Called Hawk (3rd Time) Today About The New Saw

[kmmcrafts]

Just for curiosity I called Nicole from Hawk again today just to see if they ever got the CNC up and running.. and I wanted to ask a few questions regarding the business.. 

First thing.. the CNC got its part and from what I gather they got it running.. but now there is another issue.. the coolant / oil isn't pumping.. Sounds like they just got it together not long agao. and she said they are all out there working on it right now... She said they have been on a waiting list at a local machine shop to make the part for them.. and that shop said back in first part of Feb that they was booked out until sometime in March.. she mentioned this today and said either they will get their machine running or this local machine shop will call.. whichever comes first will be the one making the part so she can get all their saw orders out.. she said they have 18 saws ordered and are waiting on this part most of that 18 was ordered at Christmas time.... She apologized several times and said this isn't normal for them, LOL So.. I asked out of curiosity.. what is a normal time from someones order to get one made and in the mail to them.. She said normally 2-3 weeks.. I also asked if they build any of these and have them in stock or do they just make as ordered.. she said they try to keep one of each size ready to ship.. They want to have more on hand but there is not enough space to keep them.. They have a new shop going up ( so far just a concrete slab ) that will be a much bigger facility to keep more inventory on hand..

Anyway.. Just thought I'd share the update since I know many of you have been wondering as well as I have as to when this new saw might show up..        

Edited March 7, 2019 by kmmcrafts

[OCtoolguy]

There are many machine shops out there. Why be held captive by one? I wonder if it was a tractor part if they would be as patient. I think not. I'm not in business but I wouldn't sit still for that nonsense. Go somewhere else to get your part made. Or to the mfgr. that made the CNC. Nuts!

[fredfret]

The nearest machine shop is a long distance from them. Many machine shops here are dedicated to aviation only and have very little time for single or small jobs. 

[Iguanadon]

Best of luck Kevin... I feel your pain. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

We have a railroad bridge over here they are tearing down. Anyone want to buy it?? 

[kmmcrafts]

10 minutes ago, JTTHECLOCKMAN said:

We have a railroad bridge over here they are tearing down. Anyone want to buy it?? 

How much? 

[kmmcrafts]

I'm just glad I'm not in any hurry.. well short of just being excited to play with a new saw.. maybe I should word it.. I'm glad I'm not in a dire need of the saw.. LOL..

[teachnlearn]

Yep, think I'll scroll fretwork on the steel. Anyone want o buy a fretwork bridge? RJF

[OCtoolguy]

51 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

I'm just glad I'm not in any hurry.. well short of just being excited to play with a new saw.. maybe I should word it.. I'm glad I'm not in a dire need of the saw.. LOL..

They are lucky that you aren't in a hurry Kevin. I wonder how many orders have been cancelled because of their poor delivery status. I would not be quite as patient as you. Or at least I'd be asking for something in return for my patience. Maybe an extended warranty or something. Just saying. When you get to my age, time is the most valuable commodity I have.

 

[Sycamore67]

Sorry you are having to wait.

I am happy that there is a mfg of scroll saws in the U.S.  

Bushton, Kansas has a population of 260.  I doubt if there are many machine shops close to them capable of making the part they need.  It is not like some areas of the country near big cities with many machine shops.  In addition, doing small jobs in a machine shop is expensive and many do not want small jobs.  You are not going to just run down the street and find another machine shop.  

[Oldmansbike]

Sorry about still having to wait but if the newer ones are anything like the old RBI ones it will be worth the wait. I finally had to replace a part on mine after 23 years of hard use. The spring that holds the arm up finally wore out. I also took it apart and cleaned everything and put some grease in the bearings.. First real maintence I've done to it in 23 years. They are trouble free in my book.

[kmmcrafts]

12 minutes ago, Oldmansbike said:

Sorry about still having to wait but if the newer ones are anything like the old RBI ones it will be worth the wait. I finally had to replace a part on mine after 23 years of hard use. The spring that holds the arm up finally wore out. I also took it apart and cleaned everything and put some grease in the bearings.. First real maintence I've done to it in 23 years. They are trouble free in my book.

Yes Sir.. Awesome quality saws.. at least I hope.. I don't know much about the "new" ones.. but many many comments about how nice a saw they are on many of the forums.. My older saws I have are awesome. which is why I went with Hawk in the first place.. also like supporting small business.. especially American business's..  especially during tough times like they are having right now.. I've been there myself back in my autobody business.. Was in the middle of a total restoration of a 1963 Ford Gallaxy 500 and my big ol 80 gallon 2 stage air compressor bit the dust while sandblasting.. as well as a high end air sander.. That car restoration cost me a bunch of money.. because a lot of things bit the dust doing that car.. my buffer machine, DA sander, and the air compressor all bit the dust on that one job.. dropped $2000 on a new compressor, $500 for a new buffer, and a couple hundred for a new DA.. I charged $4500 for that job but by the time I was done I made $47 with about 112 hours, LOL.. I did get some new equipment though, LOL.. I look back on it and think about how funny it was.. but at the time.. stressing about it and trying to put food on the table.. was a tough time.. nothing went right on that car.. other than a completely satisfied customer and that car won some trophies at the shows.. word of mouth got me several other jobs.. but like I said.. was a tough time in those moments.. 

[rjweb]

Kevin,

That really sucks, you are a better man than me, i would want my cc refunded until they are ready to ship, or pay you the interest while they hold your funds, they probaby have your funds in an interest bearing account until it goes out the door, good luck, RJ

[orangeman]

Looks like no one listened to or payed attention to Iggy last year!

bb

[Rockytime]

Many thanks for your patience Kevin. Growing up in a very small town I understand how a business like Bushton is a huge shot in the arm for the local economy. Even if only one or two jobs are formed it makes a difference. Small towns struggle to stay alive. Again, Kevin, thanks for your patience.

[hotshot]

Did anyone think these guys "were a machine shop."  I thought that was their background.  I figured they would go to their own standard mill/lathe and not rely on another machine shop to do something they could do themselves.  I know the history of Prewitt/RBI was as a machine shop, but maybe I'm wrong about Bushton.  It just seem fascinating to me that they would own a CNC, but not any old school mills.

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by hotshot

[Rockytime]

Their background is farming. Have no idea about their machining ability. One can make one-ups on manual machinery, mill or lathe but not production work. Doing one-up at a time would make the saw impossibly expensive.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

No room to store spare parts, no room to store spare saws, Take the money and sit on it and now you wait for me is all bad business practices and I do not want to hear about small businesses. Don't get into the business. They have other businesses too from what I am reading so not sure about this small farmer thing.  I would not have the patience for that mess. I am glad I do not need another saw. Yes the older RBI saw was great but skeptical about this mess now. Kevin I wish you and the other 8 people all the best with their new saws. 

[hotshot]

2 hours ago, Rockytime said:

Their background is farming. Have no idea about their machining ability. One can make one-ups on manual machinery, mill or lathe but not production work. Doing one-up at a time would make the saw impossibly expensive.

I was thinking more about the making of the one off part that they have been waiting forever to get to fix the CNC, but since they have that part in now, they are on to the next thing.  Their run of bad luck can't last forever, so I suspect this saga is winding down now.

Edited March 8, 2019 by hotshot

[JimErn]

she said they have 18 saws ordered and are waiting on this part most of that 18 was ordered at Christmas time.

That amazes me.  Eighteen people have been and are sitting back waiting!

18 orders, each takes 2-3 weeks to make, 36 - 54 weeks if you are the last on the list, 36 weeks after they get it fixed and start

Kevin, by any chance you ask what number on the list you are?

[lawson56]

Kevin I feel for ya,Keeping my fingers and toes crossed,and lighting a candle of hope for ya. You'll get it it soon.

[kmmcrafts]

12 minutes ago, JimErn said:

she said they have 18 saws ordered and are waiting on this part most of that 18 was ordered at Christmas time.

That amazes me.  Eighteen people have been and are sitting back waiting!

18 orders, each takes 2-3 weeks to make, 36 - 54 weeks if you are the last on the list, 36 weeks after they get it fixed and start

Kevin, by any chance you ask what number on the list you are?

Jim, I was told way back when that all the saws are built other than waiting on the one part that’s needed to finish them. She said they have saws scattered throughout her office and hardly room to move. So I think once the machine is up and running or the outsourced company can make the part it’ll be pretty quick to get all 18 of them out the door. 

[kmmcrafts]

5 hours ago, hotshot said:

I was thinking more about the making of the one off part that they have been waiting forever to get to fix the CNC, but since they have that part in now, they are on to the next thing.  Their run of bad luck can't last forever, so I suspect this saga is winding down now.

If I understood correctly is was a electronic part that was malfunctioning on their CNC..

[kmmcrafts]

10 hours ago, orangeman said:

Looks like no one listened to or payed attention to Iggy last year!

bb

And that is supposed to mean what? Some sort of jab at me? I'm not sure where you're going with that statement but I find it quite rude..

Not to offend anyone here and especially Iggy.. but for someone that admits to not being mechanically inclined or knows how to tune a saw.. How much credibility is his experience really? Or because he bought during harvesting and it took 5 weeks for him to get his saw.. I expected it could be a while to get my saw because of Iggys experience.... so what.. I wasn't in a hurry and am still not.. i have two good working Hawks in the shop right now.. If I remember correctly.. in that 5 week time frame it took to get his saw.. it seems he called several times.. in a hurry to get his saw.. rush a mechanic and have the chance of a wheel falling off.. So he got a bad saw.. was it because they was trying to rush his saw out the door? Either way they sent him a bad saw and shouldn't have whether he was rushing them or not.. I get it.. How many people bad mouth DeWalts? yet people buying new ones every day.. 

People rave over the Excalibur saws... but my experience with mine was less than satisfactory.. issues with blade chucks.. bad vibration issues.. and now I tune it and it un-tunes itself.. sure easy fixes and I've worked them out.. but would someone not mechanically inclined be able to or would they have trash talked the saw and make others not buy them.. I might be the only one to complain about the Excalibur saws.. But I've only seen one bad review on the Hawks too.. and that was from a person not really mechanically inclined.. I like my other two Hawk saws.. so I ordered another.. I have no doubt my saw will come in time.. I also am proud to have bought a USA made saw.. and proud to support my fellow american company.. 

Do I think Bushton could use some better business practices.. yes.. but I also think most business's could.. DeWalt could grease their saws before sending them out... Excalibur could put a jam nut on the rear knob adjuster and make a quality clamp.. Especially on the Excalibur where it's only a couple hundred dollars cheaper than a Hawk.. Both could use a real person to answer the phone when contacting them about parts or service.. The point is they all have some flaw and only hearing 1 bad review on a saw isn't stopping me from buying a saw brand I like.. Maybe after I get it I won't like this one.. certainly a chance I am taking..But isn't buying any brand of saw taking a chance? 

[hotshot]

Kevin, it isn't just one bad review.  My BM came from someone not happy with it.  I know someone else on the forum that got another BM from someone not happy with it.  Iggys complaint was initially with vibration, but in the end, the more serious complaint was about how it cut.  I have very serious concerns about multiple design decisions on the Hawk, including the knobs/clamps and the stand mounting.  I know someone else on the forum that made the trip to Bushton to tour the facilities, and was concerned enough to change direction and go the Hegner route.  I know a few others that were happy with their purchase, as I'm sure you will be.

As for the Excalibur, your not the first person I've heard complain about various aspects of it either.  I know a couple of folks that left EX to go to Hegner and so on.

So, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what any one thinks about your decision.  You have the right to drive a Ryobi or a Hegner, or anything in between, so that is your decision alone.  When you discuss your decision on a forum, and the complications that arise from that decision, then everyone else is going evaluate that choice.  I'm just glad you are not trying to cover up the consequences of that decision, to protect the Bushton Hawk reputation.  I think the light you a shedding on them is good, and people can base their decision on your actual experience, as they also did with Iggy.

 

Edited March 8, 2019 by hotshot