Ken Garlock
06-09-2006, 7:51 PM
Back in mid May I decided to purchase a tennoning jig for my table saw. I did some searching, and decided that the General Interational 50-050 was a sound buy. I ordered it from the Woodsmith store, and it arrived in excellent shape around the end of the month.
Ah Ha, a new toy. I unpacked it and as I assembled it I converted it to a left tilt blade configuration. All was looking prettey good. The 25# of cast iron looked like it would work as advertised. After all, a tennoning jig is not 'rocket science.' Then I tried to adjust the backer plate to a 45 deg. angle; bingo, a problem.
The configuration of the screw-in handles are such that the backer plate casting hits the top of the handle at about 42 deg, hence not allowing a full 45 deg slope. I thought that this is not a problem, just call the General Int. Customer Service to help me through this problem.
I sent a detailed Email to the C/S group and promptly got a reply telling me to call a gentleman that would fix my problem. Good, so far. I called the 1-800 number and got an automated voice in French, then switching to English telling me to press 9 for English. OK, after all they are located in Quebec. I dialed the extension given me, and after many rings a lady answered the phone. I asked for the recommended gentleman, and was told that he was busy just then, but to call back after their 3PM break, this was about 2:45. Fine, I called back and after some fussing around finally contacted the person. He told me he hadn't heard of the problem I was having and that he would get a jig out of inventory and look at it. I asked if he would call me back the next day, and he said yes. This all took place on May 31.
After waiting until this Wednesday for the "next day" call (let's call it 8 days) I called again. I contacted the gent, and he fumbled a little and said he still have my problem on his desk. Again he said he would get right on it, and call me back right away. I asked if he had my phone number, he said yes. After about another hour plus, I got an Email asking for my phone number. Well, as of today at 6PM CDT, I have not heard from this customer service rep and General Int.
As of now, I have bought 2 tools from General Int., the first and the last. I will fix it myself by obtaining a shorter replacement handle.
Ah Ha, a new toy. I unpacked it and as I assembled it I converted it to a left tilt blade configuration. All was looking prettey good. The 25# of cast iron looked like it would work as advertised. After all, a tennoning jig is not 'rocket science.' Then I tried to adjust the backer plate to a 45 deg. angle; bingo, a problem.
The configuration of the screw-in handles are such that the backer plate casting hits the top of the handle at about 42 deg, hence not allowing a full 45 deg slope. I thought that this is not a problem, just call the General Int. Customer Service to help me through this problem.
I sent a detailed Email to the C/S group and promptly got a reply telling me to call a gentleman that would fix my problem. Good, so far. I called the 1-800 number and got an automated voice in French, then switching to English telling me to press 9 for English. OK, after all they are located in Quebec. I dialed the extension given me, and after many rings a lady answered the phone. I asked for the recommended gentleman, and was told that he was busy just then, but to call back after their 3PM break, this was about 2:45. Fine, I called back and after some fussing around finally contacted the person. He told me he hadn't heard of the problem I was having and that he would get a jig out of inventory and look at it. I asked if he would call me back the next day, and he said yes. This all took place on May 31.
After waiting until this Wednesday for the "next day" call (let's call it 8 days) I called again. I contacted the gent, and he fumbled a little and said he still have my problem on his desk. Again he said he would get right on it, and call me back right away. I asked if he had my phone number, he said yes. After about another hour plus, I got an Email asking for my phone number. Well, as of today at 6PM CDT, I have not heard from this customer service rep and General Int.
As of now, I have bought 2 tools from General Int., the first and the last. I will fix it myself by obtaining a shorter replacement handle.