Footprint Tools

[Pappy]

I was in Sears today and saw a small line of hand tools under the brand name "Footprint", made in Sheffield, England.

The chisels looked decent. The pull saws didn't appear to be the best quality and the selection was limited.

There were also a couple of block planes and a couple of bench planes. I took a 60 1/2 out of the box to check it out. The cutter looked good but that was about the only thing that did. Castings were poor quality, the mouth adjustment was rough, and the cutter adjustment mechanisms looked cheap and flimsey.

If this was an example of the qualty one can expect from this company, I will keep looking for saws and will stick to my Stanley planes.

[JR]

Here's a Stanley #1 for you.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst...884672223.html

[Pappy]

If I had the money I might consider it. Does look like a repaired crack in the tote just below the level of the adjustment screw.

[LinuxRandal]

Pappy,

How did the chisels look to you, compared to the old blue Marples?

[Pappy]

The chisels looked decent but I didn't take one out of the package. The first link is to Footprint Sheffield and the second is to Sears.

http://www.footprint-tools.co.uk/index_home.htm

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/search_10...l&viewItems=24

[Knottscott]

IIRC, Sears put the chisel set on sale for something like $22 a year or so ago. That sounded like a pretty good deal, but otherwise I'd be apt to avoid any of the bargain import hand planes completely and stick with the well proven older Bailey, Record, Millers Falls, Sargent, or Union planes.

[natausch]

I did pick up one of the 40-50's atomic green Craftsman jack planes at a garage sale for $10, boxed and with only a small amount of light surface rust. Since then I've picked up a similar era block and bench. To be honest, the fit and finish isn't in the same class as Stanley of the same age, but considering they sell for around 1/5th of the price they're very servicable non-shop jewelry planes.

[ironhat]

Footprints chisels

While I still haven't used the ones that Brian Holbren sold me for a $50 closeout price you might consider asking him - I'll send him a PM and ask so that we don't give one line of their products an undue slight.

[LinuxRandal]

While I still haven't used the ones that Brian Holbren sold me for a $50 closeout price you might consider asking him - I'll send him a PM and ask so that we don't give one line of their products an undue slight.

While I am sure I am being a little naive over thinking/hoping that the factory that produced the Blue Chips (which I have), started making the Footprint chisels when Marples sold off, I only started seeing them for sale, after the Irwin buyout.

I have almost a full set, and was thinking the Footprint set, might be a good, inexpensive project/learning the Tormek, set for my father. (We are going to a demo on Saturday and I am looking at getting some of the stuff I don't have)

[Holbren]

The footprint chisels are pretty good. Only complaint you usually year with the English steel is it's soft. Then you compare it to some of the German chisels which is harder but take more time to sharpen. it's a give and take.

I'm not familiar with their other tools though. Wonder where they are made or if they even make them.