There seem to be two different types of comment boxes on Blogger blogs.
The ones which appear like this I have no trouble leaving a comment on...
But the ones that look like this...
Anyone else experience similar problems or is it just me?
Anyway Sean Hellman's blog is one that I can't comment on and he made a post on Thursday - "Quality Tools - Cheap Axe" - this is my comment.
I'm going to be running courses at our Greenwood Camp this year for up to four people at a time so am looking to buy some more tools especially lathe tools - spindle gouges, skews etc. I asked for a quote from Ashley Iles and they came back with £180. I looked round on the web at various other tool suppliers - Axminster etc - and found I could get the same tools for just over £100.
Now Ashley Iles is a family run company based in Lincolnshire and their tools are "Forged, ground and tempered by timeserved craftsmen using the traditional methods of the golden age of tool making." The other tools are, I suspect, made in China (as Sean's axe most certainly is). It's a bit like buying locally produced, organic food or "buy-one-get-one-free" Polish chickens from Tesco. I've got nothing against the Chinese (except perhaps their human rights record and exploitation of workers) or the Poles but I think I will be buying British and supporting our economy and our craftsmen.
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4 comments:
They all foul up at times, but lately, the second variety has been a royal pain. You're not alone in your aggravation.
Robin, I know you have this problem for some time. I have just gone back through my comments settings to see if anything is amiss. It looks fine and there is nothing there to explain your problems. I have changed the comments box to come up as a pop up, we shall see if this makes a difference. I do hope so as there is nothing much else I can think of doing.
I do agree with you on the point of buying locally made tools if possible, but sometimes because of lack of money we have to go for a cheaper option. When buying especially electric tools and other hand tools you do get better quality the more you pay. There are a lot of cheaper tools including Rolson which are just not worth buying because they are crap and will not last very long. A tool should be for life if not generations. I just wanted to make a point that cheaper axes can be bought that are nearly as good as the expensive ones. Shame there is no English maker of axes.
Curiously I've had a problem with your comments section for ages...the problem was that the verification word didn't display until I'd pressed PUBLISH and it then asked me to try again...only the second time I could actually see a verification word to copy..
but this time I can see it already! How odd.
as for tools...Ashley tools are superb, and the service is excellent...they'l even re-grind tools if you post them to them...handy for the novice who's made a hash of sharpening...
Ashley tools will repay the extra cost every time.
Bless you for buying local, by-the-way. Americans still don't understand that's the main cause of our destroyed economy. (That and government spending!)
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