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Buying Lie-Nielsen tools offline

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1.8K views 22 replies 14 participants last post by  ArlinEastman  
#1 ·
Hi,

I am visiting west Colorado next month and would like to take the opportunity to buy some tools. Beside the specific issues LN is struggling with since Covid, their tools are even more difficult to buy in Europe than in the US, and we pay of course much more on the other side of the pond.

I have contacted LN and they are (understandably) reluctant to send a parcel to a hotel during my stay In the US.

  • Is there any way to buy their tools in a physical shop? I have never seen any at woodcraft.
  • Appart from Craigslist, is there a way to find second hand LN?

I am planning to set my Mastercard limit pretty high and would be frustrated to come back empty handed ;-)

I have bought their biggest product at home (#51) so now, everything I could grab should fit in my suitcase!

Thanks for your help
 
#3 ·
Only authorized dealer in the US is at Highland Tools (see https://www.lie-nielsen.com/dealers/US). There's also the showroom in Warren, Maine. Both are quite far from Colorado, however.
I have ordered things shipped to hotels several times with no problem, I'm a bit surprised that can't work. Maybe it's because of uncertainty in their supply (what if it arrives after you go back home)?
 
R
#4 · (Edited)
One option is Classic Hand Tools in the UK. They are a LN dealer.

Lie-Nielsen Toolworks - Classic Hand Tools Limited

These heirloom tools from Lie-Nielsen Toolworks USA must be considered amongst the first port of call for your finest classic hand tools.
www.classichandtools.com www.classichandtools.com

I dont know what the customs process would be shipping from UK to your location, but it might be worth exploring. If you are able to make it, they will have a booth at the Harrogate Woodworking Show in November.

www.harrogatewoodworkingshow.co.uk

Harrogate Woodworking Show

www.harrogatewoodworkingshow.co.uk www.harrogatewoodworkingshow.co.uk

All that is still more pricey than if you can get them while you're in the U.S. When contacted them, was it email or a phone call? I've found a phone call can help reduce some of those hesitations.

They are a small-batch maker, so if you order something not currently in-stock, they probably can't guarantee it would be produced by the time you arrive. Your best option may be to call, explain the situation, and have a list of tools that are already made. Place the order a few days before you depart for Colorado so that there is some buffer between the order date and when you leave to go back home. Paying for expedited shipping may also be needed just so you have more certainty that the order is moving in time.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Hello,

Loren, jdh122, RParker, CaptainKlutz and 3Steers, many thanks for your input.

I was already on holidays in the US last year, and it was in Maine (what a coincidence).
As you can imagine, my rented car had an issue and I had to stop on a parking in Warren, and I left with already quite a few tools in my suitcase. I tried to push for holidays again in this region, but I did not win this time (I wonder why, but I am not giving up)

Thank you for the hint about the Highland shop, I will think about it next time I have a connection in Atlanta, I had a few of those in the past.

It was by email that LN wrote to me that they normally don’t send to hotels, but they were not completely closed to the idea, so I might give it another go (I never received answers from the hotel about their procedure neither so I will chase them first).

And finally I did not think about the events where LN attends, that is a really good idea. A plane ticket to north England would make little sense for this, but I will keep an eye and if one day there is something in France, Germany or Switzerland, I will definitely go.

And as for finding second hand, discontinued products, as I was writing, is Craigslist CO my only route?


Thank you.
 
R
#8 ·
You could try Ebay. I bought a no. 4 1/2 on Ebay a couple of years ago. But over time it seems like people are setting their reserves at higher prices than the tools cost new. I think i ended up getting mine at something like $10 less than what a new one would have cost, once shipping and tax was added. Still, it may be an option.
 
E
#10 ·
How did this turn out? Did you find a solution? I wonder what would happen if you offered LN to pay for additional insurance and shipping fees to handle concerns about shipping to a hotel? My LN orders have been sent via UPS. You could investigate whether there is a UPS store near the hotel that will hold packages for pickup even for customers who do not have a UPS mailbox. I know that FedEx will do this. This may be an alternative that LN is more comfortable with and may allow a more reliable plan for having a wayward shipment actually be returned to LN. It removes the possibility of a parcel arriving at a hotel where someone just makes off with it or where it is lost in the chaos of a hotel front desk. I would not use the US mail (USPS) at this time for anything critical / time sensitive.
 
#12 · (Edited)
RParker, thank you for your input, I bought from Classic Hand Tools and eBay in the past, but here my questions are more about buying as a visitor in the US, sorry if I was not clear. There are anyway at least 2 famous LN online distributors on the continent that I used successfully in the past.



MFled, Ed13, Many thanks, these are very tempting solutions, I might definitely check in that direction, with the 2 companies you mentioned. Many thanks!

That could be the missing link I was looking for.



Mj1962, many thanks for your really kind offer. I have half a dozen different Stanley block plane and I almost never use them…In fact the only one I use sometimes is the 140 and I could replace it by the LN version as the guide and nicker could be an addition. I am happy to hear in Private message if you have something else to sell! Thanks a lot!
 
B
#14 ·
I live In Western Colorado (Grand Junction) and would be happy to help you if your travels are taking you anywhere near here. You could ship to me and I'll hold them for you to pick up (might cost you a beer or two!).
If that doesn't work, you might be able to find a Forum member in the Denver area to do the same thing. Also, I have a #3 that I'd consider selling - lovely plane, but its seen little use. The size just doesnt work well for me - I usually find myself reaching for a 4 or or a block plane (love my LN low angle one!)

Feel free to message me if any of this helps.

Ben
 
#16 ·
I apologise for the late answer, I was travelling the whole day yesterday.

Bhbass59, that is genuinely a really kind offer, many thanks! I will try to find a solution without bothering anybody first, but I keep it in mind. I was on the back-order list for the number 3 and paid for it already, I should receive it directly at home from LN. If you have any other LN to sell, we can discuss in PM, my trip has some flexibility. Thanks a lot for your generous offer Bhbass59.

Aboveboard, thank you for your good wishes. I have seen the north of the Rockies few years ago in British Columbia and Alberta, then in Wyoming and Montana 4 years ago, so it will be nice to see the south of the chain now. I am sure it will be nice!
 
#18 ·
Indeed RParker, I like the no.3 as well, I have an old Stanley and the size is often an advantage compared to the 2 other smoothers.

I want to thank all contributors, I went with the idea of MFled and Ed13 and a FedEx office not far from Denver airport answered all my questions.

I feel extremely silly, as I am going on holidays regularly in the US for the last 25 years and as I am not a user of these parcell companies I never thought of that option...I could have done that in all the US states I have visited for so many years....grrr...

Anyway, Many thanks everybody for your enthousiasm and helpfull insights!
 
#19 · (Edited)
If you are looking at bronze I have their 102 that I was getting ready to sell. I used it it once and did not care for it and used my stanley 60 1/2 which has more weitht to it. Let me know if you want to buy it and I will show you pictures of it and torn apart to see all of it.
 
A
#21 ·
One of our children gave me an LN 102 and I like it very much. I already had an LN 60-1/2 and didn't think I would use the 102. I kept it new in the box in case I wanted to trade it for something else.

Eventually I put the LN 102 into use. I like how it sits comfortably in an apron much better than the large, heavy 60-1/2. I also like how it feels to use. The 102 cuts extremely small and fine shavings, so expect to use it more for fine adjustments and trims rather than chamfering a long table edge.
 
#20 ·
Hello ArlinEastman,

Many thanks for the offer. I have half a dozen different Stanley block planes and I almost never use them…In fact the only ones I use sometimes are the tiny 101 and the 140 and I could replace this one by the LN version as the guide and nicker could be an addition.

Thank you anyway!
 
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