area I live in ) it usually boils down to QUALITY and PERSEPTION OF WORTH

home made is usually not very well done. (like the "ghost" halloween costume out of a bed sheet with two holes for eyes)

hand made is a step up from that - using a pattern from the store and it looks pretty good if not very original.

Hand Crafted is the master work - you made that costume from scratch and it wins the prize at the contest.

It also has something to do with how much you charge for your work. People will pay more for something that is listed as hand crafted over hand made. (and it could be the SAME product. merchandising is important)

Hand Crafted implies to a lot of people a BETTER product. (doesn't matter if it is or not.)

just my two pennies worth

but it sounds like Seth means that if you do not touch it with a machine it is "hand made" and if you use some sort of machine to do some of the work it is "Crafted"

[hidepounder]

Denise,

I think they mean the exact same thing.....it will be interesting to what others think.....

Bob

[Vikti]

Hidepounder, I feel that there is a difference between hand crafted and hand made. I consider what we all do for a hobby is hand crafted, we get intimate with whatever we're making, we put in a serious effort to make each project unique. Hand made, to me, means that there was a person involved in the manufacture of it but nothing that makes one different from the other. When Bi-Moto motorcycles first went into business they were not automated in the least. While they had milling machines and such needed to make their engines and frames they didn't use any kind of robotic equipment. There was a person handling each part involved in each bike they put out and that's what I consider "hand made", direct human involvement but not anything unique about what they make.

Damon

I like these little, relaxed debates

[Rayban]

I agree with you hidepounder.....making leather stuff and making motor cycles....hmmmm..tough one.

This is just another one of those " let's stir up some do-do" posts....and darn it if I didn't bite,....

[Rayban]

for me (and the area I live in ) it usually boils down to QUALITY and PERSEPTION OF WORTH

home made is usually not very well done. (like the "ghost" halloween costume out of a bed sheet with two holes for eyes)

hand made is a step up from that - using a pattern from the store and it looks pretty good if not very original.

Hand Crafted is the master work - you made that costume from scratch and it wins the prize at the contest.

It also has something to do with how much you charge for your work. People will pay more for something that is listed as hand crafted over hand made. (and it could be the SAME product. merchandising is important)

Hand Crafted implies to a lot of people a BETTER product. (doesn't matter if it is or not.)

just my two pennies worth

but it sounds like Seth means that if you do not touch it with a machine it is "hand made" and if you use some sort of machine to do some of the work it is "Crafted"

So Suze, what if I make something by hand at home and it wins a contest??

Don't you all have something better to do??/ And what am I doing taking part in this??? I'm going for a beer run....

[Luke Hatley]

I believe it is a Ploy with Words. when you see the finished product

you can tell the difference.

[Suze]

So Suze, what if I make something by hand at home and it wins a contest??

Don't you all have something better to do??/ And what am I doing taking part in this??? I'm going for a beer run....

and that would be Hand Crafted with the side note of Award Winning (plus $50.00 for that one)

and no I don't have anything better to do (at least that I WANT to do)

I'd rather have a Pina Colada......if your going anyway.

[whinewine]

I believe it is a Ploy with Words. when you see the finished product

you can tell the difference.

I agree! Quality is quality, regardless of labels.

russ

[hidepounder]

I understand the distinction that's being made and have no arguments. The thing is...I don't think the terms "hand made" or "hand crafted" have any link to quality. Go into any curio shop or tourist trap and you'll find a hundred "hand crafted" and "hand made" elephants, pots, jewelry, boxes, bugs, day planners, whips, .....you name it!.......they all fall into the "hand crafted/made" category. They are purchased by the carload from Indonesia, China, Mexico, Phillipines.......everywhere around the world were labor is cheap. I'm not knocking them...they're great!...and I've purchased my fair share.....but there's no "quality" to the items. I know that the term "hand crafted" or "hand made" is supposed to represent quality....but were you fooled? Did you ever consider that quality is part of the deal....of course not! So for me, whether it says "hand made" or "hand crafted" just isn't important. I'll use the terms on my makers stamp just to take up space or because it's traditional to do so....but I'm not fooling anybody. My work will have to sell itself.......................................THAT'S DEPRESSING!

Bob