Question: beginners advice

celticjohn

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Joined
Jan 21, 2010
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94
Location
Ireland
Wayne,
www.suttontools.co.uk in Birmingham stock most of GRS products. They are pricey I find.
They are due to exhibit at the International Jewellery Fair end of August in London.
There may be demonatrations at this, contact them and I'm sure they'll tell you.

the hand engravers association do classes in the UK also. www.handengravers.co.uk
also West Dean college have short courses about twice a year, but this is prush graving

Regards
John
 

Marcus Hunt

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Yes John, they are pricey I agree but I've literally just bought a turntable from them and by the time you take into account shipping across the pond and duty and VAT (not to say the time the stuff takes to get here from GRS) it's not vastly different. When the $ was nearly 2 to the £ saving were nearly 30% but it's much less than that now. Plus, if you're going to buy things like a GraverMach, etc, you've got some sort of comeback if (in the unlikely event) something goes wrong with it, rather than having to ship it back to Kansas yourself.

The main beef I have with Suttons is that they don't always have what you want in stock and as they are GRS' main dealer over here we have to wait patiently for delivery from the US because (so I heard) we can no longer buy directly from GRS anymore. If I'm wrong on this point please correct me.
 
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phil

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Oct 21, 2007
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England
Marcus, Sutton's were the sole UK supplier of GRS products until recently, but now Walsh's in Hockley also sell GRS equipment and seem better stocked. They are however equally as limited in the knowledge of the products they sell. It is a great pity because many people in the jewellery quarter know little of the benefits of pneumatic tools. As you have found out from experience, the physical demands of work can play havoc with the body. More people should be educated as to the benefits of a microscopy setup coupled with power assisted tools, but the people over here selling the products have no experience of engraving or setting. I wish I knew about it 20 years ago. I wouldn't have constant neck and shoulder pain if I did!
 

celticjohn

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Joined
Jan 21, 2010
Messages
94
Location
Ireland
Last week I purchased a turntable base as I bought a scope but was more of a nuisance try to reposition it every couple of seconds.

Suttons were looking for £215 sterling + VAT and carriage. GRS prise is $278 dollar
I got the same product (GRS Turntable) from Rio Grande in the US for $258 dollar...plus 70+ carriage USPS
It arrived within a week. I did have to pay €62.00 duty and taxes when it arrived but I'm still happy with the purchase
 
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