Large LV Shoulder Plane

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane *LINK*

Steve Kubien

>Hi Matt,

Chris Schwartz was at a tool show recently and LV was taking orders for the plane. See the link below.

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario


previous WC discussion

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Rob Lee

>Hi Matt -

We're just starting to ship now...The new catalog (US) mailed today, and it's on the back cover...

Supply is just coming on-line now.

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Scott Wilson

>Look forward to the plane.

I just saw that you finally have the new straight edges up on the web site. They look great, but are you planning on any longer versions (like 40" or whatever your older one was)?

Thank you!

Matt Malin

>Mr. Lee I bought my first plane from Lee Valley in May of last year because I was so impressed with the Lee Valley tools and accessories that I had used and bought at the local Woodcraft and Woodsmith.

I have continued to buy your products because of their high quality and great price and also because of your presence on WC, whenever there are questions you answer them quickly.

Keep up the great work!

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Rob Lee

>Hi Scott -

We hope to make longer ones later this year - but will have to wait until we buy a new mill first. The "envelope" of the mills we have now just isn't appropriate for longer aluminum rules, and we'd really need to look at a longer surface grinder for the steel ones.

We were certainly building to a price point with these first models - under $20 for aluminum, under $40 for steel... and wanted to ensure we could hit (and control) those first. Believe it or not - these took a lot of R&D time to sort out - materials, stress relief/heat treat, and manufacturing process.

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Thank you!

Rob Lee

>Thanks Matt -

I get as much from this board as any other reader, and try to give something back when I can...

Cheers -

Rob

And the Service!

Tony - Memphis

>Always a pleasure to do business. Its nice to be able to buy something from a catalog with confidence. I don't hesitate or wonder about quality. etc. for anything I buy from Lee Valley. Bought my wife a pair of the #6 clippers for her/our small hands...guess who clipped his own finger while trimming back a crepe myrtle! Yeah, tetnus shot and all - shoulda got stiches!

Thanks to Rob and all the gang there at LV. You guys set a good standard. As a result, us woodworkers are lucky to have several good catalogers to order from (Of course we always choose LV first!)

BTW, I sent in a request for longer metric bolts for your metric cabinet hardware for use with false drawer fronts. I love the antique brass shell pulls (3" I think), I use them on all my shop cabinetry.

Tony

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Alan Hamilton

>Rob,

I have one of your first-issue 40" aluminum straight edges, I use it regularly and I've not found it the least little bit crooked. But there must be some reason you pulled them and began making straight edges with a different lineage (sorry, I couldn't resist). So what's the reason? Ought I toss mine and get a new one?

Alan

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Rob Lee

>Hi Alan -

The short story is - that company changed hands, supplied us with stock made in China (unlabelled) and when we found out, didn't want us to recall the stock - i.e., they wanted us to hide the switch from our customers.

We recalled the stock anyway, replaced it with made in Germany stock (as advertised), and bore the entire cost alone...

Life's too short to deal with people like that...

Cheers -

Rob

And the honesty!

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>In how many mail order catalogs can you read copy like the following, "This inexpensive four-jaw brace has a lot going for it. The ratchet mechanism works very well despite the rough look of the cogwheel. It even has a ball-bearing head. Both the head and the grip are plastic; the rest is chrome-plated steel. Not something to be prized by future generations, but it should outlast members of this one..."

This is not the only place where the LV catalog is honest and straightforward - giving customers the information needed to make an intelligent purchasing decision.

I've been a limited customer, due to a serious lack of disposable income - but Rob's business attitudes are building serious future-customer loyalty in this house for the day when I do have some cash to spend.

(no affiliation except I have some Canadian friends, etc. etc.)

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

paul womack

>...supplied us with stock made in China (unlabelled)

Gotta' say Rob, as long as the Chinese straight edges were OK on quality control (e.g. finish and accuracy), I (as a customer) wouldn't have cared.

Straight is as straight does, to coin a phrase.

OTOH, if they tried to fob you off with under-spec pieces, that's a different matter.

BugBear

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Rob Lee

>Yeah - but we sold 'em as made in Germany, irrespective of tolerances. Concealing the change in origin would have been dishonest.

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>I remember that...

I received a letter from you guys mentioning an exchange if I wanted one.

I think I got the Chinese ones since mine did not say "Made in Germany"

I never noticed a difference though...Ignorance is bliss.

In any event, it was nice to receive the letter!

Geez Rob...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>you guys have added ALOT of new items in the past few days.

These straightedges, the veneer hammer, all sorts of chisels, and the miter saddle.

That miter saddle is an interesting looking item.

But where is the shoulder plane?

;)

Re: Geez Rob...

Rob Lee

>Well-

It's a tough time of year for the web people...

There are all the new products in the catalog (most ever), not to mention the 720 new items in the hardware catalog. And, a record number for the Christmas catalog...

Should be up within a week!

Cheers -

Rob

Out of curiousity...

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>what is your web setup?

I know you run IIS 5.0 on Windows 2000, but how is it managed? Do you have an in house staff?

Re: Out of curiousity...

Rob Lee

>Hi -

It's all internal...hosting, development etc...

We have a killer content management system, which was the first thing we wrote. Our IT staff is at 24 people right now (I believe).

Web content area (usually 3 people) is only at 1 person this week - hence the "crush"...

Cheers -

Rob

Re: Large LV Shoulder Plane

Alan Hamilton

>Rob,

Congratulations are in order. One rarely runs across an outfit that so clearly recognizes the relationship between honesty and profits.

I'm certain such devotion to your customers will be vindicated through your customers devotion to you.

Alan...still wondering about his straight edge...it's straight all right...but it wasn't made in Germany...does that matter...it was made in China...does THAT matter...is Germany the only place where they make straight straight edges...I don't remember getting a letter...don't the Chinese know how to make a straight straight edge...In those National Geographic pictures the Great Wall doesn't look all that straight...I'M SOOOO CONFUSED...