Silly_Billy
Established Member
I may never afford them, but Axminster now stocks Bridge City hand tools.
I’m sure it won’t be long before I get lucky with EuroMillions ...
I’m sure it won’t be long before I get lucky with EuroMillions ...
Tool porn
- Thread starter Silly_Billy
- Start date
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Oh, good - I've always wanted a chopstick maker. 
Cheshirechappie
Established Member
About a century and a half ago, Marples used to make Ultimatum brass and ebony braces. Totally unnecessary and over-the-top. Very collectable now, and good ones change hands for very tidy prices.
There's a very long history of 'posh' tools. Whether you decide to invest or not is, of course, entirely a matter for the individual....
There's a very long history of 'posh' tools. Whether you decide to invest or not is, of course, entirely a matter for the individual....
custard
Established Member
Extravagantly expensive tools don't make me angry.
But badly made cheap tools do.
They make me angry because they take money from people who often can't afford to lose any, with a promise that they'll never fulfil.
But badly made cheap tools do.
They make me angry because they take money from people who often can't afford to lose any, with a promise that they'll never fulfil.
I'm going to avoid Axminster, I look at this stuff on the internet and I can restrain myself, but if I can look at it and touch it's coming home. That T square will be mine! I need it and it will make me a better tradesman and human being.
ScaredyCat
Established Member
I agree custard. I've got fed up with buying cheap stuff that doesn't work, isn't square or whatever. It's especially annoying when you're starting out and have both limited funds and experience.
I finally caved and have just spent a worryingly large amount of money on not very many things from Woodworkers Workshop, but I expect them to last and they're known quality items. I did have to draw the line at £95 for a square though.
I finally caved and have just spent a worryingly large amount of money on not very many things from Woodworkers Workshop, but I expect them to last and they're known quality items. I did have to draw the line at £95 for a square though.
I'll probably get a verbal kicking for admitting this but I've got one of these:
https://www.axminster.co.uk/bridge-city ... 0mm-104571
Outrageously expensive and there's probably a cheaper alternative but it is fantastic when you need it and the magnetic sliding things really make marking easy and it does angles (which feature I admittedly haven't needed yet). I wouldn't swap it for anything similar.
In my opinion - based on this one purchase - Bridge City gear is great if you think they are offering something that exactly meets your needs and of course if you are prepared to pay the premium but I do think you'd have to be a lottery winner who doesn't give two hoots about cost to have them as your "go to" tool maker.
https://www.axminster.co.uk/bridge-city ... 0mm-104571
Outrageously expensive and there's probably a cheaper alternative but it is fantastic when you need it and the magnetic sliding things really make marking easy and it does angles (which feature I admittedly haven't needed yet). I wouldn't swap it for anything similar.
In my opinion - based on this one purchase - Bridge City gear is great if you think they are offering something that exactly meets your needs and of course if you are prepared to pay the premium but I do think you'd have to be a lottery winner who doesn't give two hoots about cost to have them as your "go to" tool maker.
Anyone else noticed that Axminster bridge city are made in China under licence whereas the bridge city website tools are made in small batches in the USA but don’t cost anymore. Feels like Axminster are selling cheaper made Chinese tools but not letting us know there not actually bridge city.
That's interesting. I got mine from the USA a couple of months back which I would have done anyway because I prefer the imperial measurements. However, the Chinese-made ones could be just as good provided Bridge City can exercise quality control in China.
But what about stuff that isn't cheap and still doesn't work right, isn't square or whatever? Take a batch of common-brand try square, across a broad spectrum of price, and it appears the majority won't be square. And don't get me started on the QC, or rather lack thereof, on new Sweetheart stuff.ScaredyCat":1saite4q said:
How about a hammering (hammer)Andy Kev.":1saite4q said:
Seriously though, at least Bridge City squares actually get used. Far too many of their exquisite 'moving tools' for want of a better term never get shown to the wood. Not really sure what their owners do actually do with them, maybe they just get them out occasionally, fondle them while looking admiringly at the beauty of the mechanism and then return them carefully to their boxes.
As long as their spec and QC are equivalent I personally wouldn't care where something is made; plenty of good stuff IS made in China, Taiwan, India, and elsewhere that people commonly look down their noses at. (And conversely there is, and long has been, plenty of junk made by both American and British firms.)murdoch":1saite4q said:
But given that these are made in China and not virtually by hand, in small batches, in the US, it does call the pricing into question. And if there's one thing that busts my chops it's seeing stuff for the same number in Sterling as in US$ :evil:
ScaredyCat
Established Member
ED65":3ifakcjz said:
So we're all agreed, we should all buy CNC machines an mill our own tools from aluminium to ensure accuracy?
(hammer)
It's probably because Chinese stuff doesn't sell well in the US when it is trading on top class, American brand names. The rest of the world isn't supposed to notice.murdoch":2cmyc19d said:
custard
Established Member
ED65":1cc34e8u said:
If that's how someone wants to spend their time and money then it's their choice, no-one gets hurt so I don't see any problem.
And at the end of the day aren't you in exactly the same position? Fascinated by woodworking but have never actually completed a meaningful project? It's not a crime Ed, so live and let live.
memzey
Established Member
Very nice indeed Rod. Well done.
mbartlett99
Established Member
I'm impressed; you must have the patience of a saint.
I always lusted after Bridge City but could never afford it until I caved last year while working stateside - even then it had to 2nd hand to avoid the guilt! A little treat for busting my guts at work.
I always lusted after Bridge City but could never afford it until I caved last year while working stateside - even then it had to 2nd hand to avoid the guilt! A little treat for busting my guts at work.
