Tool shops-what happened?

[Tinbasherdan]

Triumph

I don't rate triumph at all, took a mates 675 out and it was one of the most uncomfortable bikes I've ridden in a long time. I could be persuaded by a new tiger though

 

[Brad93]

Another one. XR fastners in Rainham. All manner of cheap and branded tools, drill bits, nuts and bolts and individual taps etc.

 

[MattH]

Triumph

He said quick!

 

[MattH]

I don't rate triumph at all, took a mates 675 out and it was one of the most uncomfortable bikes I've ridden in a long time. I could be persuaded by a new tiger though

I had a 675 and I felt like a gorilla on a child's trike!

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I had a 675 and I felt like a gorilla on a child's trike!

Exactly!

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

A few weeks ago, before the accident I was working on a Metro. Yes they are still on the road.
This one has bean owned by one family from new.
Sadly I broke my trusty 3/4 whit socket undoing the hub nut.
So off to a local tool shop,
Me: " Do you have a 3/4 whit socket in stock?"
Staff: " You want a 19mm mate.
Me: "No I want a 3/4 whit socket not a 19mm what is a 3/4AF"
Staff: "Don't get any call for that cheep Chinese's rubbish mate."

I fly of to my local Agricultural shop. entre with money. Leave with a lot less.
got my socket, new chain for my Chain saw, 2 box's of 36 grit sanding discs, rubber gloves and a lot more.

But close to me as well I have 2 old fashion hard wear shops. A forgotten past. As some one said, you pay a bit more, but worth it.
One even had new faces for my Granddads Thor Hammer, the other had chunks of bee's wax, sold by the pound weight.

I will keep using them.

 

[the snooper]

as per the title, what has happened to tool shops nowadays?
Called into a new "tooling" shop that's opened nearby, supposedly specialises in all sorts of machine tooling, sharpening etc.

Went in and asked if they sold lathe tools. Blank face. Asked again. "Oh no we don't do lathe work, only tooling"

yep, that's what I just asked. Do you sell tipped tools?

" oh no, we can't sharpen them"

well no, I didn't ask that, can you get them?

"Yeah but we need to know what sort of machine it is"

Why?

"Well we email the company and they match the tool to the lathe"

Well I know what I want I just want a price

"Can't do that, have to email them"

Right,never mind. What about chainsaw chains for a Stihl 08s?

"You need to bring your old chain in and we count the links and match it to chains we have a spool of"

Can't you just open the book your using as a coaster that clearly lists chain lengths and pitches for varying makes?

Absolutely useless, I honestly think I came out knowing less than when i went in. What happened to the decent little shops that have everything, can quote you on the spot even for gear they don't have in stock? As much as I try to support local business, I'll be spending my money on eBay again by the looks of it

fork handles sounds like the shop you went to know nothing about the products they sell just guys moving products with no interest other then money

 

[ukracer]

Theres a couple of tooling shops about 30 minutes from me up Sheffield, they have everything.
Their windows are full of milling machine bits and lathe chucks ect...
I had to go there to buy an m14x1.5 tap for Mercedes benz hubs.
None of the standard stored nearby had metric fine, these shops and loads, draws full of loose taps ect...

You just can't find these type of shops anymore, run by old boys with excellent prices.
I hate having to buy tools ect off the Internet, no more interaction with folk these days!!

Used to have two decent places within 10 miles. One near to junction 2 of the M5 graham engineering. Awesome place spent thousands over the years.

Another one in Cradley heath. Used to sell loads of second hand tools from factory closures but they only sell new stuff so I am told now.

 

[ukracer]

fork handles sounds like the shop you went to know nothing about the products they sell just guys moving products with no interest other then money

Sounds like the UK to me.....

 

[Pete.]

If you're in South London then Belton & Slade are still trading in Wandsworth. I've bought drills and taps there and whilst they weren't cheap they were good quality.

 

[ronan]

A few weeks ago, before the accident I was working on a Metro. Yes they are still on the road.
This one has bean owned by one family from new.
Sadly I broke my trusty 3/4 whit socket undoing the hub nut.
So off to a local tool shop,
Me: " Do you have a 3/4 whit socket in stock?"
Staff: " You want a 19mm mate.
Me: "No I want a 3/4 whit socket not a 19mm what is a 3/4AF"
Staff: "Don't get any call for that cheep Chinese's rubbish mate."

I fly of to my local Agricultural shop. entre with money. Leave with a lot less.
got my socket, new chain for my Chain saw, 2 box's of 36 grit sanding discs, rubber gloves and a lot more.

But close to me as well I have 2 old fashion hard wear shops. A forgotten past. As some one said, you pay a bit more, but worth it.
One even had new faces for my Granddads Thor Hammer, the other had chunks of bee's wax, sold by the pound weight.

I will keep using them.

3/4" AF ? Bees wax sold by the Lb ? The horror ! Some men from the EU are coming around to erase your memory as we speak !

 

[brightspark]

No need to apologise for riding a jap bike, they were clearly better designed and better built, than nearly everything else and have been so since the early 1960's.

that's because they took our bike designs and improved them while our bike companys sat on there a...rses and didn't move on

 

[the snooper]

that's because they took our bike designs and improved them while our bike companys sat on there a...rses and didn't move on

maybe the bikes wouldn't start

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

@ronan
They even sell IMPERIAL NUTS AND BOLTS!!!!!!
One evens sells paraffin, from a pump out the back, well they did. That sadly stopped about 5 years ago.
But they have moved with the times, that what keeps them going.
One eye on the future, with one foot in the past.

up to about 3 years ago there was one place, over the border in Somerset what had Hot rivets for sale. Plus the tools to fit.

 

[Tinbasherdan]

that's because they took our bike designs and improved them while our bike companys sat on there a...rses and didn't move on

Actually, suzukis big break was by copying the mz

 

[brightspark]

Actually, suzukis big break was by copying the mz

and mr Honda was at the isle of man with his tape measure . that's how he started

 

[Welderpaul]

I (just) remember, probably 25 years ago, two shops slap bang in the middle of Leeds city centre, proper old school - nothing on show except rows and rows of brown boxes and wooden compartments. Man in a brown coat greets you and asks what you need as soon as you walk in. No browsing.
Was full of record gear and such, lots of stock, slotted head wood screws fixed to the wall with sizes marked up.
The shop was sold a long time ago and became a clothes shop - now a Costa.

 

[Chris Stevens]

that's because they took our bike designs and improved them while our bike companys sat on there a...rses and didn't move on

Lol.............if Honda had copied rubbish Brit bikes rather than designing and producing the Super Cub, they would have taken a great deal longer to come up with the CB750...............

 

[Luke]

Threadfast in Congleton is still going.

Fasteners in cardboard boxes on shelves behind the counter, various tools and drill bits, hole saws, etc. In stock. They can order stuff in and will often negotiate to make a sale.

I email them with a list and pop in and pick it up. Great service.

 

[Fazerruss]

I don't rate triumph at all, took a mates 675 out and it was one of the most uncomfortable bikes I've ridden in a long time. I could be persuaded by a new tiger though

I had a go on one, was fun but for a good all rounder I'm very happy with my baby. Had it 7 years now and it's been superb.