Veritas medium router plane question

[Matt Evans]

I seem to have misplaced the screw shown in the pictures. Does anyone know what size screw that is? (Can't seem to find my thread gauge set, or I'd just measure it)

[Chet R Parks]

Matt, That tapped hole is a 10-32 and is for attaching the fence to the router plane. If you have the optional fence feature the screw will be in the guide rod for attaching the fence. See here javascript:OpenInstructions('60576');
Chet

[Matt Evans]

Chet, thanks.

I do have the fence, just missing the screw. (Rattled out on the way to or from an installation job I think)

[Prashun Patel]

Contact Lee Valley. I'm not saying this is standard practice for them, but when I tried to order a lost set-screw for a the low angle jack, they sent me a new one.

Also, FWIW, this is the LARGE router plane, right?

[Matt Evans]

Crud. I guess it is the “large” router plane. My apologies.

Ive had good experiences with lee valley. I have no doubt they’d send me a new screw, I just hate putting a company in that position when it’s entirely my fault that the piece is missing. As a small manufacturer myself I routinely eat shipping here and there trying to provide good customer service. I don’t mind doing it at all, but at the end of the year you end up adding it all up. It ends up being a larger number than most people think it might be.

[Jim Koepke]

Since it is a standard thread, you could likely find a replacement in your local hardware store.

In my shop there are various containers of fasteners of all kinds just in case the need pops up when it is inconvenient to drive into town.

jtk

[Matt Evans]

Jim,

That’s the plan. I likely have an Allen head 10-32 machine screw that’ll work, if not that’s what Fastenal exists for.

[lowell holmes]

I would contact Lee Valley. They are responsive.

[Jim Koepke]

Some folks are hesitant about asking for customer service's help when they are the one responsible for the problem.

Our favorite vendors are responsive to us because of their good character. We should also display good character and not take advantage of their's.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

Some folks are hesitant about asking for customer service's help when they are the one responsible for the problem.

Our favorite vendors are responsive to us because of their good character. We should also display good character and not take advantage of their's.

jtk

I have found Lee Valley to be responsive. Robin Lee contacted me one time when I had a question.

[David Bassett]

I have found Lee Valley to be responsive. Robin Lee contacted me one time when I had a question.

I think there are two discussions intertwined here. (1) What would Lee Valley actually do? And, (2) How do I recover from my mistake without asking Lee Valley to do something they shouldn't have to do?

I'm not sure which the OP intended.

I expect, based on previous behavior, LV would send a replacement. (It even occurs to me sending the occasional replacement part might be cheaper for LV than stocking and selling replacement parts would be.) On the other hand, I'd really expect that only if the part was originally missing and would want to buy the replacement if I lost or broke it.

[Peter Christensen]

I would call LV and tell them what you need and if it bothers you insist on paying for the part and shipping. The other thing to keep in mind is the reason they help you out with the freebie is that it will make you the customer feel good about them and build brand loyalty. The repeat business from you and the recommendations from you more than make up the cost of the small part.

[lowell holmes]

I have had Robin Lee contact me on his own when I was having an issue. The issue was mine, not Lee Valley's, however he did offer help.

[Jim Koepke]

I have had Robin Lee contact me on his own when I was having an issue. The issue was mine, not Lee Valley's, however he did offer help.

Robin Lee has been more than generous with me even though my purchases from Lee Valley have been rather anemic. That is what drives my decision to only ask for help from him or his company if there isn't another option.

Imagine the cost to a company of sending out a small item like a fastener. It isn't just the cost of the fastener. There are going to be more than a few people involved from the original contact to the point of the item leaving the shipping department. Even if it is only a few dollars, why should someone who has earned my respect be asked to pay more to correct my mistake than it would cost me to correct with a visit to my local hardware store on the next trip in to town?

In my case it wouldn't be a trip to town, it would be a trip to one of many boxes full of fasteners of various types and sizes.

jtk

[Chet R Parks]

It'a a standard 10-32, 1/2 inch long, pan head, machine screw. I'll bet every hardware store in the country has it in stock. It would take less time to go get one then to ...................whatever.

[Jim Koepke]

It'a a standard 10-32, 1/2 inch long, pan head, machine screw. I'll bet every hardware store in the country has it in stock. It would take less time to go get one then to ...................whatever.

I could find one as quick as it takes me to walk out to my shop. It might need to be cut, so add about 30 seconds.

jtk

[Matt Evans]

I think there are two discussions intertwined here. (1) What would Lee Valley actually do? And, (2) How do I recover from my mistake without asking Lee Valley to do something they shouldn't have to do?

I'm not sure which the OP intended.

I expect, based on previous behavior, LV would send a replacement. (It even occurs to me sending the occasional replacement part might be cheaper for LV than stocking and selling replacement parts would be.) On the other hand, I'd really expect that only if the part was originally missing and would want to buy the replacement if I lost or broke it.

Yep, I think you probably have it there. The second is what was intended. And, as I stated earlier, Lee Valley/Veritas should not have to eat the price of the screw + shipping, even if it is in the interest of having customer service that is above and beyond. As a very small tool manufacturer myself, I've added up all the shipping and extra or replacement parts that I've shipped people free of charge over the course of a year . I'm a tiny one man operation. 2 years ago the number for me was nearly 5% of that part of my business. I would imagine Lee valleys percentage may be a bit lower, but still is a likely a hefty number that could go to better things.

As someone who sees both sides of the transaction, yes, its nice when a company goes above and beyond, however, that makes them less profitable (or they have to maintain higher prices to maintain profit) Do you want to eat into the profitability of a company you like because YOU made a mistake? I certainly wouldn't.

A company that prides them selves on customer service will have no compunction about shipping a small part like that, charge or no charge. When it's a proprietary or custom part for a tool, yes,I'll pick up the phone or send an email, and make sure I can at least cover the cost of the part plus shipping, or if they just send it to me, I'll typically make a another purchase from that company that same day. For a stock common item like a screw, yeah, the hardware store is gonna get my $.26.

Thats 10 minutes less the customer service rep has to waste on me, 10 minutes less that the shipping dept has to deal with me, $2.50-6.00 on shipping plus the .26 part they don't have to eat. Assuming that the shipping and customer service folks are making a mid to low wage, thats $2.50 for 10 minutes, each. . .my calling them and getting a tiny little part I could likely find anywhere is costing them a minimum of $7.76

[Bill Houghton]

Getting back to the original question: on a new product like that, you're likely to find standard screws, either U.S. standard or metric - none of those strange No. 9 machine screws or suchlike, as can be found on Stanley planes. Taking the tool to the hardware store and wandering through the screws-and-bolts aisle to find a match. It's not hard to know when you've got a match - you can feel the screw's fit, or lack of fit, as you thread it in. Unless you've got a stash of machine screws, in which case you can do the wandering in your shop.

[lowell holmes]

I have reconsidered, it's easy.

Take the part with you to Lowe's or Home Depot and find a bolt or screw that matches the thread. I have done it once or twice.:)