The Ax Book!

[Woodbloke]

The catalogue is coming back for all those wood manglers that like to turn a page - Rob

 

[Coley]

When ? How come ? Can i pay a couple quid for it ? Will there be a limited edition hardback version available? Oh goody goody goody !!!!!![emoji847][emoji847][emoji847][emoji847][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji41][emoji869][emoji482][emoji126][emoji23]

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[StevieB]

Are we back to prices being fixed for 6 or 12 months then?

I am presuming the 'big machinery sale' is a precursor to the new trade models Ax are teasing - hopefully these will make it into the new catalogue, something to drool over! :eusa-dance:

 

[Coley]

I'm ready [emoji847]

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[AndyP]

Good news. I have always found the search facility on the Axi website “difficult” . Far easier to browse a book than a website.

 

[Woodbloke]

Are we back to prices being fixed for 6 or 12 months then?

You have to be joking. The only time the prices will be current is the day the catalogue is printed, as will be the range of Ax gear and equipment. I would also expect to see a 'rider' somewhere to inform customers that current prices are shown on the website...in fact, they may not publish the prices in the paper version. Also, expect to see a sneaky price hike to cover the very considerable cost of paper and printing. It's called having your cake and eating it - Rob

 

[Coley]

They must have done it for a reason Rob ? It'd be useful as a reference just to see the product codes. For the record I need absolutely nothing. It's only when I flick through the pages I'll be able to see new items of interest. Rob, do tell- how come their bring out a catalogue again ?

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[Coley]

It's their choice to do it Rob !- take a leaf from toolstation if you want a website for inspiration. They have an online catalogue that you can just flip through the pages. No printing costs what soever, but it does away with the websites search bar [emoji6]

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[Woodbloke]

They must have done it for a reason Rob ? It'd be useful as a reference just to see the product codes. For the record I need absolutely nothing. It's only when I flick through the pages I'll be able to see new items of interest. Rob, do tell- how come their bring out a catalogue again ?

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I have no idea why but can hazard a guess, which I'm not prepared to elaborate on further. As to 'new items of interest', they'll only be new on the day the catalogue is published; six months down the road there'll be a whole range of new kit which won't be in the paper version, but it will be on the website.

Although it seems that a lot of Ax customers like paper pages to flick over, for me, it's a massive step back into yesteryear as they appear to have capitulated to market pressure - Rob

 

[Coley]

I admire your loyalty to Axminster Rob, but you're not really selling the new catalogue release ! Have you got something against them bringing out a paper reference copy

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[Woodbloke]

I admire your loyalty to Axminster Rob, but you're not really selling the new catalogue release ! Have you got something against them bringing out a paper reference copy

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Why would I want to sell the paper catalogue release? I like dinosaurs as well but wouldn't want to see them return any time soon I no longer work for Ax, so although I hugely admire the company and it's ethos, I feel no loyalty as such and just think that this is a completely backwards, retrograde step - Rob

 

[Rod]

Toolstation and Screwfix both publish printed Catalogues. Just received a new Toolstation one yesterday in the post.

Rod

 

[Coley]

Rob, their machinery range has now aquired the nickname of crapminster- I fail to see how bringing out a paper catalogue which can further promote their tools could have a negative effect? They aren't known for their quality range of tools anymore, more how swiftly they resend out the same item hoping it's satisfactory- a far cry from their original reputation,which was quality from the start !

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[Doug]

Rob, their machinery range has now aquired the nickname of crapminster- I fail to see how bringing out a paper catalogue which can further promote their tools could have a negative effect? They aren't known for their quality range of tools anymore, more how swiftly they resend out the same item hoping it's satisfactory- a far cry from their original reputation,which was quality from the start !

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Perhaps there in lies the answer for the return of the catalogue, their reputation has been going down the pan for a number of years & they are back tracking in an attempt to gain back some credibility.

Their money would be better spent investing in some quality control in China, if nothing else it would help the environment.

 

[Jimmy Mack]

I'm happy to see the return of the paper cat.... I've wasted many a pleasant hour looking through [emoji847]

Though I agree it is a bit of a backward step, though much of the romance of woodworking sits in the past too - so imo it's place is viable.

An eBook version should be the standard with perhaps a request version of the paperback as opposed to sending out thousands....maybe they could be sold with the proceeds going to the print cost or a charity such as 'men in sheds'.

Even though it squeaked a bit.... And seems to have settled in, I'm happy with my Axi TS machine, it needed fettling in places but over all it ticked the most boxes in comparison to much more expensive machines.... I've used some premium brands in the past and it's surprising how weak they are in their engineering... Tho you can't beat a good solid Wadkin era machine - if you can find one or the time to restore.

I find the Axi customer service to be very good and you can always speak to someone... Which is definitely a big plus. I hope they continue with success; the online market has made it very competitive for tool supplies.

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[Woodbloke]

Perhaps there in lies the answer for the return of the catalogue, their reputation has been going down the pan for a number of years & they are back tracking in an attempt to gain back some credibility.

Their money would be better spent investing in some quality control in China, if nothing else it would help the environment.

Very possibly Doug, but I don't think that's the reason for the return of the catalogue; let's say 'internal shenanigans' at leave it there

The new range of kit manufactured by Harvey is certainly much better than the standard offerings currently available, as is the range of 'Powermatic' stuff, even though it's made in Taiwan. I know for a fact that there's been a push in recent years to improve quality right across the range but it's going to be some time before we see an overall improvement, 'Rider' planes being a case in point. Some days they're good, other days bloody dreadful - Rob

 

[HappyHacker]

They always sent me two "books", it used to take me ages to read both of them

 

[Woodbloke]

I went to the Oak Fair yesterday in deepest, darkest Dorset and spent some time nattering to Matt from the main Ax shop. It transpires that the guys in the shops have had consistent requests for the return of the paper catalogue, not least because many of their customers are older chaps with little or no experience of t'interweb. It also appears that internet access in that part of the West Country is a bit limited.

Happened also at the same time to purchase some very nice, VERY cheap but also very wet, heavy timber - Rob

 

[Coley]

Do you think it will be like the old catalogue - have a range of different brands, veritas, Clifton,makita, bosch etc or will it literally just have Axminster stuff ?

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[Rod]

I’ve put in my request for one

Rod

 

[Woodbloke]

Do you think it will be like the old catalogue - have a range of different brands, veritas, Clifton,makita, bosch etc or will it literally just have Axminster stuff ?

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Nope, it won't be like the old one, more of a slimmed down version with just their own branded stuff, such as the UJK range. No power tools either as prices change almost on a daily basis - Rob

 

[Woodbloke]

My book dropped onto the mat this morning. 320 pages with lots of different branded stuff; not too bad if a little slimmed down compared to the previous editions - Rob

 

[Woodster]

Yes I got mine today as well but not had chance to look at it yet.

 

[StevieB]

Woo - something to look forward to on the commute home!

 

[Malc2098]

Mine came today, too. South of the country must be more righteous! :eusa-whistle:

 

[AndyP]

Hope they don't forget those of us who are really south of the country.

 

[Jimmy Mack]

Mine arrived in Yorkshire, something to look at whist on the throne [emoji3]

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[StevieB]

Interesting what is 'in' and what is 'out'. There is a new range called 'Craft' that seems to sit between Hobby and Trade. No hobby machines in the catalogue at all from my first flick through. An emphasis on what I would call 'up market' ranges - veritas, some nice hand tools, predominance of trade rated machinery etc, definitely pushing the quality end of the woodworking spectrum (assuming QC is as good as the marketing dept that is!).

The new tablesaw that takes a dado stack is in, but at £2.5k outside my price range sadly :eusa-violin:

 

[Woodbloke]

Interesting what is 'in' and what is 'out'. There is a new range called 'Craft' that seems to sit between Hobby and Trade. No hobby machines in the catalogue at all from my first flick through.

Seems to me that the old 'Hobby' range has been re-branded as 'Craft' so I'd be very surprised to see any actual improvements between one and the other. Blue 'Industrial' equipment has also gone to be replaced by the new 'Trade' range, so they're just pedalling the two brands now - Rob

 

[RogerS]

Mine came today, too. South of the country must be more righteous! :eusa-whistle:

'fraid not 'cos mine arrived Thursday as well

As an aside, we find that deliveries up here are much quicker relatively than when we were down South. It's because our stuff gets labelled Scottish Deadline which guarantees it's on the motorway heading up that day.

 

[StevieB]

Interesting what is 'in' and what is 'out'. There is a new range called 'Craft' that seems to sit between Hobby and Trade. No hobby machines in the catalogue at all from my first flick through.

Seems to me that the old 'Hobby' range has been re-branded as 'Craft' so I'd be very surprised to see any actual improvements between one and the other. Blue 'Industrial' equipment has also gone to be replaced by the new 'Trade' range, so they're just pedalling the two brands now - Rob

Hmm, Dunno - there is still hobby stuff on line - eg the TS200 table saw, will be interesting to see if they do go to two ranges though because there is a big price difference between hobby and trade at the moment. I still remember the old yellow 'perform' range - some of that really was bad quality - in fact I still have the perfrom dust extractor as a floor vacuum!

 

[Jimmy Mack]

I notice the model numbers on the two Axi machines I purchased over the last year have changed. With the TS now branded category 'Trade', where it was once 'Industrial'.

The higher the category the longer the service life (hrs)... And warranty? [emoji848] If I'm right



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[Woodbloke]

Hmm, Dunno - there is still hobby stuff on line - eg the TS200 table saw, will be interesting to see if they do go to two ranges though because there is a big price difference between hobby and trade

The TS200 is probably old stock, they may have a shipping container full of things that they need to shift :lol: The price difference between Hobby/Craft and Trade is reflected in the annual hours usage which used to be published (dunno if it still is?) as the latter is built to a much higher 'standard' - Rob