Steel City Tool Work Launches Tool Line
MBerger
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
June 1, 2006
MUFREESBORO, TN.–Reversing the recent trend of mergers and acquisitions in the tool industry, a new manufacturer called Steel City Tool Works was launched today by former executives, product managers, and sales people from major machinery manufacturers, including Delta and WMH Tool Group…
Fine Woodworking Editor Asa Christiana got the scoop during an interview with company executives. Read the full story here….
Now we want to know your thoughts. Is there room for another power tool and machinery manufacturer? Is it about time a new player joined the market?
Discuss…
Replies
I think there is room for another player and I applaud their decision to distribute through a select group of retail dealers. But, it will be tough to overcome the buy-it-online-dirt-cheap mind set that seems so prevalent now.
>Now we want to know your thoughts. Is there room for another power tool and machinery manufacturer? Is it about time a new player joined the market?<
Yes. Free enterprise and new blood in a market-based economy is GOOD. Enlightened Entrepreneurship is GOOD. Even if they don't survive the long term, new competition in the markets is GOOD. I'm voting for that. I think that people who have a vision and take risks and are really willing to engage in competition is what has historically made the US economy strong.
I'd say that there is room for another player in the market, but their success will depend largely on how quickly they can bring new innovations to market. How I interpret their goals/mission at this point is to offer select tools (limited choices) based on expired patients (old technology) manufactured offshore (Asia) through select retailers (no Internet/big box) at a set (higher) price. What's new and innovative enough about this to get the market penetration needed to compete with the big players in the tool market? Some of their initial innovations, like the TiN saw table, are interesting enough, but I doubt I would pay a hefty premium for this, especially when it is still manufactured offshore.
Does anyone know where these stores will be located or how to get more information? Will they have a website too?
Competition is always good for consumers. That said, the tools look like everything else on the market, so its hard to get too excited.
Todd
Your reaction is interesting and speaks to a key point for their success or failure -- marketing and differentiation of their product from the competition. You see yellow and think DeWalt, gold-Powermatic, green-General or Grizzly or Bridgewood, white-Jet and gray-Delta. I'm wondering why Steel City chose to make their products look like Delta's (at least in the tiny images on line they do). The color of a product is the easiest/cheapest way to make a brand recognizable. These guys seem to have the background and smarts to make a go of the business, so I don't know why they missed this one and went with Delta gray. Maybe it won't really matter in the long run. They seem to be a committed bunch, so if their stuff is good, perhaps they'll succeed.(I'd have gone with the old Powermatic green)
"Your reaction is interesting and speaks to a key point for their success or failure -- marketing and differentiation of their product from the competition." I'd throw in a 3rd major factor: Customer Service Lee Valley's excellent customer service is probably the cherry on the sundae that makes their business successful. This new company needs to make sure their target group is getting the best customer service possible.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 6/1/2006 1:08 pm by forestgirl
Of course, I've always been of the opinion that if you have to interact with customer service then, by definition, something has gone awry. Certainly, they can make a bad situation a little more palatable but beyond writing a check and taking delivery of the tool I hope to never have to contact the company again.
"Here's your machine, Boss, enjoy your next twenty years of trouble-free woodworking."
But, they've acknowledged the units will be produced in Asia so, in the end, you're right. They'd better start beefing up the CS department.
"...but beyond writing a check and taking delivery of the tool I hope to never have to contact the company again." You can hope alll you want, but stuff happens. Utopia has yet to arrive. Even "Made in America" tools can have a problem. Besides that, Customer Service isn't just fixing something that has gone wrong. It's also answering questions about specs, design, choices and other stuff.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 6/1/2006 3:45 pm by forestgirl
Utopia has yet to arrive. Even "Made in America" tools can have a problem. Besides that, Customer Service isn't just fixing something that has gone wrong. It's also answering questions about specs, design, choices and other stuff.
You still don't have a clue, do you? I can honestly say that I've never met anybody who has raised tool shopping and ownership to such an art.
"You still don't have a clue, do you?" I think I have a better "clue" about the real world than you, dear sir. Never ceases to amaze me how narrow your view is. I'm just pointing out that nobody (or company) is perfect, and there's more to the need for customer service than fixing broken or ill-designed tools.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 6/1/2006 6:31 pm by forestgirl
FG, you hit the nail on the head. I don't doubt that these folks know who to contract overseas or how to specify design and do it well, but great Customer service /parts and acc. is an absolute must. I would hope its web site for parts and phone for tech support.
I just realized that I have never called Milwaukee. Twenty years+ of drills, sawzalls, super sawzall and routers, hah. I call delta/pc they ship the part or satisfy the tech need(even call me back in 15 min.) Ryobi/ridgid dumb as a post.
Here is a look into the future for ya. I pick up a PC finish nailer and elect to call up for the alternate(free) tap to shoot trigger. The PC phone # answers in MD (not Jackson Tn.) at the bd yellow parts co. and the lady had no idea what I was talking about. She had to give me a private # to the Tn site. 3 min, later -done. I hope these guys price it right and bulid them good. Pat
"Ryobi/ridgid dumb as a post." Too funny!
I'm glad that at least that lady knew what phone number to give you! Kind of a miracle, that.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I'm concerned, Are they where more interested in getting there products to market then sound engineering? Many tools are designed great and have not changed much in decades...but I know you all will agree that you have paused a some point and said...dame that is a dumb design. I hope they actually interview and ask the woodworkers out here what they think needs fixing.....TO many companies think they know what’s best for us...HA! You would think they where all DEMOCRATS!
Rich<!----><!----><!---->
Good luck with that PC nailer. I have finally given mine all away with the understanding that they're among the worst. I would, under no conditions, ever purchase another PC nailer. I've been building and woodworking for over forty years and I have never seen a product associated with Black and Decker that was worth owning. Everything they touch turns to junk.
OT, I have a bunch of original PC nailers and other of their tools and have had no problems in 15 years but I am not a production shop only a woodworker doing what he likes and maintaing a house and fence line. I also have Bostich and CH nailers, several Milwaukee tools, a dewalt (the yellow b&d) drill with a dead charger and two $70+ batteries that will soon be weights for my crab traps.
I have no problem with my old PC/Delta stuff but I fear the changes to come as well as the b&d bookeepers tighten it up, regardless of the rumor that PC/ Delta will not be fussed with as it's the pro shop line, dewalt will be pointed at the construction trades and b&d will be the low end in the big box stores. All the best, Pat
PC has already been fussed with by B&D. First, PC's "first born", the worm drive model 503 belt sander is discontinued. This machine traces its roots to the first PC belt sander and their first mass market tool.
Then B&D merged all their call centers - B&D, DeWalt, PC and Delta - and contracted them out. I live in the shadow of B&D corporate headquarters and saw many local job ads to staff the center through the contractor. So no more can you call PC and speak to one of their tool guru's.
Other machines are quietly disappearing like the the 125 portable plane; they still make the 126 which is really door hangers machine.
You don't see the advertising from both Delta and PC that you used to; I sense B&D's strategy is to focus on select professional trades for both lines, like furniture and cabinet shops. The weekend woodworker, regardless of skill level will be targeted with Dewalt instead.
As pointed out, B&D has a jadded history of development. Rarely first to market, they usually buy the technology - Workmate, Master Power and Elu are good examples. B&D was actually sued by PC in the late 70's or early 80's when they used PC's Speed Bloc sander patented flex coupling - they had to pay PC and pull their product from the market.
And this week, it was announced they are being sued over their development of the 36v battery technology - others claim they developed it first.
All this has occurred after Nolan Archibald became CEO - a take no prisoners leader who took a family owned business and is attempting to make it a major corporation. Trouble is Archibald doesn't retire for a while and all the talent has left because Nolan doesn't like company at the top.
Sad thing is we have a whole generation who are clueless about DeWalt, its origins and what the tools really are today. And I'm not optimistic about PC and Delta.
ETG, I have already felt the pain. I took the base off my Delta mortiser to move it to Tn and forgot to undo the simple shield that covers the rack of the table/fence adjustment. It looks like a feeler gauge and costs about $1. I ordered one and a rised block but needed some conversation to re-install it. I called the Delta # and got the b&d/ yellow building in Maryland not Jackson TN. They had absolutely NO CLUE of what I was talking about and had to give me the inside # at Jackson to speak to the usual great, helpful folks at Delta/ PC. I wrote the # on the wall of my shop in TN. and I hope it still works after I make my final move from NY. Thanks for the update.Pat
Forest girl is right. Purchasing a tool should be an art form. I am associated with a National Catalog Co. And I take great pride in how I help people with problems may it be technical, operation, specs. Many of the calls are just that they don't know how to get the best performance out of product and thats more often than not. Some people just can't read instructions, "Or won't" and want a personal walk through, and I'am glad to do that.
Awhile ago there was a long running post about the problems with shipping, I like idea of Steel City using local outlets so the customer can see the product and get a hands on feel before the purchase. And thats one reason WE don't sell large power tools out of the Catalog. We Do carry Delta, Jet and can Special order Powermatic in the Outlet Store and in nearly 7 years with them I can't remember a return on one of those large ticket items. We thoroughly discuss the Item with the customer to find out what they really need and not what they think they need. For Example, Last week I had a very pleasant couple in and he had his heart set on a wood lathe, I felt there was something wrong with him physically, He had Parkensons disease. When he was out of ear shot I talked with his Wife of the possible danger, She thanked me and took it from there. Customer Service matters. It could have been a sure sale, but not a proper sale.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Funny,,, I thought it was the things we made with them that we hoped would be an art form.
News flash to the art world: The hot new genre is the art of tool buying....
This place has undoubtedly reached a new low.
With almost all the colors gone and Steel in the name why not a bright hammered silver?
I don't think experienced woodworkers are too susceptible to marketing fluff. With their line-up of 'more of the same' I don't see these guys lasting too long. No niche, no innovation, no......ZZZzzzzz.
Everyone knows the Steel City's colors are Black & Gold. Steel City the tool company should've picked black and gold.
Why not stainless? a la DeLorean?Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral. Frank Lloyd Wright
Boss, ya gota lighten up, I am not poor but I can't trust all the BS fron the tool makers or the mags and if it's a bunch of bucks you have to reach out every where to figure out your best choice. YES, tool buying is an art form given the playing field that we are on and it's getting worse. Good advice from users and a good tech support dept from a tool company can save you from tossing your bucks in the wrong place. All the best, Pat
Well put, ThanksWork Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Just curious about what machines you're considering purchasing.
I believe Steel City will fill a niche in the woodworking industry that has been forgotten by the big names of the market. The end user. In the words of Mr. Box from Fine Woodworkings article:
"We have to have a strong relationship with our distributors, who we know have a strong relationship with our customers."
With a strong dealer network back by quality customer service and the availability of parts. They may not be king of the mountain but I believe they will find themselves on a somewhat tall pedestal in the market supported by end users that want to purchase machines at a physical location from a live human being who is going be there when they have a question or a problem not through an online shopping cart. There are a lot of people out in the market that would support this company and we will find out over the next few years if they can build the trustworthy relationships needed with the dealers and likewise with the end users.
Lets face it, you are not going to find a company marketing an entire line of machinery that is made in the USA. The consumers here are not going to pay the price premium for those machines. As consumers stopped purchasing American made products for cheaper products made over seas they forced producers of American products to go overseas. Availability of parts have also declined. From being readily available in the states to being backordered for 5 to 6 weeks if not instock here in the USA.
If there are enough consumers that still care to do business with local dealers Steel City Tool Works and Scott Box's retirement funds are in good hands. Finally a company run by people that aren't afraid to put their own personal ASSets on the line. A retirement fund is a hard thing to come by now days and a man that's willing to put his on line line I think deserves some credit.
Looking forward to seeing what these guys have to offer at IWF 2006!
I read another article online that mentioned some newer table saw fence technology, a different design for trunion and motor mounting on their tablesaws, an inspection record giving tolerences for their tablesaw, an impressive line of bandsaws that are sealed so well no dust collects in the bottom cabinet and run extremely smooth. Maybe MBerger will post some of this info later on in the week?
These guys might also bring alot of new design to the market in the near future and will hopefully turn heads through their innovations without the need for a new color on the block. (Although the Powermatic green would have surely turned heads!)
Edited 6/6/2006 11:46 am ET by jc20unc
"These guys might also bring alot of new design to the market in the near future "
Who is Steel City? .
We hear about what they will need to do with CS to succeed and that they will have to bring new technology and design. It's not what they might do, it's what they had better do.
Their advertised saw doesn't appear to be different from the other competitive saws. Their ad in FWW left me wondering, "what is so special about this premium priced saw".
To distinguise themselves, they will have to package CS and innovaton right out of the box and make buyers want to do business with them. Otherwise, they will quickly loose the audience and get lost in the sea with the competition.
It's like the new restaurant opening up in town. Everybody wants to go there, but if it can't be distinquish it from your old favorite, you might not go back.
Edited 9/22/2006 3:22 pm ET by RonT
Edited 9/22/2006 3:25 pm ET by RonT
http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/products_tools.cfm?section=2&category=12&tool=35640<!----><!----><!---->
Because Powermatic, Jet, Shop Fox, Black and Decker/Delta, Grizzly, etc all have Titanium table tops on their table saws don't they? With an ultra smooth Industrial Fence than can be moved with your pinkey finger.<!----><!---->
How much does it cost? <!----><!---->
$2,300.00? <!----><!---->
Nope.<!----><!---->
According to their flyer $1,849.00<!----><!---->
Titanium table saw I'm sure is just the beginning. It's a great feature on a machine, shaper, planer, or jointer table top especially for those in humid climates like here in S. Florida where the tops of your saw begins to rust very quickly. Titanium top eliminates a lot of maintenance. Due to the lengthy process they can only make 2 per day.
"what is so special about this premium priced saw"
What saw are you looking at? Most of them are priced quite competitive. Not to mention an unmatched warranty of 5 years.
If "Spaghetti City" opens up down the street promising new innovative dishes and I hear a few of their entrees are already finger-lickin’ good not to mention they guarantee anything on the menu is going to be delicious or they will do everything in their power to make it delicious. I’m going to be casing out the joint with a salivating mouth, especially when I know Olive Garden is not what it used to be.<!----><!---->
A Titanium coated top doesn't put the saw in a class by itself. I can achieve a finger tip glide on my saw with a coat of carnuba wax applied in less that two minutes that will last for months.
They all have something to offer, my point is. The best carrot today for any company is SERVICE, that foremost and innovation is what will pull in the business. Otherwise, it's just another saw company.
Alot of people I have spoke with are really excited about the titanium top and a company that promotes a true 5 Year Warranty shows they value CS. Others promote a 5 year warranty but upon reading the fine print usually reverts to a 1 year warranty.
I agree with you Service is very important and the most valued aspect of service with the companies dominating the market today would be the availability of parts. You can have the best Service Tech or Dealer/Distributor (both are very important) but if a part that is needed is not in the Country there is a definite problem. It is really tough for large companies like WMH or Delta who have a lot of different products to stock every part for every piece of equipment.
A company like Steel City with a more concentrated product base may be able to keep more parts on hand.
Like I said; CS and a good carrot like the 5 year warrenty, unlike the competition, will get the attention of the people and the company will grow. But that has to come right out of the box when they hit the market or the novelty will die.
BC, a wider jointer than my 4 1/2 and two 6 1/4's . I will keep the 6 1/4 with the carbides and lose the other to get an 8" with a longer bed. I also need to replace a Ridgid 14" BS with it's rubber table, it's fine except to resaw heavy sticks. It has a riser (105" blades) and does a decent job otherwise. I almost got a delta 1 1/2 hp. when a friend passed but his son wanted it. I did buy the low milage unisaw, a baldor grinder and the big powermatic combo sander from his widow. The saw needs a fence and DC . She still has a pm shaper 1" spindle and a beautiful british bowl lathe, a Harrison Union Graduate with a short swan neck bed powered by a big Dayton motor that I am trying to get sold for her. He was a master turner. Pat
I assume you aren't putting off your woodworking until this new line is introduced.
BC, of course not, but 1/3 of my ww hand tools, the contractor TS, router table, planner and the two big benches are in the new house in Tn. The next trip in late July brings the BS, sharpening station, small drill press, post sander, balance of the special & combination planes, spare drills & routers and a case of Red Breast 12 year old Irish. The heavy iron waits for the moving van, at 65 I don't dance so fast anymore. As you see my time for ww is short these days, but that's gonna change. It's a bummer clearing out a house that the late wife and I spent 30+ years filling up, by your self. But I'll git her done.
I do look forward to seeing what tools they have to offer and that goes into the mix of choices that I have to deal with, ie. other brands, used or other opportunities or remedys. Pat
<<"It's a bummer clearing out a house that the late wife and I spent 30+ years filling up, by your self">>Good luck and God bless, many happy hours of WWing to you...Glaucon
If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...
Mr G. , MUCH THANKS, PATRICK
All the best with your move we have been married 29 years in October look after yourself and God Bless,and success with your woodworking regards from AustraliaYou can make it fool proof but not idiot proof
That would be nice, however it ignores the reality of the situation. Even the best businesses in the world have defects in a certain percentage of there products. For instance, I once checked Consumer Reports before buying a new TV. I found that almost all TV manufactures (Sony, JVC, Sanyo, etc.) had between a 4 and 6 percent of defective products on the selves. RCA was much higher, I think they were at 9 percent. I found a similar thing when checking washing machines. The best was Whirlpool at around 4 percent.The point is that, you want a company with good design and quality control, but Customer Service has to be there when the defects hit the consumers, because they will, even if you are the best.Todd
"To keep prices competitive, manufacturing will take place in Asia..."
More junque.
I'd love to see them offer a 16" jointer/planer/morticer combo in the $5000.00 range. Also a rolling-table tablesaw, like the one Vega built for a few years or the current Laguna model, Something like a Northfield style unit.
I don't know about this idea of only selling through licensed resellers. Amazon, Coastal Tool, Grizzly, etc. do a LOT of tool business, because it's just plain simpler to buy stuff online instead of hassling with having to go to a store. Also, many people live in rural areas and don't happen to live near these stores. Who wants to drive two states away to buy a tool? At least with Orion, the maker of the Sears zipcode saws, they used Sears as their reseller, and Sears has locations all over. Smaller stores like Rockler, Woodcraft, etc. don't have that many locations. I've never even been to a Rockler because they're so far away (the closest location to me is across town in Phoenix, about a hour drive one-way).
The comment about the color is right-on, too. Gray is boring, and looks just like Delta's tools. I know they're called "Steel City", but still... How about blue? Surely no one would mistake their tools for Ryobis. Just not purple or pink...
Speaking of Ryobi, why the heck doesn't their saw have a riving knife? Even the $250 Ryobi saw has a riving knife. The article said something about patents, but surely riving knives have been around longer than 20 years, and surely Ryobi isn't paying some huge patent license fee on their $250 saw. Every saw in Europe has a riving knife as well; are they all paying patent fees too? I think not using a riving knife is a big mistake.
Manufacturing in Asia doesn't seem like a great idea either. Are they being made in China, or someplace else like Taiwan? I for one feel better buying stuff made in Taiwan or Malaysia; anyplace except China. Maybe they could have made them in Eastern Europe; the labor costs there are still very cheap, and (except for Serbia) they don't have the communism and human-rights stigmas that China does.
If I were that executive, I never would have bet my retirement savings on this venture.
"Amazon, Coastal Tool, Grizzly, etc. do a LOT of tool business, because it's just plain simpler to buy stuff online instead of hassling with having to go to a store."An interesting FYI on Coastal Tool. They started and operated for many years as a small retail store -- display tables so close together, two people could barely squeeze by each other. And a parking lot you needed a Yugo to turn around in. The online stuff is relatively recent, and from what I know they have been very successful. They're now in a larger, more comfortable and less funky location, but even with all the online sales, they are still packed with customers (mostly trades people) any time you go in. I'm a big fan of supporting the local guy and getting the kind of advice and service not found with the online e-tailers. When I sing the praises of the local dealer, it's the Coastals of the world that I'm singin' about. They are the BEST when it comes to product knowledge, price, integrity and support after the sale. If even half of the guys Steel City distributes through are Coastal caliber, they have a great shot at success.And, hey, if any of you Steel City guys are following KNOTS, it may not be too late to switch to Powermatic green. One man's opinion.
Edited 6/2/2006 5:29 am ET by Mike_B
Caramel would be a nice colour, dust wouldn't show.
I hope the Execs. are woodworkers too and not just bottom line business-persons. I'de be taking the best features from everybody and putting them into one sweet package.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
I think a nice matte silver would be a good color also - sort of like the Infinity router bits.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
I'm a big fan of supporting the local guy and getting the kind of advice and service not found with the online e-tailers.
That's all fine and well if you actually have a local dealer in your area. What about people who don't? I probably live in an area where there will be at least one local dealer, but many people don't. Back in the old days, this probably wasn't a big problem because people in more remote areas would have to travel to buy almost anything, but now with internet retailers, that's no longer the case. Refusing to sell online could put this company at a severe disadvantage to their competition that has no such qualms.
I think there is room for more. That's what's great about the free enterprise system. You have a shot at success. It's not a garantee but hey, those folks at Sawstop took a risk, so I hope they do well. Those guys come form a good pedigree. I found the thoughts at the end of your article interesting. I'm referring to the comment about the 10 years left of boomer purchasing and then working on what the next generation will be looking for in tools. If they stay in tune with what the customer wants they may just make it. Capitalism, you got to love it!
Great! not a website address, not a contact number, nothing. How in the heck can we contact these guys to get any info on the stuff...
The company hasn't taken its Web site live yet. It is scheduled to go up closer to the launch of the tool line in August. I'll be posting some more specs on the machines before the end of the week.Matt Berger
Fine Woodworking
I'm in the process of shopping for a jointer, so when you post the stats from their
machinery, if you could include whatever you have on their jointer(s), I'd really
appreciate it. I'd kinda like to know if it might be worth waiting for or if I might as well
just get what I like now.
There is always room for a company that is concerned about new and
inventive machines. With few exceptions, the products offered by the manufacturers
are the same. A new company offering different machines would at least shake-up
the market , and at best result in a higher quality machines. Competition sharpens
up all the players. Good competition always help we consumers.
From reading the article (brief as it is) it appears the company may be focusing on making happy retailers rather than customers. I'm sure local tool retailers are frustrated by trying to match on-line, low overhead, high volume resellers. This new company's promise of no on-line competition has to be quite attractive to local retailers.
It might also explain a 'full' product line right out of the gates with little innovation rather than one or two highly innovative products to start. IMHO, it may be better to start with one or two innovative, differentiated products (like SawStop) rather than trying to introduce a whole line at the same time. However, I'm sure its more attrative to local retailers to be able to offer a complete line of tools right out of the gates.
Just from reading the original article, it appears that the marketing strategy is two-fold: 1)try to offer at least one differentiating feature for each new tool; and 2) charge a relatively high price, motivating local resellers to sell the tools for you with the promise of higher margins than they can obtain by selling Delta, etc.. I'm not sure in today's marketplace that motivating these local salesmen will be enough to develop the kind of brand loyalty necessary to charge premiums over the Grizzlys of the world.
Consumers will certainly be better off if this company is successful. More choice/competition is better for us. But, personally, I would rather see new SawStops with one or two products with major innovations than another batch of relatively generic tools.
Matt Gumaer
"Is there room for another power tool and machinery manufacturer? Is it about time a new player joined the market?"
How do they plan to differentiate themselves from the rest of the marketplace? According to the article, they're going to be making [ho-hum] products off-shore, based on expired patents - initially, at least.
We do not need more least-cost providers to fill the pipeliine with crappola. If I want that, I'll look at one of several existing catalogs or websites where the only real distinction among products is the paint color.
What are these disgruntled former employees going to do for my benefit? I hope they make superior products and provide amazing customer service, but somehow, with the cost of market capitalization and fierce competition, I doubt they will.
The most likely scenario, should they survive, is yet another company so loaded with debt that they have no choice other than to market tools tied to a price point instead of a quality level. I'd be very surprised if they turn out to be the next Festool.
I'm going to take a wait and see attitude, sprinkled liberally with cautious pessimism.
-Jazzdogg-
"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie
Well said, but I'm sure Taunton is/will be tickled to death to have another advertiser. And boy, the ad budget for the rollout of a completely new line of machinery will be ENORMOUS!
Boss, I have to agree with you. A new rollout would create a marketing stir.
The Color. My guess is that they want to be confused with Delta. B&D has muddied up the market with their acquisition and this is an opportunity to roll into their market share on the show room floor. But limited distribution means limited sales, and you won't be catching the new woodworkers who think an HD is a woodworking store. Boomers are turning 61 this year and that's a wave you need to catch. The first wave of boomers 51-61, had woodshop class and some traing on stationary tools and knows about woodworking stores. The second wave, 41-50, does not have that much familiarity with "big" power tools.
Steel City will need to 'steel' Norm Abram for the first wave, and then they need to find out how to 'trade spaces' with some younger tv woodworker types.
jericho
Ditto: to the buy it cheap online mania.
Some of the crap I see at Woodcraft and Rockler stores made me go back to the drawing boards to fiqure out another jig to replace the expensive cheaply made tools tools out there.
These better be good and competively priced. And if you make them in Asia, please don't repeat the "Japanesse Junk" era we had to go through. Pay these people 75 cents per day instead of 50 cents.
Ken in Napa, California
Well, I tell you! A just-retired boomer, I have come to North Carolina and have a new "hobby barn" half built for a nice, new shop. I was about to order a new 20-inch planer, 8-inch jointer and perhaps a shaper, all from Grizzly, but now I think that maybe I should wait and take a look at what the "new guys" are offering.
The problem, as I see it, is that the tools are all coming from the same manufacturing plants in China. They have almost identical designs and features. Choices involve things like "wheels or no wheels?" Real choices are like trying to decide which American car to buy. Does it really make any difference??
If this new company can really be innovative (I love the table saw no maintainence table top!), there is a market for guys like me. I don't buy real tools in Lowe's or Sears.
Good luck, Steel City!
John Sheehan
It seems like all the real innovation in stationary power tools is in Europe, from companies like Laguna. For some reason, all their innovations are being totally ignored on this side of the pond (patents?). Even utterly simple things like riving knives are being totally ignored.Seems like the game here in the US is to make everything in China as cheap as possible, and provide only basic functionality and innovations that came out in 1910.
That is because it is easier to wrap up the same crap in a different package than start something new. J.P.
So, Tool City is entering the market with more Asian-fabricated tools. They claim to have vast experience dealing in the Far East. Yet I'll bet they will tout the fact that they are an "American" company. Personally I don't think competition is bad but I think they are dead wrong on their announced marketing strategy. They say they will not sell through mass merchandisers but through select local dealers. Well, this is exactly what we had when two manufacturers dominated the American market 20+ year ago. You could order a Powermatic or a Delta and you could and would pay their price as they are very astute at setting those prices through their "select" dealers. "Select" means they do the selecting and you do the buying. The purpose of this type of marketing is to increase prices and reduce cometition. Moreover, when the two giants dominated woodworking machinery there was little or no innovation. I wouldn't rush out to buy any of their stock if I were you.
I think that there is room for another company. The hardest part will be getting the initial sales and reviews, wriiten and word of mouth.
It will likely come down to price/performance/support/availability. Can they match or beat the competition? Can I buy one without driving 2hrs to even see it? How well will they support the product?
I would be interested in at least looking them over. How will we know where they will be available at?
Matt, in another thread, one of our members states that Steel City and Orion (making the new Craftsman saws) are the same group. Do you have any info on this???
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Yeah. One of Steel City's primary executives started Orion. Under some deal, which I don't know the details of, Steel City absorbed Orion and its designs. I believe Steel City even has a version of the Craftsman hybrid tablesaw that is based on the same design from Orion.
Oh. That's probably the saw I brushed up against when drooling over their other equipment at Sumner a couple weeks ago. INteresting!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Have you had a chance to put the mortiser through it's paces yet?
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
Nope, not yet. The IRS has given me a little assignment that's due mid-week next week, and they get first priority, LOL! Then I have a display unit to build for one of my jersey-case customers, due Oct. 10. Hopefully, after that, I'll come up with some A&C something-or-other to try it out with.
The other option is to haul it up to Dennis' place and have him break it in for me, LOL! Got time for that soul place??forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I'll make time for that! It's only about 3 blocks from me, I've been craving their Louisiana hotpot lately.
Since the house is on fire let us warm ourselves. ~Italian Proverb
Got the menu, Thanks! Maybe Dennis and Robbie can join us. Want to make a Morris chair while we're at it? ROFL!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
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