Pricing For Tooling Only

[biglew]

I make watchbands and small leather goods for a major company... we are called Leather Artisans

[camano ridge]

becbec, back to your original question. Are they going to be sending you completed project to tool (this might be difficult to do) or are they sending you the pieces to be tooled then assembled by them after tooling? I would have to agree with LVN in that I would not charge less then $25.00 per hour. More if you have to do any of the designing or layout. Are they going to do any dying antiquing etc.?

[joe59]

A rule of thumb that I use, whether "tooling" my work or work that I've been commissioned to "tool" is $50 per flower. A flower consists of the flower, one leaf or bud and the stems. I do have a hard time charging for my art work because I have a tendency to spend too much time trying to perfect my drawing and pattern work up. Basket stamp or geometric stamps on chap yokes, for example, is roughly $75 per pair. Border stamping on yokes would be between $25 and $35 per pair.

JOE

[JLSleather]

I don't know if anyone can give you a realistic answer without knowing what "tooling" you'd be doing. I don't have a problem with the IDEA, though. "SUBbing out" the tooling is no different than contracting someone to click out parts, or do the stitching.

That said, it wouldn't make much sense for them to purchase leather, pay to have it shipped to them, and then pay again to ship it to you. Only way the leather would LEGITIMATELY come from them is if they have the dies and are going to click out (pre-cut) the parts for what they need (and then you tool) OR if they already have a substantial amount of leather they are wanting to use. Otherwise, it's both cost- and time-efficient to simply order the leather to ship to you.

Which brings up another question. IF they are supplying the leather, does that influence your pricing? I would personally charge MORE to work with cheap leather than to craft the "good stuff". Particularly if my name is going on it anywhere.

I NEVER pay anyone by the hour. Don't care who it is we're talking about. Basically, by the hour means that the SLOW guy - even if he means well - is paid more than the efficient guy. Which doesn't make sense. At all. If I'm buying leather goods, I pay for the PIECE, not the time.

Granted, all of this is MY thoughts. You can do or not do what you like without me being either offended or impressed - either way. Just thinkin' out loud ......

[chriscraft]

I NEVER pay anyone by the hour. Don't care who it is we're talking about. Basically, by the hour means that the SLOW guy - even if he means well - is paid more than the efficient guy. Which doesn't make sense. At all. If I'm buying leather goods, I pay for the PIECE, not the time.

This is why I'm having the same issue on my tooling charge. I am not well known and have not been carving/tooling leather for a long time. I consider myself slow at tooling when tackling new designs as I don't want to make any mistakes. I can not see myself charging by the hour unless I'm asking below minimum wage and who wants to do that. If I am tooling a repeat pattern I have already done, then I can work a little faster since I'm already familiar with said piece.

If your designs will be standard designs. I would recommend that you do a few practice runs of these patterns you will be contracted to make. That way you will see just how long it will take you to complete one and get a feel for a few of them. You could then set your price accordingly. As long as you are satisfied with what you get paid.

If you are just a hired gun, then I can understand why they would not want you to place your maker's mark on the work. Just like I can understand why you didn't mention who contacted you for such work. If you don't have any control on the finished product, like materials used, why would you want your name on it anyway.

I wish they made a pricing guide for "Leather Tooling" like they did for sign painters/pinstripers. Troy mentioned the auto mechanic job repair time guide. It would be great to even know just how long it should take to complete some tooling projects. At least a ball park figure would be nice. That way some one like myself can see just how fast one needs to be. Not just in speed but accuracy.

[cgleathercraft]

If we just look at charging for your work - By the hour for random, special pieces, and design work. For multiples of a single item with the same or near same tooling; the work can be done on a flat rate of per piece or by x number of pieces per hour.

As for contracting out work - I'd love to be busy enough to hire someone to take a portion of the work. They would get the basic time consuming jobs(cutting, stitching, edging, finishing) of stock items while I did the custom work.