Thread: Woodpeckers Australian Equivalent

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They're good but in my opinion they're better at marketing. In the last couple of months they've clearly done a blitz on YouTube and Instagram, all of a sudden a ton of people I follow are using their tools in content 'organically'. Quite annoying really.

If I was in the US I might try a square of something but not worth paying the premium in Australia, plenty of alternatives available if you're just looking for measurement tools.

Yeah, I've been through that site. I was more thinking Australian brands. I imagine made in Australia is probably rare for these sorts of things.

I can't think of any Aus brands off the top of my head but they're probably out there at a premium price. You'll probably find more artisan style stuff like Vesper produces.

Personally I use iGaging for all my layout tools where I can. Very accurate, well made and don't break the bank.

I've got the iGaging angle cube for setting blades. I haven't tried any of the other products.

Your right about the marketing though. They've got me thinking they are the best tools and nothing else will do.

Hi Lewis,

I have Woodpecker try squares (small and large), their triangle squares (ditto), setup block set, router table, fence and micro-adjust.

The WP tools are well made, but so are many other brands. For me (as a boxmaker) I find WP try squares too thick and chunky. Probably good if you’re making furniture, though. Most often I use a good mitre square or a small Starrett adjustable square. I also like the squares from Japanesetools.com.au

My WP setup blocks get a lot of use setting up table router cuts and I like them a lot. But then I’m sure I’d like the Veritas set just as much. Or someone else’s.

Overall I think it’s a bit like cars or computers - the best value often isn’t in the newest or most expensive.


Brian

Colen Clinton’s squares are market comparable and represent excellent value I think. Remembering that they are recalibratable. I know mealworking engineers who are progressively changing from Moore and Wright, Starret, et al.

I have a philosophical problem with Woodpecker tools.

They're hell bent on making their "one time tools", and generating interest on this, and higher premiums because of an artificially induced scarcity.

For any newer woodworker entering the hobby, the list of past "one time tools" is staggeringly large, and actually contains things that could easily make a want/wish or purchase list - but again, due to this artificially induced scarcity, those who didn't get a chance way back when the tool was originally made available miss out potentially forever.

On that basis, whilst I recognise they have some incredibly innovative ideas and product, I personally refuse to spend a penny of my money with them, choosing rather to spend my money with retailers, designers and producers who care about turning out a quality product without articial boundaries or scarcity surrounding it.

I have a few but they are unique and I haven't seen an equivalent elsewhere, the large phenolic triangle was one which I got recently and I admit to buying their saddle squares. I won't buy into the measuring rules as they are not indented and as such dividers can't be used reliably with them as you can with any normal engineer's rule and if you did try then the markings would be worn off quickly. To me they are creating a tool looking for a solution in many instances and like all retail tool companies they are just trying to make a dollar. Lee Valley have some fairly dubious offerings at times also.

Woodpecker Products

Precision ~ yes
Expensive ~ yes
Quality ~ Top of the line

I have the six inch saddle square which is a superb tool and extremely handy. It works very well with a Pentel .5mm pencil.

I also have two of their router lifts. Both the old and new models. The old model is repeatable to a few thousandths of an inch and is great for using a router bit with dual profiles. Cranking is a bit tedious at 32 revolutions per inch. Identical movement up and down is repeatable. And yes, that degree of accuracy is necessary when doing rail and stiles. The clamp for the Porter Cable 7518 (I think the number is correct) is first rate and my motor has never moved within the clamp.

The new model is more designed for a production environment with quick up and down adjustments and a fine adjustment wheel. The motor clamp is, again, superb. I do almost everything on this router lift except rail and stiles.

As for accurate squares or tri-squares. You can find accuracy at the home center. Just use two different manufacturers and test the squares against each other. Without difficulty you'll be able to find accurate squares and avoid the ones that are just a smidgin off.

While Starrett is considered the ultimate in accuracy, I've found that the Rockler brand is as accurate as the Starrett. Besides price, the Rockler brand has sharper edges on the handle or the "T" vertical. A bit of fine wet or dry can be used to take the sharpness off of the edges.

Hi, we design and have made, here in Australia quality squares. Or also consider Clenton and Vesper for premium squares. Using local is ok, and sometimes cheaper with no international postage.

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

On that basis, whilst I recognise they have some incredibly innovative ideas and product, I personally refuse to spend a penny of my money with them, choosing rather to spend my money with retailers, designers and producers who care about turning out a quality product without articial boundaries or scarcity surrounding it.

Many of the Woodpecker "one time tools" are designed to do just one thing that a skilled craftsman has no trouble doing with his traditional tools, which can also do many other things. In short they are trying to "sell skill" to those who would rather buy a "fix" for a problem that does not really exist instead of learning some - usually very basic- skills.

When they have done a one time tool duplicating or even improving upon a traditional tool that has many uses sometimes I am tempted. This is harder to do now with the current exchange rates and postage than it was five years ago. Twice when I have bought from them I had issues with the product they delivered. Once was a straightedge and it took them three goes to get it right and another was a set of calipers and they had do send over another set because the first one had a manufacturing fault. To their credit they did rectify the problem each time and paid the postage to do so.

Originally Posted by doug3030

Many of the Woodpecker "one time tools" are designed to do just one thing that a skilled craftsman has no trouble doing with his traditional tools, which can also do many other things. In short they are trying to "sell skill" to those who would rather buy a "fix" for a problem that does not really exist instead of learning some - usually very basic- skills.

Doug,
Harsh but accurate. I know both Richard and Cathy Hummel, owners of Woodpeck. When there is a problem they will rectify the problem.

I believe that what you are describing is a symptom of Internet Broadband vs. dial up or DSL. Most of us here are accessing the Internet at 50 MBPS or so with a 100 MBS being throttled down to the 50. So there is always data waiting to be delivered.

Within the Internet community here the mentality is 'Tell me or show me in 30 seconds or I'm gone.' So while people want to know it doesn't mean that they want to LEARN. It is a very sad state of affairs. Your countrymen want to learn and become true craftsmen while my countrymen are saying to heck with the craft, just show me how to get past this sleeping policeman in the road to finish my project. Within six months they encounter the same problem and off to the YouTube show me.

The real issue becomes 'What happens when all the YouTube videos are gone."

A very scary thought indeed.

Originally Posted by rrich

Doug,
Harsh but accurate. I know both Richard and Cathy Hummel, owners of Woodpeck. When there is a problem they will rectify the problem.

Hi Rich,

I'm not sure if you mean I was harsh towards Woodpeckers, if so that was not my intention. They have identified that niche in the market for the "weekend warrior" who is happy to pay a premium price for "one skill in a box" so they are happy and so are their customers. That market is a reality of society and they service it well. Occasionally they produce something that looks good to me too so I benefit as well. We agree that they will fix problems and do that very well.