Newest Woodpeck One Time Tool; repeat

[semenza]

...They slide better and because you can use a .9mm instead of a .5 mm the lead breaks less. The fact that a .9mm nearly fills the 1mm holes  makes for very consistent marking.

...I like 2B lead. Marks easily so that you don't need to  push down. Which helps prevent breaking the lead in wood grain.

Seth,

Are you using Woodpecker's mechanical pencil or another brand?  Where do you get the refills?

For finish carpentry, I use a #2.5 lead pencil.  I learned about them from Gary Katz.  He gives them out at his roadshow events.  These seminars are free and well worth attending if he ever comes to your area.  www.katzroadshow.com

Thanks,

Joe

I don't have the Woodpecker's  .9mm pencil but they are readily available from art / drafting suppliers, and I have seen them in Staples. Same for the lead. I like the Pentel Graphgear 500. The metal weighted end is nice for holding it in the holes.

Here is an online supplier of all the pencils and lead etc. http://www.dickblick.com/

Seth

 

[wow]

Here is an online supplier of all the pencils and lead etc. http://www.dickblick.com/

Seth

Dick Blick is a GREAT place for this kind of stuff, and they also have retail stores in roughly 25 states. Check their store locater if you want to visit them locally:

http://www.dickblick.com/stores/

 

[Paul G]

Curious what folks have to say about the lengths, 3", 6" & 8". I'm not seeing the point in having the whole set, at best 3" & 8". What am I missing?

 

[stvrowe]

Curses!!!

As a strong anti "one time tool" business model advocate I may jus have to compromise my convictions [embarassed] [sad]

LOL, personally I don't understand your contempt of the OTT offerings, but it's hard to turn away from a good tool isn't it.

How on earth can you not understand!!! [eek]

It's sooo simple:

1. They've made a tool in the past that you want - but bad luck, you can't have one now and
2. They're offering a tool you can't figure out if you'll ever need today, but you must buy it now or miss out.

To be clear ... I'm very much OK with you being comfortable with the model - it's my issue and my contempt!

I am with Kev on this as I also have contempt for the model.  The model is for the sole benefit of the manufacturer and is not geared toward the customer.  It is used to create a sense of urgency to force the consumer to purchase at the manufacturers convenience rather than that of the consumer.  I might understand this approach if they were manufacturing collectors items whose limited production would theoretically increase their value as an investment but let's face it, these are measuring and layout tools made of anodized aluminum that hardly rise to that level.

 

[joraft]

...  The model is for the sole benefit of the manufacturer and is not geared toward the customer. 

I think the model is beneficial to both the manufacturer and the customer.

The tools made by Woodpeckers and Bridge City Tools are so unique that they appeal only to a relatively small customer base.

Without the one-time tool model it would be too difficult to calculate profitable production runs, and it would be unlikely that these tools would be available to us at all.

I don't buy everything Woodpeckers comes out with, and have never had to buy out of a sense of urgency. I do know that Richard Hummel continues to come up with very clever ideas, so I keep a close watch on everything he does. When he comes up with something that makes my work easier, I place an order before it goes away. He has always given an ample time frame to get an order in.

So far, I haven't missed out on getting anything I wanted.

 

[Kev]

Sadly I foresee there being no common agreement among us on the "correctness" on the one time tool model. The more I consider it the more I'm intent to vote with but meagre buying power and choose not to purchase their products.

This kinda makes me upset - I really like their tools, but not the business model .. so I lose. [sad]

 

[sumantamandal]

I'd love to know what people think of these in comparison to the similar offering from Incra.

I was about to buy the Incra ones ... kinda got a bee in the bonnet over "one time" model [sad]

http://www.incrementaltools.com/INCRA_Precision_T_Rules_Metric_300mm_p/t-rule300m.htm

    I have both Woodpecker's and Incra in a couple lengths. I have used them both for several years. I much prefer the Woodpecker's when using the holes to draw lines / make marks in a marking gauge fashion. They slide better and because you can use a .9mm instead of a .5 mm the lead breaks less. The fact that a .9mm nearly fills the 1mm holes  makes for very consistent marking.

    If drawing lines long the edge it is a close call but I would still choose the Woodpecker's because sometimes the flexible Incra will allow the pencil to go underneath if it is not held down firmly. The bevel on the Woodpecker's edge makes it so the thickness isn't really a problem.

  I use the Incra when I need 64ths. Or if I need to offset the 'T' so that I can butt one side up against something like an inside corner. Sometimes handy for the scale across the end.

  I like 2B lead. Marks easily so that you don't need to  push down. Which helps prevent breaking the lead in wood grain.

Seth

Excellent advice on 0.9mm pencil and 2B lead! Will order both of them and try on my existing Woodpecker rule.

 

[GarryMartin]

...almost entirely because of the fact that the .5mm lead needed to use the incra breaks all the time

Have you tried different lead?

http://www.amazon.com/Uni-ball-Diamond-Infused-Leads-1753230/dp/B003CPH5E4

http://www.amazon.com/Stein-0-5mm-replacement-Pentel-Sharp/dp/B004EHYH18

I use the Pentel Ain Stein and they are much, much better than "normal" leads.

 

[semenza]

Curious what folks have to say about the lengths, 3", 6" & 8". I'm not seeing the point in having the whole set, at best 3" & 8". What am I missing?

    I have the 3" and 6".  The 8" was not available in the first time these were done.  I also have the 12" from the larger size line of these T-squares so I don't think I will end up adding the 8".  Kind of depends on what else you have. EX- 3" , 8", and 24" might work out well?

Seth

 

[semenza]

...almost entirely because of the fact that the .5mm lead needed to use the incra breaks all the time

Have you tried different lead?

http://www.amazon.com/Uni-ball-Diamond-Infused-Leads-1753230/dp/B003CPH5E4

http://www.amazon.com/Stein-0-5mm-replacement-Pentel-Sharp/dp/B004EHYH18

I use the Pentel Ain Stein and they are much, much better than "normal" leads.

Yeah, I've been using the Pentel brand of lead. It does seem better. Plus you can get the whole range of hardness.

Here is a Wiki on the grades.  A #2 pencil is HB. A #2 1/2 is F ( one level, or possibly sub level, harder than HB).

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil

Seth

 

[Just F Me]

I just want them to bring back the 18" precision carpenters square  [sad]

 

[TOOLTOWN]

Over the years I've seen many threads talking about Woodpecker one time tools, and how many people won't buy them simply because of the one time methodology.

As a fellow tool retailer I see this and feel it is an unjust analysis.  Perhaps the name of the program is the point of confusion.  These are really LIMITED RUN TOOLS.  They produce a prototype, market it , and sell based on demand.  If you miss the tool you can send an email saying "Hey I want one of these".  If demand is high enough they run that tool again. 

Examples:
T-square
Paolini rule
Bench rule
Corner jig
bar gauge
set up blocks
woodworking square
bevel gauges
angle reference plate

In conclusion, yes there may be a better name for the program.  But for specialty tools, there is no profitable way to keep all these tools available at all times.  Please take this program for what it is.  I can see many people reading this thread (or one of the many others here on the FOG) looking for advise on Woodpecker, and ultimately deciding to never buy from them because a couple people feel it is unfair to wait until the next run of a tool.

These are just my thoughts, they are in no way directed at any one person, and I do not want to start any arguments.

Ken

 

[joraft]

...  If you miss the tool you can send an email saying "Hey I want one of these".  If demand is high enough they run that tool again. 

It's easier than that. Go to this page ( One Time Tool Signup ) and vote on the tools you want to see produced again.

Any tools that get enough votes will be re-run, and you'll get an email notification.

 

[Paul G]

Sadly I foresee there being no common agreement among us on the "correctness" on the one time tool model. The more I consider it the more I'm intent to vote with but meagre buying power and choose not to purchase their products.

This kinda makes me upset - I really like their tools, but not the business model .. so I lose. [sad]

All I can suggest is to focus on the fact they offer some great tools. If you want the benefit of them and consider the price fair then simply buy it. I can understand having moral convictions about things like child labor but limited run specialty tools? I'm just glad they are offered at all.

 

[Paul G]

Curious what folks have to say about the lengths, 3", 6" & 8". I'm not seeing the point in having the whole set, at best 3" & 8". What am I missing?

    I have the 3" and 6".  The 8" was not available in the first time these were done.  I also have the 12" from the larger size line of these T-squares so I don't think I will end up adding the 8".  Kind of depends on what else you have. EX- 3" , 8", and 24" might work out well?

Seth

I didn't recall they did a 24" before, that would make a nice set. Or a 3", 12" & 24". If/when they run the large ones again I could always sell what is close in size and redundant. Seems like these would sell quick used.

 

[GPowers]

I like Woodpecked Saddle square over the T-Squares. The saddle square allows you to make the top and side at the same time.

Unless i'am missing some other advantage to the T-squares?

 

[rljatl]

I like Woodpecked Saddle square over the T-Squares. The saddle square allows you to make the top and side at the same time.

Unless i'am missing some other advantage to the T-squares?

The saddle squares do not have the marking holes that the short one piece T-squares have.

Edited to add:
Hmm, looks like some of the one time saddle squares had marking holes and some did not.  The one without holes is called a saddle square and the one with holes is called a saddle T-square.  Boy, you really have to study those things.  [tongue]

 

[Kev]

Sadly I foresee there being no common agreement among us on the "correctness" on the one time tool model. The more I consider it the more I'm intent to vote with but meagre buying power and choose not to purchase their products.

This kinda makes me upset - I really like their tools, but not the business model .. so I lose. [sad]

All I can suggest is to focus on the fact they offer some great tools. If you want the benefit of them and consider the price fair then simply buy it. I can understand having moral convictions about things like child labor but limited run specialty tools? I'm just glad they are offered at all.

I'm just talking about the business ethic and the sales model. I don't imagine they use child labour or test their tools on monkeys. [wink]

I don't want to play games of can I, can't I buy a particular tool ...

I don't think I took my focus of the fact that they makes some great tools - that's why I have the issue in the first !

Whether it's a one time tool they make a few times, or a vote to bring your choice back into production ... it all falls into the pattern of a business model I don't agree with. Even if everyone else on the planet likes it and I'm alone on this - I still don't have to like it or see it as acceptable.

It's useless to compare their tools to old out of production cars, antiques, collectables ... they're relatively easy to product tools that people would commonly buy to use, typically within a short time of their decision window.

Why would anyone want to wait years to buy a marking tool of a particular nature? ... Don't answer - it's rhetorical [big grin]

 

[Paul G]

Kev, I think we can agree that they make some cool stuff and we both would rather see all their tools in regular inventory. Beyond that we'll have to agree to disagree. I respect your opinion and personal convictions, obviously just don't share them. Maybe your way out of the dilemma is to buy used where you get the benefit of the tool while the company gets no benefit from your purchase. That's assuming you can find any used for sale.

 

[GPowers]

Nothing is stopping someone from buying a bunch of the one time tools and makings them available (at a markup) after woodpecker stops making them.  [wink]