When something is clearly going to outlast you, then surely the sooner you buy it the longer you get to enjoy it.
Vesper Tools quality is a rare thing in our plastic and disposable world.
Guarantee on materials and workmanship
There is a lifetime guarantee on materials and workmanship for all Vesper Tools products. If it breaks or has any other problems unrelated to mis-use or abuse and entirely related to manufacture or materials then it is absolutely covered. Needless to say returns/repairs are extremely rare but get in touch if there is ever a problem.
“These sliding bevels and try squares represent all that I have learned in my self taught toolmaking career of over 20 years now. I have poured my heart and soul into making the BEST tools available anywhere in the world. After years of work and continual research and watching other makers I know that no others will come anywhere near this level of quality and value.”
Chris Vesper.
I’m new to woodworking, which minimal measuring and marking tools do I need to get started?
No matter what sort of woodworking you plan to do, you need a good square, a marking knife, cutting gauge, sliding bevel, and a couple of rulers as your ‘everyday’ tools that will get used every day no matter what you do.
By choosing the average size tool to purchase (7″ bevel and 7″ square for example) you can enjoy the general use of the nicely sized tools, then add the other sizes larger or smaller at a later date if you have a need to do so.
Don’t disregard quality even if you choose not to purchase from us, buy the best you can afford – always!!
Back orders and production
Please see the Ordering Info Page.
Your tools seem quite expensive.
One can only compare apples with oranges here as the quality level of Vesper is above any other alternative similar product. One can talk about materials and tolerances of manufacture. But the overall true quality which encompasses design, feel, refinement, weight and all the subtle details finished by hand are impossible to convey over the internet. We could make lesser quality and cheaper tools like everyone else but there is no point in that. Do it right, do it once is the ethos here. The hours and hours involved in making small batch production items by hand is very involved and even at current pricing our tools are underpriced for their quality and workmanship.
What timbers do you use for handles and infills, and why?
Please visit the Timbers Selection page LINKED HERE for your convenience.
International Shipping
Yes it really does cost that to ship a small parcel to the USA and more to the European side of the globe. We now use DHL for door to door service and these guys are no mucking around. 3 days door to door is normal, amazing really.
The government run postal system is actually more expensive at around double the price for their express service which is actually not a true express service. Check the Auspost website yourself by all means and you’ll see we are all between a rock and a hard place with this matter.
We can only apologize for the cost of shipping for one little 500g parcel across the globe but this is the way it is. Consider order more than one item to bring your per unit cost down, for example we can ship 4 spoon carving tools in a 500g parcel for the same shipping cost, which would be approx $15 shipping per knife. Not so bad after all, but it hurts the pocket if you buy just one item.
The workshop and visitation
Vesper Tools does not have shop front with a staffed sales counter. Based in an industrial area our focus is making tools as efficiently as possible to highest possible standards.
We are a one man business with many commitments so we may not be here if you turn up un-announced.
That said we are quite happy to show folks around if time permits and an appointment is made. Generous and spontaneous donations to the yet to be formed Vesper Tools Benevolence Fund are always appreciated but not compulsory. 🙂
Do your tools need maintenance or polishing?
Shellac is the finish applied by hand to my tools. It is a natural product, its easy to apply, and it is easy to repair should you wish to re-sand or cut back a damaged tool with steel wool before you re coat with your choice of shellac. Only 2-3 coats is necessary.
Shellac polish is wonderful to hold in the hand, given time and being pushed around workshop it will scratch a little, you can either leave the tool to patinate naturally, or you can choose to re-polish it occasionally if you wish.
Do you personally make all the Vesper branded items?
Yes – All tools branded Vesper are made by my own hand in my own workshop in Melbourne, Australia. These tools really are limited in availability to what 1 person can produce per year.
We do sell other high quality brands that complement my range though, such as Mitutoyo, M-Stein, Alfie Shine, Old Brown Glue.
You have a large selection of marking knives. And why not just use a sharp pencil?
We used to make a huge range of knives, but they’ve been discontinued indefinitely as of yr2019 due to lack of time to get to making them. But here’s good fundamental knife philosophy regardless:
Marking knives are for those who feel the need to step up their woodworking from the limited precision a pencil gives, we all started with pencils that is for sure but eventually it becomes too ambiguous to work to the left or the middle or the right side of that damn pencil line. A knife line is absolute for accuracy. All knives on the website here have a flat back and a beveled side much like a chisel. The flat side goes against your square or ruler blade to making a line as the knife is dragged towards you. The different knives on offer are for different handle size selection, or different blade size. The larger heavy Joinery Knives and Mini’s are for general work, pretty well indestructible and nice to use. The Cohen knives are more special purpose. Thinner blades are more fragile, ruling them out for most general work but for where you are marking fine dovetail joints for example they are indispensable.
