Another Looker

[SandBuoy]

Hello everyone, I started reading the forum the other day to help with my descion to buy or not. To me reading a review site or actual forum for the product in mind is the same as reading the manual before turning on the machine and destroying it. Hopefully not reading the manual is the cause for many of these problems I been reading about.

I have a few questions to ask those you using the machine. I have a neighbor that works for sears that I talked to today about the Compucarve. He said he has sold 5 of them and none have had any problems so far. He also said he did a lot of research into the machine and warranty when he sold his first one to another good freind. I do believe he is one of the last customer service oriented salemen that cares. Hes also 73 and says yes sir and thank you.

I have an appointment with him Wendsday morning at the store to go over discounts, CC discounts, 5 year warranty and getting prices on the probe and complete bit set. If I am going to get this machine and invest over $2K I want to give myself the best shot at it and be prepared for whatever I intend to to do with it. I already know if I have any problems with the machine it has to be sent to another site for repairs. We are a very small town 110 miles away from any repair center.

I really would like to hear from everyone that has and has not had problems with their machine. Has it been a short down time, have you gotten to do many projects before experiencing any problems.

I also understand that the machine out now is a second generation machine. If so, has alot of the bugs been worked or do many of the originals still exsist. Like I said before, it looks like a lot of the problems were caused by human error. But some of the problems seem to be pretty serious like blown motors, drives and sensors.

My plans for this machine is to do small project to sell at a huge christmas expo in November. I was stunned by some of the portraits, lithophanes and other projects you people are putting out. Its fantastic that a lot of you woman are doing such great works as its really got my wife interested in it also.

I guess what I am asking is, can I expect my machine to break down or have most of you experienced little to no problems with your machines. Hopefully there is a huge percentage that has had no problems that just aren't visiting or writting the good reviews. And only the ones with problems are finding these review sites and forums to complain.

Thanks for any suggestion, advise and comments you can give. This is one of the biggest tool investments I have made in awhile other then my Craftmans Professional table saw and 18" thickness planner. Even at that they they were both about the same cost as this one machine. But what a fantastic concept at this price. If this machine work as well as they have over the years, then I have no worries.

[TIMCOSBY]

if you get a bad one take it back for a REFUND instead of working on it walk to the next register and order another one. if everyone would do this they would have to address the qaulity control issue.

[Gunner]

I purchased my unit from Sears in October 2007. I have about 100 hours on it, so far no problems. Read the manual, keep the machine clean, read the forum, keep the machine clean. There is a learning curve. You will make lots of designer firewood untill you get used to the machine, and what you can do with it. Have fun.
Welcome to the forum, and remember these people in here will do the best they can to help you with any questions or problems you may have.

Gunner

[AskBud]

SandBouy,
Craftsman Members get a good price ($1538.99) through the end of Feb.'08.
Bud
Check out the Zipped AVI lesson on 'Text Tool' (15.3 MB) (http://www2.wcoil.com/~nharbison/cw-text tool.zip)

[ChrisAlb]

I guess what I am asking is, can I expect my machine to break down or have most of you experienced little to no problems with your machines. Hopefully there is a huge percentage that has had no problems that just aren't visiting or writting the good reviews. And only the ones with problems are finding these review sites and forums to complain.


Hi SandBuoy and welcome,

You hit the nail here for sure. Out of the nearly 14,000 machines sold, a very small percentage of them have had any "serious" issues. You're right on also with, people not having problems seldom write in to say so but folks with issues, ALWAYS do...lol.

I've owned mine since August 07, have over 150 cut hours on it and have had very little troubles. I love this machine and I'm looking at a second one soon (I hope...lol)

Chris

[SandBuoy]

Thanks so far for the information and welcome gang. Starting to all excited about my trip to the store tomorrow to talk with Jim about ordering my machine. I did find some other post made other places about the machine that started making me feel a little easier about this.

Not to knock anyone or maybe I am expecting to much from this machine, but I plan on putting more then 10-15 hours a week on this machine. If all goes right and really like the preformance I may get another one a little later down the road.

I am retired, for now, and was looking for something with an endless opportunity for me to keep busy with and make some money with. After seeing some of the lithophanes and coins made on this machine, I think I will target in on from seashore projects as I live right on the Oregon caost in a big tourist town.

I was also thinking I would like to try making a Ocean shores lampshape. Put the carving on a thinner peice of maple or popular and then bend it round to make a see threw wooded lamp shade. Mayne even some nature veiws of the mountains might be a good seller.

Anyway, thanks so far for the input. I agree that good lubrication and cleaning the machine after each use may solve a lot of the machine break downs.

[ChrisAlb]

Not to knock anyone or maybe I am expecting to much from this machine, but I plan on putting more then 10-15 hours a week on this machine. If all goes right and really like the preformance I may get another one a little later down the road.

Mine runs "on average" about 30 to 40 hours a week. That's why I need a second one too. I think your ideas sound really GREAT too! Can't wait to see them come to life. And uh... we really LOVE pictures in here so be sure to post some when you can.

Chris

[mtylerfl]

... After seeing some of the lithophanes and coins made on this machine, I think I will target in on from seashore projects as I live right on the Oregon caost in a big tourist town.

Hello SandBuoy,

Your ideas sound great and I'm sure you'll have a lot of enjoyment creating projects with your machine.

Just thought I would let you know that the coin projects that were done were derived from metal "coin coasters" that were scanned to make patterns (about 3" diameter if I recall). Real coins are too small to make patterns from (via the scanning probe).

[oldjoe]

Welcome Sandbuoy. Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents worth after all you asked for everyone. I bought my first Machine about a year ago put about 15 hours on it and it went dead. Took it back to Sears and they took it back and ordered me a new one. Only one question asked what was wrong with it, other then that no problem with the exchange the replacement machine I have had for not quite a year and has I think 70 hours on it. Had only a couple problems Z axis went out on it and 2 board sensors. But LHR was great to deal with. Took about a week to get the replacement parts. One recommendation though I would get the centerline text option. You have to get that thru LHR but it will be well worth it for you. And follow the advice on this forum as far as lubricants, The other thing and that is take it slow at first have to learn to walk before you can run.

[SandBuoy]

Thanks again gents

Joe, I will look into the centerline text option and thanks for bringing that up. That the kind of information I am looking for and didn't see that mentioned anywhere.

Mtyler, I think I read that somehwre in the forum the other night. Someone mentioned that they tried scanning a coin and it didn't come out very well. I have freinds that collect various coins and will freak getting a box with the coins carved on top. Planning on trying to carve a few metal detector plaques for me and my fellow treasure hunters. Hopeing the probe will scan a hate pin shaped like a detector.

Chris, man thats what I wanted to hear, a machine that gets some hours put on it and keep in ticking. I have a 5x8 shed built inside my 22x58 garage that going to make a great sound proof project room for this machine. I even put a dust vent in it using a 8" fan vented to the outside.

Gosh people, after all thsi reading, looking at the cool projects and seeing them come to life by you all, when is tomorrow going to get here. Worse part is waiting for the machine to get here and hoping for to damage or a bad machine.

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Hello there SandBuoy, as a former associate of Sears I can say that they have great customer service. But the machines seem to sometimes have a mind of their own.

The biggest thing is To KEEP IT CLEAN, blow it out after every use.

And keep to LUBED, some suggest about every 20 hours.

And be sure to check out my website, I have collected most of the MPC and PTN files from the forum and you can download them there. NO CHARGE.

Most Importantly try not to stand and watch the machine work, don't get much done that way. I KNOW.

Welcome to the family and best wishes on great results straight out of the box.

[SandBuoy]

Thanks for the warm hello Mr Allen. You have a great looking site there and I plain to read more of it during the night time hours. Been spending a lot of my time reading post, suggested preventitive maintenance and just getting a feel for some of the siftware. I ran metal CNC back in the 80s-90s for a tool and die shop and Demings Pumps in Ohio. I am sure this ecperince is going to help out on this machine. If I can remember any of it LOL.

[mtylerfl]

...and be sure to read CarveWright Tips & Tricks Newsletters. Lots of info to help you avoid "pilot errors" and instruction on how to keep your machine running in tip top shape.

You can download all the Tips & Tricks newsletters at the following link: http://www.carvebuddy.com/learning_center.html

You can sign up for automatic receipt of the newsletters via email by visiting the CarveWright website and entering your info in the "Join Our Mailing List" in the lower-right corner of the screen. Here's the link to the CarveWright site: http://www.carvewright.com/

[deemon328]

There have been fixes to the machine since Sears started selling it, but that's not a guarantee that you will get the latest model when you order it. I got a replacement machine that was an older model than my first one, so see if your salesman can pull any strings for you to try and get a newer one.

Regarding uptime, yes, I think it's very reasonable to expect 20+ hours a week of operation with no problems as long as you take the precautions to help your machine run it's best--cleaning, securing it to a table, downdraft tables help, periodic calibration, etc. My confidence is pretty high right now on my machine. Even with the check cut motor problem I have, the machine is still running 3 to 5 hour carves perfectly. I think you end up getting a feel for what needs tuned up as you use it more.

Regarding downtime, there are many issues that a handy user can fix themselves based on the info in this forum(which is what I have done). For a large percentage of common problems, the turn around time can be minimal(for self fixes). Bigger problems are usually addressed by LHR sending you a part to replace yourself(my average wait time is 7-8 days on 3 different parts shipments), and catastrophic errors require sending the machine to LHR(haven't needed it yet). I think LHR goes as far as they can in support to avoid sending the machine back to them.

I certainly haven't been problem-free, but I've dealt with the issues and crank carvings out. It's just a fantastic tool to have in your shop.