To buy or not to buy - no, actually which do I buy/

[nonidentity]

Hi all,

SO having taken the bath on the Veritas LA Jack and Large Shoulder Plane, as advised by yourselves truly, I have used these to the point of now having to sharpen. The time had to arrive - too early for my liking

I must say that these tools have been fantastic to use. Nothing like I remember when I was a school doing w/work. Hell, those tools were disgusting by comparision. :shock: :shock: :shock:

I am reformed :lol:

So far I have made two tables and shoe rack to hold all the shoes my kids deposit at the front door!

Now here is the dilemma: which sharpening fixture should I get? :roll:

Either:

Veritas® Mk.II Honing Guide $48.50

Veritas® Sharpening System $36.50

It is not about the money (yes it is of course as a factor) but more focus on getting the right thing for a newbie like me. I KNOW how much hard work is required to use blunt or dud tools – being doing that for years. :roll:

So as part of the reforming process I need to obviate the difficulties experienced so far. Well that is what I tell SWMBO. :idea:

So which one and why? :-k

Also, going through old posts it seems lots of folks in UK import from Lee Valley direct – seems cheaper and 4 days away.

Is it cheaper overall? Also, does HM customs etc. get themselves very involved here? Talk about rip my arm off and beat me with it! (hammer)

Any advice is welcomed.

Thanks in advance!

 

[nickson71]

hi


in answer to the last bit ...... I got some spiral cutters for lee valley .... they arrived within a week and I didn't have to pay customs duty ... saying that it was a small order .. so I may have been lucky


Ian

 

[George_N]

Veritas® Mk.II Honing Guide $48.50

Veritas® Sharpening System $36.50

I recently bought the Mk. II guide from Axminster...on offer at the moment for £30 I think. Some people (Bugbear, I think?) prefer the simple "Eclipse" style honing guides because the narrow roller makes it easier/possible to put some camber on the blade.
(this only applies to plane blades)

cheers

George

 

[mahking51]

NI
No Brainer!
Veritas MkII is superb
Of course, you have to get some stones as well......
Regards
Martin

 

[Horst Hohoff]

Hello,
I don't know about HM's customs, but the rules might be similar to the rules in Germany. Over here the customs always get involved, when you import things from over the pond. If it exceeds a certain value ( € 25,- I think ) you have to pay a customs fee ( which isn't much; 3,7 % for a plane ) and VAT. So it's better to calculate all the costs ( shipping, customs, VAT ) before ordering anything, and then decide if it's worth the effort.
Honing guides: The Veritas Mk.II is excellent, the Eclipse is better, if you want a cambered blade.

 

[nonidentity]

So what you are saying is the following: to buy from Canada/US the following is the case:

Purchase price in some $$
Canada/US VAT or Sales Tax 0 $
Carraige costs some $$
Customs 3.7% some £ @ 3.7%
VAT some £ @ 17.5%
equals cost


OR

take purchase price including carraige in $$, covert to £s, add 20.2% equals the price to pay in £s

Is this right? :roll:
(of course for items over £25 - but lets say this is the rule)

Thanks
:shock:

 

[mudman]

Personally I wouldn't bother importing for just the one item. At a UK price of £30 you aren't going to save very much, if at all. I did buy mine direct from Canada but it wasn't available over here then. Also to make any decent savings, you need to have it sent the slow way which can take a couple of weeks. I believe that others have been stung for extra costs when importing via airmail.
Putting that against getting it very quickly and with Brimarc's excellent service, I'd buy it from a UK supplier if buying one now.

 

[Sailor]

Don't forget that the dreaded VAT will also be charged on the total amount, including the Receiving Agent's costs and their handling charge as well.

Unless it's something really unobtainable here or specialist, I've stopped ordering from the USA and but locally. The other alternative I do is, take my list with me and hand-carry them back.

Regards,


Colin

 

[nonidentity]

Now here is the dilemma: which sharpening fixture should I get? Rolling Eyes

Either:

Veritas® Mk.II Honing Guide $48.50

Veritas® Sharpening System $36.50

It is not about the money (yes it is of course as a factor) but more focus on getting the right thing for a newbie like me. I KNOW how much hard work is required to use blunt or dud tools – being doing that for years. Rolling Eyes

OK let's drop the import bit but actually the topic of interest is: which one should I choose and why?

Is it worth spensing the extra for extra?

:roll: [/quote]

 

[Noel]

Mk II and a £10 Eclipse type guide. Simple.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Now here is the dilemma: which sharpening fixture should I get? Rolling Eyes

Either:

Veritas® Mk.II Honing Guide $48.50

Veritas® Sharpening System $36.50

It is not about the money (yes it is of course as a factor) but more focus on getting the right thing for a newbie like me. I KNOW how much hard work is required to use blunt or dud tools – being doing that for years. Rolling Eyes

OK let's drop the import bit but actually the topic of interest is: which one should I choose and why?

Is it worth spensing the extra for extra?

:roll:

[/quote]


THe MkII does everything the sharpening system does only better and easier.

 

[nonidentity]

Thanks for the info.

Although it seems obvious, paying more does not really always buy additional value. The idea being;: what was the additional value you are getting.

Cheers.

 

[George_N]

I used my Veritas Mk. II in anger for the first time last night and I have to say that it has lived up to what everyone has said about it...superb. It allowed me to grind a nice even secondary bevel on my plane iron and then click the roller round and in a couple of passes I had a beautiful micro-bevel. Just realised that I'm starting to wax lyrical about micro-bevels...I must get out more. that said, I really am impressed and if you want consistent honing I thoroughly recommend it.

cheers

George

 

[engineer one]

having both a mk1 and mk2 veritas jig i can say that in many ways the mk 2 is easier to set up, BUT you have to be careful about setting the screws equally, and ensure the blade is square.

however even rob admits that it is more difficult to produce a cambered blade with the mk2.

i think that if you are starting out, then the mk2 is the way to go, then as you become more proficient at sharpening get an eclipse or similar product to do the cambering.

now all you have to do is decide which slippery slope to go down, diamonds, water stones, oil stones or!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good luck on the path to enlightenment and tool sharpening heaven.

paul, who uses the tormek :lol: :lol: