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Woodpeckers Tool - Factory Tour on Youtube

ssuel

Just watched a YouTube video that was focused on a tour of Woodperkers Tool manufacturing facility. As a user of a few Woodpeckers products I really enjoyed the video and thought I would share in case you didn’t see the video before now like me. Tom McLaughlin, host and craftsman of Epic Woodworking, was getting the tour which was hosted by Richard Hummel who is the founder of Woodpecker. Also, check out Tom McLaughlin’s YouTube channel too, I didn’t know he had that much content out on YouTube either. https://youtube.com/@EpicWoodworking?si=8hZQeouAni1fY4Gl

Thanks

Ed in Tampa

Great tour! Thank you for telling us about it. I did not know Woodpecker was connected to Blue Spruce. If I was thirty years younger and a millionaire I would own at least one of every tool they make. I love to look hold and use precision tools and this floats my boat.

Thanks again for letting us know about the video.

ssuel

I had the same reaction concerning the Blue Spruce connection too

RFGuy

So, I assume this is the video that you meant to link on this thread? The video was posted 5 months ago on Tom's YT channel, so it wasn't easy to find because you only gave the YT link to Tom's Epic Woodworking YT channel. Just wanted to make sure I got the right video before I started watching all 30 minutes of it. Thanks.

ssuel

Yes the video you linked is it, but my browser opened the same video too when I did the original post? I tested it in the preview mode before I published my post. Not sure why it is different now. I don’t post often so maybe I didn’t get it right somehow 😞

RFGuy

ssuel wrote Yes the video you linked is it, but my browser opened the same video too when I did the original post? I tested it in the preview mode before I published my post. Not sure why it is different now. I don’t post often so maybe I didn’t get it right somehow 😞

Thanks. I just wanted to make sure I had the right video before starting to watch it. I own several Woodpeckers tools and I am happy with the ones that I own. Some I use more often than others.

I didn't know that Woodpeckers was connected with Blue Spruce Toolworks either. Blue Spruce makes some beautiful woodworking tools and I own one of their squares. A while back, The Wood Whisperer was raving about them on his former weekly YT show, but then he bought their new chisels and had issues with them. He was working with Blue Spruce to get it resolved, but I never heard what the outcome of it was. He kind of swore them off for a while. Anyone know what happened or have good experiences with Blue Spruce Toolworks? Just curious.

BuckeyeDennis

I spent about 20 years of my career in the precision machined parts industry, and toured dozens of factories during that time. That Woodpeckers plant is among the most impressive I’ve seen. I was especially impressed with Richard Hummel’s knowledge of the manufacturing-process details.

I used to think that Woodpeckers products were overpriced. But now that I own and regularly use a few of them, I’ve been more given to wondering how they can offer such high-quality tools and instruments at prices that many mere mortals can afford. From that video, their magic formula would appear to be 1) nail the process details, and 2) invest heavily in capable machinery and automation.

I get their emails all the time, but after hearing Hummel describe their manufacturing process, some Blue Spruce chisels just elbowed their way onto my wish list. I’m more than a little frustrated with my not-inexpensive private-labeled made-in China set.

ssuel, thanks for posting!

BigSky

If having quality, precision tools in my shop gives the impression that "precision work happens here". Maybe it is time to invest in that "impression".

RFGuy

I guess Blue Spruce Toolworks got purchased by Woodpeckers a few years ago (see link below), so they are now a subsidiary. This might explain some of the quality issues I heard about regarding them in recent years. Hope they have the kinks worked out now.

https://toolguyd.com/woodpeckers-owns-blue-spruce-toolworks/#:~:text=Today%20I%20learned%20that%20Woodpeckers,their%20customizable%20woodworking%20hand%20tools.

BuckeyeDennis

RFGuy wrote I guess Blue Spruce Toolworks got purchased by Woodpeckers a few years ago (see link below), so they are now a subsidiary. This might explain some of the quality issues I heard about regarding them in recent years. Hope they have the kinks worked out now.

https://toolguyd.com/woodpeckers-owns-blue-spruce-toolworks/#:~:text=Today%20I%20learned%20that%20Woodpeckers,their%20customizable%20woodworking%20hand%20tools.

ThanksRFGuy, that's some good info.

Legally, a "subsidiary" is a company that is 50% or more owned by a parent company or holding company. Less than that, it's an "affiliate". If owned 100%, it's a "wholly owned subsidiary".

So my hunch is that Dave Jeske, the founder of Blue Spruce Toolworks, still has has an ownership interest in the company.

RFGuy

BuckeyeDennis wrote So my hunch is that Dave Jeske, the founder of Blue Spruce Toolworks, still has has an ownership interest in the company.

Dennis,

I agree. Seems like all manufacturing went to Woodpeckers and Dave is staying at his home in Oregon while working on perhaps new tool development for BSTW. Not sure how much ownership he retains. Basically Woodpeckers took on their product line and does all of their manufacturing now at Woodpeckers HQ in Ohio. BSTW no longer manufacture in Oregon.