Lamenting Axminster Tools store closure

[timwors]

I found out yesterday that my local Axminster Tools store in High Wycombe has permanently closed. This is unbelievably sad, because I loved going there and having a good browse before buying lots of bits and pieces (of course, usually not what I originally came in for). I had feared this might happen, as recent visits had been a bit disappointing because there were so many empty shelves and things out of stock. The Festool section had shrunk from having a massive range a few years ago to little more than some Dominos and sandpaper and just a few power tools.

Looking into it a bit further, it seems that Axminster went into administration a couple of weeks ago, but has been bought as a pre-packaged deal: the website is still trading and is much as it was, although their only remaining store is in Axminster itself. Much too far away for me to travel to. Hopefully the brand will live on and achieve some stability.

It's a real shame that they have had to close stores. The staff in their stores were excellent and I wish them well. I will really miss not being able to see/feel the tools before buying - you just can't do that online.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's really sad, I thought they were a major force with tools and machinery in the UK?

 

[Mini Me]

Stores die when people don't buy from them. They might buy online from the same company but not at the store itself.

 

[six-point socket II]

Huge Devon firm honoured by the King collapses

It has been in business for 53 years

www.devonlive.com

Kind regards,
Oliver

 

[hdv]

Part of the original team is planning to continue under a new name (NuCo). This pause is meant to restructure the business. The idea is to separate the branch that produces tools from the commercial branch. I hope they succeed and wish them all the best. In the past I have bought a number of things from them and their service has always been top notch. They might not have been the cheapest, but because of that service I always came back. Many shops nowadays forget how important service is. They did not. Good on them.

 

[Duckler]

Huge Devon firm honoured by the King collapses

It has been in business for 53 years

www.devonlive.com

Kind regards,
Oliver

Shopsmith was even older, and while a different animal, it is sad to get the shocking news that an important source is no longer available.
On top of that, I just learned that Hock Blades (founder Ron Hock) was purchased by Lee Valley tools. So that is a bit of good news (for a change for me!).

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Shopsmith was even older, and while a different animal, it is sad to get the shocking news that an important source is no longer available.
On top of that, I just learned that Hock Blades (founder Ron Hock) was purchased by Lee Valley tools. So that is a bit of good news (for a change for me!).

Shopsmith has had troubles, and come back from them, before. It may not be permanent, for them.
My take is that it's a product with a problem. It appears to be a do-all combination machine, impressive to a newbie. The problem is the cost. They are very expensive. Sure, it does the work of several independent tools, that would cost more combined, but you don't have to buy them all at once. Newbies, at least the smart ones, are price sensitive. That big up-front cost holds them back.
The real problem is that the thing is a Swiss Army Knife (no offense to Switzerland)
That kind of multi-tool is only good at one of them. It's best as a knife, but you still have all the rest of that thing, in your hand. A proper knife would be better. All of the rest of the tools are even more of a compromise.
A Shopsmith is best as a lathe, but it's way too expensive for just that. It takes way too much space as a drill press and is literally the worst table saw you will ever use. (you tilt the table, rather than the blade, for bevel cuts) How have they been making (and selling) these things since the 1940s?
Oh, yeah. There is another negative. Don't you dare miss a piece, or need to go back to a previous operation. Your order of operations is never more consequential.
I have had a 1947 model, passed through the family, since it was new. I can't get rid of it, but I hate it at the same time.

We recently lost our best local resource too. It was a more industrial version of a WoodCraft type store. It was more "big machine" oriented, had way more lumber, in better sizes and quantity.
Covid and the resulting supply-chain issues, really hurt them. Then came road construction (roundabout install) that made it worse. They changed location, to a much smaller space and tried to be more on-line oriented. That must not have worked as expected. Now they are open limited hours, cash only and no restocking. Once it is gone, there is no more. They are done.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Shopsmith has had troubles, and come back from them, before. It may not be permanent, for them.

The other issue I think would put off a lot of younger or new starters to woodworking, is that it literally looks like a machine from the 1940's, with all the implied usability.

Not very sexy as far as fancy machines go.

 

[GaryA]

I am not surprised with Axminster having troubles. I have been to their Sittingbourne shop a couple of times to make some big purchases and the staff just wonder around not even acknowledging me. The last time I went there I was going to buy a CSC SYS50 saw and my son was after the Lamello biscuit jointer system, We were in the shop for a good half an hour before we left with a Souber cutter as not one member of staff (there were 4 staff walking around or talking) was interested in us.

 

[Doug S]

I generally only use Axminster when they have promotions on like free delivery as they are normally quite a bit more expensive than other places.

I have found their online service good but not so good in store. In one store I watched a Kapex and UG stand crashing down to the ground as an assistant who clearly had no idea how to set it up was trying to demonstrate it to a customer. Another time when I went in to buy a BHC 18 SDS drill an assistant advised me against it, he told me Festool was overpriced, not worth the money and he didn't know why people bought it, he's entitled to his opinion but not a great salesman.

 

[Duckler]

Shopsmith has had troubles, and come back from them, before. It may not be permanent, for them.
My take is that it's a product with a problem. It appears to be a do-all combination machine, impressive to a newbie. The problem is the cost. They are very expensive. Sure, it does the work of several independent tools, that would cost more combined, but you don't have to buy them all at once. Newbies, at least the smart ones, are price sensitive. That big up-front cost holds them back.
The real problem is that the thing is a Swiss Army Knife (no offense to Switzerland)
That kind of multi-tool is only good at one of them. It's best as a knife, but you still have all the rest of that thing, in your hand. A proper knife would be better. All of the rest of the tools are even more of a compromise.
A Shopsmith is best as a lathe, but it's way too expensive for just that. It takes way too much space as a drill press and is literally the worst table saw you will ever use. (you tilt the table, rather than the blade, for bevel cuts) How have they been making (and selling) these things since the 1940s?
Oh, yeah. There is another negative. Don't you dare miss a piece, or need to go back to a previous operation. Your order of operations is never more consequential.
I have had a 1947 model, passed through the family, since it was new. I can't get rid of it, but I hate it at the same time.

We recently lost our best local resource too. It was a more industrial version of a WoodCraft type store. It was more "big machine" oriented, had way more lumber, in better sizes and quantity.
Covid and the resulting supply-chain issues, really hurt them. Then came road construction (roundabout install) that made it worse. They changed location, to a much smaller space and tried to be more on-line oriented. That must not have worked as expected. Now they are open limited hours, cash only and no restocking. Once it is gone, there is no more. They are done.

That is a good summary...and then some!
Your 1947 model is probably the 10ER (or some other really early model). And the tilting table thing ... SKARY!
I had a Slopsmith (typo & LOL) that was newer than yours, but older than me. I cut down the waytubes and later gave it to my son.
I think Shopsmith filled a purpose in the era (when Baby Boomers were being born) and power tools were making their way into home shops.
Down the road I think people on a nostalgia jag will geek out over them. Maybe there will be some ShopSmithSteamPunk forums.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That is a good summary...and then some!
Your 1947 model is probably the 10ER (or some other really early model). And the tilting table thing ... SKARY!
I had a Slopsmith (typo & LOL) that was newer than yours, but older than me. I cut down the waytubes and later gave it to my son.
I think Shopsmith filled a purpose in the era (when Baby Boomers were being born) and power tools were making their way into home shops.
Down the road I think people on a nostalgia jag will geek out over them. Maybe there will be some ShopSmithSteamPunk forums.

It is indeed a 10ER. I left that detail out, because very few people would be aware of them. That was the point where the original creator/owner sold it to a larger corporation. That new company continued producing them, rather than just absorbing to kill it off. They kept the name and underlying concept, but changed them somewhat. None of the newer accessories/attachments will fit the older machines.

I try not to be offensive, because there are still people who love them, but IMHO it's a horrible system.
Add the insane price and even the most ardent fan is looking for used ones, where the last owner figured it out too late.

 

[peter halle]

I became one of those late adaptors to the Shopsmith (used - but new in box from 1993ish) because I wanted to play around with a lathe and also the bandsaw - of which I have always had a fear. Fear? I worked for a grocery store where the butchers used a bandsaw and to hear that thing running and then seeing the resulting "dust / kerf waste" just became etched in my mind. The tablesaw was tuned up and cut so nicely but I am not a fan of having the table so high up and the tilting table is not for me. The lathe position is too low for most people and I don't like the bandsaw table at 45" of the floor.

I'll probably try to unload it and accessories. It did show me that a drill press and bandsaw larger than 10" would be welcome, but I really am not a lathe guy.

Perhaps it will end up with new ownership, but I wouldn't invest money into buying that company. If a safety device law were to be passed in the future they would have to invest so much money to keep selling a table saw as part of the "package" I doubt it would be worthwhile.

Peter

 

[smorgasbord]

ShopSmith made more sense back in the days before good portable power tools, and now good bench top tools.

Today, a Festool track saw, Laguna 10" bandsaw, DeWalt/Sawstop contractor's saw, hand drills with drill guides, bench top disk/belt sander combo, routers are probably together less than the cost of a Shopsmith, more flexible, easier to setup, and have way better dust collection.

 

[BarneyD]

Years ago I had a 10ER. My son now has it. I read somewhere that the 10ER was only sold for several years around 1950-ish, and they were sold thru Montgomery Wards (does anyone remember them?).

Cheers,
Barney