Thread: Scrub plane

I remember Talco; yes. They were a British company who made fairly cheap tools that were sold by supermarkets like Asda and automotive shops like Halfords. They could also be found at ironmongers like Robert Dyas and possibly made it into Clark toolshops as well. I think my first impact driver (bought in 1987 or 1988) was a Talco, I'll have to check when I get home on Wednesday. That driver was actually a good bit of kit; it was the only tool that could remove engine casing screws off of 1970's Japanese motorcycles (M6 machine screws with JIC heads that people used to destroy trying to undo with Philips screwdrivers... me included!).

Essentially the brand was pushed out of the market by identical Made In China items sold cheaper. They appealed to the home mechanic/handyman but were heavily reliant on jingoism for sales as they couldn't compete with quality brands and weren't much better than the Chinese offerings. About the only similar brand left in the UK now I think is Draper, and I don't think their stuff is made In England any more.

That's a good buy; I've been looking on and off for something similar to make a scrub with. My current one is actually an Aldi continental style woody I bought for $10; once all the sharp corners had been hit with a rasp and the blade sharpened it has performed much better than expected; however I just don't really get on with that style of plane.

Hi Ian. This one has also made it's way into a "Clark(e)" toolshop! Thanks for the info, they are pretty rough (steel rod for lever cap is way off square for example). I rember Paul Sellars spruiking the benefits of a light scrub pane, your Aldi one will at least be that. I have a couple of horned smoothers (a Marda which I find too light and an ECE one which I love) but I am more used to the tote and knob (or even just a tote).