List of Hand Tool Makers

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Not sure if this has been done before, but I wish I had a list of this sort when I first started down the slippery slope. Here's my list of hand tool makers whom I am either a repeat offender, I just find them interesting, or I dream of owning their tools one day. My intent is to introduce ya'll to some manufacturers with which you may not be familiar. It is by no means an all-inclusive list, and I think it aims for the middle to upper end of the craft. I've left a few names out on purpose, and I haven't listed any of the Japanese or other tool makers because, to be honest, I'm quite ignorant on them and there are other much better resources for that info.

Handsaws:
Lee Valley/Veritas - http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1&p=42884
Lie Nielsen - http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=507
Bad Axe - http://www.badaxetoolworks.com/
Bridge City (Japanese style pull saws) - http://www.bridgecitytools.com/
Medallion - http://www.medalliontools.com/default.html
Two Lawyers - http://two-lawyers-toolworks.blogspot.com/p/home.html
Adria - http://www.adriatools.com/
Wenzloff - http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/index.php
Woodjoy (Bowsaws) - http://www.woodjoytools.com/
Knew Concepts (Titanium and aluminum fretsaws) - http://www.knewconcepts.com/
Eccentric Toolworks (no longer making saws) - http://eccentrictoolworks.com/
Gramercy - http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/
ECE (framesaws) - http://www.ecemmerich.com/fertigungsprogramm.html


Handplanes:
Holtey - http://www.holteyplanes.com/
Lee Valley/Veritas - http://www.leevalley.com/US/home.aspx
Lie Nielsen - http://www.lie-nielsen.com/
Marcou - http://www.marcouplanes.com/
Old Street (previously Clark & Williams) - http://www.planemaker.com/
Bridge City Toolworks - http://www.bridgecitytools.com/
HNT Gordon - http://www.hntgordon.com.au/
Bill Carter - http://www.billcarterwoodworkingplanemaker.co.uk/
Philly Planes - http://www.phillyplanes.co.uk/
Brese - http://www.breseplane.com/
Anderson - http://www.andersonplanes.com/
Bickford (molding planes) - http://www.msbickford.com/
Sauer and Steiner - http://www.sauerandsteiner.com/news/
Daed Toolworks - http://www.daedtoolworks.com/
Time Warp - http://timewarptoolworks.com/
Kell - http://www.richardkell.co.uk/luthiersPlane.html
ECE - http://www.ecemmerich.com/fertigungsprogramm.html
Ulmia - http://www.ulmia.de/English/Ulmia-Uebersicht.htm
Clifton (sold by a few retailers, couldn't find their webpage)
Ray Iles - (Couldn't find their website, but they do have an infill available from a few retailers)
DL Barrett & Sons - http://www.dlbarrettandsons.com/Planes.html
Gerd Fritsche - http://www.traditional-handplanes.com/
Heinz - http://heinztools.com/index.html
Ron Hock (plane blades, kits, marking knives) - http://www.hocktools.com/


Chisels, Carving Knives, Drawknives, Adzes, etc:
Lee Valley - http://www.leevalley.com/us/?c=2
Lie Nielsen - http://www.lie-nielsen.com/
Blue Spruce - http://www.bluesprucetoolworks.com/
Cariboo Blades - http://www.caribooblades.com/hookknives.html
Barr - http://www.barrtools.com/
Karlsson - http://www.klensmide.se/
North Bay Forge - http://www.northbayforge.com/
Harold and Saxon - http://www.haroldandsaxon.com/
Ray Iles - (Can't find official website, pigsticker mortise chisels are available from several retailers)
Ashley Iles - http://www.ashleyiles.turningtools.co.uk/
Svante Djarv - http://www.djarv.se/djarvenglish/startsida.asp
Stubai - http://www.stubai.com/index_englisch.htm
Roush - http://www.elmerroush.com/index.html
Cape Forge - http://www.capeforge.com/


Workbench Hardware:
Lee Valley/Veritas and Lie Nielsen, (websites listed above)
Benchcrafted - http://benchcrafted.com/Store.html
Galena Village (holdfasts) - http://www.galenavillageblacksmith.com/
Noden - http://www.adjustabench.com/about.asp
Lake Erie Tools - http://www.lakeerietoolworks.com/
Hovartar - http://www.hovartercustomvise.com/
Evenfall Studios - http://www.evenfallstudios.com/
Big Wood Vise - http://www.bigwoodvise.com/
Tico Vogt - http://www.ticovogt.com/?page_id=650
Gramercy - http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/
Peter Ross - http://peterrossblacksmith.com/
Elmer Roush - http://www.elmerroush.com/index.html


Marking Gauges/Layout Tools:
Vesper - http://www.vespertools.com.au/
Colen Clenton - (available from several retailers)
Hamilton - http://www.hamiltontools.com/
Glen Drake (also makes hammers and funky dovetail saws) - http://www.glen-drake.com/
Chester Toolworks - http://www.chestertoolworks.com/
Woodpeck - http://www.woodpeck.com/
Czeck Edge - http://www.czeckedge.com/


Spokeshaves, Chairmaking tools & Travishers:
Lee Valley/Veritas, Lie Nielsen (websites listed above)
Dave's Shaves - http://www.ncworkshops.com/index.html
Windsor Workshop - http://thewindsorworkshop.co.uk/
Russ Filbeck - http://www.russfilbeck.net/pricelist.html
Elia Bizzarri - http://www.handtoolwoodworking.com/tools.html
Woodjoy - http://www.woodjoytools.com/
Ashem - http://www.ashemcrafts.com/


Rasps:
Auriou - http://www.forge-de-saint-juery.com/
Iwasaki - (Can't find their website, but their offerings are machine made, affordable, and rate very well. Available from quite a few retailers)
Gramercy - http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com//Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=toolshop&Category_Code=TRR
Liogier - http://www.liogier-france.fr/?lang=en
Nicholson (#49 and 50 are machine cut; it appears that recent offerings haven't been up to their usual high standard though)


Screwdrivers:
Elkhead - http://www.elkheadtools.com/home.html


Drill Bits
Clico/Clifton (if you're a bit brace kind've fella)
Colt 5 Star (can't find their website, but available at several retailers)
Famag - http://www.famag.com/en/products/default.aspx


Axes
Gransfors Bruks - http://www.gransfors.com/htm_eng/index.html


Sorry if some of the sections overlap; some makers have more than one specialty. Hope you find the list useful.

[Joel Goodman]

Good thread - BTW - Joel at Tools for Working Wood -- http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com (http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com//Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=toolshop&Category_Code=TRR) sells the Ray Isles and Ashley Isles Chisels and Gouges as well as Clifton Planes.

[Andy Hsieh]

This is good

Also, Cian over at woodnet has his own neander list that is really really good.

It has vendors as well as articles, reviews and how tos

Andy

[Joel Moskowitz]

Good thread - BTW - Joel at Tools for Working Wood -- http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com (http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com//Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=toolshop&Category_Code=TRR) sells the Ray Isles and Ashley Isles Chisels and Gouges as well as Clifton Planes.

And Auriou Rasps, And Colen Clenton Gauges, and holdfasts (along with the other stuff previously mentioned) and reads SMC compulsively.

[Larry Williams]

Dave,

Do you (or anyone else here) have experience with Karlsson? Those actually look like real carving tools. I didn't think anyone in the World made real carving tools now.

[Steve Friedman]

Dave,

Do you (or anyone else here) have experience with Karlsson? Those actually look like real carving tools. I didn't think anyone in the World made real carving tools now.

Hans Karlsson's tools are amazing.

Sold in US by Drew Langsner at Country Workshops
www.countryworkshops.org

Steve

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Joel, I'm a big fan of Gramercy and missed out including the Colen Clenton gauges/squares, (I own just about the whole set), I'll include that. I tried to keep the list to tool makers, not tool retailers/sellers, although TFWW was the source for several of my purchases.

Yes, I've used the Karlsson gouges, and I got mine through the Country Workshop as well. I haven't seen/felt/read about anything that compares to them in terms of craftsmanship, edge retention, or sharpness.


Dave

[daniel lane]

...and reads SMC compulsively.

Who doesn't? :rolleyes:


daniel

[Larry Williams]

Well, rats. Langsner doesn't carry the regular carving tools and I can't locate a photo big enough that I can see what's there. The closest to carving tools I've been able to find is Stubai but they need some reshaping to be good tools.

http://www.stubai.com/index_englisch.htm

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Larry,

My info is a little dated, but I've previously asked Drew if he could order additional tools from Karlsson, and he told me it wouldn't be any problem. If I'm not mistaken, Karlsson even flies over to this side of the pond to teach a few courses at Country Workshops. Anyway, long story short, I'll bet if you asked Drew Langsner, he could get ahold of some of the pics you need. From their website, his contact info is: 828-656-2280 (Daily, 9-6 Eastern time)

Dave

[Bengt Nilsson]

Larry,
there is another Swedish tool maker named Svante Djärv that's worth a look. http://www.djarv.se/djarvenglish/startsida.asp

[Phillip Pattee]

North Bay Forge http://www.northbayforge.com/ makes carving tools, drawknives, etc. I have the two small drawknives and have been totally impressed with them.

[jim goddard]

Iles website is http://www.ashleyiles.turningtools.co.uk/

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Appreciate all the updates guys. Anyone know how I can modify/edit my thread now, it appears that option is no longer available...do I have to contact a Mod?

[Christian Castillo]

Elmer Roush, he forges various things, gorgeous things I might add. I've never heard of him mentioned on any woodworking message board. His tools are laminated steel as well.

http://www.elmerroush.com/index.html ---> Go to Gallery---> Woodworking tools ( there are more things he makes as well)

http://www.elmerroush.com/html/woodworking_tools.html

[Dave Schwarzkopf]

Very nice Christian!

[Dean Lapinel]

I was just introduced to the fine work of Elmer Roush by my friend Berl Mendenhall. There is a lot of talent there...not only with skill but with the research. I have to meet this gentleman.

Dean

[Jason Coen]

Peter Ross

http://peterrossblacksmith.com/

I have a pair of Moxon-style holdfasts that he did. They're perfect.

I need to order some of his dividers. Unbelievably nice stuff, like eat-Ramen-for-a-month-if-you-must-to-acquire-some-of-his-tools nice (and not the fancy "chicken-inspired flavor" Ramen, either).

[Zahid Naqvi]

looks like this thread will be going in the FAQs as well.

[Paul Incognito]

Peter Ross

http://peterrossblacksmith.com/

I have a pair of Moxon-style holdfasts that he did. They're perfect.

I need to order some of his dividers. Unbelievably nice stuff, like eat-Ramen-for-a-month-if-you-must-to-acquire-some-of-his-tools nice (and not the fancy "chicken-inspired flavor" Ramen, either).
I got to meet and work with Peter at Roy's Woodcraft Week last fall. Aside from being very talented, he's a really nice guy. I consider myself lucky to have spent a couple of hours learning basic smithing from him.
Paul

[Matthew N. Masail]

Thank you so much for this!