Woodpeckers Radius Set. Nope.

Posted by 141drew Posted onFeb 10, 2017 at 11:28 AM and filed under Reviews & Features
Updated onUpdated on May 20, 2021 at 5:54 PM


I would assume most of you that do any woodworking at all are familiar with Woodpeckers. They are pretty widely known as suppliers to some of the best measuring and squaring instruments around. Recently, they released a new cornering jig and it’s a pretty smart design with seemingly unlimited value… that is, until you see the price – $280!

Unfortunately, I happen to need such a jig for a project I’m working on… But I just couldn’t get myself to spend $300 on red anodized aluminum. So, I searched Google and stumbled upon a really young guy that does some interesting (read: nerdy) projects from his basement. One of these projects was the fabrication of a cornering jig.

Dude just saved me like $275, so he gets a feature!


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dnschmidt

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Ryan, Woodhaven has made these for years out of Polyethylene. Work great and are a lot cheaper than that.
 
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Ryan

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dnschmidt said:
Ryan, Woodhaven has made these for years out of Polyethylene. Work great and are a lot cheaper than that.
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That doesn't surprise me. I don't have any woodworking experience really... But I pretty much made mine for free and the experience making them will go to good use. Plus, I think the kid had a feature coming. :)
 
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Ryan

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SteveL

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Good tip! I was even more impressed with all of the Festool equipment for a kid his age. Originally thought that he was either sponsored or had wealthy parents but was impressed when I read that he actually saved up his own $$ and bought it all. Smart choice of tools for such a small shop.
 
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Ryan

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SteveL said:
Good tip! I was even more impressed with all of the Festool equipment for a kid his age. Originally thought that he was either sponsored or had wealthy parents but was impressed when I read that he actually saved up his own $$ and bought it all. Smart choice of tools for such a small shop.
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I'm in the middle of a Festool investment myself. It's painful even for me being it's tax deductible and I can create content with it (work), but with Festool stuff it's somehow comfortable?

Anyway, much more on this in the coming weeks...
 
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Empty Pockets

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Years ago, while running a formica shop, we built the radius templates we needed by hand. I imagine that when you figure the labor costs involved, we could have bought several woodpecker sets, let alone these others.
 
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gahrajmahal

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Ryan, thanks for the video! Michael Shen has an excellent grasp for the whole process. His techniques show wisdom beyond his years and it looks like he is using the power of the internet to monetize his passion for problem solving and woodworking. I feel much better knowing that there are folks like him to carry on the craftsmanship highlighted by so many of the posts and members of the GJ and HAMB. I say get him to sign in, become a member and share his projects with all of us.
 
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LXCam

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We'll certainly the kids skills are beyond his years but I'm more impressed with all his tools, where can I get silent power equipment like that. Everything I got is noisy as all get out. :p
 
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6PTsocket

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Ryan said:
I would assume most of you that do any woodworking at all are familiar with Woodpeckers. They are pretty widely known as suppliers to some of the best measuring and squaring instruments around. Recently, they released a new cornering jig and it's a ...


To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.
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There are several low price sets on the market Rockler has a 3 piece set that use all four corners of 3 squares for 12 radii. There is an edge piece that cleverly snaps on any of the 12 edges. It is $39. Infinity makes a clear plastic inexpensive set. That takes nothing away from that young man who showed real ingenuity.
 
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Cameronl

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"they released a insert new gizmo here and it’s a pretty smart design with seemingly unlimited value… that is, until you see the price!"

That pretty much sums up anything by Woodpeckers.
 
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Knyte Tyne

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Have you watched this kids other videos? HOLY COW!!!! I'm in absolute awe at some of his ideas and methodology of execution... Look right tool for the job and Festool provides... but still, respect to this kid for sure... I've been schooled!
 
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6PTsocket

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Knyte Tyne said:
Have you watched this kids other videos? HOLY COW!!!! I'm in absolute awe at some of his ideas and methodology of execution... Look right tool for the job and Festool provides... but still, respect to this kid for sure... I've been schooled!
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For the cost of one Festool you could have a whole pile of store bought radius guides. Unless you earn your living woodworking or have a lot of disposable income, the cost is hard to justify. I think that in some cases, sky high prices add to the "prestige". Rover is at the bottom of the JD Powers reliability list but it is very expensive so people want to drive one.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
 
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gungatim

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cool. I didn't even know those existed...always just used the disc sander to get sloppy corners rounded, LOL...
 
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