by Xxray » Sat Jul 21, 2018 5:16 am
At my campground there is this Grizzly Adams type guy who thinks he is the grand messiah of woodworking, his trailer and covered patio is festooned with all sorts of hand made things - I personally think most of it looks like junk, something a kid might have made, I would be embarrassed to admit I made any of it. Some of his concepts are valid and he has a modicum of creativity, lets just say his implementation is lacking.
Anyhow people at the campground sometimes stroll around from fire to fire and talk, I went by there one night, there were about 8 people sitting around the fire. Talk went to woodworking and some guy brought up CNC, to which Grizzly condemned to high hell saying any monkey could cut anything with a machine but it takes a true craftsman and artist to make things like him. I let him ramble on, didn't bother me plus it was his firepit, I tend to avoid being confrontational on other peoples property. But I started talking to the other guy about CNC and it was apparent this guy didn't know anything, but Grizzly started trying to bait me and piss me off about how I just churn out mass produced junk.
Just so happened I have quite a few things I have made hanging in my trailer, so I said Ok, I'm going to get another drink and I'll bring back some of my mass produced junk and let the crowd be the judge. I came back with 2 of my favorites, a tribal mask cut into a block of zebra wood and a crucifix in walnut. People were amazed, and didn't seem to care if it was whittled by hand or machine. I wasn't trying to make any sales pitches but I ended up selling them both right then and there, and Grizzly was chagrined into silence, I doubt if he has ever made $5 from the junk he makes.
Of course obviously there are actual skilled craftsman who make stunning works of art by hand, I don't feel I am in competition with any of them, I don't feel that they are better than me or me them. To me the ends justify any means, if a machine does all, some, part or none of the work, doesn't make any difference to me, and I'd say a majority of folks. They still are unique works of art with alot of labor put into them, I will accept no derision from anyone with what I do.
To address OP, I like the suggestions so far, "Custom designed & made in the USA" sounds about right to me. I don't think "machine" or "hand" has to enter the equation at all, unless potential customers specifically ask.
Doug