I have a gm carpenter, and Im hoping to make some sweet bokutos.
When I make exceptionals, it just has 35%DI. I have seen crafted weapons with hit lightning, life leach, etc etc.
Is it just a numbers game... as in if I make thousands eventually I will make a good one or is it based on magery skill like spellbooks are?

are you using runic saws? That would be your first start to making better weapons. With a basic saw, you wont get anything but your exc 35% DI...

you need runic saws, they come in ash(witch i hear is crap), yew and ungodly heartwood. they are acquired through quests in heartwood(yew)

anybody know which quests gives you the saws?

Yeah, Runic Crafting Items are the ones that will give you the special properties; above and beyond the 35% DI for Ex. and the base properties of the different woods.

You can get Runic Saws from the Carpentry crafting quests in Heartwood or buy them from players who have them. They are a very rare reward and as such usually sell for pretty big money.

I just saw a Heartwood Fletching Kit on a Luna vendor for just under 20 million...given, its Luna, but you get the idea...

I'll give you a run down of what runics are worth it and what aren't.

Blacksmith: Worth it: Gold(1-2m), Agapite(5-8m), Verite(25m+), Valorite(35+m).
Blacksmith: Not worth it: Dull copper(5k), copper(15k), shadow iron(30k), bronze(60k)

Runic fletching: Worth it: Heartwood(20m+)
Runic fletching: Not Worth it: the rest, oak(15k), ash(1m), yew(5m)

Runic carpentry: Worth it: Heartwood(20m+)
Runic carpentry: Not Worth it: the rest, oak(15k), ash(1m), yew(4m+)

Runic Sewing Kits: Worth it: Barbed Runic Sewing Kit(5.5m+)
Runic Sewing Kits: Not Worth it: Horned(200k), Spined(25k)

These are all Atlantic prices from what I've seen in the last couple weeks.

edit: Don't get me wrong, some of these items might be worth it to you. It's all about your own perspective, however, this is my opinion coming from a PVP perspective and a re-seller perspective. You will not make anything good for PVP use with the things I said were not worth it, and on top of thta fact you will not make anything good enough to resale that will cover your costs for buying the item of the Not Worth It group. The Worth It group will produce killer pvp stuff and also will produce items that you'll be able to resale for profit and cover the costs of buying the runic item.