7 Ideas for Profitable Woodworking Projects

Here are some great ideas for projects that sell for a lot of money

Skilled woodworkers are always looking for the next great project to sell.

Whether it's intricate carvings or custom furniture, even small wood projects or wooden toys can sell for a lot of money to the right person. That's the core of running your own woodworking business. 

But what are some great, jaw-dropping ideas that you can make using your own supply of wood, made from a Woodland Mills portable sawmill?

Here are some wood projects that sell easily and potentially for a lot of money.

Live-Edge Furniture

Image courtesy of Karlos A. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

When it comes to amazing-looking wood projects, anything live-edge is immediately attention grabbing. These easy wood projects lean into the natural contours of the wood to let it tell a story. These woodworking projects range, from charcuterie boards and benches to tables and custom countertops.

Karlos' example above, milled on his Woodland Mills HM130MAX Portable Sawmill, uses railroad ties to create a rural-industrial aesthetic that will feel at home on any farmstead.

Epoxy-Resin Tables and Boards

Image courtesy of Edward G. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

Epoxy has gotten big the past couple years with thousands upon thousands of social media videos showing the satisfying resin pour. It also helps that these projects can have big appeal at craft markets, as they show off the natural crevices of the wood and the skill of the woodworker in applying the epoxy.

You can also do tables, benches, cutting boards, charcuterie boards and many, many more ideas.

Owning just a few basic woodworking tools and the space for an epoxy setup can get you started making some profitable woodworking projects.

Custom Desks

Image courtesy of Bruce M. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

Anyone who sits at a desk all day knows that their desk matters. Now that so many more people work from home they're finding it important to have a desk that's comfortable to use and has all the storage they need. Because of that, more people are getting custom desks for their home offices.

Making a desk requires strong woodworking skills, being able to assemble the furniture not just to withstand everyday use but also so drawers and shelves can be pulled out smoothly and easily. Luckily for his desk project Bruce had an HM122 to mill custom dimensions and the skill to put it all together. For experienced woodworkers doing custom furniture can earn a ton of money.

Scrap Wood Silhouettes

Image courtesy of Edward G. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

When Edward had some wood scraps from other projects he decided to hollow them out and turn them into art pieces. Demonstrating not only his woodworking but also his finishing skills with a high-gloss finish, this hollowed walnut tree trunk has amazing appeal. You could charge a decent amount to sell this at a craft fair or art show, especially in markets populated by cottagers.

Carved Staircase Rails, Signs, Boards

Image courtesy of Bob M. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

Do you have a hand for doing custom carving? If so you could potentially make a ton of money by doing custom wood carving. You could do wooden signs, framed art and so much more. Bob's work, seen above and milled on his HM130MAX, shows his incredible skill, and he uses that skill to do custom signs for local businesses, which keeps him very busy. It's a profitable venture, and if you decide to try it you could make a ton of money too, if you have the right skills.

Custom Cabinets

Image courtesy of David R. from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

The phrase "custom cabinets" is likely to perk any homeowner's ears. Most people would love to have custom-made cabinetry around their kitchen, with shelves and cupboards designed to suit their needs, plus you can make it out of whatever wood species you'd like.

Many carpenters have made a ton of money off doing custom cabinets, and while customers have high expectations, if you can meet them then you have the potential to make a lot of profit.

Anything Burlwood

Image courtesy of Slabba Dabba Doo from the Woodland Mills Product Owners and Community Facebook group.

Just throwing it out there: burlwood is gorgeous and anything you do with it is going to make a ton of money.

Burlwood is exciting because of how unpredictable and surprising it can be. Every piece is different and custom tables, signs or pieces of furniture that use it end up looking amazing. For simplicity's sake, making a burlwood table with a nice finish that draws out its natural beauty is a great way to make a simple product that can sell for a lot of money. The above piece of burlwood was milled by Slabba Dabba Doo, a small father-son milling business that makes a lot of money doing custom slabs like this, and they demonstrate just how much money is on the table doing burlwood and custom pieces.

What's the best way to make good money woodworking?

What types of projects and wood crafts are best suited for making money? And how do you sell your items? We suggest:

• • Find an idea that excites you, that's easy to do within your skill level, and then get really good at it. Become known for that thing, whether it's charcuterie boards, picture frames, wooden coasters or wooden toys, then branch out from there.

  • Go to crafts markets, art shows and other events that increase your exposure.

  • Get your name out there. Print business cards, or mill some thin sheets of wood and make wooden business cards with a laser engraver or wood burning kit... that'll make a memorable impression with potential customers!

  • If you find your projects sell poorly then re-evaluate things. Maybe how you're doing your projects isn't appealing to your local market? See what others are doing and use it as inspiration.

  • Your goal isn't to make all the profit, instead look at your costs and what gives you healthy margins for your experience and skill level, then grow from there.

With these tips, and inspiration from others who make money woodworking, you'll soon be a professional woodworker making a ton of money with your wood projects.