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Author Topic: Highland Park, is anyone home ?  (Read 4074 times)

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Downwindtracker2

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Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« on: February 13, 2019, 08:58:49 AM »

My wife and I purchased a 24" slab saw a couple of years back,now. John made this saw years ago. Gord bought this saw off of John, who was well into his 80s then , about 7 years ago. I talked to Gord a couple of nights ago, a millwright rule is always talk to the operator. Gord had put a hole in the saw "through my own fault " . As you know tubs ,can rust out. Gord then had a shop make a new tub and hood out of aluminum. Nice ! Gord only got to use it a few times when the feed jammed up and stripped the little brass gears. The gear box was off a floor polisher. We bought it off Gord, we might have paid too much, but it was from a friend and he lost money on the deal. After talking to Gord, here is what I think happened. The rails for the carriage and the arbor mount to the tub. The shop that did the tub and hood might not have gotten the alignment right. It's pretty critical on these saws. After much internet reading and learning , here is what I've come up with to fix the feedworks. John had used a 1/2" 13tpi rod, I'm switching to a 5/8" 18tpi for both easier reduction and a stiffer feed rod. I think the old Frantoms were the ones that used 5/8" 18tpi. Highland Park has a nice conversion kit for 5/8" 18tpi. But they don't answer their phone, it's always "We are helping another customer" They have either made a least 12 sales or they are not home. I could modify John's little split nut clamp, but the Highland Park version is pretty slick.
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irockhound

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2019, 11:00:36 AM »

The new Highland Park and old Highland Park are not the same or the same company.  The new highland park company is horrible in communication and part order and delivery.  I ordered split nuts from them and it took maybe 4 months and numerous phone calls.  Recently (6 months ago) I ordered 2 18" blades and have yet to see them.  Yes if you call you will just get a recording.  But be thankful since if you get through they will just tell you parts are on back order or we will get back with you.  Good Luck!

ps they were not at Quartzsite this year or at least I could not find them and I did look.  I figured maybe I could pick up my blades directly at the show but no luck.
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Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2019, 11:39:43 AM »

Oh joy. Here is the part I'm hoping to purchase   http://www.hplapidary.com/en/frantom-split-nut-feed-dog-conversion-kit   I tried to phone them again this morning, it was morning in both Pacific and Eastern time. I had also emailed them asking about it. I like using the phone for credit card orders.

It's pretty slick, but I'm thinking at this rate, I may have to modify the dinky little one the original builder, John had made. Gord had closed our conversation with a " I hope I live long enough to see it workin'."
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hummingbirdstones

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2019, 06:57:56 PM »

I have no experience with Highland Park, but from what irockhound says, it doesn't sound promising.  I would suggest perhaps a call to Cigarbox Rock and see if they can help you out:  https://cigarboxrock.com/
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Robin

Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #4 on: February 15, 2019, 09:13:32 AM »

Oh, well. I bought brass and steel yesterday. $74 worth. I'll make my own. Even if I were to get a response, the waiting time might be fairly long. Rather than a cam, I'm thinking toggle levers and a compression spring instead of an extension. But I will borrow, steal, his idea of using replaceable inserts. Thanks for you guy's help and advice. Even if it was only good luck with Highland Park. chuckle.
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irockhound

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #5 on: February 16, 2019, 11:24:38 AM »

LOL Highland must be reading the forums.  After 23 weeks on order I got a notification that my 2 18" blades have a new ship date of the 21st - one week from now.   WAY TOO FUNNY.  Rule is if you need it fast, trying to complete a job or doing this for a living choose your vendors wisely.  I assume by the time they arrive approx. 5 months will have expired.
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #6 on: February 16, 2019, 01:24:51 PM »

OK ... so that isn't the experience I just got ordering a 14" saw?  I'm not arguing ... just reporting.  Phone answered every time, updates on delivery good .... solid communication when I asked about dimensions, cutting oil capacity, etc.   I had a really good experience ordering.  Saw shipping next week ... hope my happiness is the same once it gets here.  Older than dirt design everybody makes ... Covington, Lorotone,etc ...... not under patent and everybody makes them.  The new Highland park claims to make a better saw .. we'll see.  I paid about $1,500 for a 14" for reference if any one is looking .. has to be better than that Barranca Diamond Products piece of shit I bought a few years ago ... run from them.
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irockhound

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #7 on: February 17, 2019, 10:46:28 PM »

Good luck on your saw and order.  This is not the first time I have had this type of service with them but pretty much EVERY time I have ordered from them.  I ordered 2 saws from them in March and delay after delay I cancelled the orders in July since they still had no idea when they would ship.  I accept that things happen and every company has an occasional hiccup.  I have just found that this is their normal way of doing business.
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #8 on: February 18, 2019, 12:33:59 PM »

Thanks irockhound.   I have not actually gotten it yet ... so may need to suspend gleeful judgement until I actually see it :).  Got a call last week it was being shipped and their "shipping" department would be contacting me with carrier information.   Nothing yet.  Crossing my fingers ......
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Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #9 on: February 18, 2019, 04:45:13 PM »

I got an Email response to my question of a week ago this afternoon from Kelly. Very Polite.  I think it might have been handled by a call center, freshdesk.com.
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2019, 09:58:41 AM »

I think freshdesk must have made a dramatic improvement on their customer service ... to a point.   I dealt exclusively with Kelly for ordering, updates, questions about equipment, etc. ... and she's always been quick to reply and helpful.  She advised me a week ago they were charging my card and shipping the saw and that "shipping" would be following up with carrier and tracking information.  Yesterday I sent her an email asking if the saw had shipped (since they charged the card some time ago) ... and someone from HP "shipping" replied .... something to the effect they appreciated my patience and orders were being shipped first come first out .. and mine was being readied.  So .... I guess its still being readied.  The HP guy was not rude, but I'd didn't get any customer service warm fuzzies either.  I don't doubt they will ship the saw "soon", but .... I'm gonna have to think about my next saw purchase.
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bobby1

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2019, 10:18:03 AM »

Our club has been purchasing a lot of equipment from them over the past few months for use in the classrooms at the local junior college that we have been supporting for many years. One of their recent shipments the shipping container got delayed in customs for many weeks before it got released. Because the equipment is built in China the recent tariff wars have mucked up their business considerably.  When you call them they give you their best estimate as to when the equipment will be available but it is often just a guess when the container will be released from customs. Politics!

Bob
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #12 on: February 20, 2019, 10:33:06 AM »

Are all HP's saws made in China, or just the 10 and 12 inch ones?   I got the impression ... they were going to build the 14" saw in house on demand.  Maybe that was just doublespeak for when they get here from China ... lol.
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Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #13 on: February 20, 2019, 04:04:23 PM »

I got a phone reply today after leaving my number. If you look at the date of my first posting, you can tell the delay.  I think they are using a different business model . On a more positive note, I have everything assembled and have started work on my design.
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #14 on: February 21, 2019, 05:22:02 AM »

Downwindtracker2  - eager to see pics of the saw when you get it finished.  I've thought about building one ... but am far too lazy.  Thinking about ... is about as far as I got :)
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Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #15 on: February 21, 2019, 09:31:30 AM »

I'm not sure about the wisdom of building your own feed saw. I'm a retired millwright and I gather John the builder of the saw I'm modifying had been a millwright too. To be honest he did a lot of work, a lot of work, which I'm glad I don't have to. As it is, there is enough work to do on it to keep me busy for a while. I think, John might have built this saw in his spare time at work, afternoon and graveyard shifts have a lot of "government jobs". The arbor pillow blocks which I'm replacing are really deluxe. They found a pair in Edmonton. I suspect a company donated the ones he used.

A drop saw is much simpler, needing an arm and a vise basically. Before we bought the 24", I had assembled a  18" blade and a 1hp motor. The 18" blade will be a spare.

On just this saw:

-replacing arbor and carriage bearings
-adding two more bottom bearings on the carriage
- building a split nut feed clamp
-replacing the feed rod and bearings
-feedworks, this includes  six pulleys, jackshaft, reduction gear, idler pulley for slip clutch
-angle iron stand
-motor and feedworks mounts on the stand
-milling a keyway on the arbor
-hinging the hood and adding gas struts to hold it up
-a waterproof switch
-new motor wiring


After that listing, I better get on it. chuckle.
-


 





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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #16 on: February 21, 2019, 10:24:37 AM »

I've got one of those weird horizontal saws that ... everyone used to sell in maybe ... the 50s.  I have never used it ... looks like it has a 14" or so blade on it.  I have seen .. Sears ads for them .. lol.  basically .... they have a roundish tray .. a vise, a water holder ... and a feed driven by weights.  I know there must be a ton of them around.  I am sure ... they are perfectly functional and can probably be acquired for a song if you can find one since NO ONE seems to be interested in lapidary anymore.  I'd give this one away if someone would come get the thing.  It weighs a lot.  Its in my way ... in the yard covered by a tarp :). It runs strong.  I'm in Morehead KY ... any takers .. LOL.
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bobby1

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #17 on: February 21, 2019, 08:14:32 PM »

I think initially they were assembling them in Texas but they had trouble finding people to correctly assemble them so they moved the business back east and started assembling them in China. The business and factory is owned by John Rowland.
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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2019, 06:00:25 AM »

Well .. that's a sad fact.  The factories around my parts have a very difficult time finding someone sober enough, smart enough and dependable enough to do common labor.  Why are we building a wall on the border ... I am too old to work :)
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Downwindtracker2

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2019, 09:09:30 AM »

An economist said if you want 3% growth rate, you are going to have to open up immigration, but I don't hold much stock in what they say, they did bring  us the '08 recession. Please don't take that too seriously.



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brentnewton

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2019, 09:36:22 AM »

Downwindtracker2 .... its not the economists .. lol.  The are just pencil headed geeks trying to figure things out. The real evil is greed.  Its Wall Street. Trying to devise ways to prey on poor folks, to separate old folks from their savings, to screw anyone and everyone to pad their bank account.  Has not changed from the 08 crash .. ain't gonna change.  Not really sure what the alternative is ... socialism is more evil than capitalism .. by a long shot.  At least with capitalists I have some reasonable possibility of not becoming a victim :)
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Michael52

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #21 on: July 17, 2020, 02:56:09 PM »

... The new Highland park claims to make a better saw .. we'll see.  I paid about $1,500 for a 14" for reference if any one is looking .. has to be better than that Barranca Diamond Products piece of shit I bought a few years ago ... run from them.
Would like to know which Barranca Diamond saw you had, and what problems you had with it.
Thanks very much.
Michael
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mearic71

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Re: Highland Park, is anyone home ?
« Reply #22 on: August 03, 2020, 12:21:11 PM »

I bought a 14" saw from highland park a few months ago and have been more than happy with it. The saws are made and assembled in china in there own factory, but 1 of the owners is over there for about half the year. I have been waiting a for a different vise for my unit for a few months but I get reg. updates from them.
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