Not to be a "smart ass" but why not just carry both black and natural finish as well as unfinished as long as you are making and selling these? It doesn't seem like selling one finish over another should be any huge deal and if you offered them unfinished then the "select few" who want darker stained so something custom could do what they wanted with them also. Just curious?

Bryan,

The way they seem to sell for you I doubt you would be "stuck" with either. I think if I was in you shoes I would make a couple hundred "extra sets" and put them in a closet or something at your house. I can't see the demand ending once you stop making them and knowing woodworking I can't see how you are not making decent money on these so "extras" would make a lot of sense in my eyes.

If I wasn't already involved in way too many other things I think I would consider following your lead and starting to make them once you were finished but I just don't have any extra time at this point in life. Hopefully someone else will take over because they are a pretty cool idea.

That is a good way to use up the "scrap wood"! Great idea plus why waste something that "almost works"? Who knows they might end up being your best sellers! Keep up the great work!

International shipping rates have gotten totally INSANE over the past couple years. Even something like a 4 ounce package to Canada cost over $12 to ship First Class Mail. Sad but yet another way the US Government & the Postal Service have found to screw the little guy!

I know the Postal Service has nothing to do with the Federal Government but a few years back the Federal Government changed the rules for them and they have to have their pension fund pre-funded 75 years in advance. (CRAZY for sure but that is why the USPS is always in debt these days. My brother in law (a retired postal worker) & our local Mailman and I have both talked about this extensively. If it wasn't for that change the US Postal Service is making a ton of money but the government just wanted someplace else they could steal money from like they have been doing with Social Security for years!)