NormcoreWDT Distribution Tool with Stand V3-9 Prong Needle Espresso Stirrer - 18 Needles 0.25mm / 0.3mm Thick Spring Wires - Weiss Distribution Technique - Anodized Aluminum Handle

To be honest, the main reason I bought this despite already having a WDT tool is that it just looked awesome with its walnut handle, plus it had a nice price drop for Prime Days.I do have to say that setting it up was a bit of a pain... and then some. I think it's because the bottom bracket that the needles are supposed to just slot right into, at least on mine, seemed to be just a touch off center. So while most of the needles could be very easily inserted, two or three of the slots were close enough to the inner edge of the handle to where the needles had trouble going in smoothly. It took some patience to get them all in without bending them. Also, it wasn't the particular needles themselves. The same needles I was having trouble with slotted easily into the other positions, and the needles I'd already easily slotted into other spots had trouble going into the few problematic slots. All of the needles, including the ones that went in like butter, were held very securely once seated. If I could dock a quarter or half star for this, I would. I don't think it warrants docking a full star out of five, though, so I'm not going to do that. Just something I feel should be called out, and hopefully Normcore can address this for future buyers with a little bit more care in their manufacturing or QC process.When I placed my order, I was a little concerned that this WDT tool might not work well with the relatively small 45.5mm basket my Flair Pro 3 has, since it's obvious that the bulk of espresso tools out there are aimed at those with full sized 58mm baskets. However, it works perfectly. Near as I can measure, the diameter of the spread at the ends of the needles is 30mm. I do feel like this is a measurement that Normcore should state in the product description, to help buyers make a fully informed decision.Getting down to the tool in actual use, this actually worked wonders for my shots. I already had a retractable WDT tool that I felt did a decent job, so as already stated, the main reason for picking this one up was mostly for dressing up my espresso setup. But also partly to have something that does a better job of sitting solidly upright on my coffee work area, which my retractable WDT tool with its weighty but still too slim base really didn't do a great job at. So I was pleasantly surprised when, without changing my technique at all, the first shot I made using this Normcore WDT tool pulled considerably better than probably any of my shots had been pulling to date. I'd noticed a bit of channeling quite often in the past and just chalked it up to my beans, my grind, or my WDT or tamping technique. I've pulled three shots since unpacking and assembling this Normcore tool today, and my channeling problem has simply disappeared. This, BTW, was using beans from the exact same batch I'd used just before my new Normcore arrived, same grinder and same grind setting. And my shots definitely turned out looking AND tasting better with the Normcore. (Which is the main reason why I can't dock this a star for the difficulty in getting all the needles properly seated. Because here's what really matters, isn't it?)A couple final measurements for those who might care. I weighed the base and the WDT tool itself. The metal base is nice and hefty at 79.9g. It has a rubber-like pad on the bottom which does a great job at gripping whatever surfaces I set it on for testing -- wood, glass, and my veneered MDF coffee setup work surface. It also has a similar sleeve over the metal right at the top to help grip the docked WDT tool without scratching it. The WDT tool itself weighed in at 27.5g, after 9 of the 0.3mm needles were inserted.Totally recommend picking this WDT tool up!

It's nice they provide extra needles and in two sizes, though I doubt I will ever care about the difference in the two sizes.Does the job, and feels heavy weight (in a good way). The stand works well.I would say it's slightly annoying to clean coffee off of, but of course it is!

I didn’t think I needed a WDT tool until I saw a James Hoffman video about which puck prep tools were actually useful. After trying a DIY tool (wine cork and toothpicks), I noticed a dramatic reduction in channeling through my bottomless portafilter. I ordered this Normcore WDT tool immediately. Not only is the walnut handle beautiful, I was surprised at the sturdiness of the stand and overall quality. It also comes with two sets of needles. This morning I pulled the best looking and tasting shot ever. If you’ve been on the fence wondering if this will improve your shots, I highly recommend you buy this tool.

Quality was good but returned it because it’s a gimmick. Did not make espresso any better; in fact made things worse. Too much of a faff. Don’t get caught up in the hype of WDT; just use a high quality grinder, give a little shake of the portafilter to level out the bed, tap on the counter (with a towel or mat) and tamp. No need for the goofy devices.

***UPDATE***Normcore reached out to me and replaced the defective item with a new one. Their customer service is excellent.------------------------------------------------------------------------I ordered this product on the day it became available on Amazon but it took three weeks for it to arrive after a lengthy delay as it didn't ship until five days after the original delivery date (early December.)When it finally arrived, I was very excited but immediately noticed a paint imperfection on the handle. It's not a scratch and is still smooth to touch. It's almost as if it got stained by a foreign material during the painting process. I tried to wipe it off clean but it appears to be in the paint layer since nothing worked. See attached pictures.Aside from the paint finish, it functions as it should and comes with two packs of needles in 0.25mm and 0.3mm thicknesses.It's a very solid, well made product that is comfortable to hold, just like the rest of Normcore products. I just wish they did a better job of QC.

Great wdt tool. Simple well made, will last for years.

Arrived with a very dense sticky material stuck to the bottom of the base. This is definitely not the new first-quality item I ordered. Maybe was used and returned and resold as new without checking it for damage?———————————EDIT: NORMCORE team made things right after I contacted them about the problem. Thanks for offering a new replacement!

**update**I decided to not go through the hassle of returning the product and leaving things as they were. Normcore reached out on their own and made the situation right. I have several products from them and love them all. Prior to this I have never dealt with their customer service side of things and so could not speak to it. After this experience I can say not only are their products great. But so is their customer service. I have no problems recommending any of their products and knowing they will stand behind them or any issues that may arise.Ordered this item and was exited to use it only to receive a used item covered in ground coffee beans. Not exited to pay full price for a used item.Now I need to decide if I want to go through the hassle of returning or just deal with it.