I've made some choices, but not all.
Calipers and Micrometer - looking for both in analouge ( so not batteries to run out) and both in Lab grade accuracy as they will be used for ammunition reloading as well as general/model work - when a 1/1000" actually matters quite a lot. Sigma-Aldrich are looking good so far, but not sure if there are the most robust of tools, as they are designed for a lab, rather than a workshop enviroment. Will borrow a set from a friend and see what they are like.
Screw drivers - I'm going to get a couple from Snap-On and a couple from Facom and then give them a work out for a while around the house dealing with corroded old screws. If one is a lot better than the other then I'll go down that route, otherwise I'll buy on the cheapest of the two which would mean Snap-On for most of them.
Spanners: Looks like I've managed to secure a set of "proper" - i.e pre- 1980's FootPrint spanners in return for a couple of deer next season so jumped at that oppurtunity. Everyone I've spoken too believes old FootPrint stuff are about the best spanners to have been made. ( King Dick has been mentioned as well - seem a bit of a fan boy subject to be honest - can't believe the ferocity of peoples choice in spanners! ::) ::) ::) ) - part of this is driven buy guilt though. I threw out two full drawers of FootPrint
still not decided on a make for the files, but that's becuase I want 1/2 sized files as the priority. Also, can't find ma ny companies selling Farmers files which is a pain.
Chisels: I've borrowed a set of japenese style chisels which are sold by Highland Wodworking. (
www.highlandwoodworking.com I think ) They are a 128 way lamination of two different steels ( 1 hard, 1 soft ) and have an edge so sharp it's evil. I watched the owner ( a chap who works at a local light engineering shop ) shear of a brand new m8 steel bolt using one of them and then go on to hone a piece of plywood as if the chisel was a razor. I was *very* impressed. Plus they are ferruled as well.
Will also get a set of true Water stones from them. Can't find a source for a coarse grade Whetstone currently, and I should probably look for a fine grade whetstne at some point as mine is wearing out. Not a fan of carbarundum style blocks - they end up shiny and are a pain to flatten off if they get a track in them.
I was tempted by Highland Woodworking's hammers as well, but they don't feel very balanced when I had a swing of a couple of them so I'll keep looking. Trying to track down someone with Facom hammers so I can have a swing of them and see how they balance.
Facom is looking good for most other things on my list as well.
Not thought about power tools yet - it's a whole seperate conversation with Mrs Steve - not sure she will like the idea of all that noise to be honest. I might "buy as I need" in the case of power tools.
Biggest issue I'm having is the bench vice to be honest. Lots of people seem to sell them, but can't see any that have the spring release on them. Not only is it a good backstop to over-tightening, but it also means that you can just pull the vice out rather than having to screw it out all the time. Anyone got any thoughts?
I also want one with replaceable jaws. That way I can get a couple of aliminum jaws made up for light work and a couple of steel sets made up for "hack and bash" sort of stuff. They can just live at the back of the drawer in the bench. Can't see me ever getting through more than a couple of sets - although my pop did destroy three steel sets in a year once - he kept catching them with an angle grinder.
Thanks for the help and advice so far.
Steve
