St James Tools

[Mark Baldwin III]

Does anyone have experience with St James Tool Co.? I am in need ("want" does not exist in my tool vocabulary) of a scrub plane. I am looking at the Veritas, LN, and St James. Price is of little factor on this one. I believe that LN and LV are pretty close, and the St James is cheaper than the others. It's something like a $65 dollar difference between cheapest and most expensive. So, like I said...not a huge factor. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[john brenton]

There is almost always a wooden German scrub plane or two of some maker on ebah.

[Jonathan McCullough]

I got a set of irons for a #46 plane from them. They shipped promptly, were friendly on the phone, the irons worked well. I've never heard anything bad about them or their products. Some of their kits look pretty cool.

[Erwin Graween]

Hi,

I've tried for 2 years to get some parts that they're selling. Got many times contact over mail. It seemed every time that the order was processing, and finally never got anything. Even at the end, I got no answers to my emails.
So for me as previously said in an other thread, not a good experience with them.
I gave up ever getting something from them.
Maybe this is because, I live abroad, but I was clear on this point since the beginning so if it was a problem, they should have said it.

But some other people had good experience. So maybe I was not lucky.

[Tony Sade]

The owner, whose name escapes me, is notoriously email adverse. You'll have better luck getting him on the phone, and he loves to talk. If what you want isn't in stock, be prepared to wait awhile for it to be made. He's not the fastest guy around.

I don't think you can go wrong with either the LN or LV, or, as a prior poster suggested, make one of your own. Turn a Stanley 5 into a scrubber by opening the mouth and seriously cambering the blade.

[Bruce Haugen]

What Tony says is true. Although I would like to have a Stanley #40, I do have a dogmeat post-war era Stanley #5 that has a heavily cambered blade that does everything a "true" scrub does. The #40 ranks at the top of the list of tools I really don't need.

[Erik Manchester]

I too purchased a set of irons for a 46 from St James Bay and the order was filled promptly and the irons work great. Cannot ask for better.

[David Weaver]

You can also make a scrub out of an old straight rabbet plane, just look for one with a heavy iron. They are narrow and easy to grip.

[Josh Bowman]

The owner, whose name escapes me, is notoriously email adverse. You'll have better luck getting him on the phone, and he loves to talk. If what you want isn't in stock, be prepared to wait awhile for it to be made. He's not the fastest guy around.

+1 with the email
He's a nice guy and makes pretty good stuff. Just call him though.

[Terry Beadle]

I bought a St. James Bay smoother with adjustor, blade and cocobolo innards. It took me quite a while to put together as I only worked on it between other projects. The plane turned out very good. The blade is very good too. Will take 1/2 thou shavings if desired.

I also bought a custom blade from them which is in a krenov style plane. Very good price and performance.

I did have a little bit ( and I mean little ) of a challenge getting email response. I was able to phone when needed. He gave me good advice and directions when I needed them.

Over all a very satisfied customer.

[Erwin Graween]

Hi all.

Well I was not aware of that, never read it anwyhere. Although he did answer me, he should have told it to me.
I would have called.

Maybe I'll try this way to get my parts

Thanks.

[Tony Zaffuto]

Order spurs for my #39 and a few other odd ball parts. Arrived promptly and I have no complaints.

[Ron Petley]

I e maild with little results, phoned Bob, we talked a lot on the phone, but no product, I phoned some more and had a few more enjoyable conversations. Eventually my plane kit came, must have been a 6 month, maybe 8 month process, maybe something was not in stock. To be fair I did not pursue fast service. So I have the kit and have not got it assembled yet so maybe we are much the same. Great guy but marches to his own beat, if that bothers you maybe you will not appreciative his finer qualities, he has a excellent product at a excellent price, hard to beat that.
Cheers Ron.

[Jerry Brockman]

Ordered twice from him. First time he was just very slow in shipping. I thought I would give him another chance about 6 months later. It was worse..he shipped the wrong item. He would not respond to email. I called him and he agreed to correct it but after a month I contact the post office and finally got a response and satisfaction.

[Maurice Metzger]

I got some 271 plane irons from him years ago. I also talked to him on the phone. Irons were good, and came fairly quickly.