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VIII
Dear Friends,
Last year this page featured a photo of a prototype 10" trim saw that was under construction and we
expressed the hope that this new saw would appear in the 2014 catalog.
The bad news is that this project has been delayed. The good news is that new design ideas will be
incorporated and that should make it even better than originally predicted. The delay has been due to
prototype work on one improved version after another of our Xpert machine.
The Xpert started as a 6" version of our 4" Pixie machine with one nice upgrade—provision for
mounting a seventh wheel. This feature along with the wide wheel spacing made the Xpert a widely
admired machine.
This Xpert was originally sold with two pans that didn't fully cover the base of the machine but were
easily moved along under the wheels. This arrangement was changed to three pans that didn't need to be
moved. Now, however, the base of the unit was upped from 24" to nearly 29" in width.
That meant there was room for an eighth wheel! With the seven wheel Xpert one had to choose between
adding an extra coarse wheel to speed up grinding or an extra fine wheel to help with polishing. Now
you can have both at once!
Our catalog cover photo is of the first eight wheel prototype Xpert. It starts with a 60 grit (regular not
Hex), includes a 100 grit Nova, which is a very fast scratch remover, and ends with a Nova Cerium
polish wheel—See the new Xpert on page 7.
Following this first eight wheel version we built a new machine with a nice added feature…The hood
hinges upwards for ease of cleaning the machine and replacing wheels.
At this point we relaxed a bit knowing we had built a real “DreamMachine”. However—you know what
they say in the TV commercials…“But wait! There's more!”
As I write this we are busily welding up a machine that is just 1" taller and 1" deeper although of the
same length. It's of all aluminum construction so it's lighter.
Why the change? This latest and hopefully last version of the Xpert will readily accept either 6" or 8"
wheels!
Thanks again for your business. We look forward to meeting you at the shows or at our shop in Barstow!
Sincerely,
Bill E. Depue
President
October, 2013