Thread: Looking to buy Parf Guide System

Buying from Axminster is very simple. They use Borderfree to handle their international orders, so provided your order total (including shipping) is less than $1000, the amount you pay at checkout is the amount you pay in total. As noted above, there will be no additional duties or taxes.

Go over $1000 and you will be in a world of pain when the goods land on our fair shores.

At $365 direct, I don't think the savings are really worth it in this case (although my Axminster orders often arrive before local orders do, so that's worth considering! They're also likely to have stock before they send kits out to international suppliers, which was the case when I bought my mark II shortly after it came out. The also have excellent customer service).

I think you really need to decide what you want to use the resultant hole pattern for. If all you want is a convenient set of holes for clamping/holding/resting against, then there are much cheaper, quicker and easier ways - like this: YouTube

If, however, you want a perfectly square set of bench dog holes that you can reference off to cut, mark or whatever else you need to do squarely, then it is fantastic. The whole system is designed to lay out a perfectly square pattern, and then to bore perfectly perpendicular, perfectly round, perfectly accurate holes, and you need every component of the system to achieve this. It is laborious and time consuming though, and you can still mess up!

I checked the bit with my digital callipers - 19.98mm, which is exactly what I measure my UJK parf dogs diameter as. I have found that boring MDF results in a slightly tighter hole - presumably because of contraction/expansion of the material. They end up a 10th or two smaller, which can make the bench dog fit extremely tight, making them difficult to extract at times.

As to what you do with it once you've made a bench top, I've built a full size Paulk workbench with mine, a couple of mobile workstations, and currently a 4m long bench, with more to come. I'm getting my money's worth!

Peter Parfitt has made a video of a method to make a quick super-accurate cutting table from any old piece of wood in the back yard - YouTube - so there are continued uses for the kit.

OS sellers who have significant sales in AU have to collect GST on all sales to AU, irrespective of value. That's probably what axminster are doing. For the eBay scenario, they're deemed the "seller of record" and so are centrally collecting the GST on OS purchases.

The old way of collecting, with items over $1000 being hit at the import point, will still continue. So for example you buy a CNC over that value direct from the vendor not via eBay and direct import it, you'd pay GST on arrival.

The new way is why you can't buy off Amazon US any longer; they kicked up a stink but the GOV decided to make them responsible, so they said not on our platform... eBay caved and did it.

Originally Posted by aarggh

I've lightly machined forstner bits in the past by just running them in the drill press and gently touching them with a sharpening stone, despite what some people say, carbide sharpens very easily with a stone or grinder wheel.

I have also bought a few TCT forstners from carbi-tool a couple weeks back, and the edges were the best I've ever seen, and it did measure bang on. They're also way cheaper than the ones in the other hardware stores.

5 Piece Kit (TCT Metric) - Carbitool

EXCELLENT value. Im going to grab one (well, put it on The List)

Originally Posted by woodPixel

5 Piece Kit (TCT Metric) - Carbitool

EXCELLENT value. Im going to grab one (well, put it on The List)

I know this is slightly off-topic, I'm keen to buy local wherever feasible, but the quality has to stack up. I wasn't aware that Carbitool did Forstner bits - I had been eyeing off this set: FAMAG Bormax3 TCT Forstner Bits | FINE TOOLS - does anyone know how the Carbitool stuff stands up over the long term in our hardwoods?

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

I know this is slightly off-topic, I'm keen to buy local wherever feasible, but the quality has to stack up. I wasn't aware that Carbitool did Forstner bits - I had been eyeing off this set: FAMAG Bormax3 TCT Forstner Bits | FINE TOOLS - does anyone know how the Carbitool stuff stands up over the long term in our hardwoods?

I reckon I was buying Carbitool router bits about 35 or more years ago when they were one of the very suppliers around, and as such cost a small fortune, I'm yet to sharpen one, and they have all been very heavily used.

Their quality for TCT cutters is superb, it's what they have been doing for decades.

The forstner bits I bought, (and I'll getting a lot more, shipping is free over $90) cut the best I have ever seen, and hands down beat my HSS set.

cheers, Ian

Onya Mick. Maybe you could sell shares in it. Depending how close you are to me, I'd buy a share. Defray your cost if you could get 3 or 4 others. Just a thought.

Originally Posted by slickmick77

So I purchased my parf guide from Carbatec this afternoon AND it was the last one in store. By the time I opened it thou it was passed 5pm and I noticed the drill bit was missing... $&@#������.. Oh well. Tomorrow's another day. But damn when I opened that box I swear I almost went blind. It was like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.������

Wait till you buy a Festool Domino! ;-)

Originally Posted by Midnight Man

I know this is slightly off-topic, I'm keen to buy local wherever feasible, but the quality has to stack up. I wasn't aware that Carbitool did Forstner bits - I had been eyeing off this set: FAMAG Bormax3 TCT Forstner Bits | FINE TOOLS - does anyone know how the Carbitool stuff stands up over the long term in our hardwoods?

Have a look at dubbeldwoodtools online shops. They sell FAMAG gear. I'm not affiliated. They are my local woodworking shop/school. Good guys. Shop local as they say. I haven't used the forstner bits, but I have purchased a couple of the FAMAG brad point bits for my ironbark bench build. They are fantastic.
Ok just looked at them and they are not TCT. So maybe not as good.

Originally Posted by barrysumpter

I was thinking about buying one of the Mk II.
Building one of the latest Paulk Work Benches 1220 x 2440 table with it.
Then selling on.
I'm in Glen Iris.

Hi mate i'm also looking for one so id be keen to take it off your hands if old mate doesn't. Cheers

Originally Posted by slickmick77

So I purchased my parf guide from Carbatec this afternoon AND it was the last one in store. By the time I opened it thou it was passed 5pm and I noticed the drill bit was missing... $&@#������.. Oh well. Tomorrow's another day. But damn when I opened that box I swear I almost went blind. It was like the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.������

From Carbatec Melbourne by any chance? I just popped down to buy one, funny there was one right there behind the counter (assuming your return?). Asked the staff member to check that it wasn’t missing parts - he assured me it was a complete set. Paid for it and just about to walk out the door when another staff member advised that it was missing parts.... Almost always disappointed when I visit Carabatec!

To the original poster, I’m also happy to buy one and sell it on, or hire it out, or buy yours when you’re done? There seems to be enough people in here wanting one.

My number is 0477 201 019, feel free to get in touch.


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The Mk2 is a better group buy proposition as it overcomes the deficiencies of the MK1. The MK1 could be compromised by sloppy drilling of the 3mm holes through the Parf sticks & this is why I would prefer to keep mine pristine. Honestly, if 10 people bought into a MK2, it could be a lifetime proposition at $40 per head. The accuracy is impressive!

Originally Posted by Repete

The Mk2 is a better group buy proposition as it overcomes the deficiencies of the MK1. The MK1 could be compromised by sloppy drilling of the 3mm holes through the Parf sticks & this is why I would prefer to keep mine pristine. Honestly, if 10 people bought into a MK2, it could be a lifetime proposition at $40 per head. The accuracy is impressive!

100% agreed.

I lent mine to a couple of people. It came back once with a couple of sloppy holes. Not Happy Jan.

MK2 fixes this.

Originally Posted by woodPixel

100% agreed.

I lent mine to a couple of people. It came back once with a couple of sloppy holes. Not Happy Jan.

MK2 fixes this.

Not necessarily, inventing a more idiot proof tool usually results in a better idiot! ;-)

Originally Posted by aarggh

Not necessarily, inventing a more idiot proof tool usually results in a better idiot! ;-)

I would be the worlds best tool tester then

I am a much better idiot than your average idiot!

The obvious points of issue with Version 1 I shared with Mr Parf on youtube and a few emails right after receiving and using it. These we fixed in version 2. Its about as good as its going to get now.

The main point was simply care when drilling. I treat my gear very well. I maintain it plus study how its used, plus try to use it well. I can't stand how some people use their gear, it annoys me.

On Version 1 it is simply a matter of being aware of where the holes are, taking care not to damage the ruler, plus taking care not to overuse any one particular hole.

Version 2 looks like a champion bit of gear.