Example

Merrix wants to create a rod of mending, since he likes the spell but doesn't want to take one of his cantrips on it. He figures that 50 uses is plenty (since he might need to use it more than once a day) so he creates it with 50 charges. Mending is a cantrip (+2 item level) and 50 charges (+1) brings the item level to 3. The cost is 225 gold for a 3rd level item.

A local master artisan has just been broken into by a thief, and offers Merrix a challenge: if he can find and capture or kill the CR5 master thief, the master will aid his progress.

Merrix and his party does so, and the master grants his help. This reduces the price by 60%, to 90 gold, which means it will take 18 hours to complete. Merrix pays 45 gold for the raw materials, and spends 2 full 8-hour days working with the master.

It will only take two hours to finish the project. Merrix hits the road with his friends, spending 45 gold on a gemstone to place into a socket when the item is finished. That night, Merrix spends the last two hours fitting the gem, and the rod of mending is done!

The wagon's axle broke early the next morning, and Merrix got the axle fixed before the local gnolls caught their scent.