Hello Sommerfeld Customers, Wood workers and Friends,  

I wish to pass on my testimony of my personal life of knowing the founder of Sommerfeld Tools and the person he was and the quality of the tools he designed and sold.  I am now 83 years old and I bring to you over 50 years of woodworking experience,  Having known Marc Sommerfeld on a personal level  I have for the majority of my woodworking years used his tools and the knowledge I gained from both Marc and my personal working experience of operating a full custom cabinet and wood working business .  I successfully created my business as a one-man shop and still operate it as a one-man shop building many complicated projects from cabinets to clocks,.  Sommerfeld tools enable me to work accuracy with ease and speed regardless of the wood species and or with or without plans, simply because Sommerfeld tools can enable you to do an assembly in different ways.  I will put it this way,  You simply cannot purchase a better wood working tool than Sommerfeld tools as they are time proven in professional cabinets shops and woodworking shops that are used hard as well as the everyday hobby shop.   

 During the years I have purchased exclusively and used Marc Sommerfeld Tools and can say that they are the better tooling of which you can buy at any price as they perform and do exactly what Marc designed them to do.  I have been the testing ground and sounding board for ideas, testing before market, so I know just how good the tools are and perform.   This is why I own many Sommerfeld Tools and you would be hard pressed to name one I do not own at least one and for many the number is higher .   The reasons for buying Sommerfeld tools is simply based on the fact that they are great tools and in today markets even the higher priced tools, paying the price is only for the name and not the quality.   Example here is the CMT bit vs The Sommerfeld bit.  Yes, CMT cost more, but why would you want to buy CMT when Sommerfeld is the same bit as you will see in my story below as to why.   Remember from a guy who has bought thousands of dollars' worth of tools , that price is not always quality.   Similar example is a Jet 15 inch planer vs a Powermatic 15 inch planer so you buy a part for the jet  why is it cheaper for the jet. Is not it the name brand you are paying for? 

Here is my story:

In the late fall of 1991, I was a retiring Deputy Sheriff and looking to turn my other passion of woodworking into a profession as another career.   I saw an advertisement for an upcoming popular "Woodworking Shows" to be held in Portland, Oregon.  I bought tickets and attended the show and was fortunate to meet a gentleman, Marc Sommerfeld, who was working in the show demonstrating the popular Kreg Jig.  What I didn't know at the time was that this meeting resulted in me meeting the future founder of Sommerfeld Tools, that happened a couple years later.   Because of this meeting it resulted in me forming my own business which was a custom cabinet and woodworking business of which I named "Cabinet Technology & Custom Creations." I entered the then stiff competitive job market and so I needed to begin something new into the industry if I was to succeed.   I already had in my mind an answer to this of which I gained the day I met Marc Sommerfeld.  It was the pocket hole jig of which was just beginning its rise in the industry, due to the diligence of demonstration and knowledge of one, Marc Sommerfeld.  I spent a full day and returned the following day again, spending the full day watching and learning about the pocket hole system.  We talked a lot that weekend and I left very appreciative of having met not only a true honest gentleman of a business world, but one of who was eager to share his knowledge. From this meeting I learned to build good cabinets with speed accuracy and within industry price guidelines and kept busy and never had to advertise for work.  Here is the answer to many questions most asked.

Yes, Marc Sommerfeld is the brother to Craig Sommerfelt who was the owner of Kreg tools in Huxley Iowa, and yes, Marc had a whole lot to do with the development of the Kreg Jig.  Yes, I also was a member of the Kreg jig Community and instrumental in teaching many new wood workers the arts of woodworking.  Yes, Marc left Kreg tools and began working for the popular Italy based tool bit company known as "CMT" working as a bit designer for them.  That is why the bit that are yellow and sold as "Sommerfeld's Own", that many of you are now using and purchased through either Sommerfeld Tools, and or Viking Intermountain Tool Company.   Yes, the Sommerfeld Tool bit as just as good as the "CMT" bits. As the bits from Sommerfeld are the same bit he designed for CMS. That is why some CMT bit sets have his name on them in a CMT box.    Yes, the Sommerfeld pocket hole jig is just as good as Kreg Tools and in fact much better now as who would choose plastic over tool quality aluminum.    Kreg's is plastic and more expensive while Sommerfeld is cheaper in price and is made of a good grade of tool quality aluminum and based off the old time tested and proven K2 model that Marc made famous .  Kreg went to plastic, so when Marc made his version, he remained with the metal one with hardened bit bore sleeves. I have both Kreg and Sommerfeld's pocket hole jigs.   I use the Sommerfeld jig more as it has a narrow spaced boring holes setup for the beaded face frame system.  

This is something to ponder.   That is the Sommerfeld beaded face frame system as is so much better than that of Kreg's version.  Think of the differences, build a beaded face frame using a table saw and a simple router table, or use the Kreg where you need a dedicated router table or a long set up.  I have used both and hands down and I would pick up the Sommerfeld system.  Why?  Easier to use, more accurate and faster and less money.  

Long before Marc passed, from Lou Gerig's disease, also known as "ALS", he had built his business selling his tools mostly because of his knowledge and the quality of the tools he sold. When marc fell ill and too sick to work, I was fortunate to have had the opportunity to step in and assist Sommerfeld Tools with doing near three years of being the Tool support and guidance for those whom had questions and or needed guidance on  how to use Sommerfeld Tools.  I am sure that I have talked to many of you that are still buying Sommerfeld Tools.  I will tell you that when you are buying Sommerfeld tools, you are buying the better of the tooling on the market at a fair price.  

If you want to talk to me?   Well, I can still be reached, and I will be glad to answer your questions if need be.   You can reach me by calling the Sommerfeld tool line at Viking mountain Tool works.  Cade can help you connect with me.   I might be slow at answering, but I will once I get your message.    Because it is great company, I want to do my part in helping to keep the Sommerfeld Tool line going strong.   Wishing you a safe and Happy life of woodworking.

Regards to all,

Jay Boutwell