ShopSmith Order filling Shortcoming.. Again!

[W3DRM]

Does anyone know who the manufacturer is for the switch in 522384.

Anyone who might have one of these switches, I would appreciate a PM telling me what markings exist on that switch.

Dusty,

Rather PMing you I thought others might be interested in the answer to your question...

I removed my switch yesterday. It has the following markings on it:

On one side it has:

16A277VAC
1-1/2hp 125-250 VAC
CSA

On the other side it has:

20A 277 V.A.C.
1-1/2H.P. 125-250 V.A.C
McGILL

There is also a stamping:

9811-0001
MEXICO
J0449

So, I suspect it is made by McGill. I went to their website but found nothing that even remotely looks like the switch that is in the SS.

I also sent them an email but so far, no response.

BTW, my SS 510 has a serial number of 01-11-05.

Hope this helps...

[calver]

Ed,

Please don't cherry pick Woodburner's comments to create another reality.

Thanks,

Dave C.

[Ed in Tampa]

Ed,

Please don't cherry pick Woodburner's comments to create another reality.

Thanks,

Dave C.

Okay I give up!

It is okay to kick the dog when it is down as long as you say you hope it survives. Somehow people think saying, "I hope Shopsmith survives", blinds everyone to their negative comments about the company.

I'm creating another reality???

Shopsmith is in a struggle for survivial, we all know this, they have said it themselves. They have also said they are doing the best they can.
They also said they can't afford to keep every part in stock and they must either manufacture or order it as the orders come in. They have also explained that this may require some items being backordered, perhaps long enough to have a miminum order number reached or it practical to start a process to manufacture the item.

Now to come on the forum and to suggest Shopsmith is doing something wrong because they haven't told you where you can go to buy the switch is not reality it is total ...

Hey if Woodburner came here and said I need switch, I ordered one from Shopsmith but it is backordered can anyone tell me where I might find a replacement, that would not have been a problem. But instead what was said is Shopsmith is not stepping up, is not taking the lead, it further was implied they aren't being truthful and were engaged in some wrong doing.

Now please explain to me how I'm creating another reality I would like to understand.

[JPG]

Dave

Evidently you think I and perhaps others haven't treated Woodburner's comments correctly. Can you tell me why?

PERHAPS! The statement regarding SS 'telling me where I can get similar part is where YOU thought he was accusing SS of 'withholding information'.

I do NOT think he meant it that way! I do NOT see ANYTHING else to chastise you for your comments.

HOWEVER; I do not think(IMHO) that SS would be wise to do that without addressing the other issues he mentioned(warranties/damage/testing).

I honestly think SS IS in a catch 22. WE MAY find a FEW left over inventory out there to fix OUR problem(s), but SS needs a permanent solution. They need a (new) vendor they can depend on for YEARS to come. NOT an easy task nor a quick one to accomplish.

WOODBURNER: You CANNOT have it both ways! You lament(criticize) SS not giving you guidance for a substitute part, and also go on to state the problems/gotcha's YOU would encounter if seeking one on your own. They have the SAME issues you mentioned, BUT, on a far larger scale. Further they have to contend with potential grumbly customers of a litigational mindset who are of the opinion(self indulgent but erroneous) that SS should be their Parent! That is a reality Check!

[moose]

Some people need to go back and read entry 120 of this series again. It is what it is. Either deal with it in your mind or keep quiet. In the movie Bambi, Flower said; if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

Ashbury

[JPG]

[quote="ashbury"]Some people need to go back and read entry 120 of this series again. It is what it is. Either deal with it in your mind or keep quiet. In the movie Bambi, Flower said]
SOMEONE needs to go back and read WHAT he wrote. HE was lamenting the fact that Nicks new forum could become something like this one. He obviously does NOT like what goes on in this forum.

To each his own!

Methinks the purpose of 120 was NOT about Nick's new forum, but an opportunity to grumble about what he dislikes about THIS one!.

He IS correct in stating that Nick's site is about/for WOODWORKERS!!! It is NOT about hardware!

One great thing about THIS forum is that it is NOT restrictive except in a very few areas. The GOOD NATURED ribbing, jabbing, IS HEALTHY for us normal folks who CAN laugh at themselves and do NOT take themselves too seriously.

As far as communicating via e-mail, that is rather restrictive and does not share any knowledge/whatever over the membership. Nothing wrong with one on one, but far less effective in getting everyone to the same understanding(s).

He is partly right re accepting what is for what it is. "Partly" because if it is totally ignored it will never be changed. Grumbling is what makes the squeaky wheel noticed. This does NOT mean to go on and on just for the sake of going on and on with NO possibility of the folks with the oil cans being within hearing range. No one remembers the folks who 'left things as they are', but we DO remember those who DID something to change it!

P.S. To get this thread at least pointing back in the direction it was started; IMHO SS IS(as has been said many times already) doing what they can with what they have. They do not like having to do what has been typical recently. They WOULD do many things differently if WE were supporting them more than WE do.

[Ed in Tampa]

I honestly think SS IS in a catch 22. WE MAY find a FEW left over inventory out there to fix OUR problem(s), but SS needs a permanent solution. They need a (new) vendor they can depend on for YEARS to come. NOT an easy task nor a quick one to accomplish.

Jpg40504
I think that is the same catch most companies are facing today. The automakers are, the smaller manufactures are.
I don't know how is where you live but down here we have whole shopping centers vacant. There are housing developments that have 572 houses built with 372 standing empty. I went into Sears a the cashier told me I was the fifth customer since 2 Pm when he came on shift, it was about 8:30 at night.

The catch is people aren't buying! Business all business is faced with the same problem it is called cash flow. No manufacture is going to start a production run to produce 5 switches for any company. Now if Shopsmith comes up with enough orders and the money to pay for a production start up and run for say ten thousand switches I'm sure they will do it and Shopsmith will have all the switches they need.

Until then I think we in this country might have to start to learn some of the skills and trades long forgotten. When a part breaks we may need to fashion our own part or improvise and figure a way around the problem. I don't see this as creating a new reality I see this as grabbing the reins and taking back what made this country great, Good Old American Ingenuity!!

[JPG]

Jpg40504
I think that is the same catch most companies are facing today. The automakers are, the smaller manufactures are.
I don't know how is where you live but down here we have whole shopping centers vacant. There are housing developments that have 572 houses built with 372 standing empty. I went into Sears a the cashier told me I was the fifth customer since 2 Pm when he came on shift, it was about 8:30 at night.

The catch is people aren't buying! Business all business is faced with the same problem it is called cash flow. No manufacture is going to start a production run to produce 5 switches for any company. Now if Shopsmith comes up with enough orders and the money to pay for a production start up and run for say ten thousand switches I'm sure they will do it and Shopsmith will have all the switches they need.

Until then I think we in this country might have to start to learn some of the skills and trades long forgotten. When a part breaks we may need to fashion our own part or improvise and figure a way around the problem. I don't see this as creating a new reality I see this as grabbing the reins and taking back what made this country great, Good Old American Ingenuity!!

Not as bad here as you described, but it is murky. We could ALL take lessons from farmer francis in that he looks at what he has, determines what he can do with it to accomplish what he wants, and just goes ahead and does it. The trick is keeping our preconceived bias(s) out of the decision process. I believe the 'american ingenuity' came about because of our PAST rural history. When 'out on the farm' one does NOT go running to town looking for someone to tell you HOW to fix a problem or How to do something that needs to be done. You do what Farmer Francis does!

Oh! He ALSO thinks OUTSIDE of the BOX!:D

[calver]

Ed,

The new realaity is lean manufacturing where parts are made to order in a time frame that meets the customer needs. It has been going on at least the last 15 years in ths country.

Also the part of creating a reality I mentioned in an earlier post is interpreting the words in an email incorrectly. As a quality engineer that does root cause analysis I see quite frequently that prople jump to the wrong conclusions based on fragments of information.

A more constructive appraoch would be to help shopsmith come up with solutions to their back order problem. Perhaps they need to consult with some supply chain management types.

Also don't you think Ed ,it is not the best practice of offering sale items that they don't have avaiable to deliver.

SS has to embrace their customer base rather than withdraw if they are to still exist. It would not be a bad idea for them to twitter or blog about what is happening to inform of events. Working with several suppliers as a supplier quality engineer I want to know if they are having problems and work toward solutions rather than kill a project/product. They should try to reduce/mitigate the unpleaent surprises.
.
Ed , JPG, Dusty etc.you have made a lot of good contributions and also Woodburner has as well.

Peace,

Dave C.

[JPG]

Dusty,

Rather PMing you I thought others might be interested in the answer to your question...

I removed my switch yesterday. It has the following markings on it:

On one side it has:

16A277VAC
1-1/2hp 125-250 VAC
CSA

On the other side it has:

20A 277 V.A.C.
1-1/2H.P. 125-250 V.A.C
McGILL

There is also a stamping:

9811-0001
MEXICO
J0449

So, I suspect it is made by McGill. I went to their website but found nothing that even remotely looks like the switch that is in the SS.

I also sent them an email but so far, no response.

BTW, my SS 510 has a serial number of 01-11-05.

Hope this helps...

Got into my power station and pulled the switch. It is also a 'MCGILL'. The thing I noticed in their product listing was the overwhelming occurances of the phrase 'AVAILABLE WHILE SUPPLIES LAST'!. NOT a GOOD sign.

One thing I did notice about the switch is that the exterior portion(the part with the 'safety' key) was snapped onto what appears to be a typical more standard switch base. Methinks if one could obtain from them a different model which also uses the same standard switch base and assemble as appropriate.