Cardboard Dollhouse

[jhedlund58]

This is a prototype of a doll house I am making for a special 4 year old. This house is modeled from their family home. I went with the cardboard because it is readily available and easy to use. Now that it is almost done, I can see exactly how the pieces can be made and in what size stock. Very fun project. Aspire and shopbot... a perfect combination.

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[myxpykalix]

how are you cutting cardboard on your bot? With a dragknife?

[jhedlund58]

I did use drag knife. I had a bit of a problem with my hold down as I did not want to use double sided tape. I took strips of wood scraps .25 thick and pinned over outside edges of cardboard. this did not hold down middle very well and drag knife did not cut all way through some cuts.

My intention is to use this project to figure out dimensions for standardized panels that I can use to make any house. I can make the ends out of 3/4 stock and put all details on one side giving shadow lines etc in the cut. then cut dado's on back for 1/4 in floors walls etc.

My problem now is to make one out of wood to figure out how to price this work. Lots of R&D time, but once I get it. should be able to make a house fairly quickly. My general rule for priceing is twice cost of materials plus 10% This is probably very generous to customer, but keeps me off the golf course.

[genek]

Mr. Hedlund: Doll houses do not sale very well. I have three styles that we make with our laser. They are great to show at shows to draw people in, however in 7 years I have only sold 5. All of mine had better detail than any that you could buy and were three stories high. My cost on the Houses that I sale is $100.00 and I struggle to get $150.00 out of them.. I have customers that have had the doll house in their shop for years. Like I said they are great for shows and to get people to stop in stores but very poor and far between on sales. Your area may do better but I ship to 15 states and none of my customers have been able to sale them. wish you luck on them. I can send you pictures of my doll houses..

[genek]

Mr. Hedlund: I hope I did not discourage you, your area may be better than the areas that I have tried. You did a great job on the design and I am sure it will be great for the child.

[myxpykalix]

Jeff,
Eugene is right...in once sense, it's hard to sell ice cubes to eskimoes, so maybe selling doll houses to kids may not work but here is an idea for you....

Why not contact some of the architectural firms in your area and those who make cardboard models for their clients, offer to cut their models out for them! It's basically selling the same thing but to a different client:eek:
you are now selling ice cubes to natives!:rolleyes:

[jhedlund58]

I am a bit surprised that others have not had better success. I got the go ahead to create the real one. As a professional hobbyist, I am under no pressure to make BIG money. I quoted them $225 and got $120 up front which will easily cover materials. I expected them to offer less. The wife got very into the design of interior spaces. We came to an agreement. I think the fact that it is modeled after their family home added a lot of value. Then the kicker... her 6th birthday is the 17 of the month. I couldn't commit to the date but will try.

[genek]

Mr. Hedlund I use 1/8 baltic birch furniture grade it is quite strong and easy to cut.. You could go up to 1/4 baltic birch but would not go to the 3/4 thick for ends... If you have designed slots, locks, and over lap joints you can glue it up and it will be very strong. I have over 75 different pieces of furniture to go with my doll house. For a complete set OF FURNITURE I charge $75.00 wholesale.

[jhedlund58]

i will be using 3/4 inch clear pine planks for sides and front. I got the aspire components made this morning for siding and the cobblestone textures. Not sure plywood is in the cards for this project. i can resaw and then plane down planks to 1/8 inch for interior walls etc. I don't want to mess with edge banding ply. a guy i know fills edges of ply with caulk/wood filler and simply finishes over that.

my next quandary is what to do about roof. i see u can buy doll house shingles in craft shops etc. Think gonna try to v-carve pattern into 1/4" plank

[genek]

furniture grade baltic birch does not have any voids.. to do the roof draw it like shingles set dept to 1/32 I let the system think I am running a end mill. and set it for center of line..

[myxpykalix]

Jeff,
I have seen models posted either here or vectric or cnczone of a shingle roof which probably was just a 2d vector carving (not sure). Let me know if you need something and i'll look to see if i have it or not.