UK suppliers

[CutThumb]

Trying to see if there’s anywhere in the UK with prices close to Germany’s Rickert Werkzeuge, for tools and dyes. Been looking at Tandy an thinking about the value of a gold membership... Any ideas, or favourites gladly received.

[chrisash]

If you are a member of HM Forces or ex then you automatically get elite membership free, Not sure if it also applies to other government departmenst like police and fire service so worth a try

These may be of use

http://www.leprevo.co.uk/knives.htm

https://www.artisanleather.co.uk/leathercraft-starter-kits.html

https://www.identityleathercraft.com/index.php/fastening-buckles.html

http://abbeyengland.com/Store/List/0/CategoryID/-80/Level/a

[bermudahwin]

As Chris says, ex forces qualify.... I was in Financial Services Regulation as a Government Employee here and overseas which qualified me for Costco Membership, but not sure about Tandy Elite (maybe I should ask)

I have written to a German Leather goods producer, with whom I went to college, to ask for his view on the Geman company, as I don't know if I am comparing apples and apples.

Best

H

 

[arz]

We live in Romania. The only place I have ordered tools from in the UK is Abbey England. We really like their brass hardware!

We buy tools, hardware, glue etc. from leathercrafttools.com (Japan). Even with import tax (19%), the prices are good. We have been very happy with the quality. 

We have also bought from, Mando in France, http://www.cuirtextilecrea.com, https://www.decocuir.com, Wuta tools, and from the US (Rocky Mountain leather etc.).

Lot's of great places to get leather related items now compared to a few years ago!

 

[fredk]

4 hours ago, CutThumb said:

Trying to see if there’s anywhere in the UK with prices close to Germany’s Rickert Werkzeuge, for tools and dyes. Been looking at Tandy an thinking about the value of a gold membership... Any ideas, or favourites gladly received.

I took out the Tandy 'Elite' membership last year. Then I used a load of my savings to buy tools and fittings, mainly to replace a lot of 'will do' tools

Note that on your order in which you take out the 'wholesale club' membership you get an extra 10% off, so I made that order as big as I could

My membership ran up in April. I've no need to renew it yet. I bought enough conchos etcetera for several year's work

[Matt S]

@CutThumb What particular tools and dyes are you after? For online orders I prefer Le Prevo (website circa 1995) and Abbey England (better website but you need to sign up for an account before seeing prices -- they primarily sell to trade but I initially got my account by describing myself as a student). For comparable items both these companies' prices are better than Tandy, even with the Elite membership which I get for free as a business customer. LP have a sometimes excellent clearance/bargain section and Abbey has a really wide range of hard-to-get items -- as ARZ says above their brass hardware is excellent (it should be, they own their own foundry in Walsall...)

[Northmount]

If you have a business name and registration, Tandy will give you a wholesale account which gives elite pricing, and sometimes some better pricing than elite.  They have a preferred customer flyer that has sales at much lower than elite from time to time.  At least that is the way it is here.

Tom

[CutThumb]

Wow, thanks for all the great replies. I’m just starting out, and money is a bit tight so I’m getting a couple of bits each month. I’m already selling a few pieces so that’s going back into tools, leather and dyes. I’ll check out all of those sites, thanks. I completely forgot about Leprovo, having bought a couple of things from them a few months ago. 

[chrisash]

Artisan are good for sellin small pieces of leather and can cut to whatever size you want but normally A4, A3, A2 etx with a good selection

[CutThumb]

23 hours ago, chrisash said:

Artisan are good for sellin small pieces of leather and can cut to whatever size you want but normally A4, A3, A2 etx with a good selection

I bought a side recently, which is mainly going into notebooks. Already paid for itself. Next few things I have pencilled in are a strap cutter, a pony and a riveting set.