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Trust me, Keith, Picayune needs all of the help it can get. I have a lot of friends that live there, but don't hold that against them. Stay away from the Beignets. IT"S TIME FOR A CRAWFISH BOIL!

Welcome Greg, I'm still exploring some of your links that Dave posted the other day...
 
Glad you could join the fun...but, alas, you need to bring doughnuts to the party...but, since there are a bunch of doughnut hogs here, and I seem to be the one always late to the party, I'll settle for a piece of Deep Dish Apple pie...and since you brought your excellent calculators, I'll let you slide on the Vanilla ice cream.
 
Bill

Good one, Greg.
 
You've got a good sense of humor...we just may keep you around...

Good one, Greg.
 
You've got a good sense of humor...we just may keep you around...

Welcome Greg, I'm still exploring some of your links that Dave posted the other day...
 
Glad you could join the fun...but, alas, you need to bring doughnuts to the party...but, since there are a bunch of doughnut hogs here, and I seem to be the one always late to the party, I'll settle for a piece of Deep Dish Apple pie...and since you brought your excellent calculators, I'll let you slide on the Vanilla ice cream.
 
Bill

Well, OK, but what Katie didn't tell you is she stopped here first! You got the leftovers!

I'm skeered!
 
The look never did phase me. I had one that was a master at the look. Trained from childhood by her mother and two older sisters. When she realized "the look" didn't work she became all discombobulated and finally gave up.
 
Now, let's talk about those pottery pieces I'm holding hostage...when can I expect the ransom?

I'm strictly the pie and ice cream type...
 
The only ways to get the empty tins/plates back is if they get refilled...

Points well taken. However, although I think that its primary design was for tenon layouts, I have found many other uses in the shop. I have used it to check drawers and cabinets for square, ensure that dados and grooves were at the correct depths and uniform along the lengths, on and on.
 
Yes, it is Made In the USA. Yes it is a little pricey. However, how many of us sit and complain of the quality of off-shore tools, yet go and buy them just to save a couple of bucks over a better quality tool, that will last twice as long. Classic cases of shopping with your wallet. We have destroyed our manufacturing bases and sacrificed quality in the name of price. If we want to get back to quality tools and materials, then there has to be a compromise. Yup, in the scheme of things, it's pricey, but it'll pay for itself in the long run.
 
I learned a long time ago to buy the best tools that I could afford. Some of those tools have been used for over 40 years. Some were cheapo tools that were for one time use with no further expectations...many of these did not disappoint and got that one job done before they fell apart. Some have been replaced several times and probably would equal the original cost of a good quality counterpart. It's all a matter of choice
 
Charlie, you're correct about price vs supply and demand. However, let's be honest, how many of the membership would spend the cost of a Starrett tool or buy a comparable iGaging tool at a fraction of the cost? Both get the job done but one is a significantly cheaper. Will that iGaging tool last as long? Who knows!
 
Anyway, great discussions.

I totally agree, Kelly.
 
Woodpeckers have created a tool niche, that, in my opinion is not worth the cost. They do some interesting tools and some are more practical then others. Most can be replaced by cheaper, more readily available/made tools, others like this square are unique and multi use. I happen to like this Delve square. I have found it easy to use and versatile.
 
I understand their marketing. They are a small shop. It takes time to set-up and produce a "batch" of a particular tool. Hence the inflated price(s). Then to tear down and set-up for another design. If they were a larger business, then they could set up and mass produce at a lower price point. However, at what cost? Maybe quality!
 
In my tenure as part of the Space Shuttle program the higher ups started preaching "Faster, Cheaper, and Better". They were constantly told to pick two because all three together were lofty expectations that just wasn't going to happen.
 
I find the quality to be excellent in this little square. The metal is milled to EXACT dimensions. The base is milled to a true 1/4 and 3/8 unlike my set of brass set-up blocks which are kinda close to true dimension. Is that important? Maybe, maybe not, to some people. When it comes to woodworking .001 undersized is just noise. However, it's nice to know that you get exactly what you expect.

OK, I may take some heat here...but...I got one of these for Christmas a year ago. It is a very handy tool to use; a well thought out and designed multi-tool. Take time to watch the promotional video and you can see what all it can be used to do. I keep it, my 6" Starrett adjustable square, and a pencil available at all times. I can do just about anything I need with those three tools when I lay something out or do a setup. It supplies the most common dimensions for most build set-ups.
 
As for the price, stop and look at what it does and compare it to having (buying) other tools to do the same job. Price a small speed square (~$10), brass gauge blocks (~$15), 6" rule ($?), etc. add up the price and see what the total cost is for those tools. As an example, my $1 (garage sale find) 6" Starrett adjustable square is a $80 new tool. Granted, we all have the accessories/tools that will do what this $50 tool will do...but...I don't have to walk across the shop to the drawer where I keep my brass set-up blocks, pull out the right size and walk back across the shop to do a set-up. Then reverse the process to put the tool back.
 
I'm sure that all of us have, by this time, acquired the tools to do everything that this one does. However, do you carry them all around with you at the same time? The honest question to that is NO you don't!
 
I won't go into the different, useful things I have found it capable of performing. However, in my opinion, it is a useful tool. Would I buy one for myself? Probably not, when I look at the price and shop with my wallet, but I'm glad that I have it in my tool arsenal.
 
 

Nice mallets...well done.
 
I have found that the best way to work with the Ash is to first, pare it down with a draw knife, allowing it to split and follow the natural grain to create a blank. Then rough shape it further with the DK (shallow cuts), spoke shave and then finish with a card scraper to final shape.
 
It is one tough wood and takes a beating. You just can't force it to do what you want, you have to work with it.

...by the way...thanks for all of the congratulatory posts...now, where is this months tool...

Yup, it worked...moved up right to the front...

That's your own personal stash, just for being such a great Admin...

OK, if you insist....
 
 

It's all on the Dark Web already. When the government allowed their data base to be hacked a couple of years ago they got all of my security clearance information...probably right down to what color the safety pin heads were that my mother used on my diapers. My CC number changes every couple of years, because they can't keep the information from being hacked either. As for the bank accounts, good luck...I don't even know those numbers...I have to look them up occasionally.

ALL MAY NOT BE LOST!
 
Dadio strikes, again!
 
Herb sent me a couple of links. One was for the LB3499 seal on eBay. That led me to the website of a gentleman in North Carolina. Long story short...seal, bumper and "O" ring kit are available and have been ordered.
 
It looks like my old friend will rise from the dead after all.
 
Thanks, Herb!

The green eyed monster has reared its ugly head. Color me green with envy.
 
You WILL enjoy that beautiful piece of iron. Happy shooting!

John, ya can lead the horse to water, but...

I would NEVER ship myself USPS, they would probably lose me, so don't worry about getting (a) Bill. 

Don't fret, John. Your shop is going in a different direction. This is just one of you must have tools for that direction. Like you stated, out with the old and in with the new. Using the funds from the old is not like it is coming out of the paycheck.
 
Gloat all you want...you have every right to do so.

Did you check the moisture content of the blocks? If you have a meter, see what it is and that should give you an idea if the environment is the problem. Another solution, since you have it apart, move the blocks into the house. I'll make an assumption that your space is air conditioned. This would help dry the blocks out.
 
Retry the fitment after a couple of days and see if the blocks shrank any. If they swell back up in the shop you will then know how much to relieve the holes to free up the movement.

Wow, glad it wasn't worse, Herb.
 
I, too, am rethinking my plastic push sticks, now. The Grippers are great tools, especially, if you are ripping down to 1/8". Sometimes a hassle to configure, but definitely do the job with little or NO chance of kickback.
 
Heal fast...that's a bad spot.

Sorry, Pat, no spare available. However, I would still look to the plane iron, and failing that, replace the cap iron with an eBay donor.
 
If you really want to make the plane shine then go with an aftermarket. As was pointed out you may have to open up the throat a little. That is no big deal...a few judicious swipes with a file will open up the throat.