No support for schatten winder...

[achase4u]

Ok. So I tried to be understanding about this whole thing when I spent 400 on a winder and two broke on me. Les said on the phone hed send some motors but if it was the speed controller it was another 60 bucks. So everytime these break down, its 60 bucks out of pocket. Which is a matter of months from my experience.

Anyway, what gets me is I waited for those motors and they never came in December. Its april. No motors. Emailed Les, no response.

Its a good thing I didnt rely on the maker or supplier of this 400 dollar junk or Id still be out of a winder. Good thing I found the aftermarket upgrade motor and tansformer to use - so its not a total waste.


Stew mac also gets me because you can see all the reviews of that winder - yet when I ask for spport, theyve never heard of any issues. Same with their flatwork. Ive measured and had magnet holes too far off from the top piece to fit the bottom, other reviews show this - and yet theyve never heard of a problem.

So yea, my ass is kinda chapped. Sorry to sound bitter, but I'd never treat my customers this way.


End rant.

[big_teee]

Ok. So I tried to be understanding about this whole thing when I spent 400 on a winder and two broke on me. Les said on the phone hed send some motors but if it was the speed controller it was another 60 bucks. So everytime these break down, its 60 bucks out of pocket. Which is a matter of months from my experience.

Anyway, what gets me is I waited for those motors and they never came in December. Its april. No motors. Emailed Les, no response.

Its a good thing I didnt rely on the maker or supplier of this 400 dollar junk or Id still be out of a winder. Good thing I found the aftermarket upgrade motor and tansformer to use - so its not a total waste.


Stew mac also gets me because you can see all the reviews of that winder - yet when I ask for spport, theyve never heard of any issues. Same with their flatwork. Ive measured and had magnet holes too far off from the top piece to fit the bottom, other reviews show this - and yet theyve never heard of a problem.

So yea, my ass is kinda chapped. Sorry to sound bitter, but I'd never treat my customers this way.


End rant.

I feel your pain.
The winder is a bad deal, and for That kind of Jack, Someone should be standing behind it.
The Flatwork, I've not tried the StewMac, but I use the Mojo, and it's always been as advertised.
Their flatwork is cut precise, and they use good heavy forbon to start with.
They tell you up front, but you have to wash the brown goo off with water, but no big deal.
I wash it and sand all the sharp edges off of it and your good to go.
I've heard pretty good things about the Sidewinder.
It's supposed to be better, but it has some issues that really aren't ideal for commercial use.
Most guys that really get serious build their own.
Good luck, and thanks for sharing your issues with us.
Terry

[achase4u]

Thanks, Terry. Ah yes - I do use mojo for the majority of my stuff, but have gone to a friend for laser cutting at this point as lately the mojo stuff has been really sticky all over. It is good flatwork though, totally usable. No out of spec problems for me although the holes are sometimes a little conical and large - still no problem. I know Im anal.

Yea I think my Jerry Rigging has done the trick - so I'll make due. I have reverse now too :-)

I really do feel taken on a 400 dollar winder that doesnt work - oh well. Figured I'd let you guys know my experience.

[copperheadroads]

Id say the only people buying there flat work is first timers & hobbyist ,with no wholesale pricing offered
It is odd ball size

[achase4u]

Well, their tele bridge flatwork(stewmac) is nice because with the baseplate its cheap. Its also die cut as the originals. No laser mess to clean.

[Lpone]

Ok. So I tried to be understanding about this whole thing when I spent 400 on a winder and two broke on me. Les said on the phone hed send some motors but if it was the speed controller it was another 60 bucks. So everytime these break down, its 60 bucks out of pocket. Which is a matter of months from my experience.

Anyway, what gets me is I waited for those motors and they never came in December. Its april. No motors. Emailed Les, no response.

Its a good thing I didnt rely on the maker or supplier of this 400 dollar junk or Id still be out of a winder. Good thing I found the aftermarket upgrade motor and tansformer to use - so its not a total waste.


Stew mac also gets me because you can see all the reviews of that winder - yet when I ask for spport, theyve never heard of any issues. Same with their flatwork. Ive measured and had magnet holes too far off from the top piece to fit the bottom, other reviews show this - and yet theyve never heard of a problem.

So yea, my ass is kinda chapped. Sorry to sound bitter, but I'd never treat my customers this way.


End rant.

Can I ask where I can buy a replacement motor for the Schatten

I have a Schatten, so far so good, but I replaced the 220v power transformer as soon as I got it, the transformer had a weird very soft but audible high pitched whistle when I got It.

I also have a Sidewinder.

I prefer the Schatten for general winding of strat pickups as the motor is weak and that allows me to wind slower and make the coils as I like. The positioning of the guide arm is more comfortable too. The sidewinder is a beast and very powerful and fast. The only thing I hate about it is its noisy as I think it uses gears rather than pulleys like the Schatten. It has an emergency stop foot switch and the motor direction is reversible - all good features.

[achase4u]

Hey Lpone. My motor works on the newer version Schatten that has the the pulleys on the outside of the main box. This is the motor I use. Enough to take more voltage but I dont know what supply your using. Bigger motor, just barely fits - but gets you whatever rpm you want if you have a smooth enough rheostat. 13.6VDC JOHNSON TOOL MOTOR 6100RPM-MPJA, Inc.

[Lpone]

Hey Lpone. My motor works on the newer version Schatten that has the the pulleys on the outside of the main box. This is the motor I use. Enough to take more voltage but I dont know what supply your using. Bigger motor, just barely fits - but gets you whatever rpm you want if you have a smooth enough rheostat. 13.6VDC JOHNSON TOOL MOTOR 6100RPM-MPJA, Inc.

Thanks!

[David Schwab]

The problem with the Schatten winder is the home made motor speed control. I had problems with my winder, and it started running very slow. I emailed Schatten and ended up taking to Les on the phone. He said it was the circuitry in the motor, and sold me a new motor. That seemed to work fine for a few days, and then got slow again.

I disconnected the motor from the speed control, and both the old and new motors ran at full speed and power. So the issue is a poorly designed speed control that seems to burn out after a while. Mine lasted me about three years.

Now I run the winder off a Dewalt hand drill chucked to the left axel until I build a new winder.

My advice is to replace the motor and speed control on the Schatten. The motor is under powered, and the speed control is faulty.

[jason lollar]

laser cut

i can tell you i have cut 100,000 + bobbin parts on a laser, elongated holes or overly tapered holes or off center tapers are due to incorrect beam focusing, you really need to modify how you focus the beam compared to what you are told in the manual- it works better to focus the beam about half way into the material- something I learned from the back door at universal laser. i also had gurian intruments cut thousands of parts before I got my lasers so I have seen it. There is also some deflection when you get to the outer corners of the cutting area- the farther away from the beam output the more deflection which is primarily a focusing alighnment problem bla bla bla
The problem with the tops and bottoms having different pole spacings is a shrinkage issue. Back when you could buy american made forbon from NVF- anyone remember that? They quit making it ten years ago or so- the forbon didnt shrink like it does today. You absolutely have to keep it in a humidity controlled environment- put everything in zip lock plastic bags untill its potted. Its a big pain in the ass but its what you have to do or keep the humidity level in your shop as high as where the forbon is stored- meaning very little heat or use a humidifier. the thicker forbon shrinks at a different rate than the thin.
If you havent noticed it wait untill youve made a few thousand strat pickups and youll see it uless you are uber lucky
PS stew mac will offer quantity discounts but you have to call them and talk to them and you need to buy some real quantities

[achase4u]

Jason! So good to have you chime in. I always wondered about the laser and why the parts have a tilt to them. Shrinkage - very good explanation. I'll be dog gone. Few thousand strat pickups? I'll be dead before I hit that lol ;-)

Hmmm I will try calling them about those discounts. Thanks Jason!

[jason lollar]

Jay Hostetler use to be the guy to talk to about quantities - i dont know if he still does that or if someone else does

[RedHouse]

How'd we get from crappy support on Shatten winders to lazer cutting? I must'a missed somthing there

[big_teee]

How'd we get from crappy support on Shatten winders to lazer cutting? I must'a missed somthing there

Post #1 was stating his opinion on Stewmac.
Their winder and their Flatwork.
You Get a 2fer on this Thread!
Terry

[copperheadroads]

Screw Mac sucks c@#k
Last year i contacted them about strat lead wire being cheaper by buying it already cut up into i' pieces( & bagged) than 100' spools
WTF now they changed the price of there wire. cause i caught the flaw .........sorry
Assholes with no wholesale prices
Sorry for the rant ,
but i always found them good to deal with other than that , i have bought quite a few tools from them & never any problem