Pen making and turNing supplies in UK

[kentonjm]

I am currently visiting in the UK and wondered if there were any great local turning supply shops I could visit while I am here. It would be nice to pick up some local wood blanks that are not as easily found in the US.

I am currently in Brighton and will be back here at the end of our trip. We will be in aND around London most of the time although we will be headed up north to the lake district next weekend and also a brief visit to the Oxford area the weekend after.

If any of the UK members could recommend some places where I might browse and buy some local wood blanks I would very much appreciate it.

As I am here for a couple of weeks even suggestions to UK online vendors would be great as I could buy stuff there and ship to my brothers house and not have to deal with international shipping.

Thanks in advance.

Jon

 

[kentonjm]

Apologies am on a mobile device and posted twice by mistake. Not sure how to delete one.

 

[jimmyz]

I think there was a guy from Mirfield just starting an on-line supply place. Saw something in a recent thread from him. Said he would meet in person if need be. Try googling Taylors Mirfield. Maybe you'll be close enough to meet with him.

 

[Anglesachse]

Try this, they have several stores around England.

Store Locator | Axminster Tools & Machinery

I was there last week and was very happy with the products.

 

[George Watkins]

Here's a few

Turners retreat in Nottinghamshire

stiles and bates in Dover

Snainton woodworking supplies near scarborough

The Toolpost in Didcot oxfordshire

hope this helps

 

[furini]

+1 for The Toolpost, especially if you're going to be in the Oxford area.

It's interesting to see someone wanting some British wood - I'm always drooling over some of the wood I see on American pens that we don't have here.

Enjoy your time in Brighton - my home town!

 

[kentonjm]

Thanks for all the replies thus far. I have checked them out online and I may be able to swing by the tool post if I am close enough while in oxford. Not sure if they have a retail counter but can give them a call,

Furini, although I have lived in the USA for 17 years I am originally a Londoner and we are back fairly regularly visiting family and friends. I have a fairly good supply of exotics and indigenous north American woods but thought it would be nice to have some traditional English varieties. I was thinking of things like English beech, elm, horse chestnut, chestnut etc.

Not suprizingly the UK turning stores are selling many of the similar exotics that I see in the us. I may be better off finding regular timber suppliers and buying a few off cuts that I can make into blanks. If any of the UK members know where I might find such places and can point me in the right direction that would be great.

 

[kentonjm]

I will be going here tomorrow, will let you know what the place is like. The prices seem pretty good and I am hoping to get some interestING offcuts that they advertise for 3ukp per kilo. Right now that's about $4. How many board feet in a kilo will depend on the wood and it's density. Wether this is a good deal depends on the species. For Wenge that would be pretty good, for cherry not good at all. We will see.

Good Timber | Timber for Woodworkers | Wood-turners | Wood carvers

 

[kentonjm]

Went to Good Timber today and it was an awesome place, sawmill, drying ovens, woodshop, lumber yard and turning supply store all on a large farm property. Had some great wood for sale including a wide variety of turning blanks. Their offcuts were rather to large for my suitcase so ended up grabbing some mixed pen blanky from their barging bin. 15 for 5 pounds which is about $6.50. Not sure quite what I got will have to look closer when I get home.

For those of you in the uk, do check this place out.

 

[ken ledger]

Hope i am not to late for this, had to join the forum and await validation, all done now

Any how i have used a place in Tonbridge Kent, i have been there a couple of times and most of their wood is dark, there were ni light woods when i was there. I bought some off cuts of Ebony. Beautiful to turn with a hard finish for polishing.
Tonebridge is a about 30 odd miles out of London on the south east side. Address below.

Address: Timberline, Unit 7, Munday Industrial Estate, 58-66 Morley Road, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RP
Tel: +44 (0)1732 355626 | Fax: +44 (0)1732 358214 Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9.30 - 17.30; Saturday 9.00 - 13.00
Exotic Hard Woods | Timberline | Specialist Woods, Veneers, Marquetry