Stanley - Quality?

It would be interesting to know which Stanley brushes Dave used as not all are rubbish, If he bought a 10 brush set with the yellow plastic handles for £6.99 I would say what did he expect or did he buy their better ones that can cost about a tenner each in which case I would say he has reason to be unhappy.

The set that I bought had three brushes in it, yes they had yellow handles so obviously the crap versions. I can’t remember how much I paid but obviously not enough, as I said previously have definitely learned my lesson and now bought a proper painters brushes and they are a world apart from the Stanley crap.

Dave W

As an aside and a bit off topic, bought a set of small sockets that was on offer in Aldi, have had to use it already and perfect for the job I was doing, couldn’t fault the quality. When at the checkout the operator was talking about Aldi tools and mentioned that some of their power tools are made by Bosch, don’t know whether that’s an endorsement for Aldi or an indictment for Bosch, however I have a couple of Aldi power tools and again can’t fault the quality, well they haven’t gone bang yet.

Dave W

Noticed on my "Stanley" tool box that it was made in Israel ✈️😩 I thought it was made in China 😋

It took the last few years to finally train her ... well that small triumph any rate. Lots of pouting on my part about how coloured paint costs more and if she wants colour then paint it herself... usually followed by her threatening to get a decorator in and me sulking. I think I only won because I get it done faster than a decorator using her colours and she doesn't have to bother finding one. And there's a historical argument about the time she had a room painted apricot and green........

pgk

They're only a young firm (less than a century), but I like Harris brushes. I will admit that we've been living in this house for 33 years and there are still two rooms that I haven't got around to re-decorating yet (blue woodchip!).

As for Britool, some of my most recent sockets are from them, a very good set of Whitworth ones, but I guess that was a decade ago, so I don't know what's happened to the name in the meantime.

Most long established British companies out sourced products to be made in China and asia since the late 80's. Since the name now only responds to a previous long established name with no quality, theyre only box shifters that put 300% on for the privaledge of a bye gone name.

Luckily all my Stanley, Jenks and Cattel are from the 60's to mid 80's when quality was ripe.

We dont make anything in this country any more its probably been a good 30 years since its demise. 2% GDP against 60+% by the 60's and 70's and two generations on non the wiser.
What annoys me is form filling where by have to select an industry and within that a sector, nothing exists.

I find their tools fine, very reasonable quality. Same for Halfords Aldi and Lidl

Purdy brushes are excellent quality,I even use one when painting watercolours, for large washes.

And I bet that Halfords, Aldi and Lidl tools are all made in China, not everything from China is low quality.

Any thoughts on foam brushes. When I had a yacht they were the in thing for varnishing but haven't used them recently.

Russell

I was after a 3/8 drive Britool socket set in about 1977, it would have cost me about £130 which was just too much. A few years ago Screwfix had a 1/4 drive Britool socket set for £39 pounds, I bought one out of curiosity, as expected it is an import and so far it has performed well. I always think the ratchet is an indicator of quality and it has a nice action and fine teeth. The rest of the set is very well finished and the plastic case is robust and well made. A shame it was made abroad but I think there are some factories in the Far East that are making very good socket sets and the price is right. It seems that Britool are being pitched as a decent budget brand by the Facom group. Sorting out good tools by their brand name is now rather difficult. I believe Teng are a Swedish company who buy tools to their high specification from the Far East and they seem to deliver a pretty good product endorsed by many. German brands like Wera, Wiha, Knipex, Gedore, Stahwille, Hazet etc. seem to sell good stuff but who knows where it is made? A lifetime guarantee seems to be offered on many tools so perhaps we should just take them back if they break and not expect them to last a lifetime. Even good tools wear if used intensively especially 12 point sockets and ring spanners.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 03/08/2018 09:33:56

I coach paint cars and the only brushes that are any good are Hamilton and Purdy brushes. A 3" Purdy will set up back about £45.

I think some brands just buy off the shelf stuff while others get involved in the quality control process and demand a certain level of specification

Edited By Ady1 on 03/08/2018 09:23:34

Which brings us right back to Stanley, who took over Facom in 2006. Tools themselves are branded "Expert" and appear to be sold as either Expert, Britool or Facom depending on the market.

Brian

Bought a small Record/Irwin vice the other day. The jaws and the anvil had been powder coated, and the jaws were out of true in every dimension. It took me about 3 hours with a file to get it scraped back and trued up. I just took the view that it was a rough casting, and just cracked on and finished the job.

My old boss used to have a saying. 'Stew' he'd say, 'It is EXACTLY what it is son'. And then he'd walk off. Can't argue with that can you.

It has come to the point that we think nowhere apart from China has any manufacturing industry left. Well except for India trying to take the quality standard even lower.

However there must be some things still being made in the UK? I just heard a radio 4 report on Yeovil being the centre of glove-making 80 years ago now only mfr is what used to be the tanner using leather from Ethiopia. What happens to UK leather?

So is there a website that lists actual UK industry still genuinely producing in the UK from UK materials?

A company I deal with at work, 'Supply Plus' near Cambridge manufactures great quality traditional ladders for the Fire Brigades under the old Bayley and AS brands amongst others. They export worldwide. I visited the factory last year and they have some ancient machines still doing a good job every day. It was very pleasing to see apprentices bent over a lathe in blue coats, and each having a proper wooden tool chest too. Top quality gear, made in Britain.

Edited By RevStew on 03/08/2018 14:29:40

1.67 million cars made in the UK last year, 1.34 million of which were exported.

Russell

So we do still have manufacturing industry here in the UK in spite of what the doom merchants would have us believe.

Dave W