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Kobra

Pete Blair said:
You can also reach them here

Jerry & Al <jatooling@yahoo.com>

I understand that they are a little behind but IMHO well worth the wait!!!!
Click to expand...

I second this - they can be a bit difficult to get in touch with so I have found that email is the best bet. I placed my order through email and then promply forgot all about it. I believe it was 6 or 8 months later (I would have to go look to be exact) I got an email from them out of the blue telling me my unit was ready and to send payment. So I promptly sent them a check and they promptly sent me my Kobra. I truely love working with this thing. The engineering and machining on these units is definitely a work of art.
 
Michael - I am wondering what the current price is for the Kobra, and if this tool is lathe-specific as to spindle height or lathe bed mounting requirements. I have only heard glowing reports about this tool and its ease of use.

Rob Wallace
 
Rob Wallace said:
Michael - I am wondering what the current price is for the Kobra, and if this tool is lathe-specific as to spindle height or lathe bed mounting requirements. I have only heard glowing reports about this tool and its ease of use.

Rob Wallace
Click to expand...

Rob,

With laser and 1" hardened boring bar the package will run in the neighborhood of $1k. You have to supply them with your lathe make and model as specs on lathe beds do vary, however the rig is not lathe specific; the measurements as to bed gap and spindle height are needed to insure a close tolerance fit. It will then come with detailed instruction on how to set up the rig so that yout tools will always be cutting at dead center on the rotation axis.

m
 
Rob Wallace said:
Michael - I am wondering what the current price is for the Kobra, and if this tool is lathe-specific as to spindle height or lathe bed mounting requirements. I have only heard glowing reports about this tool and its ease of use.

Rob Wallace
Click to expand...

Rob - I paid $1071 for the Kobra with a 1" boring bar, 3 different angled cutting tips, and the laser ready to go. One of the things I really like about it is the ease with which it goes on and off the lathe. You just loosen 2 allen screws and twist the base less than a quarter turn and it comes right off. Putting it on is just the opposite. Truely, the main reason I bought it was for safety. I am cutting a lot of big bowls and hollow vessels these days and I have absolutely no fear of being injured because I am always out of the line of fire and I am not the least concerned about the tool coming apart - it is literally built like a tank!

As for being specific to your lathe - it kind of is. The height off the bed is not adjustable beyond fine tuning to get it set dead center on your blank. So you are not going to be able to move it from a 16" swing to a 32" swing, for example.

Mike
 
One other note - it was just over 5 months between the time I placed my order and when I got my unit.. this was last year (2012).
 
Thanks Mark and Michael!

This might be part of a future 'infrastructure expansion', but I'll have to sell a few more pieces to capitalize that expansion.

With the last few tuition payments for my daughter, I have been sequestered.

I appreciate the information!

Rob
 
Hey Ted/Rob.

I think mine took about 6 months as well.

Ted, the comparison photos are really good and do provide a sense of the difference. You did mention that the Kobra comes with it's own tool rest which works great and it is hardened steel so everything slides really easily.

Rob, even though you apparently aren't in a position to spring for one right now or anyone else is thinking about a purchase you should be aware that the duo of Jerry and Al are in the process of recovering and putting their lives back in order after loosing a loved one. I can only hope that they are both on the mend.

One other thing that needs to be mentioned is that as far as after market customer support goes. I have dealt with a lot of suppliers but have never been more pleased and happy with these two guys. Lots of the big suppliers could learn a thing or two about how to treat past customers from them.

Ok, now I think I have finished with my two cents worth.
 
I concur with the support being top notch. They can be a bit slow to reply, but they have always treated me right.

One other note - if anyone is considering a Kobra - you might want to shoot them an email right away. There may be some changes coming. The last time I talked with them they told me about some changes they were working on. They did not say that I could not repeat what they said, but then it is not my business to talk about there business so I would just refer you to them.
 
I've been waiting a long time. One of the partners had a family tragedy. I am patient and hope to hear from them soon. They sent me an email letting me know I am still on the list. I must have ordered at a bad time. It is well over a year already.
 
Wait

Faust, I understand that it gets long waiting for it to arrive. When I last talked on the phone to Al he said he has quite a few nearly complete but because of the family situation he is doing his best to get them out to those of you who are waiting.
It might sound a little hollow but I can assure you the wait is well worth it.
 
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