Mild steel would be fine I dont see it as a copy
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Carbide tipped tool
- Thread starter Maurice
- Start date
Perhaps "tat" was a bit harsh, and doubtless it will serve its purpose. I am happy to agree to differ my friend, it does not matter at all and thank you for your kind blessing. Whilst I fear we also differ in our religious beliefs (or disbeliefs in my case) I appreciate the sentiment and wish you well too.
I doubt if Craig Jackson the CEO of Easy Wood Tools who spent many hours developing these tools and doubtless thousands of pounds investing in their manufacture would agree with you.
In there tool end were the cutter is that about 30 second work for a company like them on a cnc machine
if you look at it the only thing patent able there is the handle as people have been make the metal for so long it not original to them I do agree that the handle is a straight copy but apart from that it not really a copy
if you look at it the only thing patent able there is the handle as people have been make the metal for so long it not original to them I do agree that the handle is a straight copy but apart from that it not really a copy
I defer to your doubtless extensive knowledge of patent law. 
Well the design is not original but the profit they must make on them must be mad
I agree they are expensive, but even if, as you suggest, it only takes a few seconds to make the metal components on a CNC machine, someone had to invest in the machine, the factory to house it, the labour to operate the machine, raw materials, marketing, and the research and development to create the tool in the first place.
That is why patent law exists, to protect that investment so that someone cannot come along and make a blatant copy is a shed somewhere and sell it for a third of the price of the genuine article.
Profit is not a crime, profit is the reward for enterprise in the same way that wages are the reward for labour. Excessive profit is perhaps morally reprehensible, but without seeing the profit and loss account of the company concerned we are not in a position to judge whether their profits are, as you so colourfully put it, "mad".
Profiting from someone else's idea is however illegal and that is why companies like Easy Wood tools will happily spend thousands of dollars protecting their patents and copyrights.
If you look on the Easy Tools Website you will see an ® next to the name of each tool indicating that it is a registered design. At the bottom of the page are these words: "©2013 Easy Wood Tools. All rights reserved. Trademarks, copyrights and patents pending on all applicable products are property of Craig Jackson"
If all or any of the design of the Easy Wood tools has been patented or the design registered then no matter what you or me or anyone else thinks then the perpetrator is liable to face a civil action in the courts if they find out about it.
That is why patent law exists, to protect that investment so that someone cannot come along and make a blatant copy is a shed somewhere and sell it for a third of the price of the genuine article.
Profit is not a crime, profit is the reward for enterprise in the same way that wages are the reward for labour. Excessive profit is perhaps morally reprehensible, but without seeing the profit and loss account of the company concerned we are not in a position to judge whether their profits are, as you so colourfully put it, "mad".
Profiting from someone else's idea is however illegal and that is why companies like Easy Wood tools will happily spend thousands of dollars protecting their patents and copyrights.
If you look on the Easy Tools Website you will see an ® next to the name of each tool indicating that it is a registered design. At the bottom of the page are these words: "©2013 Easy Wood Tools. All rights reserved. Trademarks, copyrights and patents pending on all applicable products are property of Craig Jackson"
If all or any of the design of the Easy Wood tools has been patented or the design registered then no matter what you or me or anyone else thinks then the perpetrator is liable to face a civil action in the courts if they find out about it.
Pendragon
Apprentice Member
Gosh, what a lot of tetchy comments!. I looked at Easy Wood and Hunter Hercules but could not justify the expense. I have 3 of these "tat" tools and they do the job brilliantly at a ridiculous price. As for the handles, they are round, have some shape and have 4 wireburn rings - nothing like the Easy Wood apart from this. As for copper ferrules, I have no problem with this (yet). I am not clever or confident enough to make my own carbide insert tools so these are just the job for me.
When I look at the two the are different so no patnet breach also I would of thought they subcontract the machineing because u would not invest the amount you would need to to purchase the machines Which would total out way the amont they make so no one has done wrong and I am in the process of make two for my self so I will work out The amount it would cost if you bought the raw materiels and time taken then we can see what there profits is
Tell you what young Alex, lets not argue about it, why don't you just e-mail Craig Jackson and see what his lawyers think. 
Well said Walter, although I have closed my factory down I still maintain my patents and trade marks etc.
I have discovered other companies trying to emulate my products and had them stopped instantly.
They are very specialist products and not everday items so it's closed market to sell in and I keep an eye on that market in the event I may reopen.
I certainly don't want anyone else taking the gain from my expenditure over many years.
These laws are made to protect us and are very much enforceable in countries that recognise patents.
People do get confused with the difference between patent, copyright and Trademark but still no excuse to rip off for personal gain.
Trademark laws have laxed a lot lately in as much as similarities are allowed and it is much harder to enforce than it used to be, what with everyone with a compuer has the potential to be a design artist.
Copyright is still the originators work and needs to be proved who was first to produce that work there are many ways of doing this and I have successfuly done this on many past occasions but don't give a damn anymore, it is a costly procedure and only gets redesigned to work around it.
Patents however are a different kettle of fish altogether they are the property of the inventor, an idea can't be patented much to peoples disbelief.
That is juest a laymens look in brief for those who are unsure, must get back to work now or I would have gone into more detail.
I have discovered other companies trying to emulate my products and had them stopped instantly.
They are very specialist products and not everday items so it's closed market to sell in and I keep an eye on that market in the event I may reopen.
I certainly don't want anyone else taking the gain from my expenditure over many years.
These laws are made to protect us and are very much enforceable in countries that recognise patents.
People do get confused with the difference between patent, copyright and Trademark but still no excuse to rip off for personal gain.
Trademark laws have laxed a lot lately in as much as similarities are allowed and it is much harder to enforce than it used to be, what with everyone with a compuer has the potential to be a design artist.
Copyright is still the originators work and needs to be proved who was first to produce that work there are many ways of doing this and I have successfuly done this on many past occasions but don't give a damn anymore, it is a costly procedure and only gets redesigned to work around it.
Patents however are a different kettle of fish altogether they are the property of the inventor, an idea can't be patented much to peoples disbelief.
That is juest a laymens look in brief for those who are unsure, must get back to work now or I would have gone into more detail.
Don't mean to come across as tetchy. Just a bit of friendly debate I thought. Sorry if it appeared otherwise
I don't doubt the tools do the job, and if you don't have the skills or confidence to make your own they are certainly a lot cheaper than the branded alternatives. I would be concerned about using them for any heavy work though without full knowledge of the materials used (and replacing the laminated handle)
As for whether they contravene any patents that is not for me or Alex or any of us to decide, but my money would be on Craig Jackson's lawyers if it came to it.
I don't mean to sound patronising Alex, but I think you misunderstand my point. Whether they buy the machines, lease them or contract out the work to someone else, somehow or another they have to pay the cost of having the parts manufactured.
Well on that note friends I'm going out in my workshop to make another 9 in 1 tool and a 1/4" scrapper to quote Brian from another forum sue me have a good day
Which would be next to nothing
Without access to their accounting records we have no way of knowing. Anyway, lets not fall out about it, it doesn't really matter to either of us one way or another because we both agree their prices are more than we are prepared to pay anyway.
Agree on that
Maurice
Full Member
Well that put the cat amongst the pigeon. I just thought I would give people a simple turners view of a product that is available (and has been for some time) and for me does a good job at a reasonable price.
Isn't that what you see from supposed experts in the woodturning magazines each month for highly expensive branded items or is it only any good if it has a NAME on it?
Isn't that what you see from supposed experts in the woodturning magazines each month for highly expensive branded items or is it only any good if it has a NAME on it?
Maurice I could never make one so I think I'll put one like yours on my Xmas list.:wink:
Personally I think these big brand names are pricing themselves out of the market and if I couldn't make my own I would go in the same direction as you Maurice but I do make my own as woodturners have done for years so that makes me as bad as every one else who makes them and do I care like heck we all want a bargain