Real life tool shop Somerset

[Anima]

Hi,

I'm looking around at the moment for some odds and ends. Whilst there is a plethora of appropriate shops online I'd quite like to see and touch some of the products.

In particular:
Chisels: Japanese, bevel, butt, dovetail.
Cabinetry finishes: shellacs, lacquers, French polishing.
No4/no5 plane: I picked mine up a while ago from a carboot and I'm now fed up with its limitations. Time to upgrade. I'm thinking QS.

I don't have a lathe for handles and to be honest I'd rather not have to 'work on' a tool so want it to be right from the start.

My question is: is there anywhere I can go near BA4 (Shepton Mallet) that isn't a b+q or TP where I can do a bit of touchy feely on the above products. I'd also appreciate speaking to a human. I'm trying to avoid driving to Axminster.

Cheers.

 

[Dodge]

Yandles at Martock? About 20 miles away

 

[CHJ]

Bristol Design

 

[Anima]

Yandles... Ill have a look.

I heard design in Bristol was quite expensive...although that I may be thinking of somewhere else. It does look perfect for a bit of feeling though.

 

[Fromey]

Bristol Design is great. Yandles is very good also and not as far as Axminster. Then again, if you go to Axminster, it's just a little bit further to go to the Tool Box. Or you could come around to my place in Frome for a coffee and look at what I have in my tiny shed (QS rebate block plane, No. 4, BU No. 5 and No. 7, LN LA block, Clifron 3110, Narex b/e and mortice chisels, Veritas router, etc. ). I don't have much in the way of finishes and only one Japanese item (a pull saw).

 

[matthewwh]

Somerset isn't the end of the world for tool shops as you can see.

Alternatively you can order stuff, have a look and then send it back if you don't like it, there's no rush (we don't do the 'has to be sent back within seven days' bullsh*t).

 

[Vann]

I'm trying to avoid driving to Axminster.

'Cause they don't sell Cliftons anymore? :mrgreen:

Cheers, Vann.

 

[Anima]

Fromey,

Thanks very much for the kind offer, I might just take you up on it next weekend. I'm looking at narex bevel chisels and a QS no5 so it would be good to have a go.

Martin

 

[sparkymarky]

about a hours or so drive will take you here http://www.thetoolbox.org.uk/index.html, its like an aladdin's cave of tools, always worth a look and they have pretty much everything you could want.