Ultimation tools

[kgstakes]

Well Santa brought me a couple tools I been wanting for Christmas this year.  Few minutes in the woodshop and made some bases for them.
 

Been a great Christmas and yes, Mrs clause received some very nice things too.  

It works guys,  make her happy, you’ll be happy!!

 

 Keep up the great work you all do and I’ll see you next year!!

 

 Merry Christmas everyone!!

 

 

Edited December 26, 2023 by kgstakes

[RossR]

Give us an update after you get a chance to use then.  I am very interested in these also.  

[kgstakes]

Just doing a few cuts and this is the result.  The wood is 1/4x1/4 poplar so I had to cut a piece a little long then trim to get it square.  The cut is fantastic !!  A lot better than my chopper.  They are built like a tank,  I would guess 1/8” think steel not aluminum.  The I wold say all is made from steel not aluminum.

 

 I’ll try basswood in a few minutes and post pictures maybe a video

 

 

 

[kgstakes]

I tried my best at a video.  If you’re looking for a solidly built tool these are.  Cuts are great but on thicker material you need to cut long then trim to get square cut.  Course they say that in the instructions.

 

 Overall,  great tools.  Mine will get allot of use in my miniature wood shop. 

 

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by kgstakes

[kgstakes]

I never mentioned that I also have a motorized disc sander from Jarmac I bought some 35-40 years ago.  It's a good sander, but the speed of the motor is just too fast to make fine sanding adjustments.   I've tried slowing it down with a foot rheostat, and the only thing it did was yes slow the motor down but I lost all the torque and the sander would stall as soon as I tried to sand.  I was reading another post a few minutes ago regarding the Ultimation sander.  Some were saying they would rather have a powered sander.  Yeah, but what I've found with mine (Jarmac) is that I couldn't just take a thousandth off or fine tune a cut.  And with hardwood, I would burn the end grain of the wood.

 

I still like my little (4") disc sander (Jarmac) but for the things I'm working on now, I find myself using a little home made sanding block more than the powered disc sander.  I believe the Ultimation sander will give me the best of both worlds, sand square and just a little bit off, and won't burn the wood.  Plus, I don't have to listen to the high pitch wine of the motor and no sanding dust everywhere.

 

Just got the sander and slicer from Ultimation, but I see me using both a lot more now that I have more control over the work piece than I did with a powered unit.

 

 

[Bob Cleek]

Byrnes Model Machines recently came out with an adjustable speed 4" disk sander with variable speed settings between 200 and 2,000 RPM and it also features reversible  disk rotation. Byrnes Model Machines - Variable Speed Disc Sander  It is otherwise similar to the earlier Byrnes 5" disk sander. Getting rave reviews. It's not shipping at the moment due to Jim Byrnes' sad passing, but I expect they will be up and running in due course. The price isn't listed on this unit at the moment, but, as one might expect, it's not inexpensive. That said, all of the Model Machines products are monuments to the principle that "you get what you pay for." They are the finest of their kind to be had anywhere. I'm not comparing the Byrnes disk sander to the Ultimation sander, of course. The Ultimation products are less expensive, being hand-powered, but still have earned an excellent reputation for quality. 

[Roger Pellett]

I have a 4” Jarmac sander too and have encountered the same problems mentioned above plus both the “cross cut guide” and the sanding table are flimsy and require constant adjustment, but it works and I use it.   The Jarmac tools (there were Jarmac mini table saws too) were standard equipment in model shops in the 1970’s when large engineering firms made models of industrial installations.  These 3-D models made from project drawings were effective at checking for interferences between piping, equipment, and building structure.  3-D CAD modeling eliminated the need for these physical models.

 

There was nothing wrong with the Jarmac tools in their day.  Rather, the new tools are an indication of how things can improve overtime if someone has a goal to offer an improved product.  

 

Roger

Edited December 27, 2023 by Roger Pellett

[kgstakes]

Please listen to video .......... I apologize for making anyone feel that a certain machine is no good.   Please accept my apologizes.  Hope it loads for all of you.

 

 

 

 

 

[kgstakes]

Here's a video just showing how accurate the machines are.  Please I know there are other machines out there that may be just as good.  I just didn't want a powered machine.  And I liked the Ultimation tools.  Thank you for your interest in anything I do, it is really appreciated.  I really enjoy this forum and don't want to offend anyone.  Yeah, we all have differences of opinion which is good and I'm really happy we all can talk about all kinds of things.  Thanks again for allowing me to share my hobby with all of you.

 

 

 

[Bob Cleek]

Thanks for the video! These certainly look like quality tools. They aren't inexpensive, but money spent on a good tool is money well spent. I doubt that there is anything better than these on the market today that isn't electrically powered, and the powered tools are often overkill for the needs of many modelers. 

[kgstakes]

That was one of the reasons I wanted them.  Quality and as far as the slicer there is nothing out there that has the heft of a quality tool that this one does.  I’ve cut so far up to 1/4” thick poplar with it.   Cuts are excellent and yeah they’re expensive but like they say you get what you pay for.

 

 The sander I’m finding already that I go to it more than my little sanding block for touch ups.  It’s just really handy and everything stays square!!

Another word about expensive tools, for the most part and I’ll stand by this in my wood shop as well, buy the best you can afford.  In time you will be able to buy more accurate tools and better tools.   But as far as power tools,  you really don’t need them.  Many many great modelers (past and present) probably don’t have any power tools.  They are the true craftsman of their trade as far as I’m concerned.  Nothing beats doing things by hand and we all need to (world) just need to slow down just a bit and get your favorite beverage, put some easy listening music on and just slow down and build something by hand.  I’ll guarantee you, you will be proud of what you’ve done and it will be time well spent.

 

 May even find you like it, like many of us and it’s our escape from all the busyness is our lives.

 

Edited December 27, 2023 by kgstakes

[Ryland Craze]

3 hours ago, kgstakes said:

May even find you like it, like many of us and it’s our escape from all the busyness is our lives.

 

Could not agree more.

[JeffT]

I have the ultimation sander and cutter and really like them both.

[Tossedman]

1 hour ago, JeffT said:

I have the ultimation sander and cutter and really like them both.

As do I. Great tools.

[kgstakes]

You know we all been talking about the power tools that we like and I got to thinking.  Honestly, when I first got into the hobby of building plastic kits, model railroading, really the only power tool I had was a dremel.  The other tools were all hand tools.  x-acto knife, scale rule, some clothes pins for clamps, some rubber bands for clamping, toothpicks for a glue applicator.  Ya'll get the picture.

 

So, for anyone just starting out in the hobby, don't get all hung up on you HAVE to have all these power tools we're all talking about.  You can build some great looking models with just hand tools and a inexpensive dremel for cutting.  That's really all you need.  Then as time goes by and you want to buy some power tools, then go ahead.  But don't let all this talk about power tools keep you from getting into the hobby of building all kinds of models.

 

It's a great stress reliever and you may even find things that you thought you could never do really really enjoyable.

 

So give this hobby a try...  Ships, boats, cars, trucks, railroad, monsters, the list goes on and on.

 

Thanks again to everyone here, it's been a pleasure looking at all the fine builds you all do.  I keep striving to be a great of a modeler as you all are!!

[Wawona59]

On 12/27/2023 at 2:26 PM, kgstakes said:

That was one of the reasons I wanted them.  Quality and as far as the slicer there is nothing out there that has the heft of a quality tool that this one does.  I’ve cut so far up to 1/4” thick poplar with it.   Cuts are excellent and yeah they’re expensive but like they say you get what you pay for.

 

 The sander I’m finding already that I go to it more than my little sanding block for touch ups.  It’s just really handy and everything stays square!!

Another word about expensive tools, for the most part and I’ll stand by this in my wood shop as well, buy the best you can afford.  In time you will be able to buy more accurate tools and better tools.   But as far as power tools,  you really don’t need them.  Many many great modelers (past and present) probably don’t have any power tools.  They are the true craftsman of their trade as far as I’m concerned.  Nothing beats doing things by hand and we all need to (world) just need to slow down just a bit and get your favorite beverage, put some easy listening music on and just slow down and build something by hand.  I’ll guarantee you, you will be proud of what you’ve done and it will be time well spent.

 

 May even find you like it, like many of us and it’s our escape from all the busyness is our lives.

 

Well said kgstakes!  Hurray for using (quality) hand tools!  About 99% of my modeling work is done with hand tools only.  My "go-to" hand tools include a Lie Neilson block plane, a L.S. Starrett 3" adjustable square and 6" steel rule.  I also use the Ultimatiion slicer, sander and repeater.  I can vouch for their quality.  I wouldn't be surprised if some of the power tool I rarely use will be going bye-bye.

 

Wooden ship and aircraft modeling is mental therapy for me.  I'm recently retired and frequently give my models away to a happy kid.  Nothing de-stresses me more than kicking back with my friends J.S. Bach, A. Vivaldi and W.A. Mozart with my favorite beverage making wood shavings. 

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to make wood strips and inlay using just hand tools.  I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point.

 

I agree with you kgstakes; "Nothing beats doing things by hand and slowing down.

 

 

[Jaager]

23 minutes ago, Wawona59 said:

I'm still trying to figure out how to make wood strips and inlay using just hand tools.  I'm sure I'll figure it out at some point.

Might this tool help with getting a uniform thickness?

https://bridgecitytools.com/products/hp-8-mini-block-plane

[Wawona59]

58 minutes ago, Jaager said:

Might this tool help with getting a uniform thickness?

https://bridgecitytools.com/products/hp-8-mini-block-plane

Jaeger - Thank you so much for this tip.  This looks like a much better way to go compared to the way I've been doing it by hand.  It's probably more precise too.  I'll definitely check this out.  Price doesn't seem to be too outrageous compared to the use I will get from using it. 

[kgstakes]

18 hours ago, Jaager said:

Might this tool help with getting a uniform thickness?

https://bridgecitytools.com/products/hp-8-mini-block-plane

That site has some great tools!!  That one is going in my tool favorites on my computer for sure.

 

 Thanks for sharing!!