British routers

[RogerS]

Arent some of the Makita routers made in the UK? Some of their other gear is, but maybe Im being a little naive?

Adam

Good call. I'll ask. I rather like the potential for this story. It could raise all sorts of twists. I'm pretty open-minded about where things are made, but I do like the idea of countries retaining their skill base.

In Britain that stopped circa A.D. 1975 - early Thatcherite period

No it was in the 1950's with Sandys. He started the demise of the aviation industry. But they are all as bad as each other when it comes to manufacturing.

 

[The_Stig]

The_Stig wrote:
The border agencies are hot on phytosanitary certification and nothing gets released from port and into the yard with out a certificate but clearly people are under estimating the consequences of the beasts within...

Since when?

Any container that we bring in from the USA or African must have a phytosanitary certificate and be inspected before it can be released, no certificate no wood.

 

[promhandicam]

Interesting - presumably you are doing this commercially? The reason I asked the question is that two years ago I tried to find out what I needed to bring about 3 cubic metres of west african hardwood - mahogany, iroko, teak, ebony back to the UK. After being given the run around eventually the Plant Health Service at the Forestry Commission told me that "no procedure or documentation is required". The only concern they had was that I should check with Defra to make sure that none of the species were on the red list - they weren't. My main concern was that I didn't want to have it seized at felixstowe, but thankfully it wasn't and I've been using some of the mahogany today to make a new piano stool for an Aunt.

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Shrubby]

Just as things were getting interesting
Back to routers
Black & decker had UK production - The Elu 97 was made here for a while so possilbly the Dewalt replacement
Bosch bought Stanley powertools in Conneticut and make their routers there
The Wadkin router was a Makita from japan
Did Wolf make routers? (there are some knowledgeable fans on the Australian forum)
Regarding the licencing and shipping of timber, I read an OSHA doc. on wood dust which claimed a high percentage of US timber was treated with toxic chemicals to preserve it - is this common practice ? does anyone know
Matt

 

[The_Stig]

Yes, we do it on a commercial basis. We bring in around 5 - 10 40ft shipping containers a month plus numerous artics from Europe plus logs to the sawmill. As for the shipping containers, I believe they are checked by the forestry commission for nasty little critters although the American's seen to provide a certificate before shipping. As for endangered species, anything which is on the CITES list is a no-no so anyone who tries their luck and there must be people who do, will have their goods seized. I believe the goods are then destroyed which always seems a shame when the tree has been felled but I can see that it's naturally a good deterrent along with a hefty fine!

As for the routers, I have a feeling I read somewhere that the they were made in Italy and Switzerland with some production even heading over to Germany.

Black and Decker might have been made in the UK, I think I've still got an old Black and Decker router in the workshop, I'll have a look tomorrow as the last time I saw it, it was in it's original box.

 

[The_Stig]

I really should have said that I read that Elu routers were made in Italy not just routers as a collective, lol. It's interesting that they should choose to make a single model here for a while.

 

[dickm]

It's interesting that they should choose to make a single model here for a while.

Well, they were based in E-LUton! Which, for some years, I thought might be the origin of the name :?

 

[Nick Gibbs]

Black & decker had UK production - The Elu 97 was made here for a while so possilbly the Dewalt replacement Matt

I will ask the Trend folk who might know about the Elu 97 (or was it a 96?). I doubt anyone sells those small Elus because they are still popular.

Wood-wise in the shed I think it will be best just to use British wood, and go to local sawmills!!!

Nick

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I really should have said that I read that Elu routers were made in Italy not just routers as a collective, lol. It's interesting that they should choose to make a single model here for a while.

Trend tell me they were all made in Switzerland. There is a Freud model that is very like an old Elu (Freud being Italian). Perhaps that's where the confusion lies.