Little Machine Shop was no good for me
Little Machine Shop was no good for me. They supposedly specialize in getting people parts and accessories for their old Craftsman 101 lathes but they’ve been no help to me. I needed a small chuck key for the lathe and I still don’t have one. First I tried calling them several time but the was no answer. So I emailed and told them their phone number wasn’t working. I kept calling and finally got someone to answer and they transferred me to a “Specialists” voice mail. I left a detailed message and my name and phone number. I didn’t received a call back. I emailed again and complained about their lack of customer service. A lady emailed back and said she’d have somebody call me. A guy then called me and he seemed put off that he was told to call me. I explained what I needed and he recommended I order their 6mm lathe chuck key. I ordered one but it was too big. It cost me $20 with shipping. I went to return it and found I’d have to pay more money to ship it back to them. I sent another email and explained all this and said, “You’re a little machine shop, can’t you mill one down for me from a 1/4” to a 7/32” on your mill”? A guy answered back and said no, I’d need to just hand file one down myself. I emailed back and told him the chuck keys are hardened steel. He emailed back and said they could still be filed down. This is where I gave up on this place. I don’t want a home-made, novice file job metal lathe chuck key, I want a precision cut lathe chuck key that fits my chuck. I feel LMS could have gone out of their way a little bit for a customer needing a simple specific tool and had one of their machinists quickly mill down four sides making a precise key for me. I do the right thing for people but most of the time others do not. Therefore I won’t support this place.
By Billy R.