Just to clear up any confusion. The photos I just posted are of the remaining Batch 1 Nomad IIs. I sent out the first part of this batch last year. I tried to break the batch up into smaller chunks to see if it would speed things up. Turns out that working in larger batches was still the better way, so I just went ahead and finished the rest of Batch 1 as a group.
Batch 2 has slowly started in the background, as there are a few things I like to do ahead of time to set up a batch. I started Batch 2 updates in the fall, with the hope that Batch 1 would soon be finished and I could then start on Batch 2 full-time. The finishing of Batch 1 has taken longer than I thought, but I continued with smaller Batch 2 updates. The majority of my time has been spent on the completion of Batch 1. I'm pushing to send of these remaining Batch 1's out this month, and then I can move on to full-time work on Batch 2.
Batch 3 Nomad IIs will start once Batch 2 is complete. Though, the woods are all here and ready.
I stopped taking Nomad II orders a long time ago, there are no more orders after Batch 3. Until I fully catch up, I will not be taking new Nomad II orders.
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Here, I'll explain a bit about why Batch 1 took so long, and why you can expect the next two batches to go much faster.
Batch 1 was not only the largest batch, but also it was where I had to make multiple design tweaks, machine setups, jigs... and the most time consuming part of figuring out the most efficient batch production methods.
@flammy is also correct in that at the time I was finishing an unexpectedly large number of custom painted Nomad I sleeves that ended up consuming around 6 months of time that I did not account for.
Much of the crafting processes for Batch 1 ended up taking so much longer than expected. It forced me to re-evaluate and come up with better solutions.
A good example of this is the shaping of the bodies, taking them from rectangular forms into the rounded and bevelled final shapes. The first part of Batch 1 was completed by hand with files, rasps, sandpaper sticks, chisels, and hand planes. This ended up taking over a month of time to complete. For the rest of Batch 1, I was able to use a sanding machine that I had built to help me with the shaping. Using this machine (once I was well practiced) I was able to condense a month or more long process into three days, quite an astonishing difference. And most importantly, the quality of the end results were identical.
This is just one of many improvements I've been able to make to help speed up the process. While my original time estimate for Batch 1 was way off the mark, I've been trying my absolute best to deliver on the quality craftsmanship that is expected from the Nomad series.
Now that all of Batch 1 is almost done, and Batch 2 has had a head start, I'm certain things will run much smoother from here on out.
So far, the crafting of Batch 2 has felt like a night and day difference compared to Batch 1. Once I am able to dedicate my full time schedule to Batch 2, things are going to really pick up speed.
After the Nomad IIs, I am revamping the way I take orders so that time delays like this can never happen again. The Nomad IIs were a very hard lesson for me.
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@cx714 is correct, order numbers are not serial numbers, or an accurate indication of your place in line. They are just for my own organization.
@Zuhdj There are much less than 100 left to make in total, including your batch.
@CanikUser19 When you sign up for the waitlist, you are not given a number, so you're all good there! A number is given when you create an official custom order.
This is still correct, you are in Batch 3. I have an update email for Batch 3 going out today.
I know it's rather confusing... but in short, Batch 1 took way longer than I thought, that pushed back both Batch 2 and 3... and now that Batch 1 is near completion, I'll finally be able to catch up.
how annoying and disappointing.
