OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

277113 Dennis Heyza <michigaloot@c...> 2023‑03‑21 Blackburn Tools
GG's,

 

Just curious if anyone has had recent dealings with Blackburn Tools. I
purchased a frame saw kit and kerfing plane blade from him a few years ago
with great satisfaction. But he now seems to fill orders if and when it
pleases him.

 

To be fair, he does say that - due to myriad circumstances - he ships in
8-12 weeks. However, I'm past that window, out the money, get no updates,
and emails to him are simply ignored. 

 

I'm normally pretty tolerant of cottage industry folks, but feel it's
reasonable to provide realistic dates when someone orders, and respond to
inquiries on a timely basis. I mean, if he's that buried he should stop
taking orders until he gets caught up, not continue to take people's $$ with
no commitment or communications.

 

Or am I being unfair?

 

Dennis Heyza
277114 Stephen Rosenthal <srosenthal26@g...> 2023‑03‑21 Re: Blackburn Tools
Dennis,

This subject came up a while back on a woodworking forum. Guy was waiting over a
year for a frame saw with similar lack of communication and, he too, paid up
front. Forum member’s responses were mixed; some supported Isaac and some, like
me, said cancel the order and demand a refund.

Maybe 4-5 years ago I was interested in his Rake MasterII saw sharpening device.
I emailed him about lead time and didn’t get a response. Tried again a few
months later and still no response so I wrote him off. Part of doing business is
responding to customer inquiries in a timely manner. Failure to do so reveals a
negative side about that business that causes me to look elsewhere.

Word on the street has it that Isaac is also involved in Accu-Burr and appears
to be devoting much of his attention to that aspect of his business to the
detriment of his other endeavors - and his customers.

Good luck, 
Stephen 
Developing cabin fever in San Francisco while listening to CCR’s “Who’ll Stop
the Rain”
277115 the_tinker <tinker@z...> 2023‑03‑21 Re: Blackburn Tools
I've had this happen twice. Once for a custom knife blade I ordered and 
once for some Lionel whistle controllers I make and sell. Both times 
unexpected demise was involved. Had to write them both off.

Still kickin' in spring like N.E. Ohio

-JP

-- 
John Pesut
Boardman, Ohio
277116 Dennis Heyza <michigaloot@c...> 2023‑03‑21 Re: Blackburn Tools
One of the reasons I've been a bit hesitant to pull the "refund" trigger is the
fact I paid using PayPal. I'm not sure of their inner workings but wondered if
saying, "no product, no communication and it's all over the Internet" would
cause them to shut him off and I don't want to be that big a jerk. On the other
hand, that could be considered a public service.

BTW, I did some Google searches and found similar complaints on a number of
forums going back multiple years. Wish now I'd checked before ordering but
trusted him based on a long ago purchase.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: oldtools@g...  On Behalf Of Stephen Rosenthal
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2023 11:31 AM
To: Dennis Heyza 
Cc: Oldtools 
Subject: Re: [oldtools] Blackburn Tools

Dennis,

This subject came up a while back on a woodworking forum. Guy was waiting over a
year for a frame saw with similar lack of communication and, he too, paid up
front. Forum member’s responses were mixed; some supported Isaac and some, like
me, said cancel the order and demand a refund.

Maybe 4-5 years ago I was interested in his Rake MasterII saw sharpening device.
I emailed him about lead time and didn’t get a response. Tried again a few
months later and still no response so I wrote him off. Part of doing business is
responding to customer inquiries in a timely manner. Failure to do so reveals a
negative side about that business that causes me to look elsewhere.

Word on the street has it that Isaac is also involved in Accu-Burr and appears
to be devoting much of his attention to that aspect of his business to the
detriment of his other endeavors - and his customers.

Good luck,
Stephen
Developing cabin fever in San Francisco while listening to CCR’s “Who’ll Stop
the Rain”
277117 Paul Gardner <yoyopg@g...> 2023‑03‑21 Re: Blackburn Tools
Given that disappointment always stems from not meeting expectations, I see
only one safe business model for the "cottage industry" craftsman who's
strengths, more often than not, lie on the creative side rather than the
business side of the operation.  Sell only what you have already made and
avoid the process of taking orders completely.  This completely avoids the
problem of accurate forecasting and planning.  You know material costs
because you have already spent the money on them.  Labor costs are also a
known commodity by that time.  If you or a family member becomes sick, you
avoid burdening paying customers with delays stemming your personal
tragedy.  If your other hustle (which, in the US, might be paying your
families health insurance) becomes more needing of your time, you can adapt
without your customers noticing.  Finally, your pricing can easily
fluctuate to reflect market forces if you sell in batches or one-offs.
Deposits taken as a sign of commitment from a customer is one thing, but if
you are relying on those deposits for the purchase of materials or tooling
to do the job, then you are already behind the 8-ball and are setting
yourself, and everyone who gave money to you, up for failure. I've seen
this play out a few times - a certain infill plane kit making company
springs to mind.  I own a dovetail saw from a guy who's handmade saws
should have been priced north of $400 (at the time) but tried to sell them
for the price of an LN saw at $125.  The Schwarz Effect tanked his business
because he couldn't keep up with demand at that price.  To his credit, to
my knowledge made good on the orders he accepted, but I'm sure he lost his
shirt on the deal to say nothing of his sanity.  I'm not sure what the
answer would be for a cottage industry "service" like saw-sharpening would
be.  I've sent saws off to someone who didn't get them back to me for 11
months - and this person had the foresight of keeping a waitlist to 10
people at a time.  Perhaps a shorter wait-list?  Better communication with
waiting customers?  All I know is I had some nervous moments thinking some
of my favorite users may never return to me.

-Paul, in rainy SF

On Tue, Mar 21, 2023 at 5:10 AM Dennis Heyza 
wrote:
277118 Tom S <twschmutz1@g...> 2023‑03‑21 Re: Blackburn Tools
Long time friend has installed and serviced heat/air for number of years. Recent
problem under warranty was not resolved after several visits, changing parts,
etc. Stopped responding to numerous emails asking when coming back, how to fix
problem, etc. Reached end of rope and hired another company who fixed problem in
one short visit. The fix was something I had suggested to friend to try on next
visit

Friend will no longer receive my business nor referenced to others.  

To answer your question. Sometimes you reach the end of being reasonable!
277119 Bob Page 2023‑03‑21 Re: Side Hustles (was Blackburn Tools)
Paul,

That is exactly right. I operate Loon Lake Tool Works as a side business to my
full-time job at the university. It is not always possible to "schedule" regular
work hours for projects, so I never pre-sell anything since that puts too much
pressure on the work and takes the fun away. Instead, I insist on having the
item(s) in hand before offering them for sale. I do keep a Wait List to gauge
interest and to contact people when the item they have interest in is ready, but
I do not take deposits - ever.

The Hamler Scraper Insert is a case in point. I built the initial batch in 2019,
which sold out fairly quickly. I started a Wait List of those who had expressed
an interest in one. Due to delays caused by COVID shutdowns, foundry issues, and
supplier shortages, it took me almost three years to get the next batch done. I
fronted all of the money for castings and materials. They were not offered for
sale until they were completely ready to ship. I communicated with customers on
a regular basis through my website and Facebook page. Despite the long delay,
I've heard no complaints directly nor through the grapevine.

The saw sharpening side of my business is very brisk, with jobs from three to
six people in the shop at any given time. I strive for a two-week turnaround
time on most saw work. If I cannot meet that timing due to the size of a job or
the work situation at the time, I tell the customer this up front. I do have a
few longer term projects right now, but again the customers know this and they
are okay with it. Some of the repairs I do are quite tedious and involved, so
they just take time. On others, I may have to hunt for the perfect piece of
apple wood with which to make a replica handle. Good apple wood doesn't grow on
trees these days, it seems.

My mantra has always been "Under-Promise and Over-Deliver". It works for me.

Bob Page
In da U.P. of Michigan
www.loonlaketoolworks.com



On Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 02:50:33 PM EDT, Paul Gardner  wrote:


Given that disappointment always stems from not meeting expectations, I see
only one safe business model for the "cottage industry" craftsman who's
strengths, more often than not, lie on the creative side rather than the
business side of the operation.  Sell only what you have already made and
avoid the process of taking orders completely.

Recent Bios FAQ