? Bob Beard Tools?

[Chef niloc]

Is there a way to get around the waiting list for his tools? I have been on his list for over a year now so I guess he's very back ordered in work load. Ways i have thought of.

I have herd that he does shows from time to time, is there one coming up? What are his offering at these shows?

Is there a store in his town that carries his tools or does he offer some for sale right out of his shop?

Anyone here friends with him and can put in a good word for me?

I want a few of his stamps but would also like a set of swivel knives. I would think he would make the knives in bunches and have some "extras"??

[Art]

Bob is a great guy and pretty much honors his waiting list, which is a little over a year, I think. Folks from all over the world want his tools and are in line for them. He does bring common tools like bevelers etc. to shows, and you can walk away with something useful at a show. Sometimes, if you take one of his classes he will have some tools with him. If you want Bob's quality and creativity, you will just have to wait in line or go to a show, or take a class. Next show is probably Wickenburg.

Art

Is there a way to get around the waiting list for his tools? I have been on his list for over a year now so I guess he's very back ordered in work load. Ways i have thought of.

I have herd that he does shows from time to time, is there one coming up? What are his offering at these shows?

Is there a store in his town that carries his tools or does he offer some for sale right out of his shop?

Anyone here friends with him and can put in a good word for me?

I want a few of his stamps but would also like a set of swivel knives. I would think he would make the knives in bunches and have some "extras"??

[Spinner]

Is there a way to get around the waiting list for his tools? I have been on his list for over a year now so I guess he's very back ordered in work load. Ways i have thought of.

I have herd that he does shows from time to time, is there one coming up? What are his offering at these shows?

Is there a store in his town that carries his tools or does he offer some for sale right out of his shop?

Anyone here friends with him and can put in a good word for me?

I want a few of his stamps but would also like a set of swivel knives. I would think he would make the knives in bunches and have some "extras"??

As Art mentioned, Bob does have a collection of tools at the shows & his classes. I was fortunate three years ago to take a class from him and was able to get this pictoral bevelers & a grass tool (all I could afford) and he had a number of other tools with him. I don't recall that he had his swivel knives with him though.

[joet]

Is there a way to get around the waiting list for his tools? I have been on his list for over a year now so I guess he's very back ordered in work load. Ways i have thought of.

I have herd that he does shows from time to time, is there one coming up? What are his offering at these shows?

Is there a store in his town that carries his tools or does he offer some for sale right out of his shop?

Anyone here friends with him and can put in a good word for me?

I want a few of his stamps but would also like a set of swivel knives. I would think he would make the knives in bunches and have some "extras"??

About three, or was it four years ago I asked Bob about his swivel knives. He told me at that time that he was no longer doing them as his source for the barrel was very ill and not able to supply them. Maybe things have changed since then and he's back to selling them. His tools are in great demand and to get near his booth at a show is sometimes hard to do. Patience is a must when ordering from him or even talking to him. His tools are the cadilac of tools and well worth the price and wait.

[Ferg]

I am very sure that Bob's tools are" top of the ridge". I think there are a number of folks who make fine tools also and we don't have to wait a year and probably no response.

If I ran our family business in this manner, there wouldn't be any business. If you cannot supply an item or items/tools in a timely manner then you should not advertise them.

I fully appreciate the fact he makes his tools individually one at a time. Don't mean to have a mean spirit here folks I just think waiting over a year for a leather tool from anyone is

totally lame.

ferg

About three, or was it four years ago I asked Bob about his swivel knives. He told me at that time that he was no longer doing them as his source for the barrel was very ill and not able to supply them. Maybe things have changed since then and he's back to selling them. His tools are in great demand and to get near his booth at a show is sometimes hard to do. Patience is a must when ordering from him or even talking to him. His tools are the cadilac of tools and well worth the price and wait.

[bruce johnson]

Bob mostly hand makes them, some use duplicating machinery. Getting a handmade stamp from any of them takes time, and it is usually about six months to a year for anyone I have dealt with (other than Barry's special baskets with personalized centers). I have some of Bob's stamps. I bought a couple he had in stock at a show. I also ordered some more of his regular stamps at another show and he told me it would be about a year. Bob was upfront with this. These were stamps that he made I liked a little better than other makers. Ones that he had a stock pattern stamp and knew exactly what they were to be. I got them within a few days of being a year. No BS, he told me a year, I agreed, and it took about a year.

[hidepounder]

I am very sure that Bob's tools are" top of the ridge". I think there are a number of folks who make fine tools also and we don't have to wait a year and probably no response.

If I ran our family business in this manner, there wouldn't be any business. If you cannot supply an item or items/tools in a timely manner then you should not advertise them.

I fully appreciate the fact he makes his tools individually one at a time. Don't mean to have a mean spirit here folks I just think waiting over a year for a leather tool from anyone is

totally lame.

ferg

Ferg I appreciate what you are saying but I have to disagree with your philosophy on this one. I admit I'm prejudiced here.....I like Bob's tools and we're friends. But based on your reasoning none of the saddle makers or craftsmen who have year or longer waiting list should be advertising their products. I know I would be in trouble if I had to produce custom orders in a matter of days or weeks. IMHO, if you make a product that the consumer is willing to wait a year for, there is nothing lame about that. Bob is very up front about his turn around time. If you order a Dosier knife you will probably wait a year to get it. Is that lame? The other tool makers who are selling tools are either mass producing them or they don't enjoy the demand for their tools that Bob does. He prefers to build each tool himself by hand....I just don't see what is lame about waiting for custom had made tools. Just my opinion from a different point of view........

Bobby

Edited November 12, 2011 by hidepounder

[Spinner]

Ferg I appreciate what you are saying but I have to disagree with your philosophy on this one. I admit I'm prejudiced here.....I like Bob's tools and we're friends. But based on your reasoning none of the saddle makers or craftsmen who have year or longer waiting list should be advertising their products. I know I would be in trouble if I had to produce custom orders in a matter of days or weeks. IMHO, if you make a product that the consumer is willing to wait a year for, there is nothing lame about that. Bob is very up front about his turn around time. If you order a Dosier knife you will probably wait a year to get it. Is that lame? The other tool makers who are selling tools are either mass producing them or they don't enjoy the demand for their tools that Bob does. He prefers to build each tool himself by hand....I just don't see what is lame about waiting for custom had made tools. Just my opinion from a different point of view........

Bobby

I have to agree with you Bobby, partially because I just received a tool I inquired about over a year ago. Peter Main makes an awesome modeling tool but only does limited production runs of them and has quite a bit of interest.

I checked in with him every 3-4 months to see how it was going but other than that I knew I'd be able to get one when my time came. I'm also 2 months into my wait for my custom maul and I'll wait another month if need be as I made some specific requests including sending my own piece of wood for the handle.

Being a gallery grade block of HF Amboyna Burl ($50 for a 2"x2"x5" piece of wood) I'm sure that'll be just a tad intimidating when the maker gets to that step.

Speaking of custom work and possible wait times, I need to touch base with a fellow about a pair of custom conchos...

[Chef niloc]

Thanks guys watch one of you is Paul?As for the weight I have waited up to 5 years for some custom knives to be made. I'm a sucker for top end tools. Best things in life one has weight for.

Ps I'd also like a Bill Buchman round/ head knife if any of you know some one who's willing to part with one? I'll pay top $$.

Colin

[Ferg]

Bobby,

I agree with you for the most part. I have no problem with someone that wishes to wait umpteen months for a tool if that is their prerogative. Stamping Tools are the only product I was referring to. Saddles and any of your product I would wait a long time to receive, that is another type of item altogether.

Back to our family business: I buy several hundred carbide router bits every year, the best money can buy, as in $37.90 each, wholesale. Granted, these are made by machine, I wait 24 hours for delivery. If I had to wait a year or more we would be out of business. In this instance we are cutting a very abrasive material, cheap bits simply won't work BUT! I am sure there are makers of stamping tools that visit this forum who make close to the same quality as Bob with a lot less waiting time. Knives is another story. I would wait a year for them but I seldom do any stamping with them.

Please understand, all of you, I am not degrading Bob Beard or his work. I am simply saying that I don't think you should be making tools you cannot ship in a reasonable time. Several months doesn't normally bother me with stamping tools but come on, over a year? Don't get it. That is just coming from an old man that has been in business for over 60 years.

BTW: My inventory of fine tools and power equipment exceeds $350,000 easily.

ferg

Ferg I appreciate what you are saying but I have to disagree with your philosophy on this one. I admit I'm prejudiced here.....I like Bob's tools and we're friends. But based on your reasoning none of the saddle makers or craftsmen who have year or longer waiting list should be advertising their products. I know I would be in trouble if I had to produce custom orders in a matter of days or weeks. IMHO, if you make a product that the consumer is willing to wait a year for, there is nothing lame about that. Bob is very up front about his turn around time. If you order a Dosier knife you will probably wait a year to get it. Is that lame? The other tool makers who are selling tools are either mass producing them or they don't enjoy the demand for their tools that Bob does. He prefers to build each tool himself by hand....I just don't see what is lame about waiting for custom had made tools. Just my opinion from a different point of view........

Bobby