Problems with Wizard and new blades???

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Maryann

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Joined
Jun 28, 1999
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Loc
Shippensburg, PA 17257 USA
At the Atlanta show, Wizard introduced a new and better blade. We were all but out of the old blades and ordered a box of the higher end blades. Since that time, we have had major problems with hooking. Wizard has been working with us - to the point of sending a new head - but we're still having problems with hooking. We have adjusted the configs to match the new blades, we have tried adusting the rotation in the configs. New blades, new slip sheets, correct air pressure, what am I overlooking? I dug an old blade out of the coffee can today and guess what? No hooks. Wizard says no one else is having problems. Is that true??
 
Take one of the new blades and hold it up to the light and inspect the very tip. Sometimes if the box is dropped on an end the tips of an entire row (individual package) are slightly bent. Compare it to one of your old blades. If it is bent it will be obvious. Open another package and compare it to a blade the hooks as well. I've seen this a number of times with both Eclipse and Wizard (same blades).
 
Maryann,

Yes, and it was related to the difference in blades.

We had similar problems when we had a Wizard. Our description of the problem was more of a "Swoop" than a "Hook". I think the definition of a swoop is a hook over a much longer distance. The swoops varied from blade to blade. We would calibrate blade depth on a piece of suede prior to cutting the actual design, install a new blade so that we would have a perfect cut, and end up with a long swoop in an expensive mat.

Wizard's conclusion, after eliminating all other possibilities, was that blade length was causing the problem. Since Wizard doesn't manufacture the blades, they may not have any control over slight variations of a few thousandths inch in blade length from blade to blade. That is one of the reasons that we now own a Fletcher 6100 because we have a zero tolerance rule regarding those long swoops.
 
Maryann,

A point of clarification, the “new” blades you are referring to aren’t new, we have been selling them for the past few years. We haven’t advertised them very much and we had a “show special” in Atlanta so that may have caused some confusion. We call them the “premium” blades here in the office.

John hit the nail on the head, unfortunately, some of the premium blades get damaged in transit or just don’t seem to cut as well on some machines. Our policy is to take back any blades that don’t perform up to your satisfaction, and either give you credit or replace the blades in question (your choice).

I apologize if someone here at Wizard told you that no one else had ever had problems with the premium blades because this is certainly not the first time I have heard of this type issue. As I mentioned before, some people swear by the premium blades and other people swear at them.

If this problem hasn’t been taken care of to your satisfaction, please feel free to call me directly (toll free 888 855-3335).
 
I talked with Edd Pratt about 3 minutes after his posting hit the board. He is sending out some "standard" blades red label. I'll talk to their tech people later. I have to say that the people at Wizard have always been very quick to respond to the few problems that I have had. It is a good machine at a good price backed by great people, a great value.
 
Bob,

Thank you for the nice words. I will pass them on to our customer service group.
 
We don't have a CMC yet, but it's SO gratifying to have someone like Edd watching the Grumble!

Other manufacturers also watch the Grumble, and, if only they would intercede, if not on here, by email, they might not get so thoroughly trashed.

Keep up the good work, and good customer relations, Edd!
 
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