The first thing many customers ask us at METADESK is why our chabani cost what they do, especially compared with mass-produced tea trays from marketplaces. This article is our honest answer. We will break down what actually goes into a handcrafted chaban and let you judge whether it makes sense for you.
The lazy comparison to avoid
A $30 bamboo tea tray from a marketplace is not comparable to a handcrafted chaban. It is a different object, made for a different purpose, from a different material, with different labor behind it. Comparing them is like comparing a Bic pen to a fountain pen. Both work. They are not the same object.
If you want a tray to catch drips at your desk, buy the $30 tray and enjoy it. If you want a chaban for a practice, keep reading.
What goes into a handcrafted chaban
Here is what we spend on any board that leaves the workshop:
- Wood. We source solid alder, ash, or ironwood — no veneers, no particleboard. Ironwood alone can cost several times what a small tray costs before we have touched it.
- Labor. Roman and his team hand-cut every board. A stock chaban takes about a day and a half of skilled work. A carved chaban takes three to four days.
- Carving. A full Flower of Life or Tree of Life adds another day of skilled hand work.
- Drainage cutting. Channels are routed and then finished by hand chisel to soften the interior for cleaning.
- Finishing. Sanding to a fine grit, then two to three coats of food-safe oil, hand-rubbed.
- Workshop overhead. Rent, tools, electricity, oil, sandpaper, wear on saws and chisels — small per board, real over the year.
- Packing and shipping. Every chaban ships wrapped, cushioned, and insured. Damage rates are near zero.
Rough price ranges
As of writing, our chabani price roughly in these ranges:
| Type | Wood | Approx. price |
|---|---|---|
| Small solo chaban, no carving | Alder | ~$200-320 |
| Solo chaban with carving | Alder | ~$300-450 |
| Medium ash chaban, carved | Ash | ~$400-650 |
| Group-size ironwood, uncarved | Ironwood | ~$650-900 |
| Studio ironwood, carved, custom | Ironwood | ~$900-1500+ |
These are ballpark. Specific pieces vary — check our chaban collection for current prices.
Why we do not race to the bottom
We could cut prices by using thinner wood, machine-finishing everywhere, buying in bulk from lower-grade lumber suppliers, or replacing hand-carving with laser engraving. We do not, because the object stops being what we set out to make.
A hand-cut channel behaves differently under water than a machine-cut one. A hand-carved Flower of Life catches light differently than a laser one. Old-growth ironwood ages differently than plantation lumber. These differences matter over years of use.
What is included in the price
Every chaban includes:
- The finished board itself.
- A small bottle of the food-safe oil we use, for your future refinishing.
- Care instructions in English.
- Wrapped, cushioned international shipping.
- Insured tracking.
Custom-order pricing
Custom orders are priced individually. Alex quotes in writing before we start, and there are no surprise charges. Payment is split — a deposit at sketch approval, the balance before shipping.
Common upcharges: unusual dimensions, complex carvings, hidden reservoirs, matched pairs (two boards from adjacent lumber), and rushed lead times. Standard 3-6 week lead time carries no rush fee.
Why comparing to Etsy prices misleads
Some marketplaces list "handcrafted chabani" at prices that seem impossibly low. What you usually find is one of three things: mass-produced boards drop-shipped from factories, thin wood with a decorative pattern applied on top, or low-grade wood finished with cheap lacquer that peels within a year. None of these are wrong to buy, but they are not the same object as ours.
The lifetime cost
An alder chaban that costs $400 and lasts 20 years works out to $20 a year — less than a nice bag of tea. An ironwood chaban that costs $1200 and lasts 50 years works out to $24 a year. A $30 tray that lasts 18 months works out to $20 a year. The gap in cost per year of use is smaller than the gap in initial price.
This is not us trying to justify high prices. It is a genuine observation: handcrafted wood is not expensive over time. It is only expensive on the day you buy it.
Financing and honest conversations
We do not offer formal financing, but Alex is happy to have honest conversations about payment plans on custom orders. Write to metadeskukraine@gmail.com. If a piece matters to you and the timing is difficult, we would rather work with you than lose the chance to build the object.
What we will not do
We will not cut corners to hit a lower price point. If a customer wants a chaban significantly cheaper than our current pricing, we honestly tell them to buy elsewhere. Selling a compromised object under our name would hurt everyone.
The value question
Value is not price. Value is what an object gives you per unit of price. A well-built chaban gives you decades of daily practice, an aesthetic focus in your home, and an heirloom for the next generation. If you value those things, our prices are honest. If you do not, our chabani are not for you, and that is fine.
Browse our chaban collection and our full workshop catalog to see current pieces and prices.