The Complete "Jointmaker Pro" Review..... A Paradigm Shift in Woodworking

[Eli]

I suggest there are many parts that can be produced from composites or plastic. Production molds would run well into the hundreds of thousands dollars--money we simply don't have.

The real question is which of these examples is likely to still be around in 100 years? Certainly not the TSX...

John Economaki
Bridge City Tool Works

The plastics was more where I was coming from. I couldn't see any features that might have been easily left out, but assumed you'd know better than me. I agree it's a tool that appears more 'sustainable' than any I've seen in a while. Thanks for having a personal prescence here, it's appreciated.

 

[Baldock]

This subject has certainly tapered off...

Has anyone heard of a ship date? Are we going to make it for Christmas?
+
:-\

 

[nclemmons]

Not for the holidays - Likely shipping in January - I talked to BCTW yesterday.

neil

 

[monte]

For those waiting for the big brown truck to come over the horizon....

Here's a reprint on a Jointmaker Pro update from John's blog over at Bridge City Tools.....    http://www.bridgecitytools.com/blog/

cheers,
Roger Savatteri



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jointmaker Pro Update
January 27th, 2009
Two weeks ago we received all of the components for the Jointmaker Pro-holy cow, I have never seen a BCTW project with so many parts! Prior to anodizing the aluminum parts, we assembled one unit and the results are....

Spectacular-in every sense! For those that have seen the prototype in action, the production version features over 80 changes and all I can say is I thought the prototypes were cool, but now, like everyone else waiting for delivery, I CAN'T WAIT to get mine!

Parts come back from the anodizer this week and they are off to the laser house next week. Packaging for both versions (unassembled and assembled) are finalized, and we have decided to forgo a written assembly manual for a DVD or web-based assembly tutorial which we will finish next week. Lastly, the saw blades should arrive from Japan any day now (it took 4 months to make all of these blades).

We also decided to do a little bit of sub-assembly work for the unassembled versions for those who have limited assembly experience. Now, all one needs is to be able to do is insert and tighten screws.

While the components were being manufactured I took the JMP on the road to a couple of the Lie-Nielson Hand Tool Events (if you can go to one of these, they are intimate, fun and educational). One thing became apparent to me after demonstrating this tool for eight hours straight - my back ached.

As a result, we redesigned the stand so the back of the Jointmaker Pro is now 3" higher than the front. This accomplishes two important things, it shortens the sawing stroke and it makes it easier to see your cuts. It is one of those counter-intuitive decisions that really makes using the tool fun. I demonstrated this change to show attendees and everyone agrees this is an awesome improvement. Whether you use our stand, or make your own, we recommend inclining the Jointmaker Pro without hesitation.

As those patiently waiting know, we have taken our time to make sure the user experience is going to be as flawless as possible. We can't wait to learn how our owners use this transformative tool - it truly changes your perspective on project ideas.

Lastly, I am on the second week of my annual two-week work retreat. I would have posted this update last week but I am in Utah and forgot the password into my blog...

This whole password thing is really getting to be an issue for my aging brain.

- John

 

[Frank Pellow]

[size=11pt]

...

While the components were being manufactured I took the JMP on the road to a couple of the Lie-Nielson Hand Tool Events

...
(if you can go to one of these, they are intimate, fun and educational). One thing became apparent to me after demonstrating this tool for eight hours straight - my back ached.

...

I think that the best way to sell these at this stage is to demo them at such events.

Lie Neilson will be present at the Toronto Woodworking Show from Feb 27 to Mar 1.  It would be great to see this demoed there.

 

[daveg]

I've been patiently waiting for mine. It's been frustrating since it was ordered at the end of Oct 2008. There were several slips in the ship date that was given. Hopefully, it will be worth the wait.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I'm patiently waiting, too.  I hope they take as much time as they need to do it right!
Thanks for the update John.

 

[Deke]

Have to say the video says it all and the first few pages of this thread were just overwhelming with text. As someone who writes too much, I now how people feel!

You really had me, but when I went to the site and saw this going for 1200 AND I have to put it together, I'm sorry. It just seems out of whack. I am not arguing that mfging all this is not expensive, but I'm talking about consumer cost/pricing side of things. This would be way down on my list even though it could do lots of things I do and want to do. That's a lot of planes, saws, Festool stuff... to compete with in the old "wish list."

 

[monte]

Update on the update..........

just received this note from John........

................................................................

I just returned from a two week work retreat to find all the components
for the JMP in our warehouse--what a sight indeed!

The laser work is just fantastic. The new depth stop works better than I
had hoped, actually it is perfect. Today we see the new stand.

Packaging is designed and we are working on the final assembly video.

I can't remember being more excited about a job here in 25 years. We
should begin shipping as soon as the blades arrive (any day now).

John

 

[monte]

Link to John's latest blog entry.........

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/blog/

 

[nickao]

To bad I had to bail on this the wait did not coincide with my income cash flow during this housing crunch. January has been the busiest month I have ever had in 5 years though, so something is up.

With the new price I just can not get on board. To bad the housing crunch coincided with the initial ordering price on this, even being in the founders club it is just to much for me now.

Let me know how it works out for you guys.

 

[Tinker]

To bad I had to bail on this the wait did not coincide with my income cash flow during this housing crunch. January has been the busiest month I have ever had in 5 years though, so something is up.

Nick, As I think you are now, I have always been a one or two man operation, whether in construction or landscaping.  I have, over the past 60+/- years managed to keep busy thru every economy setback that has come along.  I have always kept my jobs bids within a scope and size at which I could perform within my own capabilities.  When business was booming statewide or nationally, i was often very slow.  People were willing to spend money on very large projects, even new homes of extravagent size.  I still stuck to smaller work.  If a job was going to take more than a couple of weeks, I tended to stay away. I avoided taking on extra help (I once had seven employees and got severely burned as a result, probably from my own inadequacies business wise.)  BUT, when work slowed down for the big boys, I was almost always so busy i could not keep up.  I continued to stay within my own scope and knew how to bid within my own limitations.  The profits were there for me while others of larger scale were suffering.

I am now just as busy as ever with my landscaping, mainly because I am staying within the boundaries of my own physical capabilities.  I am sure you are experiencing the same sort of phenomenon by staying within the bounds of your own small shop with no employees.  With the quality of your work, i am sure you will weather this storm very well. If you think a tool would be of long term value to your operation, I think now is a time for the small biz guy to take serious look. Just MHO.
Tinker

 

[jaegerhund]

To bad I had to bail on this the wait did not coincide with my income cash flow during this housing crunch. January has been the busiest month I have ever had in 5 years though, so something is up.

Alright Nick ! --- that is good to hear.

Justin

 

[wnagle]

Nick,

I'm glad to hear your orders are up!  I also decided to wait on ordering the JMP till things pick up.  My work has slowed a bit the last 3-4 months so I gotta slow down the spending for a while.  The JMP is just one of many items on my "tools to buy" list.  I still need to upgrade my dust collection piping and automate it with a green box, finish my miter station, build a shed, and a handful of cabinets and rolling carts for my shop.  I did finally get the new furnace and heat pump working correctly so I have no excuses to get going on things.

 

[nickao]

If they ran another first offering price of the 950.00 for the founders members or something I bet they could sell enough new units to cover the difference of less sales with the higher price. I know I would get one at the lower price.

Oh well, sometimes waiting is best as they come up with improvements over the years.

 

[Tinker]

I think I'm with you, Nick, on the pricing part.
The main holdback for me on the JMP is when I look at their website and see so many really great great tools that have been archived and no longer available.  The tools that they do have available all seem to be very expensive.
i am wondering if their sales philosophy is to develope the best tools they can, set a price for immediate profit, produce a medium run and get out while sales are still hot and so not end up with high inventory.  The JMP has just enough moving parts, and the special production blades that I am aprehentious about making the plunge at even the $950 price you mention.  What will happen by the time the moving parts begin failing, or I will need new sets of blades.  Will I have to search E-bay?  I would just like to see more evidence that they are sincere in keeping a good supply of the tools and consumables they produce.  (Are you listening John E?Comment would be appreciated)
Tinker

 

[nickao]

If business did not slow I would have had the 950.00 deal so for me it was the timing only. I am willing to purchase and take a chance on the future. I had to do what I had to do and the 950.00 actually came in handy during the months of the wait. It is not a whole lot of money, but it actually helped a great deal while business was so slow. I had other things happen to hit our family income in addition to the business slowing. If there was no wait I would have the tool though.

I was planning on posting on my web site showing how to make an entire floor inlay  using only the JMP, but at 1250.00 and shipping, plus blades I just can not do it. 300.00 makes the difference at this point, last summer the additional cost would not have mattered.

If you do get it Tinker let me how it works out for you.

 

[Tinker]

For me at the moment, the extra $300 is the killer.  In my biz, i can never keep up with cash flow from April thru June.  last season, the problems lasted thru July.  Along about late august will be the earliest I even begin to rethink about the JMP.  right now, I am interrested in the FlatMaster from Stockroom Supply. I can put it tto use immediately.  That is a somewhat of a copycat of the SandFlee.  SF is way overpriced as far as I can see right now, but Stockroom Supply does have options that are interesting.  My problem with SRS is that I sent them an E-mail question and have received no reply.  If I do not hear from them soon, I will start rethinking about the SandFlee.  My problem with SF is weight.  Much too heavy for my tired old back discs to be rastlin' on and off of temp support bench.  If anybody has used either of these, I would be interested to hear from.  Probably best as another subject line.
Tinker

 

[nickao]

That flat master cost almost a thousand bucks. Why not get a used Performax(Jet) or even the Delta drum sander at about 1000.00 it is the same price and looks a whole lot better to me.

I will be selling my 22-44 Performax to get the newer Jet Oscillating 22-44 drum sander.

I agree I would need time to develop a procedure to use the Jointmaster pro, but I really want one. Sometimes you can not have everything you want, this is one of those times. It is my kids school trip to Washington for 1350.00 or the Jointmaster pro. Well this is a once in a lifetime thing for her so there really is no choice for me right now.

Nick

 

[sw1211]

My kid went to Washington last year, had a great time, good choice there.  I don't ever remember trips like this growing up, we maybe got a day bus trip to the zoo.  Now my youngest has applied for a trip to Hawaii, which just doesn't seem right considering I've never been there.