Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan
03-07-2006, 8:39 AM
Well, I needed to get my Bandsaw blade sharpened on Big Blue.
These things cost $100 a pop, so if I can get it sharpened, hey I'm ahead.
I contacted Hitachi (the maker of Big Blue, a B601 saw) and they suggested Tenryu, a fairly famous blade maker here in Japan.
I went to their website, and they had an "English" contact number, and e-mail address.
I contacted Mr. Kazuya Ehara, who contacted me fairly soon (he was out of the country on a business trip). He was helpful and quickly pointed me to their Tokyo offices, and a Mr. Hashimoto. Before I could send an e-mail to Mr. Hashimoto, the guy calls me on the phone, and introduces himself, and he speaks English!! :D
He tells me that the closest sharpening shop is down in Yokahama, a fair bit from here, but that is what FedEx is for!
He tells me to call Mr. Kobayashi, the owner of the sharpening shop and talk to him.
Now my lovely wife calls Mr. Kobayashi, as he does not speak English, and for a first impression, I would rather have her do the Japanese thing ;).
Not only was the guy VERY helpful, but he said he was waiting for my call, as Mr. Hashimoto had called ahead and told them we would be calling.
I have one blade that is just dull, I have another that I kind of.....well, I busted a few teeth off of it..... :eek:
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/bandsaw/busted.jpg
........Counts as a major "Whoops" in my books :o
Mr. Kobayashi said he would look at it and see if it can be fixed, he says they fix them all the time, so as long as it cost less than the price of a new one.......... :)
They can also do my planer knives and, the most important, he said my Dado set, no problem at all!! Until now the two places I've found have looked a the Dado set and said "...ah....what is it...?"
I'll be boxing up the dull and busted bandsaw blades and sending them tomorrow, I sure hope this works out, it would be nice to not have to worry about getting things sharpened!
Up to now, I'm sure impressed with the Tenryu guys, they are top drawer in my books. Just to be clear, the blades are not Tenryu blades, I've never bought anything from them, and the sharpening service is not there shop, just one they recommend.
Not that is what I call service!!
Just wanted to share a "Good" report!!
Cheers!
These things cost $100 a pop, so if I can get it sharpened, hey I'm ahead.
I contacted Hitachi (the maker of Big Blue, a B601 saw) and they suggested Tenryu, a fairly famous blade maker here in Japan.
I went to their website, and they had an "English" contact number, and e-mail address.
I contacted Mr. Kazuya Ehara, who contacted me fairly soon (he was out of the country on a business trip). He was helpful and quickly pointed me to their Tokyo offices, and a Mr. Hashimoto. Before I could send an e-mail to Mr. Hashimoto, the guy calls me on the phone, and introduces himself, and he speaks English!! :D
He tells me that the closest sharpening shop is down in Yokahama, a fair bit from here, but that is what FedEx is for!
He tells me to call Mr. Kobayashi, the owner of the sharpening shop and talk to him.
Now my lovely wife calls Mr. Kobayashi, as he does not speak English, and for a first impression, I would rather have her do the Japanese thing ;).
Not only was the guy VERY helpful, but he said he was waiting for my call, as Mr. Hashimoto had called ahead and told them we would be calling.
I have one blade that is just dull, I have another that I kind of.....well, I busted a few teeth off of it..... :eek:
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/bandsaw/busted.jpg
........Counts as a major "Whoops" in my books :o
Mr. Kobayashi said he would look at it and see if it can be fixed, he says they fix them all the time, so as long as it cost less than the price of a new one.......... :)
They can also do my planer knives and, the most important, he said my Dado set, no problem at all!! Until now the two places I've found have looked a the Dado set and said "...ah....what is it...?"
I'll be boxing up the dull and busted bandsaw blades and sending them tomorrow, I sure hope this works out, it would be nice to not have to worry about getting things sharpened!
Up to now, I'm sure impressed with the Tenryu guys, they are top drawer in my books. Just to be clear, the blades are not Tenryu blades, I've never bought anything from them, and the sharpening service is not there shop, just one they recommend.
Not that is what I call service!!
Just wanted to share a "Good" report!!
Cheers!