Incra finally arrived - and an appeal.

I'd do it, but I'm up in Canada. Just as a data point, Canada Post says that it should be possible to ship it air for somewhat less than the cost of the item (as long as the packaging is small), and ground is about half as much.

Chris

Surely you can get one within the UK from somewhere?

What's so special about it? What's it look like?

A 22 mm wrench? Send me a picture (or an link to a photo) of what you're after and I'll see how quickly I can get one on the way.

On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 23:19:50 +0000, Morris Dovey wrote (in article ):

OK, that's extremely decent of you. Thank you very much (and to the others in the thread, too - much appreciated)

Here's the kind of thing - it's basically for changing router bits from above the router table without all the cussing and weeping that this normally entails.

BUT seem to be permanently out of stock...

Apparently this is imported by Rutlands (U.K.) but they source from the above, so also permanently out of stock and they retail it at around 40 USD, which is not particularly cheap either.

There doesn't seem to be anything available over here. There are cranked ring spanners and there are open ended podgers, for example, but they are very thick ships-boiler type things.

-----------------------------------------------

THIS, listed at 21.03 mm is, I think, OK - it's marked as suitable for "Fein." The Fein 1800 is ANAD identical to my Trend T9s.

Hit/Fein/Triton3-1/4 Wrench/21.03mm 3/4" Item Number: WR002 Unit Price: $14.90 In Stock

You may have better options available locally. I don't know - I'm geographically challenged. :-)

Either way, we're talking about ounces rather than pounds, and I don't see an international order requiring much more "handling" or other "service" to justify around 2000% increase over the domestic shipping rate. It seems more a statement of "Yeah, we'll ship international but we really can't be arsed so instead of looking at what this might actually cost, we'll quote you a stupid minimum price so you don't put us to the trouble." :-p

Your help is much appreciated. Thanks again.

In my experience, wrenches for routers are often fairly thin to fit the shaft space between the carbide and the bottom of the router. To make sure you get a wrench that will work for you, I'd measure the maximum thickness the wrench can be as well as giving the 22mm gap.

so I can re-mail when it arrives. (Reply to sender works - and my e-mail address is splattered all over my web site.)

Sommerfield Tools is also in Iowa, so this shouldn't take too long.

On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:30:44 +0000, snipped-for-privacy@no.com wrote (in article ):

Yeah - that's why I didn't go for a "podger" spanner, which is the only open-ended cranked wrench I've been able to find over here.

I was contemplating bending a "plumber's spanner" which is a thin sheet steel thing designed to handle compression joints, but that'd be as much hassle and still a compromise.

The one's I'm after are designed (!!) for the job, so I'm fairly confident It'll be fine, The T9 has a base plate opening you could stick your head in and look around in while wearing a sombrero, so no worries about side clearance

On Fri, 7 Nov 2008 10:50:01 +0000, Morris Dovey wrote (in article ):

Grateful thanks.

You are an angel. May you be blessed with many sons and healthy camels.

I've e-mailed you from my secret identity, (Ivan Bradley) Oops...

I've just realized I hadn't configured mail on this news client, so sent from other machine two feet away, so if I've dyslexixed your address (it's 3 am and the head bones connected to the brain bone... with cheese) and nothing arrives, yell loudly.

Anyway, snail tags are in the mail.

Again, my gratitude.

More grovelling formal closure and salutations (sorry, it's a British thing . :-) )

I was looking on Ebay earlier, and some stuff is exorbitant to send to uk and some is very reasonable (dial calipers around 8 usd shipping) so I suspect a lot of this problem is down to retailers doing NO research and just getting a throwaway price from their domestic couriers who don't really want to bitty international business so only give out priority express prices. I'd consider all this to equate with a lot of missed opportunities on sales. I just don't understand it. There IS business to be done, US to UK but it's so difficult to do, from this end. unless moving industrial quantities of stuff.

Amazon seemed to have it sussed, with their partnership dealer program. I often buy books, DVDs etc in from the USA. A book costs £2.75 to ship, a DVD £1.24 and I usually get it within a few days. Two days, occasionally and once I ordered stuff on Sunday and had it the following day. So- if I can get a coffee-table book, weighing about 4 pounds, sent to me for about 5 an'ahalf bucks, WHY am I being quoted 80 for a 4 ounce wrench.... ?????

When I last sent something to the States, the same package, quoted for between £45 and £65 for all manner of expedited, 2-day, next day, prioritized (standard) handling, cost under £10 when sent at small packet rates.. The same plane, same delivery time but no _guarantee_ of speed - and it's not the service at the top of the list. Surface would have been cheaper still. Oh yes.. apart from the very top-priced super-charter options, the "guaranteed" expedited delivery is not _actually_ guaranteed at all - it's just a target. In other words, the price difference is down to the stickers the Post Office puts on your packages, which all travel in the same bag. The probability of faster delivery of the higher-priced service is probably higher if the service is swamped, (Christmas post, for example) but realistically, it's usually just electing to hand over more cash for the same service.

Bah! Humbug!!

Must sleep. Night, all.

Thanks - but two sons were sufficient, and camels are best in a stew over rice. I'm already blessed with about as much as I can stand.

Got it! My ISP's spam filter gave you a record _six_ stars - must be the accent.

Absolutely unnecessary. We're not much on formality here - but you'll be held in low regard if you're in town and don't stop to visit. ;-)

This afternoon I got a confirming e-mail from Marc Summerfield saying that your order is on its way. I already have the Customs Declaration and mailing label ready, and I'll give you a heads-up when I send it on.

I've sort of found a way around a similar problem. I'm in Canada, not as far from the US, but occasionally, I get a buddy who lives down there to buy me things and send them regular mail up to me here in Canada. This was a guy I conversed with through the rec, but whom I haven't yet met in person.

There's been a number of times I've tried to order from Amazon.com and they won't send the product up to Canada citing trade restrictions. So, I order the product and have it sent to the friend's place, he then mails it snail mail up to me in Canada. For the most part, I've been able to get the order without duty charges, so it's worked out well.

I got in with a fellow from England who was looking for parts for his Chrysler project car. For the agreed price, I shippped what he asked for in exchange for Cadbury chocolate bars (If your in England, you know what I want). I live in Canada. It was basically cost of parts + shipping for cost of chocolate + shipping. I gave him my time to go and strip the part out of the donor car. Those rare chocolate bars were as valuable as the rare North American car parts.

Want to do some business? Pete

On Sat, 8 Nov 2008 20:31:47 +0000, snipped-for-privacy@mts.net wrote (in article ):

well, I live about 8 miles north of the Cadbury's factory...

Does this mean I have to start building a Chrysler?

Had an e-mail from Morris confirming that a bent wrench is on it's way to the Old Country, courtesy of his own fair hand and efforts (no, not the bending - the other thing.)

I just want everyone to know what a good bloke he is for taking care of this-a-thing for a strange foreigner in distress.

Don't miss the next instalment in this exciting saga.

Not a particularly good bloke - just an ordinary bloke who was sure that if the situation were reversed, you'd have done the same for him.

Never a foreigner among friends, not /remarkably/ strange :) , and without much cause for distress.

The bent wrench arrived, thanks Morris.

Sommerfeld: black finish with a nice soft-grip handle.

A packet of shiny glass beads and a patronizing message from the Great White Queen over the water has been left as full payment. A redcoat will be posted at your door to drink tea and answer questions. (YHM)

As expected, the wrench was a gnats scrote undersize, easily fixed in a few minutes with a file and some Magic Words which may not be repeated to the uninitiated. No real problem. Magic Marker restored the finish to a used-car-salesman standard.

I have to say one of these things should come as standard with every router, whether or not it is going to be used in a table The difference it makes is astonishing and it's going to save me a fortune in elastoplast and time spent in knuckle-sucking watusi dancing.

Delighted, me.

"Bored Borg" wrote

Morris is ome of the good guys.

I just have to say that it is a pleasure to read such colorful prose from someone across the pond.

Good on ya, Morris. Hope all's well.

JP

All of us in the UK can use colourful prose when prompted...

Ahh....................not *that* sort of colourful language :-)

I'll get my coat.