AN UPDATE FROM WOODCRAFT - 8" Slow Speed Grinder
For those following this thread..... here is an update of what has transpired since yesterday:
I got an informative e-mail from Woodcraft's Social Media Specialist, Frank Byers, asking that I supply my friend Roger's contact information (who recently purchased one of the 'screeching' 8" slow-speed grinders), and that he would see to it that the Technical Staff at Woodcraft would contact him and talk with Roger about the problem, and get the situation with the defective grinder resolved.
Upon speaking with Roger last night, he told me that Woodcraft contacted him yesterday (the same day I contacted them on his behalf), discussed the issue about the faulty (and obnoxiously loud) grinder; they listened to it over the phone, and came to the conclusion that there is something major that is not right in this unit, and likely it's not a capacitor or voltage surge (...which I agree with Bill is very unlikely). Apparently Woodcraft is shipping a new (and presumably tested) grinder to Roger today, and they want the defective grinder back to study and pass along any additional information that they learn from it to improve their manufacturing and QC.
By getting to the correct person(s), it seems that Woodcraft is taking a serious look at this situation, and is responding accordingly with a replacement unit. Frank related to me that Woodcraft is keenly aware of maintaining quality control and more importantly, in having good customer support. I am convinced that they are taking this grinder issue seriously.
I suppose that if others have this same problem with receiving a defective grinder that was purchased recently from Woodcraft, they should contact Woodcraft Technical support, and follow up on the situation. Woodcraft does not want people to be unhappy with their products, and asks that they be given a chance to resolve the customer's concerns. (Hopefully this does not take more than one call/contact to get this ball rolling.) I have no idea if they will pre-test any or all of this new batch of grinders before shipping them to customers, but in the end, it may be much more of a cost savings for them if they do.
I hope this information helps others who may be in a similar situation. I have been a customer of Woodcraft for at least 20 years, and I hope this issue reinforces the idea that customer service is important, and I am happy that Woodcraft has responded in this manner to Roger's defective grinder situation. [ To be honest, last night I went down to the shop and turned on both of my Woodcraft grinders, AND my big Delta 8" grinder, just to be sure they were still quiet as I remembered them! And they were!
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Pat - it may be worth your while to give them another call.....
Rob Wallace