# Making It #016: Perfect vs profit

- Show: [Making It](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it)
- Published: 2015-04-10
- Length: 44m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit
- Listen: https://making-it-with-jimmy-diresta-bob-clagett-and-david-picciuto.castos.com/episodes/making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit

## Summary

Jimmy Diresta, Bob Clagett, and David Picciuto discuss the tension between perfection and profit in their maker businesses. Jimmy Diresta details a commission for a Brompton Cafe sign where he chose to cut 14-gauge steel with a bandsaw instead of a water jet to meet a tight deadline, learning new welding and filing techniques in the process. Bob Clagett shares his strategy of pricing by the day rather than the hour and explains why he avoids commission work to maintain creative control, while David Picciuto discusses the realities of selling handmade goods at flea markets and the importance of setting client expectations regarding durability.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit#t=3) Introduction and Patreon Thanks
- [2:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit#t=135) Jimmy's Brompton Cafe Sign Commission
- [12:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit#t=738) Bandsaw Cutting and Welding Challenges
- [36:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit#t=2178) Pricing Strategies: Day Rate vs Hourly
- [41:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit#t=2484) Material Selection and Client Expectations

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Rockler (company)
- Highland Woodworking (company)
- Brompton Cafe (product)
- X-Carve (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [STL 48: Guitar God Mike Pekovich](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2013-12-27-stl-48-guitar-god-mike-pekovich) (Shop Talk Live)
- [47: Seems Like a Nice Way to Live](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2019-01-16-47-seems-like-a-nice-way-to-live) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [14: Hot](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-08-15-14-hot) (Embedded.fm)
- [283: From Craft to Manufacturing: How Crafted Glory’s Kwadwo Som-Pimpong Is Scaling a Furniture Business While Working the Night Shift](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-04-14-283-from-craft-to-manufacturing-how-crafted-glorys-kwadwo-som-pimpong-is-scaling) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [STL266: Pro day with Hiller and Farrington!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/shop-talk-live/2022-05-20-stl266-pro-day-with-hiller-and-farrington) (Shop Talk Live)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-04-10-making-it-016-perfect-vs-profit. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Making It.