New Tools - Fault Inspection

[chuckt]

Hey - got a few questions about how crazy I should get over inspecting my new Pfeil tool order. (ed on another thread that I just purchased 24 gouges & V's from Woodcraft to get in on the $25 gift card per $100 spent on Pfeil.)

Anyway - I have been reading Chris Pye's volume 1 of "Woodcarving Tools, Materials, & Equipment", and in chapter 4 he describes a variety of tool faults and says that you should inspect your new tools for them and hand select to avoid or return for replacements if they have these problems.

The faults he describes are many, but the main ones are (not in any order btw):

1) misaligned tool & handle:
- at an angle to each other (ie not parallel)
- not centered in the handle (when looked at from the blade end - like sighting a rifle with front & rear concentric circle sights)
2) bent, twisted or broken tool steel
3) handle grain not straight, close, & parallel with the tool (more important on the larger tools meant to be struck with a mallet)
4) Uneven metal thickness

Most of my tools seem ok, but I did have about 4 that suffered from number 1 - not centered in the handle.

The question is - how big of a problem do you think this really is? Should I exchange them? Can I ask Woodcraft to specifically look for tools without this fault to ship to me??

Although they are offset to one side or the other from the center by 1/16" to 3/32" or so, they do appear to be in alignment and not at an angle with the handle. Two are smaller (3 & 5mm) and 2 are midsize (10mm & 12mm) so the midsize may see some mallet use.

Thoughts? Also - someone in another thread mentioned that Pfeil tools have a lifetime warrenty. Is that true?

Thanks for any input you can offer.

ChuckT (celebrating Christmas in February )

[slivers&dust]

I’m no expert here, JMO, out of the fifty or so gouges on my bench I’ve never checked mine for handle alignment, other than the obvious. I don’t think a 1/32 - 1/16 off center is a big deal, I would never notice it, I’m kind of curious now though…I might have to go check.
A lot of the time when I use the size you mentioned I don’t use the handle. I choke up on it or even hold the gouge like a pencil down on the steel, so I would never know if the handle was off a bit.

Btw, did you get more then one card per $100 spent ordering them all at once?

[chuckt]

Hey Tony! That's why I was asking my question. I am not certain how important this issue really is. I am only noting that Chris Pye noted it as a potential issue. The ideal is that the tool will be perfectly centered in the handle. However, this is not a perfect world, and if the real effect of this is negligible (which I think is what you are saying) then perhaps I need not be concerned.

I posted a response in my original thread about the cards. When I got the order yesterday there was only 1 $25 Gift Card, however, the invoice indicated 6 and when I placed the order they told me I WOULD get 6 - but I had to get the ok from a supervisor who made a special note about it in my account. I called them, and the Cust Serv rep said she would straighten it out on Mon and that YES I would get the other 5. PLUS - they gave me the free shipping deal they had running.

So for me - I HAPPY!!!

ChuckT

[xsailer]

chuckt,
Personally if I wasn't happy with them I would ask for them to be replaced. You have certainly given them the "business"(I know your order was large). A few times I've ordered items and asked to send them back for different reasons and never have been refused. They were very nice about it and either refunded or replaced the problem. I know I will be buying more stuff and they know it to.
I would think if a tool is not on center and your working with several others at a time really moving along and you picked up the off center one it might get aggravating and maybe even damaging. Generally if I know something isn't right that I bought, its always in the back of my mind that it isn't right.....and it bugs me. So for piece of mind ,if nothing else, I would at least talk to the store about it.
When I got my Pfiel's I immediately sent them to Rick (Little Shavers) for him to sharpen and was glad I did. Although they come "sharp" when I got them back from Rick they "really" sharp. I told him I was for the most part carving Basswood so that he would know the angle needed. Also sanded the handle longitudinal edges slightly to make it more comfortable and easy on the hands. On a few gouges I rounded(really just strongly buffed) the rotating edge at the end of the taper back from the cutting edge. It helps roll the chip out of the cut just made.
I've also have heard they have lifetime warranty but don't remember reading that in the paper work sent to me.

[slivers&dust]

WOW!! thats great about the cards...I've said before, nothing like free money and tools.

[Kenny_S]

It would be interesting to see a follow through on the cards. Not saying anything but sometimes a Cust rep says one thing and the company does the opposite. Been there with WoodCraft before.
There is no such thing as "Free money". A myth. If You have to spend money to get the "free money", then it isn't free. My little bride believes in 25 or 50 percent sales and she saves money. However, if she did not spend the 75 or 50%, she would have saved money.

[xsailer]

There were a few times I ordered from W-------t and had to reminded them of original agreement. "Well, let me check on that and I'll be right back to you" was the response and the answer was always "don't know what happen here but we will honor that". Message is, if you don't speak up you get what you got.

[chuckt]

Yeah - well that's my fear in this case. Though, it wasn't just the Cust. Service rep who told me I COULD get one card for ea $100 order, but their supervisor who approved it. So . . . I am still hopeful. I'll keep you posted.

[Ron Davidson]

I know from now on I have to remember to ask about return policies. For example Katy and I were out christmas shopping and she wanted to return a small purse she had bought for her grandaughter. At the store they said that their policy was to issue only a store credit or a check from the corporate office. This was about the dumbest thing I ever heard of for something that cost 12.00 we were going to have to wait for 4 weeks for a 12.00 check that would cost hundreds of dallars to process by the time it was passed through all the paper trail. It was funny after we left the store I thought of a solution. I told her the next time give it to me and I could say I couldn't see the written policy so they would have to give imediate refund. But from now on I need to ask aboput the return policy.

[dart]

Some years ago I bought a reputable company's, Woodcraft, highest quality lathe tools. I had a set of three. I hadn't checked them carefully. I tried using them and they were not lined up right. I laid the blade on the table top and rolled it across the table. The handles were not centered on the blades. I sent them back and they sent me new ones with an appology. I would call the company and ask them for replacements . It is the same company you are dealing with. I've never had any problems with them or returning things to them. Just ask them.