Replies

1. 
   LB | Oct 08, 2008 11:10pm | #1

   Thanks for the heads up!

   Any updates on that variable speed drill press?

   Lyle

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 08, 2008 11:44pm | #2

   Last I heard was late fall with the worst scenario 1st of year. But then... I haven't asked in several weeks. I started a coffee table last Wednesday and should have construction done and all joints dry fitted by late evening. I will call tomorrow to see if anything has changed before I start the sanding and finishing process.

   Back to the shop for a "rainy day in Georgia"... and we need it! :>)

   Sarge..

1. 
   Jimurock | Oct 09, 2008 01:42am | #3

   Times must be getting hard -- buy now before we all go bankrupt!  They told me a couple of months ago that prices were going up $300, and they weren't kidding.

   I see there's a deal with Forrest on the granite saw.  Wonder if they're worried by the new Ridgid granite hybrid?

   Rate you're going at it, you'll be sipping coffee, or something, off that table sometime next week!

   Cheers, Jim

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 09, 2008 02:55am | #4

   I hope to finish it by Monday or Tuesday and sit back to wait for the finish to cure. I only worked on it week-days last week and didn't put as much time in the shop as I did when I spent 9 months with a 4 piece bed-room set with an entertainment center squeezed between cure times of finish. I can tell you a coffee table is a piece of cake opposed to the 6 drawer and 5 drawer chest as it has simple components.

   I wasn't aware Rigid had a granite hybrid as the only people using granite are Steel City as far as I know with a patent pending. Hmmm.... I will find out tomorrow if Orion (owned by Steel City) is doing the hybrid as Orion does the Sears zip code hybrid?

   Sarge..

   Edited 10/8/2008 7:56 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   Jimurock | Oct 09, 2008 03:05am | #5

   Don't know much about it myself, other than this thread:  http://forum.canadianwoodworking.com/showthread.php?t=23377

   The price is ridiculous if accurate.

   Jim

2. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 09, 2008 07:43am | #8

   Interesting and I will call the guys tomorrow as it sure looks like an Orion deal which is Steel City's subsidary company that caters to major retailers with their name brand on board a SC designed machine.  I seriously doubt anyone other than Steel City would or in a position to do a granite top.

   But.. I'll let you know tomorrow and BTW.. you can tell the guy that ask about the miter slot chipping that SC uses a wide bar at the end of their miter gauge that fits a corresponding wide slot in the tables miter slot. There has been no problems with chipping and you can run an Incra.. etc. in the slot also by adding the cross-bar on the end.

   Anyway... let you know as I just got up from the shop. I have normally been just working from noon till around 5 - 6 PM but.... I made it a long day as I want to finish tomorrow and start sanding.

   Sarge..

3. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 13, 2008 07:33pm | #9

   Sorry to take so long to get back to you on the Rigid granite top saw Jimurock but... the key personnel that could answer the question have been out beating the bushes at distributors. And the answer to is Steel City making it is:

   No... but... Steel City agreed to a "licensing agreement" with T T I who is producing the saw for Rigid. T T I wanted the technology behind the granite top and the riving knife that is used with a granite top so... they had to go through Steel City to get it.

   So.. bottom line is T T I is producing the saw... Steel City produced the technology behind the saw as it carries the Rigid warranty and not a Steel City warranty. Hope that helps.....

   Sarge..

4. 
   Jimurock | Oct 13, 2008 08:20pm | #10

   Thanks Sarge.  I hope SC squeezed a few bucks out of TTI -- they can certainly afford it.  They may not own HD but they seem to own most of what they sell -- Ryobi, Ridgid and the new Chinese Milwaukee.

   I stopped using the closest HD because I couldn't stand to look at their saw display.  They parked the TSs under a huge AC/heating outlet, and the drips and condensation rained down on the unwaxed cast-iron till it went from tartan to pure orange -- well, that's their team colour, I suppose.  Perhaps they'll have better luck  with granite, but I foresee a cracked top or two.

   Cheers, Jim

5. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 13, 2008 09:53pm | #11

   The HD's in the Atlanta area don't even have the large Rigid machines in stock anymore. They just have a shelf with the pictures.. specs.. etc. lined up on it along with the price. If you want one.. you ask them to order it. I would say they might miss more than one sale by using that approach but.. that is their command decision and doesn't affect me or mine in the least.

   I will say after hearing local raves on the Rigid 6.5 "Fuego" (fire in Spanish.. whew wee) circular saw I looked one over and purchased it. They have it geared to deliver the power my very powerful PC magnesium delivers.. it is very ergonomic in the hand.. weighs just under 8 lbs. and a pleasure to use. The dust chute is not there as on my PC but... I mainly use it to cut down ply for chest backs and drawer bottoms outside before taking the smaller pieces to the TS for final sizing. It's a great circular saw.

   I also have a Rigid 6" ROS which is made in W. Germany by Metabo before they started having it made in China. It gets five stars also and the dust collection is excellent on it. So.. I don't go to HD as often anymore as the majority of the knowledge-able help left after Arthur Blank.. etc. sold out.

   BTW.. Arthur Blank owns the Atlanta Falcons and is the best thing that has happened to the franchise since it's existence in the early 60's. He's a class act and doesn't put up with any BS. If he pays you to do a job... you better do it and do it well or you will be looking for another meal ticket pronto.

   Sarge..

   Edited 10/13/2008 2:54 pm ET by SARGEgrinder47

2. 
   forestgirl | Oct 09, 2008 07:16am | #6

   Link for those who don't have it:
   http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/

   Post-rebate price on the mortiser is great.  8" granite-fence jointer, yummy.  But the drill press is what really gets my attention.  I saw that at the store where I bought my mortiser, and it was a very nice machine.

   I hope our better tool companies survive the next year or however long it takes for the economy to right itself!

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/9/2008 12:17 am by forestgirl

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Oct 09, 2008 07:33am | #7

   Yeah and frankly... nobody large or small is not under the gun with the "mess" that has been created. The good news is I really don't need any tools at this point with the exception of trading up to the Steel City 17" DP. Not a must have an I will probably wait for one to come falling from the sky... you just never know! :>)

   Regards...

   Sarge..