Today's Tools Newcastle Staffs - anyone know anything?

[Eric The Viking]

I have a couple of their special split ring-spanners for plumbing. They fit over 15mm or 22mm pipe and slide onto a compression nut, and don't easily come off like an open ended one. At &7.50 each approx, I think they're really good and seem very well made: the right size, well machined and finished and heavily chromed, unlike Chinese cheap stuff. They're smooth enough to use directly on chrome radiator fittings, etc., without marking the compression nut. I really like them.

The web site is absent and Google street view shows a small lock-up on a trading estate.

If they've gone it'll be a shame. If they have, and anyone reading this is an amateur plumber, Toolstation still have some in stock...

Would welcome an update if anyone in that part of Staffs knows them.

E.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

If you mean flare nut spanners, they're available from the better engineer's merchants. Here's a range from Primetools, for example - http://www.primetools.co.uk/products/@151

 

[Eric The Viking]

Very similar to those, but the key thing is the sizes and the length: They're whatever they should be for BSP-threaded compression fittings for 15mm and 22mm pipe. They're also decently long, so you can apply a controlled amount of torque easily (and reach, although that's less important). That's what you need.

And, as I said, the finish is the best I've seen on spanners for a long long time. I'm not saying the ones you linked-to aren't equally good. I guess I've got used to either insufficient chrome, or lumps on the points (caused by too-long electroplating), or even worse, chrome flaking off. I can't afford Snap-On!

This isn't any sort of advert. I'm wondering why what seems to be a small company in the north Midlands seems to only make/sell these. There must be a story there and I'm curious about it.

E,

 

[bugbear]

For "normal" spanners, I'm a big fan of vintage King Dick, by Abingdon. Super finish, beautiful ergonmics, and cheap, if you're a patient car booter.

BugBear

 

[Cheshirechappie]

For "normal" spanners, I'm a big fan of vintage King Dick, by Abingdon. Super finish, beautiful ergonmics, and cheap, if you're a patient car booter.

BugBear

I second that!

Also worth looking out for are Britool (from before they were taken over by Facom and re-badged 'Britool Expert'), Stahlwille, and the older makes of Bedford, Gordon Tools and Garrington Kestrel. For older and 'big' spanners, Snail Brand are very reliable, too.

(PS - Both King Dick and Snail Brand are still in production in the West Midlands area.)

 

[Eric The Viking]

I got rid of my Defender last year (big mistake!). About five years after I bought it, I was working on the back of the rear tub (it's a station wagon), and found a stubby Britool ring spanner wedged on a nut up near one of the light clusters. It was covered in mud, etc. (initially I didn't even realise it was a spanner!) but removed and cleaned up, it's now a useful addition to the toolbbox. They obviously last well

 

[Harbo]

Many, many years ago, new Land Rovers came with quite an extensive tool kit including 2 King Dick adjustable spanners.
On site they had to be kept safe in our offices as they quickly "disappeared" from vehicles!
I've still got mine [SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES]

Rod