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Sheffield toolmakers

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Hi, thought I'd add this this post to reiterate there is still quite a few of us STILL making tools in this city.

We are the UK's last remaining traditional handsaw manufacturer (Thomas Flinn & Co). We also bought out the last hand plane manufacturer in the country 3 years ago (also Sheffield based). We manufacture the PAX brand which dates back to 1776, The Garlick Saw Company (Lynx brand) which dates back to 1858 and a few other brands.

We also manufacture Clifton hand planes.

From our website, we specialise in selling Sheffield made products. There is also Joseph Marples joiners tools, Robert Sorby, Connells of Sheffield as well as many you mentioned earlier on in thread. We aim to promote high quality goods, made by other independently owned manufacturers.

 

One of the main challenges is costs of producing in Britain and the fact that for many it's easier to purchase imported goods and throw them away. It is very important for endangered crafts such as ours that folk do support British manufacturing and buy high quality tools (which are likely better value in the long run) so that the skills we have can be passed on to future generations. It's also important to ensure spending in your local communities as it's vital for all, 70p from every £1 is spent locally and this means everyone seeks some gain from this.

 

Over 50% of our goods are exported directly. Again, a massive plus for manufacturing.

 

Please consider us for all your woodworking tool needs if you wish to purchase Sheffield made goods. Thank you :)

 

My bold. As long as they ARE better made and will last longer. I collect pocket knives and you have to buy expensive and or custom ones to see any kind of quality now in Sheffield made knives. At cheaper price points the rest of the world do them cheaper and better and sadly that includes china in some cases. Designs haven't moved much either. There was a thread on here somewhere where a poster was waiting for MONTHS for a Sheffield made pair of scissors. I hope they're good!

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Hi, thought I'd add this this post to reiterate there is still quite a few of us STILL making tools in this city.

We are the UK's last remaining traditional handsaw manufacturer (Thomas Flinn & Co). We also bought out the last hand plane manufacturer in the country 3 years ago (also Sheffield based). We manufacture the PAX brand which dates back to 1776, The Garlick Saw Company (Lynx brand) which dates back to 1858 and a few other brands.

We also manufacture Clifton hand planes.

From our website, we specialise in selling Sheffield made products. There is also Joseph Marples joiners tools, Robert Sorby, Connells of Sheffield as well as many you mentioned earlier on in thread. We aim to promote high quality goods, made by other independently owned manufacturers.

 

One of the main challenges is costs of producing in Britain and the fact that for many it's easier to purchase imported goods and throw them away. It is very important for endangered crafts such as ours that folk do support British manufacturing and buy high quality tools (which are likely better value in the long run) so that the skills we have can be passed on to future generations. It's also important to ensure spending in your local communities as it's vital for all, 70p from every £1 is spent locally and this means everyone seeks some gain from this.

 

Over 50% of our goods are exported directly. Again, a massive plus for manufacturing.

 

Please consider us for all your woodworking tool needs if you wish to purchase Sheffield made goods. Thank you :)

 

that's all well and good but who are going to benefit from quality hand tools, I would like to gamble most joiners don't use them nowadays, power tools seem to be all they use.

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Jaco Tools are still trading, Founded by my partners grandfather

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that's all well and good but who are going to benefit from quality hand tools, I would like to gamble most joiners don't use them nowadays, power tools seem to be all they use.

 

There are other folk who enjoy to use high quality hand tools and traditional joiners will still do so. Some people just enjoy woodworking and buy tools that offer good performance so that doing their work is enjoyable. I think if you actually researched woodworking, furniture making etc you would find it's an interest for many.

 

---------- Post added 16-03-2018 at 08:38 ----------

 

My bold. As long as they ARE better made and will last longer. I collect pocket knives and you have to buy expensive and or custom ones to see any kind of quality now in Sheffield made knives. At cheaper price points the rest of the world do them cheaper and better and sadly that includes china in some cases. Designs haven't moved much either. There was a thread on here somewhere where a poster was waiting for MONTHS for a Sheffield made pair of scissors. I hope they're good!

 

I'd say the fact we get saws of 50 years + old back for re-sharpening shows we are doing a decent job....

 

We don't make scissors either so please do not assume our lead times will be the same!

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There are other folk who enjoy to use high quality hand tools and traditional joiners will still do so. Some people just enjoy woodworking and buy tools that offer good performance so that doing their work is enjoyable. I think if you actually researched woodworking, furniture making etc you would find it's an interest for many.

 

---------- Post added 16-03-2018 at 08:38 ----------

 

 

I'd say the fact we get saws of 50 years + old back for re-sharpening shows we are doing a decent job....

 

We don't make scissors either so please do not assume our lead times will be the same!

 

I don't doubt you've got old hand tools still going strong - I've got a pruning knife that was my grand father's that can still do a job that is pre 1953.

 

But what's the difference between your tools and the cheaper Chinese stuff? Steel quality? How they're put together? Design?

 

Not a loaded question, genuine curiosity.

Edited by tinfoilhat

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I don't doubt you've got old hand tools still going strong - I've got a pruning knife that was my grand father's that can still do a job that is pre 1953.

 

But what's the difference between your tools and the cheaper Chinese stuff? Steel quality? How they're put together? Design?

 

Not a loaded question, genuine curiosity.

 

Please feel free to check out the items on our website - you will see that the design, quality and materials used are far superior to any imported goods which would generally be manufactured in mass on a robot.

Or alternatively, watch our film showing our work:

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When you say toolmaker's do you mean the people that actually make the dyes that make the tool.

 

The Toolmakers I know of made the dyes then were finished by the dye sinkers before putting them in the machine usually a dropper to shape the tools.

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Hi, thought I'd add this this post to reiterate there is still quite a few of us STILL making tools in this city.

We are the UK's last remaining traditional handsaw manufacturer (Thomas Flinn & Co). We also bought out the last hand plane manufacturer in the country 3 years ago (also Sheffield based). We manufacture the PAX brand which dates back to 1776, The Garlick Saw Company (Lynx brand) which dates back to 1858 and a few other brands.

We also manufacture Clifton hand planes.

Please consider us for all your woodworking tool needs if you wish to purchase Sheffield made goods. Thank you :)

Many years ago I remember a salesman for Sanderson Kayser (PAX?) opened his display (attache) case to show me two examples of their panel and tenon saws, the quality was stunning!

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Nice film.... I like the pic at the end, with Phil in the middle!

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Burgon and Ball on Holme Lane at Malin Bridge

Make hand shears for grass and hedge cutting and are world famous for their Sheep Shears. They have been in business since 1730 so must know a bit about producing

good products

Edited by bazjea

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