Someone mentioned Bridge City. I’ve never bought anything from them but the stuff looks very well made, and well thought out.
Any experiences?
Denny
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Replies
John Economaki is a former woodworker turned tool maker for the last 25 years. What else do you need to know????
Well, how does he feel about shellac?
B,
If you search the Taunton site you'll find 3 tool tests covering Bridge City items. Popular woodworking also has an article or two, including (apparently) a test of one of their planes in the April 2008 issue. (I say "apparently" as despite taking out a subscription, payment for which was acknowledged on 23/2/08, there is still no PopWW magazine in my letter box, a common complaint with British subscribers at the moment, it seems).
Even Wikipedia has an entry for Bridge City!
I never used a BC tool myself. They look exquisite but how much would one be paying purely for the finish, even if they do work very well, as most reviews seem to say they do? They are gems to look at, certainly; I imagine the quality of the engineering is to match......? Some of those tests do have high praise for the tool tested whilst others say words to the effect of: other less expensive tools function just as well or even a tad better.
That multi-angle plane looks fascinating but I wouldn't want to risk the dosh unless I could find 3 good independent reviews of it.
If you get one, do please give us a review. :-)
Lataxe
Don't feel left out about Popular Woodworking. I subscribed at the same time and still have not received anything.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Regarding your Popular Woodworking subscription -- If you contact the managing editor, I'm quite sure she'll mail one to you right away ([email protected]).
Don't count on me getting one too soon. What I do find interesting about them are some extremely specific tools designed to attack a very specific challenge. They have definitely placed some thought into their tools.
I guess I'm wondering if the people who buy these things actually use them on a daily basis, or do they place them in curio cabinets?
Denny, the Wanton Tooler
Edited 4/23/2008 1:22 pm ET by blewcrowe
One advantage is that they make the Lie-Nielsen stuff look inexpensive by comparison…
LOL I like that comparison a lot, makes me feel less guilty every time one of those plain cardboard boxes from LN comes in to my house.troy
"One advantage is that they make the Lie-Nielsen stuff look inexpensive by comparison…"
I'm guessing that's partially why Lie Nielson invites him to the Lie Nielson Tool Events. Heck, it convinced me the LN's were a bargain.
This little 2x2" saddle square is very useful, and quite inexpensive. Highly recommended.
View Image
Regards from Perth
Derek
Yes, that bugger does look handy.
I tried his nifty little molding plane at a woodworking show and it was pretty neat and worked well. I would think that sharpening the cutters might be a challenge though. The tool itself was beautifully machined almost like a very high end firearm.
Troy
That's a good analogy.
Blewcrowe,
My buddy bought a Bridge City commemorative edition shoulder plane at a WW show in the SF Bay Area. Spent $650, he did. The BC brass shoulder plane is wonderfully contoured with plenty of finger grips, a joy to hold and use. The Winchester rifle style lever that locks down the iron will keep men occupied for hours - unlock, lock, repeat. I have the LN large shoulder plane, and comparatively, it's just not Angelina Jolie sexy, as is the Bridge City plane.
I can't afford either the BC tool or Angelina, so moot point, guess I'm stuck with my Jessica Alba's (LNs). The BC and LN both cut extraordinary shavings, and so could others planes, I'm sure.
Rent Tomb Raider and spend the money on other things.
Cheers,
Seth
I'm not that hot on Angelina Jolie. But would you say this plane is as sexy as Cheryl Burke?
Blewcrowe,Agreed, sir! Happy to accommodate."I have the LN large shoulder plane, and comparatively, it's not Cheryl Burke sexy, as is the Bridge City plane."Cheers,Seth
Then, you wouldn't happen to know where I could order a Cheryl Burke, would you?
Blewcrowe,I looked on ABC network's website on the Shop link, alas, Cheryl Burke was not available.Cheers,Seth
Dang. I really wanted one of them.
Check this out from Popular Woodworking:
http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/First+Look+The+Bridge+City+Jointmaker+Pro.aspx
Just showed up in my email.
-nazard
Forgive the paraphrasing, but there's a story about Tage Frid (somewhere in FWW, I think, as a eulogy to the man) where Frid baked the author's entire metaphysical being at Cone 10 by claiming his (the author's) project was the most complicated way of holding a cabinet off the floor. The moral of the story seemed to orbit around Planet Simplicity, part of the Reality System, located in the When You Waste My Time You're Wasting My Life And I Never Get That Back galaxy.Please tell me this is John Economaki's version of Lee Valley's always funny April Fool's jokes. If not, I've apparently found my limit on appreciating a really good thought just for it's own sake. I now completely understand Tage Frid's dual personality as both a patient teacher and a pottery kiln.
H,
He he, it is a kontraption ain't it - rather like one o' them mysterious alien gubbins in a Jack Vance SF story - it loks as though it does the business but "the business" is beyond human comprehension.
Still, it makes a good sofa-read.
Lataxe, SF fan.
Lataxe,I might buy a Bridge City tool when it itself can shop for the lumber, bring it home, and dispatch it into a colonial style spice box. I've not read him, I only presume that Jack Vance's alien technology will have defeated humanity when such a tool exists, making him insufferably correct?Cheers,Seth
Seth,
That Jack Vance is the most human-savvy writer I ever read, and I read a lot of authors, including many who claim the status "anthropologist"; "sociologist" and even "philosopher".
Mr Vance is now near 90 and spent one of those adventurous C20th lives that are now rare. He was a merchant seaman during WWII and various other real things, which seems to be the source from which he derives his dry, witty and very astute observations of human character, as expressed in clarified form via his SF writings.
Try "Emphyrio" as a great example (currently in print, I think). The alins and their machines are merely foils agin' which various human traits are deeply explored. In facr, many of the novels lack aliens and machines altogether. It's more like Joseph Conrad in Space, with added wit.
Lataxe, Vance-fan.
Lataxe,Thank you much for the author recommendation, I look forward to Mr. Vance's missives. It's been a long time since I read selfishly, usually it's about dry IT training manuals, business/sports journals, and the occasional sawdust mag.Cheers,Seth
Vance's prose always reminded me of Wodehouse - very distinctive.
I ordered my PW subscription at the same time (February)- came in no problem, just got the latest yesterday. Strange.
What were we talking about? Woodworking?
russs
I already saw it. Ha. A thousand bucks for a hand-held saw. But still it looks quiet fascinating. I tried to learn additional information on it at Bridge City's site, but it's not mentioned.
"But still it looks quiet fascinating. "
I would say that confoculation there would be a boon to anyone unable to make up and down or reciprocating movements with the arm or hand.....
Just a passing thought.Philip Marcou
Don't worry, Phil. I'm not gonna run out and buy a truckload of this stuff. It just looks pretty in the pictures, so I was curious.
Denny,
I've only had one experience with BC.
I have a 24" panel gauge from them. Was a gift, three years after they opened. Elegant and accurate but much fluff. Rosewood and brass. Great melding and accurate construction but the brass rider on the working end was so sharp and unfinished that I ended up with a 4 inch laceration down my fore arm. (was not using it to mark my arm) Scratched and ruined panels many times while scribing. Thought it was my technique. Now that I radiused the sharp edges and corners it's fine.
The tool left me with the opinion of someone trying to make marry elegance and the industrial stamping of a production engineer together in one product. To me, BC concentrated 85% on the product and left the last 15% on the table with flash and gimmick marketing. They used to spend a fortune on Perfect bound 5 color mailers. To me, the product lacked the final "sweetness" of some other manufacturers like LN.
John
That must've been a while back, John?
I think it was about 7 or 8 years ago. I think...
Johnedit: It seems like it was about 3 years after they first came to my notice. I also have brass turning green and un-cleanable. Looks good in the tool cabinet though.
Edited 4/24/2008 3:09 pm by boilerbay
I bought an AS-24 adjustable square about 25 years ago because it was beautiful and because it was precision. However the two halves of the top are off about 0.030”, one is a bit higher than the other. It is not much on a square this big and it probably makes no difference but it still bothers me a bit. I tried to contact them but never had any luck.
Tom,
I'm pretty sure they guarantee their tools...they've fixed a couple tools for me even though I bought them used.
Neil
Neil:
I bought several BC marking tools many years ago, when they had a lifetime no-questions asked guarantee. The company that made them no longer exists. Several years ago, the assets of BC were bought out by a new partnership. Consequently the warranty is very different, and not nearly as good.
Having said that, a guy dropped my bench level and smashed the vials. I claimed under the old warranty and was told it wasn't valid -- and yet without my even calling to complain, Economaki made good and sent me a new one anyway.
Joe
Thanks Joe,
I was unaware of that. I did buy a founder's membership when I thought it would be cheaper than a repair bill for a tool I bought on ebay..with the membership the repair was $5..a few months later I bought a centering jig that had spent about 15 yrs in the hawaiin island of Oahu apparently unused. When I got it it was corroded and wouldn't work..my attempts at repair were wholly unsuccessful...they repaired it and cleaned it up for five bucks.. works great.
Neil
Neil:
Could be the Founders Club offers a special warranty. My level had been a Commerative tool, for the Founders Club, bught new from them by me. My membership has long since lapsed, though. Whatever the case, they made good without my having to complain, so what more could I ask?
Joe
Thanks for the comment. I did call. A nice lady answered on the second ring. (pretty impressive.) Told her about the problem and she said to send it in. No promises but she was helpful and friendly and told me about a money saving option. Much better so far than I remember last time.
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Tom <!----><!---->
So you've tried nothing since, right?
Yep, until a couple hours ago. Called and a nice lady answered on the second ring. (pretty impressive.) Told her about the problem and she said to send it in. No promises but she was helpful and friendly and told me about a money saving option. Much better so far than I remember last time.
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Tom <!----><!---->
Beautiful (well, most of the tools), extremely well made and pretty expensive.. I use all the one's I own..don't know why one would buy them and then not use them but apparently alot of people do as they're available on ebay in "never used" condition...I 'd highly recommend them if they're within your budget
Just read Adam C's quote about BC tools: they're like bacon, you can only have them if you're divorced..
(don't know why my keyboard is slanting the letters)
Neil
Don't worry, Neil. They consider me permanently slanted.
The slanted letters come from a mis-stroke on the keyboard. If you hit "Control + I" it will italicize everything thereafter. :) Use the same combination of key strokes to resume to normal.
Bruce
"A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan
Edited 4/24/2008 1:37 pm ET by Wingdoctor
So that's how you get italics! Never knew that. Thanks Wingdoctor!
Neil
I bought a number of BC tools years ago. I have to admit I am disappointed in them over the long haul. I had one that was an adjustable angle device that had a detent for 90* that was off by at least 5*. I returned it for a refund. I have a number of squares, their 24" rules, and the marking tool. I had tried for a long time to buy a replacement circular knife for the marking tool and they never had it stock. Finally just gave up. Many of the tools I have have developed a "corrosion" of the brass near the epoxy wood stuff. I'm not sure what gives with that. So I wouldn't compare them to either LN or LV in terms of quality. One would hope that the very high priced tools are of better quality but I certainly wouldn't take that bet again.
AEW:
Mine, too, get corrosion near the wood/metal junction, but it is not hard to polish away. Replacement parts are another matter. It appears that they don't keep much of anyting on hand for tools that are not in current production runs.
Joe
That would make you wonder why the premium price.
Hi Denny,
My wife bought me the AS-9 adjustable try square for Christmas about 12 years ago. Some how it got misplaced but after a recent move I found it.
I went to start using it and discovered that the outside edge of the "body" (as opposed to the blade) was so miss machined it wouldn't stand up on it's own.
So I called Bridge City. After I explained I had never used it, when it was purchased, the problem, etc. their response was it was out of warranty (duh, I figured that) and what I should do would be to send it to them along with a check for $60 and they would repair it. But the repair could take up to 6 months.
Now, that's standing behind your product.
I ended up taking it to a local machine shop where the owner very graciously jigged it up and milled it flat and square, for free. Now it's accurate and I use it every day in my cabinet shop.
Paul
Paul, that's not real encouraging to hear.
Except for a few used ones that I picked up for a song, I haven't bought any BC tools since the mid '90s and so have no opinion on the newer offerings. However, the warranty issue keeps coming up. I am not sure, but it appears that IF you buy the $45 membership in their tool club, you get the old warranty -- they will fix it, whatever for a small fee. If you don't, repairs can be expensive, or if beyond repair, they give you a relatively small credit towards a new tool. This is a big change from the original BC Tools warranty - which was that they would fix it for $5 no matter the cause of the problem. They even used to run an ad with a picture of a cat in it, and say that that cat had urinated on some tool or other and yet they had cheerfully repaired it.Remember that the old BC Tools no longer exists, and the new one does not recognize the old one's warranties. I just inquired about some parts for a BC compass -- I can get them for $10, but forget the old warranty -- and I was a member of the tool club back when I bought the compass (1993). I haven't had quality problems with my BC layout tools (I assume the brass tarnishing is normal and just polish it). However, there are some unfortunate = design features on some tools. For example, the compass for which I need the replacement parts has no milled stops or detents for the screw fittings that hold the points and/or pencil. Instead, you just have to tighten them as hard as possible - one smooth brass surface against another -- using smallish knurled thumb screws. If you then bump the points, it all comes loose. Joe
"They even used to run an ad with a picture of a cat in it, and say that that cat had urinated on some tool or other and yet they had cheerfully repaired it."
I would cheerfully repair the cat , myself.Philip Marcou
Cats are pretty selective where they pee...while dogs typically follow precedents...
Best wishes,
Metod
If you just look at your tools Bridge City tools are nice, but if you want to use your tools pick another brand.
John
In some ways, they sort of look like pieces that one would store away, as sort of a collector's item. They certainly haven't received all accolades here, that's for sure.
Thanks for your opinion.
Denny
Ya I got one yrs. ago and I love it .It came in a box that said what the inside and outside angle where ( plus or minus).It a small try square and I would recamened one to any one who wants thing to be exact.
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