Sailmaking tool resources?

[aij]

Can anyone point me in the right direction for GOOD sailing palms and tools? Found a lot of cheap stuff but am looking for the real deal.

[Richard Smith]

There may be others, but the most retail friendly source, but at a price, is http://www.sailrite.com/

If you are friendly with a sailmaker he/she may order some things for you. Some do/some don't for obvious reasons.

[Ken Hutchins]

A few months ago I got my treasure of sailmakers stuff on ebay. I don't know if it was just that particular bag of stuff but there was a lot of bidding on it especially the last minute, but I got it. :D

[DerekW]

Real palms are available from the Wooden Boat Foundation (http://www.woodenboat.org/store/folder.asp?f=255) in Port Townsend. Chuck Leinweber at Duckworks online store (http://www.duckworksbbs.com/sailmaking.htm) has a good range of the standard bits and pieces and will special order stuff. They got me a good palm at a good price. What other tools are you looking for? There was a thread on palms in the resources section of this board a while back.

cheers
Derek

[ssor]

When I bought my palm and needles I went to a chandlery in Baltimore and told him what I was looking for. The man told me that they didn't usually sell to anyone other than ships but what did I need? I told him what I wanted and we went out into the warehouse and we picked the things I wanted. I didn't ask price and was floored by the LOW price that he asked. If you are near a commericial port go to the waterfront chandlers and humbly ask.

[Stiletto]

There was a sailmaker's palm along with needles and thread in a kit on my boat when I bought it, very handy indeed . Unfortunately the metal part of the palm that pushes the needle through was ferrous and rusted away while in the bag. I think a palm with a brass or bronze insert would be ideal for keeping on the boat. Has anybody seen such a thing?

[Godwin]

William Smith and sons, Redditch England, make the best palms, both seaming and roping.
They make bueat needles aswell.

[kc8pql]

I'll second Godwin. Smith and Sons are by far the best palms. They're not cheap though. Maybe $50. each. I ordered both of mine (seaming and roping) from Sailmakers Supply (http://www.sailmakerssupply.com/). Toplicht also has them.

[ 12-08-2005, 08:25 AM: Message edited by: kc8pql ]

[aij]

Thanks for the help. I agree the Smith and Sons are indeed built well.