Record Hand Tools

Record Hand Tools at Tooled-Up.com

Record Hand Tools represents one of Britain's most distinguished names in hand tool manufacturing, with a heritage spanning over 150 years of engineering excellence. Since 1863, Record has been synonymous with precision-engineered hand tools that deliver outstanding performance and durability. The comprehensive selection of Record Hand Tools available from Tooled-Up.com encompasses everything from their legendary woodworking vices and clamps to their precision marking and measuring equipment, cutting tools, and striking implements.

What distinguishes Record from other hand tool manufacturers is their unwavering commitment to British engineering principles and innovative design. Each Record hand tool is crafted to meet the exacting demands of professional tradespeople whilst remaining accessible to dedicated DIY enthusiasts. The brand's reputation has been built on producing tools that withstand the rigours of daily workshop use, maintaining accuracy and reliability even after years of service. From their iconic quick-release vices that grace workbenches across the UK to their razor-sharp hand saws and planes, Record continues to set benchmarks in hand tool quality.

Tooled-Up stocks Record's extensive hand tool range, ensuring tradespeople and DIY enthusiasts have access to genuine British-made quality. Whether you're setting up a new workshop, replacing worn tools, or investing in premium equipment for specialised joinery work, Record Hand Tools deliver the precision and dependability that professional work demands.

Why Choose Record Hand Tools?

Record's reputation in the hand tools sector is built on over a century and a half of continuous innovation and refinement. The brand pioneered the quick-release mechanism on woodworking vices in 1924, revolutionising workshop efficiency and setting a standard that remains unchallenged today. This spirit of innovation continues throughout their current range, with each tool incorporating design features that enhance usability, accuracy, and longevity.

Quality control is paramount in Record's manufacturing process. Many of their hand tools are still produced in the UK using traditional craftsmanship combined with modern precision engineering techniques. This ensures consistent quality and maintains the exacting tolerances that professionals rely upon. The materials selected for Record tools—from high-carbon steel cutting edges to malleable iron castings—are chosen specifically for their durability and performance characteristics.

Value represents another compelling reason to choose Record. Whilst positioned as premium tools, they offer exceptional cost-per-use economics. A Record vice or plane purchased today will likely still be performing reliably decades from now, making them genuine lifetime investments rather than consumable items requiring frequent replacement.

Who Uses Record Hand Tools?

Record Hand Tools serve a diverse range of users across multiple trades and applications:

• Joiners and Carpenters: Professional woodworkers rely on Record planes, chisels, marking gauges, and saws for precision joinery work
• Cabinet Makers: Fine furniture craftsmen choose Record tools for their accuracy and ability to achieve exhibition-quality finishes
• Site Carpenters: Construction professionals trust Record's robust hand tools to withstand demanding site conditions
• Metalworkers and Engineers: Record vices and metalworking hand tools are workshop staples for precision engineering tasks
• Maintenance Engineers: Facilities managers and maintenance teams depend on Record tools for repair and installation work
• Educational Institutions: Schools, colleges, and training centres equip workshops with Record tools for their durability and safety
• Serious DIY Enthusiasts: Home workshop owners invest in Record tools for their quality and longevity
• Restoration Specialists: Period property restorers and antique furniture specialists value Record's traditional tool designs

Key Features of Record Hand Tools

Quick-Release Mechanisms: Record's patented quick-release vices allow rapid opening and closing whilst maintaining clamping pressure, significantly improving workflow efficiency.

Precision Ground Components: Cutting edges, plane soles, and measuring surfaces are precision ground to exact tolerances, ensuring accuracy straight from the box.

Ergonomic Handle Design: Handles are carefully shaped to reduce hand fatigue during extended use whilst providing secure grip and control.

Hardened Steel Construction: Critical components utilise high-carbon or alloy steels that are heat-treated to optimum hardness levels, balancing edge retention with toughness.

Replaceable Components: Many Record tools feature replaceable blades, jaws, and wearing parts, extending tool life and reducing long-term costs.

British Standards Compliance: Record Hand Tools meet relevant BS and EN standards for safety and performance.

Popular Record Hand Tools

Woodworking Vices: The cornerstone of Record's reputation, their quick-release woodworking vices range from compact 7-inch models for small workshops to heavy-duty 10.5-inch versions for professional joinery shops. Cast iron construction and machined jaws ensure decades of reliable clamping.

Engineers' Vices: Precision-machined engineers' vices provide the secure holding force required for metalworking, with anvil surfaces for light striking work.

Hand Planes: From smoothing planes to jack planes and block planes, Record's range covers all traditional woodworking planing requirements, featuring precision-ground cast iron bodies and adjustable cutting depths.

Handsaws: Traditional panel saws, tenon saws, and hacksaws manufactured with hardpoint or replaceable blades for clean, accurate cutting.

Clamps and Cramps: G-clamps, sash cramps, and quick-release clamps in various sizes for assembly and gluing operations.

Marking and Measuring Tools: Squares, marking gauges, and scribing tools for accurate layout work.

Striking Tools: Hammers and mallets engineered for different applications, from delicate assembly to heavy-duty striking.

Safety and Compliance

Record Hand Tools are designed and manufactured in accordance with relevant British and European safety standards. All cutting tools should be maintained sharp—counterintuitively, sharp tools are safer as they require less force and are less likely to slip. Users should always wear appropriate personal protective equipment including safety glasses when using striking tools or when operations may generate flying debris.

When using vices and clamps, ensure workpieces are securely held before commencing work. Never exceed the specified clamping capacity or use extension tubes to increase leverage beyond design parameters. Store cutting tools with edge protection to prevent damage and injury, and ensure all tools are kept clean and properly maintained according to manufacturer guidelines.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides comprehensive guidance on hand tool safety in the workplace. Employers should ensure employees receive proper training in hand tool selection, use, and maintenance as part of their health and safety obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Record Hand Tools still made in the UK?

Many core Record Hand Tools, particularly their iconic vices and selected premium products, continue to be manufactured in the United Kingdom. Some products in the range are produced overseas to Record's exacting specifications. The Tooled-Up product listings indicate country of manufacture where this information is provided by Record.

How do I maintain my Record hand tools?

Keep cutting edges sharp using appropriate sharpening stones or files. Protect unpainted metal surfaces with a light coating of oil to prevent rust. Store tools in a dry environment and clean them after use, particularly if exposed to moisture or resinous woods. Moving parts on vices and clamps benefit from occasional lubrication with light machine oil.

What's the difference between a woodworking vice and an engineer's vice?

Woodworking vices feature wider, smooth jaws designed to hold timber without marking, and typically mount flush to the workbench edge for planing operations. Engineer's vices have narrower serrated jaws for gripping metal, an integral anvil surface, and swivel bases for positioning workpieces at different angles.

Can Record hand plane blades be resharpened?

Yes, Record plane irons (blades) are manufactured from quality tool steel designed for multiple sharpenings throughout their service life. Proper sharpening technique using waterstones, oilstones, or diamond plates will restore cutting performance. The blade angle should be maintained at approximately 25-30 degrees for general woodworking applications.

What size Record vice do I need for my workshop?

For general DIY and light woodworking, a 7-9 inch vice provides adequate capacity. Professional joiners and those regularly working with larger timber sections should consider 9-10.5 inch models. The vice jaw width should accommodate the typical workpiece sizes you handle, whilst the opening capacity determines the maximum thickness you can clamp.