Length of Engraving Jobs

Steve Adams · Feb 10, 2015

Just curious. A question for the gun and knife engravers. The work that I see on here tells me that weeks, months and more are spent on some projects. A year or more dare I say, I don't know. What do you guys do for a paycheck while on an extremely long project ? The longest I've ever spent on something was two months. Typically it is an average of two to three days, sometimes five to seven days for something very complicated and larger. Do you guys do inbetween jobs, have a pay schedule on jobs or what? If I ever decide to go totally freelance, I'd like to know how that works.

mdengraver · Feb 10, 2015

I assume they must be doing bread and butter work in between, and a downpayment is made on the big jobs.

Sam · Feb 10, 2015

On jobs lasting weeks I require a 50% deposit with the balance due upon completion.
I also require a 50% deposit if I'm engraving an article that can't be re-sold (like a monogram or coat of arms) to cover my expenses if the customer fails to pay. So far that's never happened.
I know Winston Churchill requires installments (quarterly or maybe every 2-3 months) on gun engraving jobs taking a year or longer.

Chujybear · Feb 10, 2015

I do half upfront or three third payments. Balance on delivery.
Longest job was 7 years- lots of in between jobs to keep me trucking along.
Wasn't an engraving job tho. Carving. Probably would have been eight months to a year if it had of been full time on the project.

Haraga.com · Feb 10, 2015

That's easy. Just make sure your wife has a good job.

DakotaDocMartin · Feb 10, 2015

Haraga.com said:
That's easy. Just make sure your wife has a good job.

I think it could be rough going without a good second (or third) income. Or, super low overhead. The term "Starving Artist" has been around for a long time.

Donny · Feb 10, 2015

Once I retire from the FAA I will be drawing a pension so I will be able to afford to be a full time engraver

Donny

Steve Adams · Feb 11, 2015

Good answers all. I like the 50% down, balance upon completion. A wife with a good job is nice, but mine retired 6 years ago. One mistake I fell into was shipping before full payment. Nothing worse than waiting weeks or months for money. From now on it will be balance before I send the work. As I get a little older, doing more freelance, or being a full time craftsman becomes more appealing. Then again, the wife says why quit a good job. Being creative is so much more rewarding though.

Ed Westerly · Feb 11, 2015

On really long jobs I require a deposit. On shorter jobs I have always just waited for payment until I was done. It does help to have a wife that makes the daily bread.

Length of Engraving Jobs

Steve Adams

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Steve Adams

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