Being fair Axminsters roots were in woodworking. The expansion into metalworking came after the company was well established and of decent size. I guess it seemed that the extra market from metal working would make better use of the existing company infrastructure and provide profits for further development of the company.

In practice I don’t think the metal working side ever really got to critical mass with a truly viable market share. Also seems to me that there are significant differences in approach and relative stocking of thing between woodwork and metal work. I never got the feeling that Axminster really got to grips with the differences. But I’m not a woodworker and their approach always seemed just a bit off for reasons I’d hate to have to articulate.

I also suspect that the slow hanging fruit of market expansion from the development of Far Easter sourced machinery, small milling machine in particular, into open the box and use tools rather than the “needs much fettling” of early days has pretty much passed its peak. All the pent up demand from folk who’d wanted a nice one for years has gone. Now suppliers are competing for sales to the far smaller number of new entrants against folk selling up due to age.

Clive

On 28 October 2026 at 07:58 paul1956 Said:

 

In over forty years buying from them I’ve always found them a good company to deal with and they’re to be applauded for continuing to manufacture high quality tools in the UK.

Axminster manufacturer what are in my opinion some of the best woodturning chucks you can buy. The range of different accessory jaws available for them is two to three times larger than other makes. They are not cheap but unlike other brands, made from stainless steel. I went on a factory tour some years ago where you can see the CNC machines on which they are made. The manufacturing is now a separate company from their retail business. They also make some other woodwork related tools as well.