Taylor Tools

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Has anyone bought new hand tools from Taylor Toolworks?

[Mike Henderson]

I've bought some but through Amazon - not directly from them. They're decent tools but made a bit less expensively than some others. For people on a budget they're a good choice.

Mike

[Paul F Franklin]

I bought their shoulder plane when I had a need for one and Lee Valley was out of stock. Quality and fit and finish was just OK; I had to do quite a bit of work to get the blade square and properly aligned to the body. I ended up buying the Veritas when it was back in stock; way nicer (and a fair bit more expensive to be fair). I expect one day the Tay tools version's ability to convert to a chisel plane or a bullnose plane will come in handy, but that has happened yet.... That's the only experience I can relate.

[Bob Jones 5443]

I could have used a bullnose yesterday. Not having one I used a chisel.

[Mike Burke]

I’ve tried a couple times. Once I didn’t like the igaging ruler. Which wasn’t their fault. Second time they sent a different product than what was advertised. Both times they took the return and refunded the amount. Don’t know what your buying but I like Harry Epstein for PEC seconds and some clamps.

[Mike Henderson]

I'll second the PEC seconds. I have a number of their double squares. Good quality tools and a good price (for the seconds).

I think I bought the PEC seconds on eBay.

Mike

[Bill Carey]

I bought their kerfing tool for blind dovetails. Decent tool for 25 bucks or so.

[Jim Koepke]

A lesson from coin collecting has often guided my tool buying, "buy the best quality you can afford."

Even during lean times it would be hard for me to think of a time when a sacrifice of quality was made to save a few dollars didn't cause regrets later.

Of course some might think of my propensity to buy bench planes as inexpensively as possible. Old Stanley/Bailey planes are quality planes. Imagine, every type 11 Stanley/Bailey plane is now over a century old and most are still usable. Many will still be usable another century from now.

When it comes to saving a few dollars, instead of sacrificing quality do your best to search or negotiate for a better price.

jtk

[Tim Nguyen]

As far as a company, they are good. They have good customer service, good shipping, and good products. As far as their branded plane, I have seen the review online as being OK; better than most but subpar than WoodRiver. I have bought their combination square, straight edge, and clamps. I have used them to buy all the WoodOwl augers and the Narex chisels.

[Todd Trebuna]

I've bought several things from them. Mostly good experience. They are one of the few places you can get Narex Richter chisels. They move about as quick as Rockler, so an order is usually on it's way in a day or two. I had one issue towards Christmas, when a chisel was delayed (usps). Eventually I sourced it someplace else, expecting it not to show up (3 weeks late and no tracking updates). TT issued me a timely refund. The chisel showed up a week later, so I contacted them, asked them for a return authorization and asked them not to refund my purchase a second time. They were very communicative and everything went smooth as silk. Probably ordered from them 6 or seven times and no issues other than the one I mentioned.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Thanks for the information. I wondered from a business standpoint what kind of a reputation they had. I am looking at sources of chisels, in fact, Narex Richter chisels which I am considering buying. 2 years ago I bought a Veritas PM-11 1" bench chisel and have been happy with it except for price. I would like to order 3 more chisels to put my nearly 40 year old Craftsman into a back up role. The steel on the Craftsman is just way too soft IMO.

Thanks again!

[Ben Ellenberger]

I bought a couple rulers from them. As far as I can recall the ordering/shipping/etc. all went smooth. One item I got from them was an off-brand 18” rule that would fit in my starrett square. I’ve really liked having the extra long rule when I’m working with panels that are too wide for a 12” combination square. Before I had to mark as much as I could, then extend the line with a straight edge. I couldn’t talk myself into buying an 18” starrett rule.

[Mike Henderson]

I bought a couple rulers from them. As far as I can recall the ordering/shipping/etc. all went smooth. One item I got from them was an off-brand 18” rule that would fit in my starrett square. I’ve really liked having the extra long rule when I’m working with panels that are too wide for a 12” combination square. Before I had to mark as much as I could, then extend the line with a straight edge. I couldn’t talk myself into buying an 18” starrett rule.

Look for a Starrett 8H combination square. eBay had one for sale recently. It's the big brother of combination squares and has a 24" rule.

Mike

[mike stenson]

I'll second the PEC seconds. I have a number of their double squares. Good quality tools and a good price (for the seconds).

I think I bought the PEC seconds on eBay.

Mike

Harry Epstein carries them too. Good value for the money, and I've had one problem with an order.. they promptly fixed without issue.

[Tom Bain]

No hand tools, but did get a set of large trammel points from them and thought they were well made, especially for the price.

[Ethan Lorden]

ordered a kit to make my own marking gauge from them and some fisch brad point drill bits. everything worked well.

[Matthew Hartlin]

I have ordered from them to Canada a few times without issue. The PEC blemished rigid rulers and the replacement combination square rules are great to have around the shop. Love the 24" in my combination square for larger work. The blemished rigid rulers are great too, 6", 12" and 24" are never far from the bench.

[Todd Mason-Darnell]

I have ordered some the "scary sharp" sets to try and ordered some CMT saw blades from them.

I was pleased in the speed of shipment and quality of product I received.

[Mark Gibney]

I ordered a couple of Pec Blem 4" double squares from Taylor tools a couple of months back. On both of them the ends of the rule was not square to the blade, so I returned them. They promptly reimbursed me.
I then ordered one 4" Pec Blem from Harry Epstein. It is square and I'm keeping it.

There were other differences - I couldn't tighten the locking nut very well on the Taylor Tools squares but I can do this easily on the Harry Epstein square.
The Taylor Tools had blue paint, the Epstein square is black.

[Gary Focht]

I ordered a couple of Pec Blem 4" double squares from Taylor tools a couple of months back. On both of them the ends of the rule was not square to the blade, so I returned them. They promptly reimbursed me.
I then ordered one 4" Pec Blem from Harry Epstein. It is square and I'm keeping it.

There were other differences - I couldn't tighten the locking nut very well on the Taylor Tools squares but I can do this easily on the Harry Epstein square.
The Taylor Tools had blue paint, the Epstein square is black.

I have a 4” double square PEC second from Harry that sort of locks tight - except when it doesn’t. I don’t think your experience is necessarily indicative of a quality difference in the PEC seconds from the two sites, but I’m glad you found one that works.

Mine does work, but I can still slide the blade a bit after it is “locked.” Seems accurate though and gets used all the time.

[Jacob Mac]

I bought a bevel gauge, marking guage, and double sided tape. Everything has been as advertised. But when I lost a screw to the marking guage, they wouldn't sell me a replacement. That's not unexpected, or unfair, but higher end toolmakers would definitely sell or just give replacement parts like screws.

[Jim Koepke]

I bought a bevel gauge, marking guage, and double sided tape. Everything has been as advertised. But when I lost a screw to the marking guage, they wouldn't sell me a replacement. That's not unexpected, or unfair, but higher end toolmakers would definitely sell or just give replacement parts like screws.

When Taylor Tools orders a case of marking gauges from wherever they are made they get a case of gauges only, no replacement parts. When you purchase a marking gauge from Glenn Drake, you can find his phone number, call, talk to him and likely have him express his gratitude for your purchase and doing what it takes to get you a replacement. Somethings are worth a little more up front, if only for what might happen a few years down the road.

jtk