How much to charge for pyrography

Pyrography products sell for as low as $3 for keychains to upwards of $1000 for personalized artifacts. Charging for your pyrography project is not always a straightforward task. One of the most difficult things to determine is how much your art is worth. The answer depends on many factors, including:

• How long you have been doing it

• What kind of work you do

• Whether you are an independent artist or part of a business

• Your location and what other artists in your area charge

• How much competition there is in your market

• What type of equipment you use

• What materials you use

• Where you sell your work

• How much experience you have with selling your work. 

We will go through some of these factors in this post. By the end of the article, you will know how to determine how much to charge for your wood burning project. 

How long you have been doing it

Handling a professional Wood Burning Tool with Soldering takes some time to master. Your expertise r skill level is worth something. Being an experienced pyrographer means you can charge more than the novices. This is usually tied to your brand. Getting your name out there will make you more sought after, and enable you to fetch larger sums for your work. Knowing your way around wood burning kits alone is not enough. Marketing is the other half of the strategy.

What kind of work you do

Projects are not charged the same. A generic project will be cheaper than a custom design or a one-of-a-kind piece. When deciding what kind of projects to specialize in, have the market value in mind. Is there a demand for the kind of work you want to do? If so, then, by all means, pursue that niche. It’s not only good for your pocketbook but also helps build your reputation as a skilled artisan.

Whether you are an independent artist, part of a business, or both, charging for your services is important. You need to decide whether you want to be paid upfront or at the end of the job. In either case, you should take into account the following:

• Payment terms

• Delivery dates

Whether you are an independent artist or part of a business

There are upsides and downsides to being an independent artist as well as to being part of a business. One of the upsides of being part of a business is that the marketing is handled by someone else. They deliver the clients, you do the work and everyone gets paid. Independent artists are usually responsible for their own marketing. This includes building up their brand, creating a website, reaching out to potential customers, etc.

The downside of being an independent artist is that they must handle everything themselves. There may be times when they get stuck and don’t know who to turn to. Also, if you are not very organized, it could become overwhelming.

Being part of a business has its advantages too. They provide you with the tools needed to run your business efficiently. They help you reach new markets and expand your client base. The biggest advantage of having a business is that you can delegate tasks to others. For example, you can hire people to do things like printing, shipping, accounting, etc.

If you are an independent artist working on your own, you are probably going to be spending most of your time on the actual art. This means that you would have less time to market yourself. On the other hand, if you are part of a business, you can focus your attention on getting clients while still delegating tasks to others.

The upside of being an independent pyrographer is that you don’t have to share your earnings. Spending less will mean more profit. 

Delivery dates

If you are an independent artist and you are delivering your products directly to your customer, you are likely to face delays. If you are part of a company, they will typically deliver your product to the customer.

Your location and what other artists in your area charge

Charging more than other artists in your area will mean customers going to them not you. If the quality of your work is markedly better than theirs, you may get away with this. In fact, it could work to your advantage. The internet enables us to market and sell to a wider customer base. 

How much competition there is in your market

Fierce competition is notorious for pushing prices down. This is where it becomes more important to not only carve your own niche, but to position yourself as a sought-after artist in it. Low competition may indicate low demand. The ideal place to be is low/medium competition and high demand. 

What type of equipment you use

You have to factor in the cost of purchasing and maintaining your equipment in how much you charge. You also need to consider whether or not you want to invest in professional grade equipment. It’s expensive and requires maintenance. 

How many hours you spend per week + Labor rate

This depends on your schedule and how busy you are. Some days you might feel like doing nothing. Other days, you might feel like doing lots of different things. How long does it take you to complete one piece? What about 5 pieces? 10? 20? Figure out an hourly rate that you are happy with. 

What materials you use

Using premium material will mean charging premium prices. However, using cheap materials will make your job easier. Depending on the size of your order, you may need to purchase multiple items. You may also need to buy supplies such as paper, ink, etc. The kind of pyrography wood you use impacts the price.

Shipping costs

Depending on your location, shipping may add up quickly. Shipping is usually included in the price of the item. But if you are selling prints online, you will need to include shipping costs into your pricing. 

Taxes

Some states require sales tax. Others do not. Your state may levy additional taxes. Make sure you know what these are before you start making money. 

Where you sell your work

Selling through galleries and shops is generally cheaper than selling direct to consumers. They will handle all the logistics and marketing for you. But they won’t pay you until after their inventory has sold. So you’ll need to wait longer to see any profits. 

How much you earn from each sale

If you’re selling through a gallery or shop, you will receive a commission on every sale. This is called a “cut”. A cut is often around 50% – 60%. 

How much experience you have with selling your work. 

Your hourly rate does not have to remain the same forever. You can adjust it as you become a better salesperson. Being able to justify your worth is the best way to do it. 

Can you make money from pyrography?

Yes, you can! There are many ways to earn money from pyrography. You could be paid by the hour, per piece sold, or even get paid when someone buys one of your pieces. Some people choose to start their own business and others simply find that they enjoy creating art so much that they want to create more than just one piece. If you would like to learn more about starting a business as a pyrographer, check out our blog post here.

What do you tip for pyrography?

There is no fixed rule for how much to tip pyrographers. However, we recommend tipping at least 20% if you feel the service was exceptional. We also suggest leaving a tip if you enjoyed the service. Remember, every job has its challenges and sometimes things don’t go according to plan. It’s important to remember that the person who did the work should be rewarded for his/her efforts.

Can you paint over pyrography?

No, you cannot paint over pyrographed artwork. This is because the heat used during the process causes the ink to become permanently embedded into the surface of the wood. Painting over it will only result in ruining the original design.

Is it safe to burn wood?

Burning wood is very safe. Burning wood releases carbon dioxide which helps plants grow and oxygen which makes us all breathe. Wood burns slowly and produces little smoke.

Can you use pyrography on a bone?

It is possible to burn wood onto bone but you need to be careful. Bone is porous and if burned too quickly, the ink can seep into the pores and cause damage to the bone. To avoid this, you must burn the wood slowly.

Can you do pyrography on bamboo?

Bamboo is another popular material for pyrographic projects. Bamboo burns slower than wood and is less likely to warp. You burn onto bamboo using the same techniques as you would use for burning wood.