Woodpecker Items... I don’t get it

[Tyler Ernsberger]

So I have looked at Woodpecker items serveral times and also have looked at their OTT,  They don’t seem worth the price.  In my option the Anodized aluminum will not hold up to wear and tear.  Even the laser etching doesn’t seem like it will last.  Is it just me???  My Starett tools hold up very well to daily use and i have never had any issues. 

 

[Cheese]

I love Starrett tools, I've collected a bunch of them over the years, and I'd love to have them exclusively in the shop, however, it really gets down to $$$.

Take the Woodpeckers 49.5" woodworking ruler, it costs $73 while the closest Starrett equivalent (C404R-48) costs $555.
http://www.starrett.com/metrology/p...ight-edges-parallels/Precision-Rules/C404R-48

The Woodpeckers 36" SERX straight edge rule costs $60 while the Starrett equivalent (387-36) costs $503.

The Woodpeckers 12" (1281) precision square costs $110 while the Starrett USA made equivalent (20-12) costs $689 or the Starrett Global series Chinese made equivalent (33020-12) costs $301.
http://www.starrett.com/metrology/p...n-measuring-tools/squares/Solid-Squares/20-12

The thing Woodpeckers brought to the table is accurate, affordable woodworking measuring tools for the average woodworker. Before Woodpeckers, the average guy was forced to use their $15 Stanley steel framing square and hope for the best or their $30 Stanley combination square.

It'll be interesting to find out in the next 10 years or so how well the Woodpeckers aluminum tooling wears. Interestingly enough their new OTT, the 1281 square, now boasts being hardcoat anodized to provide for longer tool life. Maybe they've already seen wear issues? [eek]

I still use my Starrett combination squares every day, however when I go up on a ladder, I grab the 1281 just incase gravity prevails.  [big grin]

 

[HAXIT]

I am slightly in the same page with both of you, only with the difference about the price and Starrett.
Well I not deeply into Starrett tools, but if the choice is between Starrett and woodpeckers there is almost no doubt that I would go with Starrett.
And the price in not really high when you have other expenses and making the minimum of the profit to stay in business not to do business.
My problem with Woodpeckers is, I do not like the name and the color. just kidding  [big grin]
Anodized Aluminum for measuring tools and scale is almost a toy in the market and would never hold it. Let's just hope that you would never drop it then you are done.
I never understand the concept of OTT!? If you have customers then why not? Then, how many squares possibly someone would need?
I do like their T-square that is all about and I called them about a month ago and I told them respectfully that I have no interest in anodized Aluminum but I like the T-square and I request if they could make the 12" and 32" one out 316 stainless and I would pay the difference in price if it is reasonable and they said no.   

 

[greg mann]

I am slightly in the same page with both of you, only with the difference about the price and Starrett.
Well I not deeply into Starrett tools, but if the choice is between Starrett and woodpeckers there is almost no doubt that I would go with Starrett.
And the price in not really high when you have other expenses and making the minimum of the profit to stay in business not to do business.
My problem with Woodpeckers is, I do not like the name and the color. just kidding  [big grin]
Anodized Aluminum for measuring tools and scale is almost a toy in the market and would never hold it. Let's just hope that you would never drop it then you are done.
I never understand the concept of OTT!? If you have customers then why not? Then, how many squares possibly someone would need?
I do like their T-square that is all about and I called them about a month ago and I told them respectfully that I have no interest in anodized Aluminum but I like the T-square and I request if they could make the 12" and 32" one out 316 stainless and I would pay the difference in price if it is reasonable and they said no. 

Judging by how many the offer they must think we need a lot of them.  [scratch chin]

 

[HarveyWildes]

My favorite Woodpecker tool is probably their least expensive - Incra Precision 3” x 2” Pocket Rule ($11.95).  I use it continually, and it is neither red nor anodized.  I started out with just one, but then it was so useful that I got about ten of them when Rockler had them as an advertising promotion for $4.00 each.  Last year I bought another five from Woodpeckers because I end up giving them away to people who I know will get good use out of them.  It's (IMHO) the best setup rule ever - fits in a pocket, allows easy saw and router depth settings - at least for getting in the neighborhood.  The only thing that Starrett has that comes close is a 6 inch rule with end gradations.

I have Incra 6" and 12" squares, which are dead on.  I don't care about the gradations.  The 6" is my second favorite Woodpecker tool, and the 12" is my third.  After that, Woodpecker slides into the noise of my shop.

Woodpecker makes a few very useful basic tools, and the rest are either gimmicks or specialty items that may be useful in the right time or to the right person.  I've kept a couple of the gimmicks in my drawer to remind me not to buy stuff I won't use.

 

[semenza]

My favorite Woodpecker tool is probably their least expensive - Incra Precision 3” x 2” Pocket Rule ($11.95).  I use it continually, and it is neither red nor anodized.  I started out with just one, but then it was so useful that I got about ten of them when Rockler had them as an advertising promotion for $4.00 each.  Last year I bought another five from Woodpeckers because I end up giving them away to people who I know will get good use out of them.  It's (IMHO) the best setup rule ever - fits in a pocket, allows easy saw and router depth settings - at least for getting in the neighborhood.  The only thing that Starrett has that comes close is a 6 inch rule with end gradations.

I have Incra 6" and 12" squares, which are dead on.  I don't care about the gradations.  The 6" is my second favorite Woodpecker tool, and the 12" is my third.  After that, Woodpecker slides into the noise of my shop.

Woodpecker makes a few very useful basic tools, and the rest are either gimmicks or specialty items that may be useful in the right time or to the right person.  I've kept a couple of the gimmicks in my drawer to remind me not to buy stuff I won't use.

I'm not sure you are using any Woodpecker's tool?  Incra is Incra, Woodpecker's is Woodpecker's. What I mean is that Woodpecker's doesn't make Incra, Incra makes Incra.

Seth

 

[rvieceli]

[member=61231]HarveyWildes[/member] Here is Incra's web store and they are having a site wide sale with 10% off everything with code HDAY1.
http://www.incrementaltools.com/default.asp

Makes your pocket rule fave only $9.85

Ron

 

[HarveyWildes]

My favorite Woodpecker tool is probably their least expensive - Incra Precision 3” x 2” Pocket Rule ($11.95)...

I'm not sure you are using any Woodpecker's tool?  Incra is Incra, Woodpecker's is Woodpecker's. What I mean is that Woodpecker's doesn't make Incra, Incra makes Incra.

Seth

The relationship must be pretty close.  I have the 1281 12" square, but my 6" square is older and is branded Incra.  It is not all red, nor does it have gradations, but otherwise the construction looks very similar to the 641.  I just assumed that Incra was a brand that they used for some stuff and Woodpeckers started out as the online storefront brand, and they got confused over time fror inscrutable marketing reasons.  Sounds like the confusion is all mine .

 

[grbmds]

All of us must have a lot of time on our hands or this topic wouldn't come up so often. Woodpecker's is really no different than any other brand in the sense that some think their tools are the best, most accurate tools and some don't. Whether any tool is worth the price or not is very subjective and individual. Is Woodpecker's MFT Square worth its price? Is a Starrett combination square worth the price? Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on what you use these tools for and whether they give you the result you desire. If the result is what you want, it gives you satisfaction to use them, and they make your work better, it's always worth it to me. I have too much time on my hands today also I guess.

 

[semenza]

My favorite Woodpecker tool is probably their least expensive - Incra Precision 3” x 2” Pocket Rule ($11.95)...

I'm not sure you are using any Woodpecker's tool?  Incra is Incra, Woodpecker's is Woodpecker's. What I mean is that Woodpecker's doesn't make Incra, Incra makes Incra.

Seth

The relationship must be pretty close.  I have the 1281 12" square, but my 6" square is older and is branded Incra.  It is not all red, nor does it have gradations, but otherwise the construction looks very similar to the 641.  I just assumed that Incra was a brand that they used for some stuff and Woodpeckers started out as the online storefront brand, and they got confused over time fror inscrutable marketing reasons.  Sounds like the confusion is all mine .

Pretty sure Incra has been around longer, not positive.  Yes, they are easy to confuse especially since Woodpecker's use to make their router lifts in Incra gold. The two brands do work well together. And I have a Woodpecker's 12" carpenters square in gold. Which is a bad color since it is hard to see the white markings in many lighting situations. Pretty sure that's why they quit using gold for measuring tools.

Seth

 

[semenza]

I haven't had any wear or wear off issues with my Woodpecker's stuff.  Much of which has been in use for ten  years or so. Not like these are things that get  beat on. With the exception of the anodizing on a couple of the large items fading. No problem with fading on any of the other twenty or so items. But that isn't really a wear and tear from use issue.

Seth

 

[southrider]

My 1281 square is fading - but I use it as a square. It is NOT a measuring device. I've always considered the gradations on any square to be there for rough framing only.

Yes - a drop on an aluminum square can ding it - clean off the burr with a file. And yes, an adjustable square can be knocked out of square - that's why it's adjustable.

I love some of my woodpeckers tools - some not as much. Isn't it that way with most brands?

 

[Sparktrician]

I haven't had any wear or wear off issues with my Woodpecker's stuff.  Much of which has been in use for ten  years or so. Not like these are things that get  beat on. With the exception of the anodizing on a couple of the large items fading. No problem with fading on any of the other twenty or so items. But that isn't really a wear and tear from use issue.

Seth

Pretty much the same here.  I've had no extensive wear & tear on the Woodpeckers stuff that I have, and none have faded.  My favorites are the stainless steel Paolini rules that just seem to keep on ruling.  No muss, no fuss. 

 

[Timtool]

I have a few Woodpeckers stuff and see them as precision tools that make my job easier and I treat them with respect, not like go-to tools that are kicked around.
The T-square has become unmissable just as the story sticks. The 1218 square I have is so-so, probably accurate and all, but it's too fat and heavy to be of any use for me. It looks nice on the wall though.

On the other hand I wonder what a $ 5-600 square can be good for in woodworking? At what point does that ultra accuracy make a difference on a material that by definition is never totally flat, square or stable? When I want accuracy I use my machines, when I pull out a square it's to do a marking/cut/assembly by hand, which by definition will be everything but totally accurate.

 

[zapdafish]

too funny, a post on the FOG about woodpeckers being expensive. Usually its posts on other woodworking forums about the worth of Festool.    [big grin] [big grin]