Micro-Mark Sand-It

[RichardG]

I'm adding to my tools collection (hand tools only at the moment). Is this any good?

 

 

http://www.micromark.com/sand-it,9548.html

 

Thanks,

Richard.

 

[GLakie]

This is one of the tools that's on my list of tools to get, but I couldn't tell you much about it. I will say that based on things I've read about it here, it's well worth the money.

 

Cheers 

[Landlubber Mike]

I have the Northwest Short Line version - it's pretty good, and definitely is better than hand sanding.  I don't use it much though, as I find the Byrnes disc sander to be my go-to option.  Frankly, I can't see how I would ever be a decent modeler without the disc sander - if you have the money and space, I would highly recommend it.

[Jaxboat]

It has many uses. Worth the  money.

[RichardG]

Thanks guys - it's ordered.

 

Mike, both money and space are a problem. I'm keeping my projects small at the moment. I have a heated shed and about 5 grand in tools planned for when I retire .

 

Richard. 

[dave.west]

I am in a quandary about this sander. I am thinking of a disc sander, table model, or this hand sander. Thanks for your comments. Will make a decision soon. I really need help getting square during hand sanding.

[reklein]

Get the NWSL model from NWSL, Micro-Marks are Chinese copies of NWSL.

 

Bill

[kurtvd19]

I second Bill's recommendation to get the NWSL original version. 

Micro-Mark has a habit of buying from the name manufacturer to test the market and then they blatantly rip off the name brand - even down to the name of the rip off being very similar - in this case the NWSL's name is True-Sander.  Same goes for the NWSL's Chopper = MM Chop-it and NWSL's The Duplicator = MM Duplicate-it. 

Micro-Mark did the same thing with Badger Air Brushes - you will certainly never see an actual Badger Air Brush sold at MM again because of this type of practice.  In the case of the Badger Air Brush copies people are always bringing/sending the knock offs to Badger for repair.  Of course they can't fix them - they were garbage to start with and the real parts don't fit.

Kurt

[Nirvana]

I also second Bill, I have the sander and chopper II, great investments. This has been discussed before.

[Bob Cleek]

For everybody's information, from the NWSL website:

 

"NorthWest Short Line will be closing its doors August 30th, 2019. We will not accept any new orders after July 1st; we need the remaining 8 weeks to fill back orders. We hope that someone might pick up the line and continue, but to date that has not happened and so the shutdown schedule remains. Our sincere thanks to all our supporters and customers over the last 60 years!"

 

Sounds like the same old story we've been hearing about other specialist hobby on-line retailers: "We'd hoped somebody would want to continue the business, but no takers."

 

This seems to be a pattern. I wonder if the Chinese knock-offs are putting these smaller outfits out of business.

 

See: http://www.nwsl.com/

Edited July 28, 2019 by Bob Cleek

[mtaylor]

3 minutes ago, Bob Cleek said:

This seems to be a pattern. I wonder if the Chinese knock-offs are putting these smaller outfits out of business.

 

See: http://www.nwsl.com/

 

That is probably the reason.  

[Nirvana]

1 hour ago, Bob Cleek said:

For everybody's information, from the NWSL website:

 

"NorthWest Short Line will be closing its doors August 30th, 2019. We will not accept any new orders after July 1st; we need the remaining 8 weeks to fill back orders. We hope that someone might pick up the line and continue, but to date that has not happened and so the shutdown schedule remains. Our sincere thanks to all our supporters and customers over the last 60 years!"

 

Sounds like the same old story we've been hearing about other specialist hobby on-line retailers: "We'd hoped somebody would want to continue the business, but no takers."

 

This seems to be a pattern. I wonder if the Chinese knock-offs are putting these smaller outfits out of business.

 

See: http://www.nwsl.com/

"I wonder if the Chinese knock-offs are putting these smaller outfits out of business "

 

Well, that is spot on of what's going on.

Companies like Micro-mark are doing this to the market, promoting Chinese knock-offs.

[Roger Pellett]

As the old slogan goes, “It pays to advertise” and this is one thing that Micro Mark Does in spades.  It seems like the only organizations that out advertise Micro Mark are the Cruise Lines.  I must get at least half a dozen Micro Mark catalogs a year, some on the heels of the previous one for no apparent reason.

 

On the other hand I don’t know who NorthWest Shortline is and therefore, have never bought anything from them.

 

A business needs to grow to a certain “critical mass” to be able to advertise extensively which rules out small shops.  On the other hand, the MicroMark catalog for many is a one stop shop, and the Chinese issue is overlooked because buyers are used to things coming from China.  In the case of propriety items like the Chopper, If it is in the MicroMark Catalog many would not recognize it as a knockoff and look for it elsewhere.

 

Micro Marks stuff is not inexpensive.  They just have reached a Volume that provides the revenue to fund their ad campaign.

 

Roger

 

[Canute]

Northwest Shortline catered to the model railroaders quite a bit. They turned out better wheels, replacement gears, drive train components  and their tool line. They were primarily a machine tool line, but did have this hobby side. The owners had been in the market to sell out and retire. So far only their machine tool line has sold. The hobby side is still available, for a price. MicroMark got into the NWSL action with their cutting/sanding tools.

[Bob Cleek]

15 hours ago, Roger Pellett said:

 On the other hand, the MicroMark catalog for many is a one stop shop, and the Chinese issue is overlooked because buyers are used to things coming from China.  In the case of propriety items like the Chopper, If it is in the MicroMark Catalog many would not recognize it as a knockoff and look for it elsewhere.

It seems inconsistent to me to boycott all mention of pirated plans and kits, a practice I strongly support, yet give a pass to outfits like MicroMark who do the same with tools and materials. We have seen a number of long-established manufacturers of modeling tools and ship model kits go out of business of late. Obviously, competition from unfair trade practices and widespread marketing of "knock-offs" and counterfeit products is a significant factor. That is to the disadvantage of modeling consumers who can no longer source the quality tools, kits, and materials we need to pursue our craft. How long can the small "mom and pop" specialty manufacturers like Syren Ship Models, Vanda-Lay Industries, and Bynes Model Machines survive the same pressure of government-subsidized competition producing cheesy copies of their products mass-marketed by highly capitalized vendors? (e.g. see: https://www.aliexpress.com/popular/mini-table-saws.html ) 

 

Maybe it's time to give MicroMark some of the "Keeping it Real" treatment!

Edited July 29, 2019 by Bob Cleek

[Bob Cleek]

4 hours ago, Y.T. said:

This particular model of a table saw from the pictures looks as solid quality tool. As such it is very moderately priced. Are you saying it is a ripoff copy of some US manufacturer?

 

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32845187139.html?spm=2114.search0302.3.1.3b0a7a60HbInnX&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0%2Csearchweb201602_0_10084_10083_10130_10547_10887_10307_321_453_10548_322_454_10618_536_10065_317_537_10068_319_10059_10103_10884_10696%2Csearchweb201603_0%2CppcSwitch_0&algo_pvid=2bc22576-0ae3-4535-8eac-2100acb6b701&algo_expid=2bc22576-0ae3-4535-8eac-2100acb6b701-0

Not particularly. The Aliexpress page was cited simply as an example of the number of "mini-table saws" recently hitting the market. All one needs to do to do is note the 12V "wall wort" power cord to know this saw almost certainly lacks the power of a serious saw. The price is another give-away. How can anybody build a quality saw for that kind of money unless they're government-subsidized to knock out the competition or it's real crap.  Producing highly accurate tools is not a cheap endeavor. Try as the best manufacturers might, it costs a lot of money to build tools to .001 tolerances reliably. 

 

In recent decades, the machine tool industry has been flooded with cheap Asian goods. It looks like the recognized name-brand stuff we are used to and it claims to be the same, but you put a DTI on it and you're lucky if you get one that just happens to be within +/- .002 with the average runout being closer to +/- .005. That's the difference between the $5 collet and the $25 collet. When the $25 collet guys are run out of business, where are we going to find collets without runout?

[Roger Pellett]

Bob,

 

It was not my intention to give MicroMark a pass.  Actually since I have belonged to the Model Ship forum I have bought a lot less from them as I am now aware of other sources for the same stuff.  I have never purchased any of their proprietary tools as they appeared to be something that I could rig up myself.

 

I was pointing out that they have been able to use a well financed marketing campaign to offset other shortcomings, a common business practice.

 

We are fortunate here in Duluth to still have a well stocked old fashioned hobby shop that I would like to support.  The proprietor is, however, such a @#$& that I hate going into the place.

 

Roger