where to by a bradawl?

[clot]

When I were a lad (NW Wales) , we also called it both a bradawl and a sprigbit ( though less commonly).

[Clive George]

I still pick up my noddy hand drill for little stuff - lighter than the power drill and satisfying to not be using power to do something.

(s'pose if I got a cordless I'd use that, but I don't really do enough to make the lack of one a pain.)

cheers, clive

[AA]

Thanks for all the ideas. Unfortunately no Wilkinsons or Wickes in Cambridge. Maybe I'll make one as some have suggested. Despite reported B&Q sightings I've had no luck in two.

Like people say, just one of those things that gets inherited from parents toolboxes that you take for granted (until you lose them). But at least I know they can still be bought!

Thanks for the helpful sugggestions to use a nail or centrepunch but my bradawl was so convenient. Plus, came in handy for all sorts of other things around the house (curiously I can't remember any right now, though I assume they involved poking holes in things!).

[Andrew May]

Well, if you are in Cambridge then either McKays or Ridgeons should have them.

Andrew

[The Natural Philosopher]

Try that HW place on Mill Road - across the bridge.

Ridgeons or Mackays are possibles as well.

Car boot sales and ebay suggest themselves.

You should be able to buy at leasts the sorts of handles intended for needle files, and epoxy one on to a bit of snapped off drill ground to a flat point..

[Mary Fisher]

Or mother to daughter.

So did I, we have several and they're used a lot.

I haven't heard that but I'm from r'other side of t'hill.

Mary

[Clive George]

You're in Cambridge and are having difficulty finding a tool?!! Do you know about Mackays?

they're a real shop. If you've never been there, you really should do.

cheers, clive

[manatbandq]

You know you've done it so you left it as it was, courtesy of being a total f****it.

MBQ

[AA]

Well I never! Less than 1km away and I've never seen it. Though I rarely take the East Road from that roundabout & if I do I'm normally focussed on traffic. Thanks!

[Clive George]

If you've got any sort of tool fetish, just remember to keep your mouth closed when you're inside otherwise it gets all messy...

cheers, clive

[The Medway Handyman]

Ahh! I thought an awl was a pointy thing, a bradawl was like a small screwdriver - the flat blade designed to break the grain at right angles - and I have no idea what a ginlet is for.

[Steve Firth]

It's a small gin.

[<me9]

A gimlet was a pointy threaded thing with a curved T handle for screwing in to make a hole.

[Andy Champ]

'cos that's going to wrap. If you want to see one, I'm sure the shipyard museums will have lots, and there must be some on the Medway!

Andy

[Frank Erskine]

Indeed. My grandfather had several of those in a couple of real home-made toolboxes. The gimlet made the hole in the 'upper' piece of wood and the bradawl made a start in the lower piece for the screw. A serious hole was made with an auger, which was somewhat like a big gimlet but sometimes had a head for an interchangeable handle. A bradawl has a rather bulbous, normally wooden, handle, to prevent blisters on the palm of your hand.

Those toolboxes were fascinating, with loads of real woodworking bits 'n' pieces and a musty sort of smell (probably woodworm!).

Screwdrivers were just screwdrivers - none of this Pozidriv/Supadriv/Phillips malarky.

Isn't it odd how you remember things from those days? I remember watching/'helping' Grandpa painting his stepladders with dark brown CWS paint.

I can't remember what I did a couple of days ago...

[Martin Bonner]

You are also advised to make sure that your significant other has control of all cards, cash, cheques, and anything that might be used to scrawl an IOU /before/ you go inside.

On a more serious note, Mackays will sell you one screw if you have a need for it (and they *do* have the size/material/head you require in stock). I've just bought four coach screws for 72p, and while Screwfix may be cheaper if you need 200, that would leave me with 196 that I don't have a use for.

[tony sayer]

Always took them for granted ever since I was at school in the Sixties;)

Another useful shop though their website is mainly about clothing now they do loads of odd hardware buts and ropes of all kinds and wire..

haven't as yet got a website but the local legendary shop is H Gee down at 74 Mill road they have most anything electronic but allow a day or so for them to find it;!..

One o those small shops that still make shopping a positive delight!..

[Martin Bonner]

I'm not surprised they don't have a website - for a shop that sells such hi-tech stuff they are very old fashioned (they still have half- day closing!)

My boss 15 years ago described Gee's as the sort of shop where you go in, they blow the dust off the part you want, and charge you 2/6 because that's what the price sticker says. I expect that they have rotated out /most/ of their pre-decimalization stock by now.

(P.S. I think half-day closing is a /good/ idea - shop keepers should have lives too.)

[jkn]

I used to live off Mill Road in Cambridge (ie. near the legendary Gee's) until a few years ago. I believe the older guy (Mr. Gee?) has died since I was there ;-(.

I was in there once waiting to be served, and listening to the guy in front of me. He was trying to do a D-I-Y repair of a photocopier, which had somehow damaged/broken its corona wires. They were quite happy to suggest and sell him some 40swg or similar nichrome wire for him to have a go with...

I thought his chances of success were close to zero, but was delighted that they were willing to help him out with his experiments...

jon N