Sawdust session 2-6 DVDs cancelled

[paul heller]

I just got a call that my order for the sawdust session DVDs was cancelled!!!! Boo! I seem to recall Nick posting that the delay was his fault. Now the entire project has been cancelled. What a shame.

This actually annoys me.

Paul

[Nick]

The circumstances surrounding the Sawdust Session DVDs are complex. When Shopsmith cancelled my contract in September 2008, they owed me a sum of money. Bob and I agreed Shopsmith would pay this money when I finished the DVDs. The earlier Sawdust Sessions were filmed with sub-standard equipment and needed to be reproduced. At the time I left Shopsmith, Drew and I had re-filmed Sessions 1, 3, and 4 and I estimated there was at least three months steady work to be done to complete all six DVDs. I didn’t have enough financial resources to last those three months, nor did I have the money to pay Drew for the time he would have to put in. Consequently, I had to seek other work and produce the DVDs as time allowed. Unfortunately time hasn’t allowed much and in the last 10 months I’ve only been able to complete one of the DVDs. Anyone scrambling for a job in this economy can appreciate just how much effort it takes to scratch together a living and how little spare time is left over. Nonetheless, I had left the studio set up in the hopes that I could get a few bucks ahead, complete the filming, and begin the illustration, writing, editing, etc.. Over the months since September, Shopsmith has pulled their tools from the studio as they had opportunities to sell used equipment. I don’t blame them for that, but it meant that I would have to bring in my own tools to reproduce the Sawdust Sessions. When Shopsmith, Inc. folded and became RLF Shop, I thought it prudent to remove my own equipment (shop furniture, hand tools, lighting, sound and studio electronics) and dismantled the rest of the studio. After all, I have no agreement with RLF Shop and since Shopsmith, Inc. no longer exists and there is no one who is obligated to pay me should I ever finish the DVDs. I sincerely doubt that Bob would do that; he’s always treated me square. But the long and short of it is this: (1) I don’t have the time or the finances to finish the DVDs and (2) RLF Shop may not be able to pay me immediately even if I did. The Sawdust Sessions will never be big sellers for them. I understand survival (having gotten so good at it over the last 10 months) and I understand that if the Shopsmith tool line is going to survive, RLF Shop needs to invest their money in products that promise a better return than the DVDs. I’m not happy; neither is Bob, but these complex and unfortunate circumstances require us to retire both the debt and the obligation at this time.

With all good wishes,

[paul heller]

Wow. Thank you for the explanation Nick. If you ever do have a chance to produce such material I will be the first to order it. Good luck to you! I appreciate your time.

Paul

[fjimp]

Nick,

Great explanation which clearly illustrates you are a class act. I too would be amongst the first customers if ever you publish the Sawdust Sessions. fjimp

[kd6vpe]

Shoot,
I understand Nick. I have not gotten a call from Shopsmith yet. Maybe they will send an email. I have been waiting along time for these. Maybe they will give a discount for us that were true to the project and placed the orders to help keep the program alive. Nick if you do it on your own I will be there. I will now go and join your web site. I was really wanting to get the one on the marketry you did that was very interesting to me.

[dlbristol]

Nick, You are indeed a class guy. In todays world it is pretty much expected that you trash the other guy in these situations. It probably does no good, but it seems to be common. Thanks for all you have done.