Custom turned parts for furniture makers and shops
Turn table legs, spindles, stair parts and replacements to order for local trades.
- $15k-60k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
2,327 US businesses with employees in this field, -1.8% in a year
NAICS 321999 “All other miscellaneous wood product manufacturing”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A workshop that makes turned wooden parts to order, such as table and chair legs, balusters, newel posts, spindles, knobs and one-off replacement parts for restoration jobs.
Your first three steps
- Visit local furniture makers, restorers and cabinet shops to ask what turned parts they struggle to source
- Make sample parts, photograph them and write a simple price list with lead times
- Quote a few small trial jobs and ask for repeat work and referrals
Who pays
Furniture makers, cabinet shops, antique restorers, contractors, stair builders and homeowners with repair projects.
How it makes money
You quote per part or per job, based on material, time and quantity. Repeat orders from a few trade customers give steadier work than one-off sales.
Skills that help
- Accurate spindle turning to a drawing or sample
- Measuring and quoting jobs
- Reliable communication and deadlines
Watch out for
- Check zoning, permits and lease terms for a commercial workshop or unit
- General liability insurance, and property cover for your lathe and stock
- Dust extraction and fire risk from shavings, plus machine safety
- Get customer specs and approval in writing to avoid disputes over fit
- Register with your state for sales tax and check how it applies to custom work for resale
- Startup cost depends heavily on whether you already own a lathe, tools and a space; a leased unit with a quality lathe, dust collection and a lumber stock adds up quickly
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: custom turned parts for furniture makers and shops
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start a custom woodturning parts business?
Startup costs are typically estimated at around $15,000 to $60,000, depending heavily on whether you already own a lathe, tools and space. A leased unit with a quality lathe, dust collection and lumber stock adds up quickly.
How much can a custom turning shop earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many jobs you take on, your pricing and your turnaround time. Steady work from furniture makers and restorers helps.
What rules should I check before opening a turning workshop?
Check zoning, permits and lease terms for a commercial workshop, plus liability and property insurance. Also check dust extraction, fire risk from shavings, machine safety, sales tax registration, and get customer specs approved in writing.
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Photo: chefkeem on Pixabay