Quality Hand Tools

[GeraldTheBonzai]

Anyone got any recommendations for a supplier of quality hand tool?

At the moment i'm after a double edged bill hook. Had a look on normal places like Amazon etc but hard to tell if things are good quality or junk. Want something that is going to last.

[Yorkshire Andy]

No certainty but I'd look at the bigger brand names over nameless wonders Stihl / spear and Jackson / faithful.. look on the likes of Screwfix / Toolstation too they will let you view tools before buying

[pseudonym]

https://www.billhooks.co.uk/

https://www.billhooks.co.uk/where-to-buy-a-billhook/

That'll keep you busy Sunday..

[GeraldTheBonzai]

https://www.billhooks.co.uk/

https://www.billhooks.co.uk/where-to-buy-a-billhook/

That'll keep you busy Sunday..

Oh outstanding! Many thanks.

Was seriously thinking of looking around the local "antique" type shops. Looking for a good hand brace as well.

[GillyBee]

Or if you have basic tool restoration skills, check out boot fairs or any local second hand tool suppliers and pick up one that has already seen 50 years use and just needs a little sharpening or a new handle to do another half century for a pound or so

[jansman]

Tool quality is interesting. The first Christmas present my dear wife ( then my gorgeous girlfriend ) bought me,upon request was a 42 piece Stanley socket set! But that was before being made in China. I still have it,in its original container,and boy it’s fixed some cars and motorbikes! Later up the line on request,she bought me a Marples wood plane - still good. On the flip side though,I have Marple chisels ( good) but also Chinese ones too,and the same age,as sharp, as durable.I still have sets of Chinese pliers bought from Wilko 40 years ago. Still going strong!

[Jeffjones297]

I found car boot sales twenty + yrs ago good sources of quality well made hand tools, these days, the cheap Chinese tat, is making its way onto the stalls.
Ideally look for, the old fashioned guys and be discriminating about what you're looking at.
Militaria dealers offen have good stuff but nothing's guaranteed anymore, mostly, cheap steel is obvious if you know what you're looking at.
Antique tools can be semi reliable. I got a second hand garden fork yrs ago for a quid, you could take stumps out with, without fear lol the bloody thing was and is, indestructible, God knows how old it is, the weak links are the object and the person, the tool doesn't budge.

I surrendered my old stonmason tools, when I left. Half of them I bought myself. You can't buy quality like that anymore, I curse myself.

[camelot]

If there are any members here in Wales near to the lovely village of Crickhowell, may I recommend Tools for Self Reliance Cymru. It's a small charity that refurbishes donated hand tools to either send to African villages or sell to raise funds via their workshop, also online I think. Well worth a visit if you are in the area. I've purchased a collection of various pattern billhooks and axes of all sizes, all of which are old blacksmith forged tools that will last a lifetime, nothing like the mass produced machined tools of today. I've also had luck at the antique shops in Leominster, loads of tools at exceptionally good prices. Not refurbished but not beyond the capability of anyone here to re-hone a blade or replace a handle. There are usually loads of various size augers available too if you look around.

[piglet]

Anyone got any recommendations for a supplier of quality hand tool?

At the moment i'm after a double edged bill hook. Had a look on normal places like Amazon etc but hard to tell if things are good quality or junk. Want something that is going to last.

Wood Fairs usually have a really good selection of older and used hand tools.

[GillyBee]

If near South London, The Tool Shop Wallington is a good source of vintage tools to do up.