Workbook · Side work next to a full-time job
Side work is turned, not bought. One pass at a time.
Lathe Book is a free, educational workbook for people with a full-time job who want to turn a skill into a little paid work on the side. No shortcuts, no income promises: just the slow sequence of practice, samples, a first small client, fair pricing and repeat work.
- Stock
- a skill you already practise
- Speed
- 3–6 hours a week
- Passes
- 4, light and repeated
- Cost to read
- R$ 0, nothing for sale
Plate 1
The blank on the lathe
A rough piece of maple does not become a vase in one cut. Each pass removes a little, the turner checks the shape, and the next pass goes deeper. Building side work follows the same rhythm.
- PASS 01 Practice rough blank, light cuts
- PASS 02 Samples a shape you can show
- PASS 03 First client detail to a real brief
- PASS 04 Pricing & repeat finished, ready again
Plate 2
Cut list: what each pass asks of you
| Pass | What you do | Hours / week | Watch for | Ready for the next pass when… |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 Practice | Short, repeatable exercises in one skill | 3–5 | Overcommitting on tired evenings | You finish a small piece in a predictable time |
| 02 Samples | Three to five honest sample pieces | 3–5 | Showing work you have no right to show | A stranger understands what you offer in two minutes |
| 03 First client | One small job with written scope | 2–6 | Unclear revisions, conflicts with your contract | You delivered on time and the client was satisfied |
| 04 Pricing & repeat | Price from real hours, fees and tax | 2–6 | Forgetting fees and tax in the price | A client asks for a second job |
Safety sheet
Before you switch the lathe on
Every workshop posts a safety sheet. These are the risks that matter most for side work next to a job.
Fees
Marketplaces, payment links and withdrawals take a share. A job priced without fees can pay less than it seems.
Tax
Side income may need to be declared and registered. Check official sources or an accountant before the first payment.
Fatigue
Evenings are limited. Too many sessions harm your sleep, your main job and the quality of the side work.
Employment contract
Exclusivity, non-compete and confidentiality clauses may limit what you can do. Never use your employer's time, tools or clients.
Fraud offers that ask for payment
Offers that charge a fee, kit or deposit before any work are a classic fraud pattern. Read the warning signs.
Workbook pages
Read the workbook
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Offcut 01
Fake side-job offers that ask you to pay first
How to recognise side-job offers that ask for a fee, a starter kit or a deposit before any work exists, and what to do instead.
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Pass 01
Practice passes after a full-time job
A realistic way to practise a sellable skill in the limited hours left after a full-time job, without burning out.
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Pass 02
A small sample board before the first client
How to build a short, honest portfolio of sample work that shows what you can do before you have paying clients.
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Pass 03–04
Pricing the first small job and earning repeat work
A step-by-step way to price a first small side job, count fees and taxes, and turn one client into repeat work.
Questions or corrections?
Lathe Book answers by email only. We read every message and reply within a few business days.