It is a nice tool. I don't own one, but I borrow one from a friend. I don't think his is vintage, it's probably over 12 years old. I don't think it's $300 dollars nice. I think the price is high because they are often out of stock, the exchange rate, and it is well made and regarded. For $300 I'd be looking at the EVT dishing tool, even though that one is overkill.
edit: Wow, the EVT is going for $459! I could have sworn they were going for $300 not too long ago. I haven't seen one in the flesh, but I do know that the faces are milled after welding to ensure accuracy. A VAR is cast (maybe forged) aluminum, and the faces on the example I saw weren't especially flat, thought I don't think it matters much for the dishing tool to be accurate.
Last edited by krome; 05-07-12 at 06:52 AM.