I’ve been wondering about backlogs, and what some of you have noticed.
By all accounts, people are buying stuff for their homes in record amounts. All that vacation and restaurant money are going somewhere.
My Sawstop is almost here, but was backordered for about 6 weeks. I ordered a router motor in early December, and every two weeks I get another email saying it’s another two weeks away.
I’ve had several tools from Lee Valley get bumped back. It’s been 8 weeks now, and they are projecting March to May before they get more stock.
Lie Nielsen is making “Core Tools” only. A few saws, chisels, and a few planes. Everything else has been halted altogether, and no backorders allowed. If you want a number 3, a lock chisel, or a side rebate plane, it will be a very, very long wait.
I looked at new sofas last weekend. They said they might get them by May. Maybe.
Anyone else running into waits or shortages that others here might be interested in?
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I ordered some saw files (Lee Valley) back in October, they are now “expected” in April. I haven’t been in the market for much lately tool-wise, but I have been buying some automotive stuff, and it’s been shipping more or less right away.
Interesting to see what LN puts in its “Core tools” vs “Core tools 2” buckets. Surprised that a violin makers block plane makes it to “Core” but tapered carcass and tenon saws only make it to “Core 2”.
I wondered about some of their core tools choices too. I'm sure some things sell better than we expect, so that's part of it. And I know they get bronze castings from one foundry, and iron from annother. So whatever those two businesses are doing will have an effect.
I happened to speak to a guy at L-N recently about an order, and mentioned saws, as I’d like to get one of their tenon saws. He said they’re doing some building renovation (or something like that, I might be slightly mis-remembering) and all saw production is on hold for at least “several months”. They’ve got lots of demand in general, it seems, too, so it’s hard for ‘em to keep up even with a focus on “Core Tools”.
Love their stuff, though. Might be others just as good, but dang few better.
Perhaps its not altogether a bad thing that our consumer impulses are being curtailed? Although woodworking tools are generally long-lasters rather than instant landfill, there's something to be said for making do with what you've got. We also get to practice "delayed gratification" and its more subtle pleasures than those of instant but momentary gratification.
Another effect of the Covid-caused shortages and delays is that second hand things, especially high quality tools, have seen their price jump up. There are tales of folk paying substantially more than the new price for e-bayed LN tools, for example. I might look around the shed for a posh metal plane or two, made less-used by my recent foray into making wooden planes. :-)
Lataxe
I know a man at a huge fencing manufacturer and he says they had their best year ever. He calls it the neighbor-proofing movement. Vacation money being poured into tall backyard walls.
I had a refrigerator die and had to settle for my third choice to replace it. Manufacturing shutdowns in different areas are still rippling through supply chains.
These shortages are very real and affect almost every industry. Appliances are being rationed to the retailers and average wait time is 4 months which is real PIA when you remodel kitchens for a living. Cabinet manufacturers are running 2-4 weeks behind normal delivery times. The automotive Industry is shutting down plants for lack of parts, mostly electronics coming out of China, and yes tools have definitely been affected, Veritas seems especially hard hit as I've tried to order several things and seen the delivery times be pushed back, not 2-3 days or weeks but months.
I think what we are seeing is a combination of Pandemic related delays and trade war issues combining to create the perfect storm.
It is indeed strange times we live in.
About six months ago I overheard a contractor at Lowes say he was paying double for lumber. That seems an exaggeration, but I haven't been buying it long enough to know "how high" these prices are. I do know that home prices and remodeling are crazy soaring in these parts (Mass.), esp. in areas outside the city. Have also heard contractors aren't scheduling new projects to start until later in the year. So, shortage of parts and labor.
These are crazy times. Wonder what we'll be talking about 12-18 months from now.
No exaggeration it's true now is not the time to buy building materials if you can help it, but then I don't expect it to change anytime soon. The funny thing is customers still expect lower price while some of my costs have doubled in the past year.
Wanna talk about shortages? Wood prices are killing me!
I was gonna spend some money on an Incra Table Saw fence system... Other than Incra's website (which says 16-22 weeks lead time), I can't find it online.
Nobody has it in stock, in any size or configuration. I think they always have a somewhat lengthy lead time, but not seeing one even listed on any of the other dealers' websites was a little bit of a bummer.
I've had a hard time finding some hardware bits and pieces, and definitely a tough time finding some finishing items as well... Solvents have been particularly difficult at times.
But, hey, I've been safe and healthy and hope to stay that way. I'll take what I can get!
Funnily enough, I have not noticed higher timber prices (In NZ) but it is hard to get a lot of things.
One friend tells me he had two containers due in with goods but someone in the US paid double for them so they got diverted...
Nice thing with woodwork though is that there is always that project that you never got round to finishing, or some scrap to use to do something cool.
If you buy locally manufactured goods, you also help your local economy AND the balance of payments.
We whine a lot about Chinese people buying houses in NZ, which is silly - we just swapped them for cheap TVs and disposable running shoes.
New home construction is now up to 10 months .. and that is if you can find a lot. Can’t help but wonder if we are in a bubble.
Oh, we're in a bubble. Prices have never been higher, and there is a crash coming.
Indeed .. also had a Realtor quietly tell us not to buy right now. Listings are going into multiple offers and often settling at +$15k over list with inspections waived. This can’t last forever.
Backlog update: That little drum sander I ordered just "reset" to a ship date of 2/12-2/17. When I pushed the button on it it told me 2/2/21.
I just yesterday got the Bora router motor I had ordered Dec 4. They kept pushing the date back, but then delivered about 2 weeks earlier than their last date.
Yesterday was New Sawstop Day too! It took about 7 weeks. I think the mobile base by itself weighs more than the first tablesaw I owned. I've got all the components, wings, etc humped down to the cellar. If anyone wants to pop by and help get the main saw body down there, I'll wait . . .
Not sure if you’re serious, but I’d be happy to lend a hand. I’m in Weymouth.
Thanks, but I was joking. I'm going to wait till the snow is mostly gone, anyway. I'll put it in the back of my pickup, drive it around to the door, and slide it down.
When this 'rona is over we should meet up though.
sounds good. Congrats on the Sawstop!
--Neal
p.s. Your shop might be getting full (or, maybe not). I'm not an eBay or craiglist guy (I don't do twitter or Instagram either!). If you're like that and have stuff to sell (tools only, please) and no good way to sell it, send me an email, I might be interested. You seem like the kind of person who takes good care of their tools. I'm kind of simple and not needy. Could be a win-win. Yahoo acct, the letter h followed by crouton (one word).
My backlog went the other way (nothing major, just a set of Bahco saw files). Had been saying early April, but it's been shipped and it's on the way.
There's production delays, and USPS delays. Still waiting on my latest FWW issue.
I just got the current FWW issue in the mail yesterday. And the previous issue came only about a week ago. A friend in DC called to say they got a Christmas gift two days ago. I had mailed it the first week of December.
Congrats on the saw John, you're gonna love it.
As one who works for one of the major woodworking supply chains, the entire supply chain is what we like to call "a train wreck". Worst part is how customers think we are stashing their stuff in the back room. They don't seem to understand that we want them to have their stuff as much as they want to get their stuff. Manufacturers can't get raw materials or employees to show up. Freight companies can't get drivers to show up, warehouses can't get forklift operators. Train wreck.
Please remember the next time you are at your friendly local Woodcraft, Rockler, Peachtree, etc. store and your fellow woodworker is telling you your equipment wont be there for months, it's not their fault. It's a manufacturing and supply chain problem, not a retail problem. Don't take it out on them.
Just re-reading this thread from a year ago. I’ve seen small improvements in some areas, others not so much. Ordered a Minimax FS41C combo machine in July, still hearing nothing but crickets as to “re-estimated” ship dates. Originally was looking like December of ‘21, then Jan ‘22, then Feb ‘22…
Also ordered the Incra LS25 in August and was just informed that I can now expect mid-March timeframe on that :(.
I got a couple of things from Lee Valley in November that took 11 months. A couple of things I ordered recently said they were only about a month off. Maybe it's getting better?
I have gotten an entire pack of recovered redwood sheets from some straightforward racking. I have drum sanded the stain off and am presently making shelves out of them (Stickley style). My inquiry finish would it be a good idea for me I use on these.
I'm in Michigan and redwood is extremely uncommon. I get it doesn't come east all the time. In an online search, I for the most part see wraps up for outside utilization.
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