From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

I feel sometimes like as soon as I say something positive about a vendor
or a customer things are going to go badly on the next interactions.

From an Earlier Post: "Yesterday I got a call from a sinker maker (not
one of his molds above), who is a technically a quadriplegic. No use of
his legs. Partial use of one arm and very limited use of the other.
He asked me to make a couple custom molds for him, because making
castings is his day job every day. He casts a few tons of lead a month
and wanted to expand his offerings for his customers. I refused to put
his order ahead of people who paid first, but I am inspired to get those
ahead of him done quicker so I can get to his. I've had a friend or two
tell me I am the most driven person they have ever met (not so much
anymore), but his refusal to be literally held down by his limitations
is inspiring."

A day after paying for some custom work he purchased a stock design off
of my website.

"Cool," I thought.

I had told him on the phone earlier that custom molds were currently at
8-10 weeks start time (prior to him making a payment for anything), and
stock designs were at about 2-3 weeks, because that is how much prepaid
work is on my jobs list and those who pay first get done first.

Then he sent me an email asking me to combine shipping with his custom
order to save a couple dollars on shipping. "No problem, but then the
stock item won't ship until the custom order is done in about ten weeks."

He sent me a rant telling me he had made promises to customers based on
me telling him he would have his molds in two weeks. I am very careful
to never over promise delivery times and I was very explicit both on the
phone and in email.

I replied I'd be glad to ship his stock design in a couple weeks like it
would have originally shipped, and ship his customer order later when it
is finished.

This morning he requested to cancel all of his orders. I'm probably a
bad person for thinking the whole tale of being a quad might be part of
a hustle to manipulate people. Just like he tried to manipulate me into
doing his custom work in stock work time because he had lied to his
customers.

I'm pissed. Mostly at myself. I came on here and made my 4th of July
post primarily, because I had been impressed by his situation and
willingness to try to overcome it. I refunded his orders this morning,
and asked him not to call me again if he was going to try to change the
terms after the sale again.

The thing is I've observed, and maybe its observational bias, that as
soon as I say positive things about a customer or a vendor they do
something that takes it all away. I know why so many mold makers in my specific field have quit doing custom work, and I know why your
"friends" rarely if ever promote your business. They have likely made
the same (if maybe biased) observations I have.

Sorry guys. Rant Mode OFF.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff


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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Wed, 9 Jul 2025 09:53:14 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:
<snip>

The thing is I've observed, and maybe its observational bias, that as
soon as I say positive things about a customer or a vendor they do
something that takes it all away. I know why so many mold makers in my >specific field have quit doing custom work, and I know why your
"friends" rarely if ever promote your business. They have likely made
the same (if maybe biased) observations I have.

Agreed, it's why I don't recommended software, banking, computers,
ISP's...
Your plan for this job sounded good to me and I would have been very
happy with itEfai
Saw your Hatsan post too. They've always seemed to be a bit behind the
times weight wise, as in HEAVY compared to others. My Torpedo 155 (.25 springer) is 48 inches long and weighs 10lbs without a scope. I'm no
weakling but going hunting with it scoped gives you a good upper body workoutEfya
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message news:104m6pr$arf0$1@dont-email.me...

I feel sometimes like as soon as I say something positive about a vendor
or a customer things are going to go badly on the next interactions.

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

I was in the oral surgeon's chair considering complimenting him on his previous good work when he accidentally jabbed my lip with a syringe needle.
I hadn't said anything, thinking it was enough.

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/9/2025 11:21 AM, Leon Fisk wrote:

On Wed, 9 Jul 2025 09:53:14 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>

The thing is I've observed, and maybe its observational bias, that as
soon as I say positive things about a customer or a vendor they do
something that takes it all away. I know why so many mold makers in my
specific field have quit doing custom work, and I know why your
"friends" rarely if ever promote your business. They have likely made
the same (if maybe biased) observations I have.

Agreed, it's why I don't recommended software, banking, computers,
ISP's...

Your plan for this job sounded good to me and I would have been very
happy with itEfai

Saw your Hatsan post too. They've always seemed to be a bit behind the
times weight wise, as in HEAVY compared to others. My Torpedo 155 (.25 springer) is 48 inches long and weighs 10lbs without a scope. I'm no
weakling but going hunting with it scoped gives you a good upper body workoutEfya

I have a 155 in .22. It is every bit of a magnum springer. Its brutal
on the shot cycle. I thought I broke my fingers once when the lever got
away from me. I am very careful with it. I don't recall which pellet I
was using for testing, but the speeds very very very consistent with the ProChrono. Variation was only 2 or 3 FPS with many consecutive shots legitimately coming in the same. 940 comes to mind, but I don't recall
what pellet it was. Probably Crosman 14.3 Hollow Points. Those are
really good pellets and cheap. I'd like to sell it to somebody who is
into springers. I caught the PCP bug and I have no nostalgia for
springers. I have a little for MPPs, but not for springers. I got my
old 1st variant Crosman Model 1 .22 going again, but I'm going to have
to make a new front sight for it. The original is long gone, and they
only have 2nd variant (straight barrel) replacements anywhere if they
have them at all.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:05:42 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:
<snip>

I have a 155 in .22. It is every bit of a magnum springer. Its brutal
on the shot cycle. I thought I broke my fingers once when the lever got >away from me. I am very careful with it. I don't recall which pellet I
was using for testing, but the speeds very very very consistent with the >ProChrono. Variation was only 2 or 3 FPS with many consecutive shots >legitimately coming in the same. 940 comes to mind, but I don't recall
what pellet it was. Probably Crosman 14.3 Hollow Points. Those are
really good pellets and cheap. I'd like to sell it to somebody who is
into springers.

I'm done with Hatsan. They have a ton of refurb guns for sale on their
website for a reasonEfya
Mine has their gas-piston, which died about ~6 months after receiving
it. It had to be shipped back to HatsanUSA for factory service at my
expense (~$40 July 2017). I haven't had it out in sometime and my guess
is the gas leaked out again and it won't work anywayEfn+
I haven't searched lately but they wouldn't sell you a replacement
gas-piston at the time. Had to send your gun in for repair to get one.
There was a place in Australia at the time selling a gas-piston that
would fit. Suspect that shipping might make that kinda pricey and it
might not have worked right.
If I was still ambitious... I'd try making it into a bullpup with a
Franken stock of some sort. I've never yet seen a bullpup springer.
Maybe just aluminum framing for key handling areas. Might be able to
add a port to the gas ram for refilling too. I've heard rumor that some
rams already have a port on them.
It is accurate and has a decent trigger. Finish/metal working is rough.
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/11/2025 1:00 PM, Leon Fisk wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:07:44 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>

If you look most/all of those refurbs are "out of stock" when you click
on them. I think they put them up with an inventory count of 1, and
then never take them down when they sell.

I seem to recall that the guy who started Hatsan USA made the claim way
back when that they didn't want to sell their gas pistons for people to
put them in other guns. I think he just wanted to extra money of doing
upgrades, but who knows.

The few I looked at sometimes had one caliber but not in all of them
offered. I suspect that a "refurb" may be a better working gun than
a new one off the shelf.

Was also a bit annoyed to "see" my gun had been worked on when I got it
back. IMO a factory authorized repair shouldn't be detectable to my
eye other than an obvious new part installed. I could discern disturbed hardware just glancing over it.

I tried hard to make any repair I made invisible to scrutiny when I
was doing warranty work, or any work for that matter.

Of course I could have bought a Weihrauch HW97k in .25 for 3x the
price of the HatsanEfyaN+A

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/spring-piston/weihrauch-hw97k-walnut-thumbhole-.25/

They also have a " Theoben gas ram system" which accepts a pump
that can adjust ram pressure.

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/gas-ram-rifles/weihrauch-hw90/

But you might have been able to shoot it off hand instead of lugging
around a set of shooting sticks.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/11/2025 1:00 PM, Leon Fisk wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jul 2025 12:07:44 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>

If you look most/all of those refurbs are "out of stock" when you click
on them. I think they put them up with an inventory count of 1, and
then never take them down when they sell.

I seem to recall that the guy who started Hatsan USA made the claim way
back when that they didn't want to sell their gas pistons for people to
put them in other guns. I think he just wanted to extra money of doing
upgrades, but who knows.

The few I looked at sometimes had one caliber but not in all of them
offered. I suspect that a "refurb" may be a better working gun than
a new one off the shelf.

Was also a bit annoyed to "see" my gun had been worked on when I got it
back. IMO a factory authorized repair shouldn't be detectable to my
eye other than an obvious new part installed. I could discern disturbed hardware just glancing over it.

I tried hard to make any repair I made invisible to scrutiny when I
was doing warranty work, or any work for that matter.

Of course I could have bought a Weihrauch HW97k in .25 for 3x the
price of the HatsanEfyaN+A

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/spring-piston/weihrauch-hw97k-walnut-thumbhole-.25/

They also have a " Theoben gas ram system" which accepts a pump
that can adjust ram pressure.

https://www.airgunsofarizona.com/gas-ram-rifles/weihrauch-hw90/

FYI: I don't buy my refurbed Hatsan stuff from Hatsan. I buy it from
Field Supply. They periodically have sales in addition to the refurb
price. I bought all three of my Hatsan rifles from them as well as a
Hatsan PCP compressor when the price was right.

I'm fighting with them right now because the rifle I just only came with
two of the three included magazines, and the DC power cord for the
compressor is missing. I'll probably only use it in the shop, but who
knows. I might shoot so many collared dove one day I run out of charged rifles and have to refill in the field by clipping on to the truck
battery.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:01:02 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:
<snip>

I'm fighting with them right now because the rifle I just only came with
two of the three included magazines, and the DC power cord for the >compressor is missing. I'll probably only use it in the shop, but who >knows. I might shoot so many collared dove one day I run out of charged >rifles and have to refill in the field by clipping on to the truck
battery.

Makes you wonder how many people don't notice or care about details
like that. The power cord and extra magazine are BIG selling
points for a lot of people...
Mine came from Pyramyd. It was missing the Free clip-on Bipod but had
the clip-on Sling (crap item). As you likely know a bipod on a springer
isn't a good way to rest one. Why Hatsan would do that makes little
sense. I always suspected it was a returned gun that somebody didn't
like and made the early return window. There was a missing bit of foam
packing too. That model was in short supply at the time and I'd been
waiting for close to a month for one. Didn't see anything else wrong so
just went with it. This was in late December. Gave it a good look,
fired it a couple times and then put away till early summer. That's
when I found the gas-piston too weak to push pellets out the barrel
reliably.
Pyramyd has a "10 for $10 Test" you can get with your purchase (I didn't
add this to my order). They fire 10 shots, inspect the gun, measure some stuff... Sounds like a good idea but would also cover up for resale
any returned items that have been opened. Maybe I'm just a bit too
paranoid, suspiciousEfyaN+A
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On 7/12/2025 8:18 AM, Leon Fisk wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:01:02 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:

<snip>

I'm fighting with them right now because the rifle I just only came with
two of the three included magazines, and the DC power cord for the
compressor is missing. I'll probably only use it in the shop, but who
knows. I might shoot so many collared dove one day I run out of charged
rifles and have to refill in the field by clipping on to the truck
battery.

Makes you wonder how many people don't notice or care about details
like that. The power cord and extra magazine are BIG selling
points for a lot of people...

Mine came from Pyramyd. It was missing the Free clip-on Bipod but had
the clip-on Sling (crap item). As you likely know a bipod on a springer
isn't a good way to rest one. Why Hatsan would do that makes little
sense. I always suspected it was a returned gun that somebody didn't
like and made the early return window. There was a missing bit of foam packing too. That model was in short supply at the time and I'd been
waiting for close to a month for one. Didn't see anything else wrong so
just went with it. This was in late December. Gave it a good look,
fired it a couple times and then put away till early summer. That's
when I found the gas-piston too weak to push pellets out the barrel
reliably.

Pyramyd has a "10 for $10 Test" you can get with your purchase (I didn't
add this to my order). They fire 10 shots, inspect the gun, measure some stuff... Sounds like a good idea but would also cover up for resale
any returned items that have been opened. Maybe I'm just a bit too
paranoid, suspiciousEfyaN+A

A lot of people in the airgun business started out or are still
hobbyists trying to go pro. They are hacks, hacking their way through
it, on a hack budget, and trying to make a go of it. Many only do it as
a side busines, because they can't maek a living at it. I can't
remember the guy's name, but I seem to recall that was the case with the
guy who started Hatsan USA, which as near as I can tell is a private US
owned sole proprietorship or LLC. Not Hatsan of Turkey. I think he
started out as an airgun review YouTuber who provided actual on camera
tested numbers and if a gun came out of the box as crap he said so. He
had a bit of a reputation, but he also had an attitude I see even more
in the airgun industry than in the firearms industry that in some
nuanced way he was better than everybody else. Just my opinion of
course. We all have a certain amount of that in some area. As some
talking head on talk radio parroted once upon a time. "Every man in the
room thinks he the smartest man in the room." I seem to recall he
quoted some study before making that statement.

I don't look at buying a Hatsan rifle from Hatsan USA or one of their
dealers the same as buying a shit rifle like the Mini-14 for two plus
weeks salary from a "reputable" large firearms manufacturer like Ruger.
I look at it like trying to support another small business as long as he doesn't screw me.

Did I get screwed if I never get that power cable or that third
magazine. Not enough to freak out about. The compressor and the rifle
were both so cheap I could do a lot to them and still be money ahead.
That doesn't mean I'm not going to try to get what I am owed or that it
might not influence future purchases (like you), but I'm not going to
take him to small claims over it.
--
Bob La Londe
CNC Molds N Stuff

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From Newsgroup: rec.crafts.metalworking

On Sat, 12 Jul 2025 08:58:57 -0700
Bob La Londe <none@none.com99> wrote:
<snip>

I don't look at buying a Hatsan rifle from Hatsan USA or one of their >dealers the same as buying a shit rifle like the Mini-14 for two plus
weeks salary from a "reputable" large firearms manufacturer like Ruger.
I look at it like trying to support another small business as long as he >doesn't screw me.

I only came to know Hatsan USA because that's where I had to send it
for warranty repair. As you've likely surmised by now... I did a bit of research, reading a lot of reviews, comments... anything concerning
their gas-piston at the time and other repairs. I'm capable of fixing
most stuff like that myself. Might have just bought another gas-piston
rather than mess around sending it away had one been available...
I've nothing against the little guys if there price is reasonable
as compared to elsewhere. AZ maybe cheaper but their packing sucks and
they send out returned items that are broken too. It's always a gamble
nowadays with HF, AZ, Ebay... It's my form of gambling, I always get
SOMETHING but not always what I anticipatedEfyaN+A
--
Leon Fisk
Grand Rapids MI
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