 Poster: A snowHead
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http://apoerner.com/index.htm
This product has recently been mentioned on another thread so I thought I'd post an update now rather than waiting until next week as I'd originally planned.
The Burrbuster patent/manufacturing rights & all the stock have recently been purchased from Dick Coppock the US inventor by a UK entrepreneur who's also a BASI Examiner. I've had one on demo over Christmas & have used it on about a dozen pairs of skis this week & it has preformed superbly. The tool is certainly a giant leap from using an alu-oxide stone & guide however it is of course considerably more expensive so it's not going to be for everyone. It is very accurate in it's adjustment & removes even large case hardened burrs in a few pass, although it must be remember that it is a burr removal tool only & will not sharpen dull edges so it does not replace a file/diamond stone set-up. It canbe adjusted to suit side edge angles from 0 to 4 degrees inclusive.
Dick Coppock only did a small production run of approx 50 units, some of which were sent out as samples/demo items & the rest are currently on route to the UK. Production of further units is currently being finalised but I'm in the process of confirming the details to enable me to offer them for sale from w/c 7.1.08. Price is yet to be finalised & will depend upon the final manufacturing costs but I hope to be able to offer a special price to snowHeads.
UPDATE 2.1.08 10.30pm:
The Burrbuster side edge burr removing tool will be £49.00 plus postage to the general public but I have agreed a deal with the manufacturer to offer it to snowHeads for just £45.00 plus postage. 5% of this price will go to snowHeads.
Burrbuster will be available from my on-line store from Fri 3.1.08 or just PM me your email address & I can forward an invoice. The manufacturer will shortly be launching a Burrbuster website.
Please note that the product is no longer available from the website link shown above.
Please also note that the Burrbuster base edge guide is not in production & the one shown on the above website was a prototype tool & none have been produced. It's unlikely that a base edge version will be produced as the vast majority of burrs raised are on the side edge of the ski/board.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Wed 2-01-08 23:37; edited 3 times in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Please tell me they won't go up in price... currently $75usd... so £30.
I've just been looking at the link in your signature & having a read around your site.
Can you give me any recomendations of the first tools I'll need excluding the bench/vice.
(I'd rather spend more if needed to get something well made than get frustrated with duff cheapo tools)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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runner - spyderjon does tuning lessons. It's well worth the trip to see him as he can both talk you through the tools and also teach you how to use them properly.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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spyderjon - I'm interested. After servicing four pairs of skis one evening last week, then anything that makes things easier is good by me!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| runner wrote: |
.....I've just been looking at the link in your signature & having a read around your site.
Can you give me any recomendations of the first tools I'll need excluding the bench/vice.
(I'd rather spend more if needed to get something well made than get frustrated with duff cheapo tools) |
runner check-out my Basic Kit in the equipment packages section of my on-line store.
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Please see the updated information on my opening post above.
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great, so 2 days ago it would have been £30 & now its £45!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| runner wrote: |
| great, so 2 days ago it would have been £30 & now its £45! |
Dunno how you got to £30! $75 + $10 shipping @$2/£1 = £42.50 + VAT/import charges = Over £50. You might get lucky & escaped the VAT/charges but the price would still have been virtually the same as is being offerd to snowHeads.
The history behind this product appears to be a classic 'inventor' story. AFAIK it was designed back in 2001 & after a few minor tweaks a run of 50 were made. A few were put out to the trade & a few were sold but after getting great reviews nothing appears to be done with the design & the remaining Burrbusters seem to have sat in a box for a few years. No promotion appears to have been done other than the website shown. The actual price was $89 for a good few years but last year they were on offer at $75.
Last Autumn a Brit entrepreneur/engineer/BASI trainer met the inventor while in the US & soon after the deal was done to buy the TM/design & the remaining stock of approx 37 units which he brought back to the UK. The inventor didn't actually know the cost price of the units that he'd made but was able to put the new owner in touch with the company that originally manufactured the units. Since then a number of people, including myself, have been evaluating the product & all the remaining initial stock has been solely by word of mouth/recommendation etc. So in a couple of months about three times the amount have been sold than had been in the previous few years.
Unfortunately manufacturing in the UK is too expensive so the options were to make them in China or to have them made in the US by the original manufacturer, especially as the dollar rate is good. So AFAIK they're now being made in the US or at least will be for the near future.
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True, so whats the postage charge?
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| runner wrote: |
| True, so whats the postage charge? |
£2.35 but if you pay me by electronic transfer rather than Paypal I throw in the postage.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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looks too big and too expensive to be useful to your average snowhead
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| skimottaret wrote: |
| looks too big and too expensive to be useful to your average snowhead |
As I said in my original post "The tool is certainly a giant leap from using an alu-oxide stone & guide however it is of course considerably more expensive so it's not going to be for everyone".
It's ideal for racers & multiple ski owning individuals/families or for those who just like having the best kit - that's you isn't it Scott? 
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You know it makes sense.
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spyderjon, I am a gear junky but why is it any better than the £14 kunsman adjustable pocket diamond edge tool which is tiny in comparison and does the same job and can be taken onto the slopes?
i dont get how it is a "giant leap" if it is only a burr remover and doesnt sharpen which means you still need an edge guide/files/diamonds anyways.
As you still need sharpening gear why not just get a diamond stone for a few pounds and deburr prior to sharpening?
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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skimottaret, a diamond stone or file will soon get worn if you're using it to remove case hardened burrs. Burrs should be first be removed with an alu-oxide stone before sharpening. As I said it's not for everyone but the people that have one think it's great.
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Poster: A snowHead
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spyderjon, sorry i should have said Alu-oxide stone not diamond. I guess if you are a shop owner fair enough to have a specialised tool but if you already invested in edge guides, clamps and sharpening files/ diamonds adding a alu oxide stone for a fiver seems like a better solution to me...
however adding another expensive piece of ski equipment to the arsenal is always tempting
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, having had a small "incident" involving an untracked patch of snow that was actually covering a very large flat rock  , I can confirm that the Burrbuster made extremely light work of the resulting (and somewhat extensive) burrs!
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FAQ
