KM-1 Kerfmaker unavailable

[paulhtremblay]

I discovered the kerfmaster, a tool that seemed would work great with Festool rails and routers to make perfect dadoes every time. Unfortunately, it is unavailable. You have to click on a link, and if enough people click, then the company will make more of this tool. That strikes me as a strange marketing/production strategy for a tool so popular.

 

[bkharman]

I Did the signup thing a while back (probably 1.5 months ago) and agree. I think that the size of it plus the price should keep it "in stock" all the time. I really wanted one, still do, but each day that goes by, I think of alternatives.

I put this in the same category as Woodpeckers tools and their one time tools.

Call me if you want a better marketing plan.

 

[nclemmons]

Give Consuelo at Bridge City a call.  You can get an alert on your website request or check with her on availability timing.

It is a regularly produced item but one that they do sell out of.  BCTW does not generally carry much inventory by design.  Great tools and worth the wait.  The Kerfmaker is really useful for dados that fit an inserted cross piece.

Neil

 

[RKA]

I just spoke to her on Tuesday.  She said the lead time on a production run is about 3 mos.  (no idea if that's in BCTW time or my measure on time) and currently no production run is scheduled.  I put my name on their list anyway.  Hope that helps. 

 

[SittingElf]

I have one, and it is an awesome bit of kit!  Well worth the price.

If you are unaware of its use, Paul-Marcel has a video review on YouTube of the KM-1 that should be all the convincing you will need. [smile]



Cheers,

Frank

 

[paulhtremblay]

I Did the signup thing a while back (probably 1.5 months ago) and agree. I think that the size of it plus the price should keep it "in stock" all the time. I really wanted one, still do, but each day that goes by, I think of alternatives.

I put this in the same category as Woodpeckers tools and their one time tools.

Call me if you want a better marketing plan.

Will Bridge City tools actually contact you if you are on their mailing list when this become available?

 

[bkharman]

You know Paul...  I am not sure. I emailed to see if they had any "extras" laying about and she said they did not. I am hopeful to get an email soon saying it is available.

 

[RKA]

They will in my experience.  They are organized as far as keeping lists of people interested in products and getting back to them when something is available.  But that doesn't mean it won't be a long time before you get that call.  In all likelihood you'll forget you even put your name on a list and you'll be asking "for what?  How much? What does it do?"! 

 

[VW mick]

Have Been on bridge city tools website today ...

Ridiculous ....there is some awesome kit on there

 

[joraft]

I put this in the same category as Woodpeckers tools and their one time tools.

Call me if you want a better marketing plan.

Actually, I find John Economaki (BCTW) and Richard Hummel (Woodpeckers) to be quite similar in personality. These are two guys with incredibly creative minds that are stuck in overdrive. Both are constantly looking for the next "great idea".

I was lucky enough to be invited to BCTW's 30th anniversary party in Portland last year (along with NeilC and Paul-Marcel). It was a 3 day party where the fun never stopped. Part of it was an all day tour of the BCTW workshop and design studio. Before that I had never imagined the R&D that goes into every one of their specialty tools, and how many projects never see the light of day, even after months of development work. Only the best of the best is put on the market.

Considering the very narrow market, I don't think these top quality, well designed specialty tools would be commercially viable without some kind of "one time" business model. And, with all the advanced notice both companies give before closing orders on a tool, there's no reason for anyone to be left out.

Furthermore, since both these guys seem to always sell everything they ever make, I don't think they'll be calling anyone soon for a better marketing plan.  [smile]

 

[rljatl]

So that I know what to watch for, besides the Kerfmaker, what other BCTW are most useful?

 

[ishmerc]

Does any one know why they stop using wood in their tools ?

 

[plasmator]

Watching that video, he makes that miter cut on the table saw using the fence.  Isn't that just asking for kickback?

 

[bkharman]

I put this in the same category as Woodpeckers tools and their one time tools.

Call me if you want a better marketing plan.

Actually, I find John Economaki (BCTW) and Richard Hummel (Woodpeckers) to be quite similar in personality. These are two guys with incredibly creative minds that are stuck in overdrive. Both are constantly looking for the next "great idea".

I was lucky enough to be invited to BCTW's 30th anniversary party in Portland last year (along with NeilC and Paul-Marcel). It was a 3 day party where the fun never stopped. Part of it was an all day tour of the BCTW workshop and design studio. Before that I had never imagined the R&D that goes into every one of their specialty tools, and how many projects never see the light of day, even after months of development work. Only the best of the best is put on the market.

Considering the very narrow market, I don't think these top quality, well designed specialty tools would be commercially viable without some kind of "one time" business model. And, with all the advanced notice both companies give before closing orders on a tool, there's no reason for anyone to be left out.

Furthermore, since both these guys seem to always sell everything they ever make, I don't think they'll be calling anyone soon for a better marketing plan.  [smile]

I agree that they are both great guys and have an excellent knack for what they do. I am just saying that there are better approaches than the one time tool method...

I have said it several times before, there is a marketing method loosely called "petition selling" where you put out a number as a company and when that number has a ready to pay customer next to it, you begin to manufacture said product. That number can be whatever the vendor feels like putting out so they make profit margins and keep their customers happy. It doesn't mean that they market things as a one time tool and they still get to have a say in the quantity needed before punching aluminum.

The Kerfmaker in my humble opinion is something that should always be available. They should have thousands of them made and in stock at any time. They are the size of a deck of cards so storage is not an issue. They are always in demand and have a spot in every woodworkers drawer. I don't see any reason to not have that one product always in stock.

I am not trying to tell John and Richard how to run their business, I am just saying there are much more lucrative ways of handling these scenarios. If money isn't what you are after, then think happy customers as your MO. When I can't even place an order for a tool that I didn't know existed at the time it was a one time tool, and it matches perfectly with my needs or wants...  Yet I am not going to be able have it...  That doesn't send me scouring forums and want ads, it makes me resentful. Others may not see it that way, but I do.

I don't want to start an argument about this, and if I had the means to build whatever I want out of metal, wood, earth or water, I would gladly do so, but alas I don't. That is why we shop for tools. And when we don't get what we want, we pout.

/pout

Goodnight all, I will dream of that little orange and black device tonight in my dreams.

Bryan

 

[joraft]

... I don't want to start an argument about this, and if I had the means to build whatever I want out of metal, wood, earth or water, I would gladly do so, but alas I don't. That is why we shop for tools. And when we don't get what we want, we pout.

No argument, just a sharing of different viewpoints. This has been a popular subject of discussion for years, with many different viewpoints.

I have said it several times before, there is a marketing method loosely called "petition selling" where you put out a number as a company and when that number has a ready to pay customer next to it, you begin to manufacture said product. That number can be whatever the vendor feels like putting out so they make profit margins and keep their customers happy. It doesn't mean that they market things as a one time tool and they still get to have a say in the quantity needed before punching aluminum.

Both BCTW and Woodpeckers have sections on talkFestool where they will answer questions and take suggestions. A few years ago we asked Richard Hummel about polling for interest in repeats of any of his One Time tools. He responded by setting up a list here: One Time Tool Signup

 

[PaulMarcel]

Watching that video, he makes that miter cut on the table saw using the fence.  Isn't that just asking for kickback?

It would be asking for kickback if the piece between the blade and fence were cut loose. This was just plowing a dado so there were no loose parts after the cut.

If there would be a loose part after the cut, I use the MDF block that is sitting on the fence near the front. It is 1" thick so I'd set the fence over 1", bump the part against that block (which is against the fence) then push through since that would leave 1" clearance between the cut part and fence.

 

[Zacharytanner]

Does any one know why they stop using wood in their tools ?

I believe part of it had to do with the ability to import rosewood - I could be wrong but I believe importing rosewood was banned in the US.

Frank

 

[nclemmons]

Good question on why John moved away from wood and brass...  I recall having this discussion with him several years ago...

John is a designer at heart and really looks for both design and functional differentiation in his tools.

As I recall, he saw everyone else using brass and wood and decided to go the stainless and aluminum path.  Far more contemporary and a much more current look.  Plus they don't tarnish like the brass ones do.  Machine tools have progressed in strength such that milling stainless is easier than it used to be. 

John likes the anodized aluminum look, and that gives him more design freedom on certain tools.

And they wear forever!

 

[nclemmons]

BTW, on the question of the kerfmaker, Below is the start of a chess board that is work in process that I made this weekend.

The cross pieces were planed to uniform thickness within .001 inch with John's new CT-18 smoothing plane with depth skids.  I used gage pins to set the depth to a be consistent front to back.  Here's the plane which is amazing.  http://www.bridgecitytools.com/default/ct-18-dual-low-angle-smoothing-plane.html

I then cut the half laps using a KM-1 kerfmaker on the table saw.  9 pieces in each direction and I used 2" blocks to enable consistent spacing x 8 blocks as I indexed the grouped and taped 9 pieces across the table saw.  Reversed the KM-1 and recut the pieces the extra little bit.

Light tight at every joint in less than 20 minutes of cutting.  Depth skid planing and the KM-1 make that possible.