[Jewelry making - Article 00168] - Re: [Orchid] GraverMach is it worth it?

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>     I would also recommend that you take a look at the Lindsey
>     AirGraver and Palm Control AirGraver. Having owned and heavily used
>     both the GRS and Lindsey tools, it is my personal opinion that the
>     Lindsey is a far superior tool in every respect, 

    Ditto, sorta. I used the older GRS tool only a short while before
    pretty much going exclusively to my airgraver. I much prefer the feel
    of the tool, as well as it's precision. It IS, however, more
    expensive, a consideration for some. I also know that many are
    drooling over Steves palm control. Personally, though, I like the old
    foot pedal. Not quite so much like hand engraving, but I was never
    all that good with just manual gravers anyway, so I'm not missing
    that manual feel, while on the other hand, I've spent over 35 years
    using my foot on a pedal every day to control flex shaft tools, or
    other similar tools, so the foot pedal is second nature anyway.
    Steve's palm controller, though, is truely a beutiful bit of
    engineering. Way beyond that funky GRS version that needs it's own
    control box, and has a little trigger button in the handle instead
    of just feeling pressure on the whole handle. Tried that thing for a
    short while last year and found it downright odd.. 

>     Steve Lindsey, the creator and marketer of the AirGraver is a
>     consummate artist and a real gentleman. 

    And much more responsive as a businessman. The few times I've needed
    service or something with the airgraver, Steve's been right there
    with almost instant support and quick turnaround. An upgrade to the
    tool, for example, cost me just postage to Steve. How's that for
    service. I contrast that with GRS. When they thought I wanted to buy
    a microscope, I was getting annoying sales calls from some aggressive
    sales person. Then, a bit over a year ago, I bought a GRS power hone
    from Progress Tools. It was supposed to come with a 600 grit diamond
    wheel, but the packers at GRS seem to have left it out. Progress
    shipped me the GRS box intact (It had been backordered), so the
    mistake wasn't theirs. But anyway, contacting GRS, all I got was "you
    have to talk to Progress tools". And Progress tools never quite got
    back to me either about it, after at least three tries on the phone.
    I've got other laps from past lapidary work, so it's not stopping me
    from using the tool, and I've not got time to spend on it. But...
    Sigh. Of course, Progress is maybe more responsible to arrange the
    fix than is GRS because they were the direct retailer, but neither
    firm stepped up to the plate and made this right when I complained,
    and GRS is the firm that really owes me the lap. Doesn't make me all
    that enthousiastic about shopping with either firm again, though I
    might still get lured back to Progress... They have a few pretty good
    deals going now and then... But GRS? Hmm. Some aggressive customer
    service would go a lot further with me than aggressive cold sales
    calls. 

Peter Rowe
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