Thread: Hold Fasts, Carving Axes, Froes and Draw Knives Made in Australia

Absolutely, as long as the quality is there

I believe that Australian woodworkers would welcome the opportunity. people love locally made quality at an affordable price. Froes seem very hard to get, but very small market. Holdfasts have some serious competition of course.

David

Price is also an issue, but, a lot of people are more inclined to support local makers these days. There seems to be somewhat of a resurgence of support for local makers.

What you speak of is very much niche market stuff. If makers are happy to make speculative stock to make the economies work, then maybe. Product development is a hard road. But, yes, I have a preference to buy local, and I am happy to pay a small premium for doing so if the quality is the same as other offerings. I'm also happy to pay a lot more if quality is substantially better.

Cheers

Yes but- The puzzle for your makers is if I buy two holdfasts and a froe as well as some other guys we don't need any more than that. How will they diversify? Can they compete internationally like Vesper, Gordon or Clenton?

I'd be in for holdfasts and a draw knife. Depending on cost of course.

The Blacksmiths I am working with will ensure the quality is there as they are also professional knife makers.

We will be working on coming up with a few designs to aim at different price brackets.

Originally Posted by Pac man

Yes but- The puzzle for your makers is if I buy two holdfasts and a froe as well as some other guys we don't need any more than that. How will they diversify? Can they compete internationally like Vesper, Gordon or Clenton?

Ineresting question they are also professional knife makers so they are aware of the international market. We are also looking at long terming being back from the dead socket syle carving chisels and bench chisels. We plan to grow from their if the market demands it.

I would absolutely buy local, high quality tools. I'm well aware there's usually a bit of a price gap, which I'm happy with aslong as the quality is there.
As mentioned above you only need to look at ones like Vesper, Gordon and Clenton to see that it can be a plausible venture.
I think the difference between success and failure is the quality and service.

Originally Posted by Kate84TS

Ineresting question they are also professional knife makers so they are aware of the international market. We are also looking at long terming being back from the dead socket syle carving chisels and bench chisels. We plan to grow from their if the market demands it.

I would buy a good quality full tang sloyd knife with Australian timber scales in a heartbeat.

I'm more than happy to buy quality local

maybe we can find someone to fill the gap left by Harold and Saxon

I buy Colens squares because they work and can be recalibrated. The ONLY square on the market that can be. A Starret 4 or 5inch square will set you back upwards of 300 dollary doos. For about the same money I can have a 10 inch square that I can recalibrate if I drop it. Can't do that with the Starret item, or any other manufacturer for that matter. The choice is a no brainer for me.

With all tool and equipment purchases you really do need to compare apples for apples and look closely where your value really lies.

Potential yes
I would welcome the chance to support small tool makers

Cheers Matt


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