Old-Lumens Grizzly Lathe---New Chapter, The Saga Continues

LED Flashlights – General Info
1

Old-Lumens Grizzly Lathe, this is a Must Read for all that have so generously contributed to get the Grizzly Lathe to Justin.

Due to circumstances beyond his control, Justin (Old-Lumens) is not able to keep the lathe that this forum bought for him. It’s a complicated affair and I don’t know the in’s and out’s of it, but what I do know is that Justin wanted to keep it in the forum, have it benefit the forum if at all possible and as much as possible, and that’s how I came to be writing this.

He got in touch with me and asked me to carry the torch, as it were. He can’t keep it, wants it to still benefit as many here as possible, and as such, I accepted it with some trepidation and a huge amount of AWE. I know it wasn’t put together for me. It’s a complicated thing, and I didn’t go pick it up all that eagerly. Am still confused, but I do have the lathe and the associated components all the good folks here bought for him to use.

This is a mind-blowing experience, to say the least. And it’s been exhausting, taking about 8 hours yesterday to pick up and I now have to also figure out how to remove it from the truck and set it up. And use it. And figure out how to do all the things a great many of you were expecting Justin to figure out. I doubt I will ever have the ability to use it with the flair he would have if he could have, but as he likes to say, it is what it is.

Never have I been a recipient of such a gift, and never have I been in such a predicament as I feel I’m in now, accepting this that wasn’t meant for me in the first place. All I can really say is that it happened like it happened and I will do my best to make it worthwhile to the forum. What else can I say, or do? I have little money, and soon will have little time as I’ll be home schooling my son while my wife is, herself, in school and working a full time job. So it’s going to be difficult to get started and figure this thing out. There are those that will help, I know. TexasLumens is one I can count on to step up, regardless. And I truly appreciate those that see it for what it is and step forward to help just as they would have with Justin.

That said, I also know some are not going to care much for this turn of events. For those, I’m not sure what to say here. It was keep it in the forum, to the benefit of the forum, or watch it get sold on Craig’s list. So I drove the 3 hour drive, busted my ass getting it in the truck, and am busting my ass clearing space for it to get it out of the truck.

That’s about it. I know there will be a zillion questions and I’m just about 105% sure Justin doesn’t want to answer them. I will do what I can, that’s all I can do.

So there it is, the torch has been passed and I will try to carry it high and with honor.

Dale

2

Hi everyone, just try to take this with a bit of calm. Nothing bad happened, no wrong has been done, and Justin (Old Lumens) will probably chime in when he feels ready to do so. Please try to be respectful of his feelings (and I know you all will) and understand that certain things are out of his control. And many thanks to Dale (DB Custom) for his time and effort in order to handle this in a compassionate and sensitive manner.

Also please try to avoid speculation, as it really won’t contribute anything constructive to this topic and could lead to distortion of the facts.

Thanks in advance to everyone for carefully weighing your words if and when you choose to respond to this topic.

3

Life is what happens to us while we are making plans. I wish the best to OL, DB, and all those who have put their hearts into this. I can respect your privacy. To DB: take a chill pill. Expectations can overwhelm. At the end of the day, your responsibility is to your wife and children. The forum will soldier on.

4

Well that is a turn of events, but that is also how life gets you sometimes. I am going to say a couple of things:

I donated, my donation was sent into the ether for goodwill, not specifically this cause as it turned out.

I am okay with this….

I like the initiative you took and understand Old-Lumens may not want to talk about it. Surely he is processing a lot with the goodwill that got him this and whatever event lost it.

I surely hope the OL does not feel he needs to back away from this forum, I am looking forward to learning more from his videos and posts, he has a lot to pass on. I understand if he has some shame or other emotions about this, but that is on him and I will give him nothing but good for what he has done and what he can do. Sometimes lemons are what you get, without even a pitcher for the chance to make lemonade. Been there, done that…

I sincerely hope all else is good with him and look forward to what you can show with the lathe DB Custom, here is to you using it safely and productively.

5

It makes me sad that it didn’t work out for Old Lumens for whatever reason. That must have been very hard for him to come to terms with especially since he felt so awkward about accepting it in the first place. That said if you were in his position I would have just as quickly donated to help you. You have done a ton to help me and so many others here. If it had to go to someone else I can’t think of a better fit than you. Your only problem now will be trying to find time for photography! :wink: I know you will use it to it’s full potential.

6

So…all the money so many of us sent to help Justin isn’t helping him now? Not sure how happy I am about this.

Disappointing.

Whatever is going on with you OL, I hope it all works out for you mate.

7

+1 Don’t think we all expect you to drop everything and start spinning new flashlight parts. I know something good will come of this though.

8


disappointing.

9

I don’t know what happened, but I hope for the best for both Dale and Justin and their families.

10

As I understand it the lathe was given without any strings attached and "Old lumens" could do anything he wish with it.

I just wonder why not to keep a lathe when you have the space. I would love to have a lathe, it is a very useful tool, even if you do not make flashlight parts, but I do not have the space.

11

Does the lathe come with a warranty?

Last post from O-L was he had to fix “bushing”(?), and there were other things he had to make “adjustments”(?) before that. I wondered at that time why O-L did not contact the seller and ask for some relief/adjustments.

12

I'm thinking the wife had something to do with his decision. That being said, I wish all the best for Justin.

13

I just figure that whatever had to be done was done, I trust that you guys did your best, with whatever the situation was.

14

I back Justin 100% in whatever he felt he had to do. I know it had to be a hard decision for him. Once a gift is given, it is up to that person what to do with it.

15

HOA complaint?

-Chuck

16

Just as a heads up Dale, I have 3 belts on the way for that lathe. They are on their way to Justin so don’t go buying any.

Bit harsh there Tempo. If you saw his videos, you would have seen his gratitude and loss for words at the generosity of Blf members and suppliers. This was his chance to make a go of making a wage doing something he loved. I’m sure this decision was not one that he took lightly given his joy at receiving it. Let’s not kick the man while he is down. My only sadness is that he didn’t get to use it for its intended purpose which was to help him to make a living. I can’t imagine Dale feels any better having to announce this but we don’t know what has gone on. He may have been forced to get rid of the lathe, we don’t know.

17

We all have a great deal of respect and affection for Justin, that he well deserves. After all that has gone on, I doubt that he could come to such a decision without a great deal of emotional pain. I expect this was forced on him by circumstances beyond his control. Whether it has something to do with the community where he lives, or for some other reason, and whether he chooses to share about what happened or not, I would like us all to continue to be there for him. Justin is good people. Be well, Justin.

18

When we give, we should give from the heart. We should as well understand what "Give" means Give with no strings attached. If you are going to attach a string, we need to do that before we give. Justin didn't need anyone's "Approval" to do anything to or with the lathe. Was he to call each time he wanted to use it and ask if that was ok? I would think not. No more than he was to ask approval to hand the machine off to another forum member that wants / needs a lathe and will do quite well with the machine.

Life for others is not always as black & white, as simple, or as expected as it is for many of us. Justin has certainly not lost face with me...and I suspect many others will feel the same. We can all feel as we wish but your public comment made without full knowledge of what made this happen is rude and un-called for sir. I would suggest you edit the post and say "Lost face with ME" . I don't wish to start a war here at all... but this could not be left without comment.

Justin & Dale have done a lot for many on this forum. Either of them are more than due common courtesy. Dan.

19

Whatever the reason is, it’s probably a good reason.
Otherwise he could have just accepted the money, but right now, he got nothing to show for it. Invested lot’s of time in it, and possibly even money of his own.

I do hope it has nothing to do with health issues or anything.

It’s just sad that the community tried to help and in the end, it did not end up as supposed to.
But I read in his thread he did get a job already so at least that is covered for him.

I do understand people being upset about it, but I doubt this was an easy decision and it must be more upsetting for OldLumens than for us that donated.
If you donate for any other charity, you also don’t know where your money ends up. In this scenario, at least another greatly respected forum member get’s to benefit.

I do hope O-L will explain the reason some time as that probably would make things easier to understand, but for now I wish him the best and hope he will not be ashamed to hang around.

20

Might have been the Neighborhood Association Turds? Regardless, I hope O.L. and family are alright! Best wishes Justin! And your a good man Dale for taking on the monumental task on such short notice, with everything you have going on in your life!!! :beer: :beer: