LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Fine Woodworking & Ezee-Feed Review

3K views 25 replies 12 participants last post by  LeeJ 
#1 ·
Fine woodworking Mag Review of Ezee-Feed #1

Hey guys;

I got an email from Fine Woodworking Mag today, requesting one of my infeed and an outfeed systems for testing. They may do a review in the magazine.

It is also under review with Wood magazine now.

I need you guys to keep your fingers crossed for me. (a prayer would help also).

This came about from an article in woodsmith magazine. They did an article on cutting plywood, while working alone.

A gentleman in Maine saw the article, and felt the need to send them a letter about our product. He bought an infeed and an outfeed system from us. He also sent me a copy, with permission to publish it.

Here is a link to his article: http://ezee-feed.internetmarketingexcellence.com/Ed_s_letter_to_the_editor.html

I have to tell you all that this has been a long time coming. And a financialy painful one. Every penny I could beg, borrow and steal, has gone into getting this business going.

We have sold these units nationwide, but growing pains have been just that. Very painful.

So if you guys would be so kind as to say a prayer, I would sure appreciate it.

Lee
 
See less See more
#3 ·
Good luck Lee. I'm looking with interest on the ezee-feed. My wife and I plan to embark on a 10 year journey of rehabing houses in a couple of years. I'll be needing all the help I can get. It will often be just me wrestling sheet goods.

Have you considered cross marketing with this product ?
 
#6 ·
Thank you guys!

Don, I appreciate it very much.

I love the video Bob. I have a designer I work with, who has agreed to her daughter doing an ezee-feed video.

A fine looking young lady for sure. That video is along the lines of what I had in mind.

I'm thinking to call her "Ms. Woodie"

What do you guys think?

Scott, thank you also!

Os Thank you.

You know this is a product we use everyday in the shop, and it REALLY does cut the time and labor in half.

I meet the tool editor for Popular Woodworking at a show we did. He was impressed with the product and agreed to do an article on it. We sent them a couple samples.

The article was to be published and hit the news stands in late September of last year. The article got bumped until October, which was still fine. Great time for Christmas gifts.

He was concerned we wouldn't be able to keep up with production, so we geared up the inventory, spending a fair amount of money to do so.

Then he got promoted, but introduced me to the new guy, via email. The new guy was still interested in the article based on his predecessors recommendation.

Within a month or two, he too, got promoted. The new guy is someone I met at another show. While the meeting was polite, the exchange wasn't really genuine. This fellow feels that plywood, or sheet goods have no place in woodworking.

I got an email from him saying, "they have to get my "stuff" out of their shop. Do I want it back"?

I emailed him back and asked what happened to the article. He said they decided not to do it. I asked why, he responded he saw no value to it. I pointed out to him I felt he was doing his readers a disservice, as many woodworkers would benefit greatly from this product.

He was not swayed. The very next day I checked the code I have in my website that tells me what search term was used to bring someone to my site. Someone searched "cutting plywood sheets", or something along those lines. The results came back from google. In spot number eightteen, was popular woodworking. In spot number nineteen was my site.

I clicked on their link, and an article on cutting plywood while working alone was brought up.
The article showed how to build something out of plywood, that was cumbersome, ineffective, difficult to set up, and would cost more to make than my product!

So I emailed the gentleman back, along with the article title, and asked how is it that this article was published and yet my product, which is far superior, has no value? I also pointed out that I had invested in gearing up due to their concerns, about being able to fill orders.

He said he would reconsider. A week later I got a response back. He said he and the previous editors got together to decide on the situation. As a group they decided it was not a worthy cause, and that they never said they would do an article, only that they would consider it. (concern over a lawsuit, I suppose, since I geared up on their concerns ).

As a business person, I keep copies of every email I have received or written, regarding business matters. My copies show publish dates and the dates when it will hit the stands.

Prior to this, it never occured to me that there COULD BE ANY QUESTION as to the value of the product. We have proven it in our own shop for five years. WE KNOW HOW WELL IT WORKS.

The attorney in Maine that wrote that letter sent me six live maine lobsters, just because he was so pleased with the product. We've been invited on a fishing trip to Alaska by a happy customer. We have been invited to so many places, because of our product and service.

My own personal cell phone number and my partners is published in our owners manual, in case someone has a problem. I know of NO companies that would even consider doing that.

I have emails praising our customer service from almost every client we have!

Wow, sorry guys. I didn't mean to go off like this, and write a book here. It just really irratates the hell out of me that some snob would decide his readers don't need something.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm close to 50, and the idea of cutting a 90 pound sheet of M.D.F. by myself doesn't even sound like fun.

Okay, I'm done venting.

Thanks again guys.

Lee
 
#8 ·
Good luck with the article Lee, I had my worst incident in the shop cutting ply on the tablesaw (nasty kickback) and now just flat out won't do it anymore (I use a circular saw and straight edges)
 
#10 ·
Hi Damian;

I hear you, but we cut way too much sheet goods to go that route.

What started the invention in the first place was a large renovation project, which required my whole crew.

That left me in the shop alone, looking at very close to a hundred sheets of cabinet grade plywood to be cut, on my not so trusty roller stand.

I'm certain in the end, it will work out well, it's just a matter of time.

At the woodworking shows we do, I cut 1/32" thick strips off of a sheet of 3/4" Home depot plywood, and weave a mat out of them, just to demonstrate the accuracy that's instantly available to anyone.

Also glue quality cuts on rough lumber in one pass as opposed to several passes in the jointer.

Lee
 
#11 ·
LOL…I hadn't even looked at the second video. I'm glad you brought my attention to it. That was quite a nice set of ….....pliers that she had.

Again best of luck Lee. It looks like a great product.

I'm not surprised about your experience with the publisher. I had a published contact me about including a design in an upcoming DYI book (don't ask me why they contacted me of all people, they just happened to see the arbor/gate I built) I spent a not insignificant amount of time documenting the building of it, taking additional pictures, providing images of the CAD drawings I had produced. Only to have them decide at the last minute not to include it because the photos supposedly weren't good enough. This after I had originally been told the ones on my website would be sufficient. There is no consideration given to the effort you have made. Just how many pages they need to fill.

The folks at FWW seem to be a pretty good bunch. My experience with them so far has been great.
 
#13 ·
there's more than one woodworking magazine out there…. opportunity knocked on their door and they decided not to open it.. their loss.

AND.. what I always find, that as one door closes, you are being guided to another door that is bigger, better, and takes you to where you are headed, even if it wasn't the direction that you thought you wanted at the time.
Trust the Universe and thank them for the guidance along your path.

oh .. and a prayer is coming your way.
Fingers and toes are crossed
Thumbs are held (as they say in Sweden)
 
#14 ·
Debbie,

A heart felt Thank You, back at you.

It sounded as though you should have said grasshopper, somewhere in there.

(a reference to the T.V. show "Kung Fu", I think was the name of it).

I'm upset I missed that conference yesterday. It seems as though every once in a while my body demands sleep! Then when I logged in, the talk box wasn't showing on the screen. Since I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack, it took me a minute to figure it out!

Again, a big Thank You,

Lee
 
#15 ·
I wish you all the luck in the world with your new invention. They say that marketing a new invention is what can make or break you. I think the magazine articles will help you get past that problem.
I wish my shop was larger, but something like this won't fit. I'll have to keep on doing it with my circular saw, & straight edge.
 
#16 ·
Hi Dick,

I really appreciate the good wishes. And you are quite right about the make or break you part.

This has been a financially life changing experience. To the negitive side. I do fully believe it will be a success. I just hope the knot in the rope doesn't unravel!

Thanks again.

Lee
 
#19 ·
Lee sorry to hear about your bad experience with a magazine publisher.

Our prayers are for you and your success.
 
#23 ·
Lee, I know it is the same publishing company (Taunton) but perhaps you should consider looking at "Fine Homebuilding" magazine. They are targeted at the craftsman carpenter; maybe this is a person who would benefit from your device. I see a number of articles in FHB by pros who do on-site cabinets and built-ins with lots of plywood.
 
#24 ·
Hi John;

Great Idea,

I'm embarrased to say I didn't even think of them. DUH! Our system does work on contractors saws just as well.

Thanks,

Lee
 
#26 ·
Hi Drew;

I always wonder how you got Marliyn Monroe in the picture with you. LOL

They sell for 329.00 plus a flat shipping fee of 45.00

The ship within two to three weeks, depending on demand. This is one product you will wonder how you got along without!

Lee
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top