This morning, roughly 60 days after the purchase of the Delta jig, I drove 20 miles to return the item, still sealed in the box, never opened. I also had my receipt that plainly states at the bottom “Satisfaction Guaranteed – If you are not happy with your purchase, return it anytime within 90 days for refund.”

I had the receipt and had the jig in it’s never opened box. It should be noted that I am also a very good customer of this store where I have spent thousands of dollars over the past couple of years on things like a Jessem Router Table and Lift, a Steel City Deluxe Table Saw, a Powermatic Mortising machine and much, much more.

I was promptly told by the store’s Manager on-duty that he could only give me back $25 in cash and the balance on a Woodcraft gift card. When asked where that was stated on the receipt I was told it wasn’t but that was company policy. After repeatedly commenting politely and respectfully that I was not leaving the store without the full refund in cash in my pocket (a line of customers was now forming behind me and listening intently to our conversation) the fellow reluctantly said he would give me the money but that he had heard that not long ago an employee at another store had lost his job for doing the same thing (I can only hope it wasn’t a Manager or Ass. Manager).

This had escalated into one of those situations where money wasn’t really the issue anymore (though it could have been) but the principle of the thing was what was really irritating. Sure, I would probably spend that $100 gift certificate (and much, much more) in their store in the coming months (I’m sure that is what they were counting on!), but that wasn’t really the point. The store had upset an excellent customer by jerking them around for basically petty cash, about an unstated company policy. They also now had an excellent employee who was scared to death about doing the right thing (to keep that good customer), over fear of losing his job. Even if the policy was based on some rediculous business reason, at least give the on-duty manager the discretion to make that decision based on the situation at hand, without fearing for their job.

What an absolute disgusting position to put both a repeat customer and wonderful employee in. Woodcraft needs to get it’s head out of it’s ass and start acting like a real, grown-up company, with a professional customer relationship attitude. I shop at stores because I CHOOSE to, not because of some pathetic gift certificate scheme. If they wish to keep good, valued customers they should discontinue such a deplorable, bush-league policy or at the very least, make the effort to state it at the bottom of the receipt with the rest of the “Satisfaction Guarantee”.

Sorry folks for going on and on but I thought that all of you should be made aware of this deceptive practice and anyway, I needed the cathartic experience to calm down a bit.

Happy Holidays!! ;-)

First, a quick background. Last year a friend of mine cut down a huge pear tree and I missed the opportunity to get it. So when the same friend said he was cutting down another one recently I jumped at the opportunity. It’s 100+ years old and the radius is about 20”. The cut trunk is about 11’ long. The cut ends look terrific and tight grained. But before I get it milled, a couple of questions occured to me.

What is the optimum thickness I should make the boards and what formula should I use to determine this. With the trunk described above, how should I dissect this thing to its maximum potential. I have no project in mind and am aware that it has to be stickered while I monitor it with a meter. But I also know that it has to be planked now.

I would think it makes good sense to keep the boards as thick as possible, thereby maximizing my design options down the road. By this I mean, if I cut 6/4 boards now, table legs would probably be out of the question later. If I cut 12/4 boards now, just about anything is possible. Could I basically cube the thing and then just rip pieces as I need them like a hunk of cheese? I realize that would not dry properly, but what thickness does? Does it change by tree type? What deterimines how I will decide all of this? I am sure that the sawyer will have suggestions but was wondering what you LJ’s thought.

So as a birthday present to Martin I’m thinking “class action” against him for all of this darn typing. Anyone wanting to be listed, just tack on a post here please.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Martin! ;-)

The thing that I liked about this model was the cast iron “arc” trunion. It’s 3 hp and has a three belt drive system. I checked out Steel City and they seem to be a reliable manufacturer.

I understand that every woodworker has his or her own preference when it comes to this piece of equipment so I guess I’m really interested in any reasons why I SHOULDN’T buy a Steel City saw (bad experience with company, have one and don’t like it, had problems, poor accuracy, etc.).

Any comments before I go lay down the money in a day or two would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

I was thinking the other day that I don’t know a single woodworking joke. I’m one of those people that usually forgets a joke the day after I hear it, trys to tell it, and totally botches it up. I tried over the last couple of days and I can’t recollect a single woodworking one. I’m sure they are out there.

So, all you woodwworking, sawdust making folks… let’s hear ‘em… (now, back to the basketball games)

Well, I’m a woodworker. And as we all know, there is one word that weakens the knees of even the best of us. That word, of course, is “free.” I turned, grabbed the object from his hands and ran, ran as fast from that sordid place as my feet would take me. I ran for what seemed like hours, streams of sweat flowing down my forehead. Ran in a haze of guilt and shame until, not really knowing how I got there, there I was, standing in the middle of my workshop.

I sat down, laying the board gingerly on my workbench. Studying it, eyeing it, knowing that if I tore into that wicked thing, there may be no going back. No stopping me from a life of darkness (walnut’s a dark wood, get it?). Finally, as if in a trance, I calmly got up and collected the paraphenalia I would need to try this strange and beautiful substance.

Goggles, check… filter mask, check… sharp cutting tools, check. It all seemed to easy. And all the while a voice inside my head kept saying “stop, don’t do this! There’s so much more to woodworking!” I slowly lowered the goggles and mask over my face. Helplessly I leaned over, my hands nervously shaking as I flipped the switch on my table saw…

It’s been ten years now, in and out of local lumberyard/half-way houses. Ten long years since that fateful night. Yea, I’ve tried maple. I’ve even given oak and mahogany a try. But always that voice comes back to me, beckoning and sinister as ever as I ponder my next woodworking project. And always I falter, weak and hopelessly smitten.

DAMN YOU THORSEN SIDE TABLE CHALLEGE! DAMN YOU I SAY!

I know my only limit is I don’t like music on with words in it, personally I find it distracting. Obviuosly the same goes for talk shows. Sometines it depends on the task at hand though I guess. How about the rest of you? Do you find silence “deafening?” Or is silence “golden?” Or doesn’t it really matter?