DesertCanyon
Member
Woodcraft no longer makes the Arete rollerball kit, and it is one of my customer favorites. Does anyone have some kits they want to sell?
WTB Arete Rollerball Kits
- Thread starter DesertCanyon
- Start date
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Hmm, I might have some stashed away... Give me a little time to see if I can locate them.
It is rather sad, Woodcraft/Woodriver seem to be dropping a lot of pen kits lately. I've been unable to find the stuff I usually turn from them for most of this year, extending back to the latter third, maybe half of last year. I kind of wonder about the health of the company. My local Woodcraft, when I first started turning in 2020, was a hopping, happenin place. The whole store was staffed by all these guys, I'd say 50-70 or so, and they all KNEW THEIR STUFF! Was like that for a couple/three years. The last...two years or so....all those skilled woodworkers have left, store is staffed by mostly younger guys, and I don't think many or even any of them actually do any woodworking... The store is totally dead 90% of the time, and if there is anyone in there now, it remains almost totally silent, people seem to shuffle around quietly.
Its been my go-to store for everything for a while now...but, I do worry....honestly not sure if its going to survive whatever is happening. The local Rockler, which is a ways away, seems to be more lively, but it, too, isn't quite as lively as 2020-2022. Dunno if there is a third local option for woodworkers...its basically Woodcraft and Rockler, right?
It is rather sad, Woodcraft/Woodriver seem to be dropping a lot of pen kits lately. I've been unable to find the stuff I usually turn from them for most of this year, extending back to the latter third, maybe half of last year. I kind of wonder about the health of the company. My local Woodcraft, when I first started turning in 2020, was a hopping, happenin place. The whole store was staffed by all these guys, I'd say 50-70 or so, and they all KNEW THEIR STUFF! Was like that for a couple/three years. The last...two years or so....all those skilled woodworkers have left, store is staffed by mostly younger guys, and I don't think many or even any of them actually do any woodworking... The store is totally dead 90% of the time, and if there is anyone in there now, it remains almost totally silent, people seem to shuffle around quietly.
Its been my go-to store for everything for a while now...but, I do worry....honestly not sure if its going to survive whatever is happening. The local Rockler, which is a ways away, seems to be more lively, but it, too, isn't quite as lively as 2020-2022. Dunno if there is a third local option for woodworkers...its basically Woodcraft and Rockler, right?
WoodRiver Arete Fountain Pen Kit - Chrome | Woodcraft
Buy the Arete Fountain Pen Kit - Chrome for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!
www.woodcraft.com
DesertCanyon
Member
Thanks, but this is the fountain pen kit. I need the rollerball, and that is no longer carried.WoodRiver Arete Fountain Pen Kit - Chrome | Woodcraft
Buy the Arete Fountain Pen Kit - Chrome for sale online from Woodcraft. Visit us to order online or find your local Woodcraft store today!
I use that personally and love it, although I don't sell it because it has a hooded nib that the customer can't replace without another whole kit. It is also a finer point so some people find it scratchy. I got several for myself at this closeout price.
DesertCanyon
Member
Thanks!
Our Woodcraft is still staffed by mostly experienced woodworkers, but fewer than before. They have some really beautiful woods, though, and that's primarily what I use them for. Both that and Rockler have few customers when I've been in. Our Rockler doesn't have as much variety of smaller blocks of project wood as our Woodcraft. I tend to buy more kits from Exotic Blanks since they carry almost everything I make. Except the Arete...
Yeah, wood is mostly what I go in for. That and finishes. Although, lately, I've been building sleds and jigs, and I guess I've been buying things like T-Track, miter tracks, miter gauges, stops, stuff like that. Picked up this really awesome micro-adjustable flip stop from Rockler. $29!! Stuff like that from specialized makers online usually go for $150+!
Anyway...I've dug through all my kits, and I don't seem to have the Arete Rollerballs anymore. I have noticed that several other of the kits I liked, such as Kojent (really great in gunmetal and gold), have been sold out for a long time, and I haven't seen any at the local Woodcraft store for quite some time. The local Woodcraft used to have an entire wall full of kits. Its less than half a wall now. The ones they still have mostly, are the Cigars, Sierras, and Navigators (their version of a Baron). There are some other kits mixed in, usually not in many variations (platings, etc.) Dunno what's happened there, maybe interest in it locally has just collapsed since the shipping crisis of 2021/2022?