jaymar":175vgn98 said:
I'm sure the woodrat is an excellent tool/jig but it seems to me that so called "Ratters" feel they must justify spending such a large amount on one jig."You can do this, you can do that" etc.
LOL, Jaymar, I have never, nor would ever recommend
actually making dowels on it! I just know that Godfrey claims it can do it. Interestingly I was talking to Mike Humphreys the other day and he said on his advanced course, he does show you how to make dowels - which surprised me as I had assumed it was only Godfrey talking up the stuff it can do.
jaymar":175vgn98 said:
It reminds me of when micro-wave ovens were new, gadgets galore were being sold for such things as boiling eggs,omelettes and other daft applications when in fact there were much simpler ways to cook]
This I can comment on, the Woodrat is hardly new now is it? How long has it been out? A decade? Longer? And comparing it to microwaves? :? That have almost 100% penetration into UK households? :shock: Eh? And entire industries dedicated to "microwave" meals - as they are soooo popular? <insert own view on quality/taste here> :roll: And how have we managed to get from Woodrats to microwave meals anyway :lol: :lol: :lol:
jaymar":175vgn98 said:
but it seems to me that so called "Ratters" feel they must justify spending such a large amount on one jig
Thing is, when I bought it, which is many years ago, it wasn't as expensive as now - about £400, which is about the same as a Leigh Dovetail jig including a few other bits and bobs. So I don't actually see it as something expensive. In fact I don't even think of it as a jig. I just need to do something straight and accurate - and I think - I'll just pop it into the woodrat and do that. No fuss, easy.
The endless discussions that arise, I think, are due to the fact that people achieve the same result on it, using such different techniques, do you cut tenons with the wood mounted vertically, or horizontally, for example, have you made a jig for it, if you look through Tablesaw books - you see hundreds of tips and jigs and techniques to increase the range of functions a tablesaw can achieve - and they have been around for a pretty long time - I think it is only natural, for a "new" machine, albeit a milling machine for wood, will go through the same process, only rather than a few keen individuals writing books, I think these days, the discussions have moved on-line. So you will never be able to get away from endless 'rat questions, and I would expect them to become more and more refined, and advanced over time.
Adam
.........And I just cannot afford the Tea anymore........So I think I could possibly pay for the equipment from the savings in tea :wink: 
