In March we announced that we'd be replacing our Cocobolo knobs with DymondWood, an acrylic-infused and pressure-laminated plywood product that looks very much like Cocobolo, but has none of the drawbacks of rare rosewoods.
But it turns out that DymondWood is now rarer than Cocobolo. Sadly, the company that manufactured DymondWood completely burned to the ground a couple weeks ago. Rutland Plywood of Rutland Town, VT, was totally lost in a 5-alarm fire on August 21.
Right now we're not sure what we'll be replacing the DymondWood knobs with. With cocobolo now on the CITES list, we're not keen on replacing the knobs with anything in the Dalbergia family. And plain acrylics or plastics just don't cut the mustard for us. After true rosewood, and the excellent DymondWood, everything else seems like a downgrade. And to our knowledge, no one is making a DymondWood-like product.
Next week we'll be turning some samples in various woods (likely acrylic infused) to see what might fit. We'll be shipping Glide M leg vises and Tail Vises with what remaining DymondWood stock we have. We estimate we'll be out in about two months at best.
How much volume do you need. You could always use stabilized hardwoods. It would give you similar strength and stability.
ReplyDeleteWe're familiar with stabilized hardwoods. It's getting the right look and color that's the challenge.
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ReplyDeleteDepending on how specialized the hardware was they might be able to license the technology to another company while they rebuild? Agreeing on the contract alone would take more than a few weeks, though, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI vote for cherry. What about pear wood (steamed) or apple? Walnut is nice. Apricot for tools is nice, oiled up very dark. There is boxwood, wow! Not to mention hawthorn, rowen ( quite boring), enough choices up here north of the equator too.
Regards,
E.DB.
How about no nobs. It's a nice clean look like the Studley vise wheel. No holes to drill for the nobs. (Cheaper to make). Can grab it anywhere on the rim to adjust. It's a beautiful wheel all by itself. Just a thought.
ReplyDeletePatrick, That's an option we've considered (no idea if it will happen), but it would be alongside the handwheel with knobs, not a replacement.
DeleteThanks for responding. For wood suggestions: Tiger maple that has been dyed, so the grain really pops.
DeletePatrick
I see the comment 'plain acrylics and plastics just don't cut the mustard' but have you considered Bakelite? It has a "retro appeal" according to Wikipedia. I also note wood flour is one of the ingredients.
ReplyDeleteMaybe offer a novelty line for buyers to choose from?
ReplyDeleteBeer taps! The lower someone installs the vise, the longer the taps they can use!
Painted knobs in your favorite team's colors! (with a surcharge for certain other/rival team colors)
I'd suggest offering daggers instead of knobs, but afraid someone would sue you after mounting them on the wrong way and getting cut up... It would be safer to offer 3 skulls for the swashbuckling pirates among us instead. RRRRRrrrrrright?
Old mallet heads? All the same or in a variety of sizes and shapes? Claw hammers would not be recommended..
Simple brass handles styled like a ship's wheel? Gives you a two-tone vise and cost less than the ones you did entirely from brass.
Bobble heads of your favorite woodworking personalities?
DIY Knob kits for Phones? Let users expoy on their old iPhone 3, 4 and 5 right after they get the new 6? The aluminum cases of the iPhone or HTC One will hold up much better than the plastic cases of the Samsung Galaxy lineup...
DIY Knob kits for Baseballs? I could see the appeal of mounting baseballs for some (hocky pucks for those further up North).
Oh well, nothing I will get to pick from. Unfortunately I just started putting together my new Class vise this week. I went with it because I didn't like the knob sticking out the front. Too bad I didn't wait to order!
Good luck finding something new,
-Ray
Don't tempt us!
DeleteWant to talk about being tempted?
ReplyDeleteWhat if instead of just knobs, they were your tools? If the vise wheel had a slots with latches, we could slide our 3 favorite chisels into the vise... the tips would be safely protected inside the vise and the chisels would be very close by when needed! Just release the latch to slide a chisel out, use it, slide it back in and the latch would automatically reengage to hold it. For those people who care, now the vise "handles" would match their chisels... because they are their chisels!
Ok, a bit far fetched, but maybe you could get it ready for release next year, say by April 1? *chuckle*
-Ray
I have some dymondwood in my garage I'm looking to get rid of if your still looking l69oki@gmail.com ...
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