Review by Treverk | posted 06-04-2009 05:33 PM | 4122 views | 0 times favorited | 13 comments | ![]() |
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- Lie-Nielsen Low angle smoother
- Brand: Lie-Nielsen | Category: Hand Planes
I wasn’t sure if this was the right place to post this, but I thought it might do… I have had the Low angle smoother since Christmas (love my wife) and have been quite pleased with it. The other day while taking it apart to sharpen, one of the retaining screws hit the shop floor never to be seen again. A quick and painlessly menu free call to Lie-Nielsen and the replacement screw was sent first class and arrived yesterday free of charge. Before this happened, I was seriously considering picking up one of the new Stanley Sweethearts low angle jack planes, but I started wondering who I would call when I lose a screw. I understand the tension between saving money and buying good tools, but as for a new jack plane, I’m gonna save a little more and by the Lie-Nielsen.
-- Matt
13 comments so far
DrDirt
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4423 posts in 3711 days
#1 posted 06-04-2009 05:44 PM
You are indeed a wise man. You’ll love using it – and likely take better care of it….we tend to be rougher on cheap tools because the “didn’t really cost that much”
I am a big big believer in the buy good stuff and cry only once.
-- “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mark Twain
Francisco Luna
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943 posts in 3362 days
#2 posted 06-04-2009 06:42 PM
In Latin american countries, there is an old proverb that says: “Lo barato, sale caro”, somethin like “cheap things turn out very expensive”....
I love those tools, I’m an Ebay tool trader and I am always astonished about the way LN tools keep the value…I even have seen used tools to be sold for more money than they cost in the store!
-- Nature is my manifestation of God. I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day's work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain" Frank Lloyd Wright
Fireball
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71 posts in 4036 days
#3 posted 06-04-2009 11:16 PM
Thanks for the report. Better customer service is usually an extra benefit of buying high quality stuff, and it sounds like this is indeed the case with LN.
a1Jim
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117063 posts in 3546 days
#4 posted 06-05-2009 12:15 AM
I’ve had a screw loose for some time now.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos wood crafting & woodworking classes
Marc5
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304 posts in 3311 days
#5 posted 06-05-2009 02:04 AM
I intend on purchasing a low angle #5 and actually waiting on the new Stanley but I am think I will stay with the Lie Nielsen or Lee Valley due to their service track records. You get what you pay for!
-- Marc
hokieman
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184 posts in 3723 days
#6 posted 06-05-2009 02:36 AM
My experience with Lie Nielsen is they offer unparrelled quality. Their customer service is outstanding. When they are at tool shows they take time to instruct. And above all, their tools are made right here in America so I will ALWAYS by Lie Nielsen tools even if it means I have to buy them slower due to the higher prices. Their higher prices are completey worth it.
blackcherry
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3337 posts in 3792 days
#7 posted 06-05-2009 02:54 AM
Over the year I have the pleasure of owning planes and meeting vary member of the Lie Nielson Group, and it is without saying they are one of the most unpretentious and welcoming company I’ve every hand the pleasure of doing business with. From the owner to instructors and customer services you’ll be hard press to find more nicer, down to earth people to work with….Blkcherry
bibb
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327 posts in 3500 days
#8 posted 06-05-2009 03:32 AM
I too can sing the praise of Lie Nielsen’s customer service. They stand behind their product in every way. That plus the benefit of the best tools antwhere. But why do the screws fall out? That is the same problem I had. Oh well, they are still the best in my book
-- you may only live once, but if you do it right that's all you need katanadesign.com
RBWoodworker
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441 posts in 3321 days
#9 posted 06-05-2009 05:21 AM
LOL Jim!!! yes.. we know!! if i find the loose screw rolling around the shop..I will mail it back to you..LOL
-- Randall Child http://www.racfurniture.com/
Chris Wright
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540 posts in 3450 days
#10 posted 06-05-2009 10:23 PM
This goes to show that it’s rather pointless to have a high quality product, if you don’t have the support to back it up. I’m glad to see that they were so accommodating, I had a similar experience with Penn State Industries, I had ordered a pen kit, it came with a wrong part, called them up and in less then five minutes I had a replacement part in the mail.
-- "At its best, life is completely unpredictable." - Christopher Walken
Moron
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5032 posts in 3862 days
#11 posted 06-07-2009 02:14 AM
I collect ….......and use their tools everyday,...........whats really nice about their tools is that
I’ve never had to call them!
-- "Good artists borrow, great artists steal”…..Picasso
tenontim
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2131 posts in 3713 days
#12 posted 06-07-2009 02:52 AM
If you ever have the chance to go by the Lie-Nielsen factory/showroom, do it. I think some of the lumber jocks here have a bigger shop than that outfit is operating out of. And they are all real down home folks. I’m not surprised that you get good customer service from them. It’s like a family business for everyone that works there. I use to love to stop by there when I lived in Maine. And yes, I have a couple of their planes and other accessories. Quality tools and quality people.
lou
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343 posts in 3411 days
#13 posted 08-24-2009 12:33 AM
they truley are something you can hand down to your grandkids.
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