MAG-8000, MAG-1000, MAG-10300 ("Lot 4") Review

[CQ_DX]

SHIPPING:
UPS delivered the boxes in two days from WI to MA, however a weekend prevented delivery until the following Monday. Everything survived the often poor handling characteristics of UPS as experienced through numerous decades of shabby box handing by UPS. Given the very heavy package weights, I feared UPS would again deliver crushed boxes filled with damaged goods. Thankfully Magna-Matic knows how to pack and ship with the result of everything arriving as desired.

UNBOXING:
All parts were unboxed and sorted. All except for a few pieces of hardware was accounted for. I presume the missing hardware is due to a floor model being quickly disassembled such that my expedited order would arrive ASAP (which as mentioned above, it sure did!). I suspect in the flurry to get the order out the door the missing pieces simply never got repackaged and into the box. After a few tag-type phone calls (my fault having left the BlackBerry when away from the shop) I was informed a box of hardware was express mailed USPS. Like the original order, in just a couple of days the missing hardware arrived and I was able to complete the assembly in a far more secure (as intended!) manner.

ASSEMBLY:
Very easy. Very straightforward. The documentation is impressive and it is so refreshing to find well written, grammatically correct documentation in real English rather than written in English is a second language as often seen from China. The photos, diagrams, etc. are very clear and therefore easy to follow. All in all, the assembly was a breeze.

FIRST OPERATION:
I decided to sharpen an ExMark high lift blade (no "Gator" teeth) as it is reasonably flat. Given there was a slight curve towards the back lift edge, I began with the as-shipped configuration and used the half inch wide Norton grinding wheel in conjunction with the standard sized table. The object here was to not introduce a lot of variables just yet - simply try the machine as configured when it left the factory.

I concentrated with consistent down pressure to hold the blade in firm contact with the table and, to start, pulled the blade towards me (as if processing a mulching blade), while ensuring the pressure against the wheel provided a steady and consistent spark stream.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Wow! Fast - VERY fast! Very clean, sharp, and well defined consistent edge. ExMark recommends a 28 degree angle and as Magna-Matic states the finished angle will be close to 30 degrees with the product setup as instructed, I had to know just what the angle was. Another WOW ... twenty-eight degrees. Needless to say, I was thrilled!!

CONTINUED IMPRESSION and RESULTS:
Consistent, fast, and a big time saver. Given I'm still becoming at ease with the machine and therefore constantly stopping to critique (admire?) my work, I'm averaging three minutes per blade which includes "Gator" style, high lift, flat, etc. And a fair amount of this time is because I'm a stickler for a good finish and an extremely well balanced blade so I'm being fussy. After all, I paid good money for this equipment so I have to know that it can perform - perform well, perform consistently, and do so in a short amount of time. I have not been disappointed. My sharpening time has already been cut more than in half, and will continue to improve. The results are consistently superior to previous methods.

BALANCER:
Sure beats everything else I have tried: nail, cone, and a knock-off of the MAG-1000. I compared the knock-off and the cone to the MAG-1000 and find the 1000 to be more accurate. I'd check a "balanced" blade then put it on the MAG-1000 - oops, not as balanced as I had thought. I attribute this to the increased sensitivity and components used to make the 1000 - - plus it just feels smoother as I slowly rotated it while checking to ensure the 1000 is itself balanced. It is.

STAND:
Heavy duty and compact. With the complete "Lot 4" package assembled, it feels very secure while in operation.

COMMENTS:
I have a shop vac attached. AC power automatically powers-on the vac when I throw the MAG-8000 power switch as I am using a Craftsman power center that provides this power-up automation. I added a pair of clamp-on, 100 watt task lights. One illuminates the sharpening part of the workstation and the second lights the blade cleaner work station I've used which is now attached to the stand using a pair of 2 inch angle iron arms that support the blade cleaning work top. The lights are also automatically turned on and off using the aforementioned Sears device.

SUGGESTIONS:
I'd suggest the following optional end-user items:
Shelving to attach to the stand (I plan to add my own) to hold tools, spare stones, etc.
Longer legs to increase stability to support the user add-ons (shelving, blade cleaner table top).
Better means to add lighting to the work station - my clamp on lights are secure, but different welded-on tabs attached to the balancer arm would have facilitated their attachment.


Bottom Line - As long as the equipment provides reliability and a long service life, then years from know I think we will all know the answer will be "Yes!!"


Hope this may help others reach their own personal purchase decision.

Regards, Bill

[mtchockey30]

Which one did you get? The Mag-8000 or 9000 you mention both. I just got the Mag-9000 and the whole rig. I also was short some hardware (the arbor nut!). Kind of a very important part.

"I have a shop vac attached. AC power automatically powers-on the vac when I throw the MAG-8000 power switch as I am using a Craftsman power center that provides this power-up automation. I added a pair of clamp-on, 100 watt task lights. One illuminates the sharpening part of the workstation and the second lights the blade cleaner work station I've used which is now attached to the stand using a pair of 2 inch angle iron arms that support the blade cleaning work top. The lights are also automatically turned on and off using the aforementioned Sears device.

SUGGESTIONS:
I'd suggest the following optional end-user items:
Shelving to attach to the stand (I plan to add my own) to hold tools, spare stones, etc.
Longer legs to increase stability to support the user add-ons (shelving, blade cleaner table top).
Better means to add lighting to the work station - my clamp on lights are secure, but different welded-on tabs attached to the balancer arm would have facilitated their attachment.


Bottom Line - As long as the equipment provides reliability and a long service life, then years from know I think we will all know the answer will be "Yes!!"


Hope this may help others reach their own personal purchase decision.

Regards, Bill[/QUOTE]"

[CQ_DX]

MAG-8000, MAG-8000, MAG-8000 !!

MAG-8000, MAG-1000, MAG-10300 ("Lot 4") Review OOPS !

Title should read MAG-8000 ... jeez. I can't believe THAT error!! Too bad I can't edit the title - BUMMER!!!!!!!!

[Magna-Matic]

Hello All,

Thank you for the review!

Just to let you know, many of the items made as suggestions are on the way.

Lighting is one we've been asked for very often, however we are very picky regards to quality, we have finally found a proper enclosed halogen machine light at a resonable price that is also made in the USA. In fact some of our shipment of these lights arrived today. So info will be hitting the website in the next day or two.

Shelving designs are part of the new MAG-10400 stand, and those optional shelves will be available for the MAG-10300 and earlier stands tool.

Thank you,

[CQ_DX]

Gerd - any way you can either change this thread's title to read MAG-8000 etc?

If so, please do. If not, can you delete this thread as I reposted a correcting duplicate thread which has a correct title that mentions MAG-8000.

Thanks, and regards, Bill

[CQ_DX]

I dislike Halogen lighting, commonly known as "fire starters". Their safety glass has been know to break due to heat and improper designed-in ventillation for cooling the glass. Dust and fabric in contact without glass has ignited and also when in contact with imprperly cooled safety glass. This type lighting has to be secure enough there is no chance for it to become dislodged and unnoticed by an operator taking a bio-break, etc. If it were my choice, I'd use High Intensity LED lighting. In fact, I'm playing with modification of a $10 LED flashlight that will use an AC transformer ("wall wart"). The AC 100 watt light fixtures I clamped on are just too big. Plus, I don't want the hot surfaces from the 100w bulbs.

Regards, Bill

[Magna-Matic]

Hello CD,

I'll see if a lawnsite moderator can make the adjustment.

Note about the halogen lights we'll be offering, these are machine grade lights, made for being inside CNC machines and inspection stations for industrial application.

I agree that LED lights are fantastic, however they are expensive, we may offer an LED later in the summer, we are waiting on some details from the MFG of the lights.

[Michael J. Donovan]

I've corrected the thread title for you

[CQ_DX]

Michael - thanks for correcting my error.

Gerd - Continuing the thought re. LED lighting .....

The "$10 Tactical" LED flashlight is very bright. It conveniently has a push button mounted in the threaded base cap. I have an old goose neck high intensity light (too bad the transformer in its base died). Plan is to remove the push button to reuse the base cap's hole, thread-on the goose neck, solder the two wires to the head of the light (former battery contacts) and then attach the gooseneck base to some kind of clamp (haven't figured that part out yet). Then the wires exiting the goose neck will be connected to a transformer of appropriate voltage. I may/may not retain the light's ability to brighten/dim ... don't think I care about dimming it.

Another thought - Lexan MAG-8000 attachment ...
Is there a really good reason why small knobs weren't used rather than socket cap screws requiring an Allen wrench? Vibration? Seems to me this might make wheel change-out faster and more convenient.

Optionally, how about quarter-turn push-and-twist hardware with a slot for a dime or screwdriver blade? I should think these to be reasonably vibration proof due to the need to push inwards prior to turning. Perhaps the lexan screws to a metal perimeter frame such that the frame can withstand the types hardware I mention.

I suspect I'll keep a DeWalt cordless screwdriver nearby setup with appropriate size allen wrench to make wheel change over faster.

Regards, Bill

[Magna-Matic]

Hello

A quick wheel change system is in development - it like all updates will too be retro-fittable.

We started with the same approach to the LED lights, since flashlights are made cheaply and quite bright, however the matching of a transformer, and one that cleans the voltage to ensure long LED life (mild changes in voltage greatly reduce the life of LED's - this is why LED's that have AC adapters are usually much more expensive than battery operated items. Since batteries prevent voltage increases that can occure in AC power. So we've looked at it in depth - not to mention all the problems of getting it UL tested and approved for electrical use by consumers etc.

There some very nice high-end machine ligthing solutions in LED however as i mentioned they are very expensive - $400 per light expensive, they are very heavy duty commercial enclosures with voltage regulators etc.

The halogen lights are much more resonable in cost, and we got our first shipement yesterday, and we've had the lights on for about 2 hrs straight and you can still touch them with your whole hand, its not really pleasent, but its quite warm. A little later we'll be doing some temp readings and hopefully by the end of the week we'll put all the info up on the site about them with pictures on the sharpeners and cleaner.

Thank you,

[CQ_DX]

Some LEDs hook up to an AC/DC transformer but merely have a single rectifier diode providing half-wave rectification. Many LED Christmas strings use this form of recification. Should you have decent eyesight and cast somewhat of a sidewards glance to the LEDs, you may notice a slight flicker which is due to the half-wave rectification. For a bit more money, use a bridge rectifier (or four rectifier diodes) and you'll gain full-wave rectification and no flicker. Add a filter cap to the input of an el-cheapo regulator and a couple of caps to the output and you'll have decent, clean, stable power - darn good enough for LED lighting.

UL & CSA, VDE, etc certification is certainly an issue so buying a solution satisfies this issue for sure!

I'm surprised about the halogen heat - must be well designed - or low power bulbs. Most people have a temperature threshold of pain running about 143 degrees F, so if you can keep the palm of your hand in contact with this light I'd guess it's about 138 degrees F, maybe even as low as 125 F. Be interesting to see what you measure!!

I'll look forward to a retro-fit kit for quick wheel change overs and all the other exciting add-on accessories you are working on.

As for the MAG-12008, I'll have to time myself cleaning blades with my current setup to see if I can justify the added expense of your new unit.

To close - I'm sure you know your web-site is down for maintenance, right? Been down all morning and afternoon.

Take Care, Bill

[Magna-Matic]

Hi Bill,

Oh we haven't totally closed the door on a Magna-Matic mfg LED machine light, the costs and benefits have to be researched.

The wattage on the two units we'll be carrying are 20 and 50 watt, and they are very intense and bright with a focused beam.

Regarding the site, yes we're making some database updates and other modifications to the image galleries and how they are displayed. The site should be back up later this evening.

[CQ_DX]

We have been using this equipment for several months now. So what do we think of it?

WONDERFUL !!

Check out my MAG-12008 review as I updated it and have another photo you should see - it compares a MAGNA-MATIC processed blade to one processed using other equipment - what a difference!


With regards to using the MAG-12008 and the MAG-1000 balancer:

I missed a spot of grass build-up on a 21 inch light duty home-owner walk-behind. The blade was perfectly balanced, meaning it was perfectly horizontal with no trend to dip to either side. Then I spotted the grass still stuck to the blade. This spot measured 3/8ths of an inch long by a little under 1/8th inch wide by maybe a bit over a 1/16th inch thick (approximated eye-ball-dimensions). I flicked it off using the scraper, put it back briefly into the MAG-12008 and remounted it on the MAG-1000. I expected the blade might lean a little to one side but never expected it to dip. Wow is the MAG-1000 sensitive!

If you guys who take sharpening and balancing seriously don't have a MAG-12008, think about it. You will provide your customers a better product, or your personal equipment will benefit from a better sharpened, better balanced blade. If you cut for a living, your customers will see a difference when you constantly use a well sharpened blade.

Here are pics that show what the MAG-12008 and MAG-8000 are capable of:

The photos are two identical blades, one older and sharpened more times, and a newer one. Both were first sharpened using Magna_matic equipment, then used until ready to be sharpened again. I sharpened the older one using the MAG-8000 and had the newer blade resharpened at another shop. Can you see the difference? Which one do you think was done on the MAG-8000?