New Old Tools

Last updated 10/16/99

This is a listing of just about all the sources of new old tools, i.e. recreations of tradition hand woodworking tools, that I know about. If you know one that's missing from this list (or if you can send me a picture for one of the empty boxes), please let me know.

Most of these operations are quite small businesses, so please refrain from idle tire-kicking. Note that many of these entrepreneurs' products are available from several retail outlets, though I presume they make out better if you order directly from them.

Also, a few mail-order operations stand out by carrying a substantial number of new old tools: The Japan Woodworker, which also carries many hand-made Japanese tools; William Alden; Highland Hardware; and Lee Valley, whose Veritas manufacturing business is constantly adding new new old tools to its product lineup.

Hint: click on the pictures to see bigger versions.

Adria Tools
adria@woodworking.com

Eddie Sirotich makes traditional-style dovetail saws with bubinga handles.

Robert Baker Reproductions
1 Fieldstone Estates Rd.
York, ME 03909
(207) 363-6647

Museum-quality reproductions and restoration of traditional tools, specializing in infill planes.

Barr Specialty Tools
P. O. Box 4335
McCall, ID 83638
(800) 235-4452

A small operation making hand-forged timberframing tools, bench chisels, and more.

Bear Creek Tool Co.
201 N. Bear Creek Rd.
Marshall, NC 28753
704 649 2671

Charly Wilkins runs an all-purpose forge, foundry and machine shop, turning out a wide range of new old tools including axes, knies, adzes, froes, scorps and even a shaving horse. He also does custom work.

Paul J. Bordonaro
553 Bloomfield Ave.
Windsor, CT 06095
(860) 688-3909

Paul makes replacement knobs and totes for Stanley and similar bench planes.

Bristol Design
14 Perry Rd.
Bristol BS1 5BG
England
011 44 117 929 1740
100010.1433@compuserve.com

Charles Stirling, in addition to his old tools business, makes hand-forged carving tools, chisels, froes, etc.

Cape Forge
P. O. Box 987
Burlington, VT 05402
(802) 244-7010
mike@capeforge.com

Specializing in hand-forged carving tools: knives, gouges, chisels. Custom work available.

Clark&Williams
19 Kimberling Street
Eureka Springs, AR 72632
(501) 253-7416
info@planemaker.com

Bill Clark and Larry Williams make nifty, pricey traditional wooden planes, and the occasional planemaker's float.

The Country Workshops Store
90 Mill Creek Rd.
Marshall, NC 28753
(704) 656-2280

A nice variety of tools for green woodworking, chairmaking, etc.: adzes, axes, froes, carving tools, etc. Part of Drew Langsner's operation, which also involves traditional woodworking courses.

Crosscut Saw Co.
P. O. Drawer 787
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
(315) 568-5755

Tools for logging, including both new and old crosscut saws up to 7-1/2 feet, buzzsaw blades, axes, pickaroons, etc., even a pitsaw, and the tools to maintain them.

Crown Plane Co.
61 Western Ave.
Bath, ME 04530
(207) 443-4183

Leon Robbins makes a wide variety of wooden planes in beautiful tiger maple. These include left and right hand panel raisers, a two-way compass plane, and a travisher, the latter two of special interest to chairmakers.

Dave's Shaves
shaves@ncia.net
P.O. Box 980
North Conway, NH 03860
(603) 356-8712

Dave Wachnicki, who teaches how to make wooden spokeshaves at Mike Dunbar's place, also offers finished shaves and kits.

Fred Emhof
R.D. #1 Box 124
Burlington Flats, NY 13315
(607) 965-8420

Fred makes spoon bits and reamers for chairmakers, machining them out of solid stock. Recommended by Mike Dunbar of Windsor fame.

E. C. Emmerich
via David Warren Direct
P.O. Box 542
Crystal Lake, IL 60039
(800) 724-7758
Planemandw@aol.com

ECE is a German maker of wooden planes, along with a few other tools including a reproduction of the Stanley #113 metal compass plane. The wooden planes run from re-engineered smoothers to plows, fillisters and dovetail planes. Some people swear by them.

Forge and Anvil
Box 51
Newman, IL 61942

A small forge making historically faithful reproductions of old ironwork and a variety of tools, mostly axes, with laminated steel edges.

Genuine Forgery
1126 Broadway
Hanover, MA 02339
(781) 826-8931

Ray Larsen makes a variety of hand-forged tools: adzes, drawknives, scorps, travisher and spokeshave blades. He's also written a neat book on forging your own.

John Gunterman
john@gunterman.mv.com
6 Pleasant St.
Unit # C-5
Hooksett, NH 03106

John makes wooden spokeshaves with screw-thread adjusters to your order, or even with your own wood.

Harris Tools
P.O. Box 837-1007
San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 20-12-66

Harris makes a variety of tools, many using tropical hardwoods grown in the region. They even make a spill plane. Quality may vary, though. Probably the best North American source is William Alden.

Hock Handmade Knives
16650 Mitchell Creek Dr.
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
(707) 964-2782

Ron Hock makes plane irons (and wooden plane kits), scraper blades, knives and other goodies, mostly out of bar stock. The standard source for high-quality replacement cutters for iron planes and spokeshaves. He'll also do custom work.

Holtey Classic Handplanes
Hedgelands, Fullwell Rd.
Finmere, Buckinghamshire MK18 4AS
England
011-44-1280-847457

Carl Holtey makes museum-grade reproductions of classic planes.

Hoosier Tool Company
myazel@medt.com
(219) 353-7688

Mike Yazel makes new old tools as well as replacement parts for wooden and metallic planes, including those non-standard screws. He also repairs metal plane bodies.

Ashley Iles
via Midwest Woodworkers
14605 Wright St.
Omaha, NE 68144
(888) 330-5444

Hand-forged carving and turning tools.

Kansas City Windsor Tool Works
kbrennan@usa.net

Kevin Brennan makes nifty replicas of vintage beading tools.

Kelly Tool Works
P.O. Box 1813
Kernville, CA 93238
(760) 376-4804

Tim Kelly makes slightly up-sized replicas of the Millers Falls #1 "cigar" spokeshave. He also sells new cutters for the original #1. Also, more recently, a supplier of small infill planes.

Christopher Laarman
P.O. Box 834
Philomath, Oregon 97370
1-800-242-4917

Finger planes disguised as objets d'art.

Lehman Hardware and Appliances, Inc.
One Lehman Circle, P.O. Box 41
Kidron, OH 44636
(330) 857-5757

Lehman's "Non-Electric Catalog" contains a modest variety of timberframing and other woodworking tools, along with many other appurtenances of the unplugged lifestyle.

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks, Inc.
Route 1
Warren, ME 04864
1-800-327-2520
toolwrks@lie-nielsen.com

A small tool manufacturer, specializing in high-quality reproductions of old Stanley planes. Although they sell pricey replicas of some common planes, some of their products (like the #62 pictured) are significantly less expensive than the collectible originals. There are also persistent rumors of reproductions of infill planes and the Record #073 shoulder plane.

Mazzaglia Tools
P.O. Box 18
Groveland, MA 01834

A source of molding plane cutter blanks and name stamps like those used on the endgrain of wooden planes.

Mississinewa Valley Planes
2514 Lommel Ln..
Marion, IN 46952
(765) 664-3325

Tod Herrli makes new old wooden planes, custom work available; it's a good option if you need a scarce plane or rare profile for a project. Tod also teaches planemaking and some other woodworking classes.


Plane Classics
2 Primrose St.
North Haven, CT 06473
(203) 230-8479
benchap@rcn.com

Darrell Chapnick makes reproductions of scarce early metal planes, like the Birmingham rabbet plane shown here and a Davis block plane.

The Saint James Bay Tool Co.
122 E.Main St.
Mesa, AZ 85201
(800) 574-8589
st.james@dancris.com

Another small manufacturer, specializing in traditional British-style tools. Expanding to carry combination plane parts, spokeshaves. They sell old tools at their shop, and will do custom work.

The Simpson Machine Tool Co.
619 Good Intent Rd.
Gettysburg, PA 17325
(717) 338-9074

Another small manufacturer, featuring a repro of the Stanley Odd Jobs and a few other tools. Now if only they'd lose the animated GIFs...

Snow & Nealley
P.O. Box 876
Bangor, ME 04402
(800) 790-8363

Timber tools: drawknives, froes, axes.

The Superior Works
PO Box 43
Ashby, MA 01431

Patrick Leach makes snazzy reproductions of rare old tools. The web site also displays some neat examples from his own collection.

Up to the Electronic Neanderthal