About Us - Our Story
Wood Workers Workshop is a progressive family-run tool shop based in Worcestershire in the heart of England – it’s owned and managed by Peter Sefton, a master craftsman and furniture designer maker.
Peter has his own Furniture School where much of his time is spent on the bench sharing his knowledge about woodworking tools - advising students on tool choice and use is a key part of the students’ learning experience on their woodworking journey. After many years of advising his students on woodworking tool selection and care, Peter started supplying woodworking tools by mail order and the online tool shop was borne!
A chance discussion with an old friend in the tool trade led Peter to taking over Roger Phebey’s “Wood Workers Workshop”, an online tool shop started some fifteen years earlier. Wood Workers Workshop specialised in supplying the best quality woodworking tools being produced in North America and when its' founder decided it was time to retire, there was only one person he wanted to take over his business - Peter Sefton. Peter’s passion for woodworking, quality and development of the woodworking craft left Roger knowing his small and specialised tool business was in safe hands.
Wood Workers Workshop has grown now employing a small dedicated team of time-served woodworkers who offer advice on the range of tools from personal experience of using them, the key ethos has remained at the core of the business – we sell quality products that are a pleasure to use and are a long term investment for any craftsman. Knowing that a renowned furniture maker and craftsmen is available for advice on the handpicked range of tools is key to the business. We want customers to enjoy using our tools and share their experiences through social media and online reviews, and if customers are not fully satisfied with their purchase we want them to let us know as we are committed to putting things right if problems arise.
The secure online tool shop is located at the internationally recognised Furniture School so customers can try before they buy or see the tools in use by Peter’s students.
Peter’s passion and lifetime interest in the tools of his trade means he regularly writes for the UK’s largest woodworking magazines as well as demonstrating hand tool techniques at national woodworking shows. He also has a range of educational woodworking DVD's and digital downloads, sharing the techniques used within his School.
Peter is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, one of only 300 liverymen who are chosen to represent and uphold the traditions of the Livery Companies and are fundamental in upholding the standards within the crafts for more than nine hundred years. He has also worked closely with the Sheffield-based toolmakers in the UK, testing and advising on development of new steels and prototype tools bench testing them within his own teaching workshop at the Furniture School.
Peter also judges in national woodworking competitions and sponsors two leading awards for the development of young designer craftsmen - promoting the very best in fine woodworking and furniture making. Wood Workers Workshop has also been working closely with Help 4 Heroes, raising funds and awareness for the rehabilitation woodworking workshops in the UK.
As time goes on we plan to bring many more of the best tools to the European tool market predominantly from North American tool makers, but one thing that won’t change is our commitment to quality and reliable back up from woodworkers at the end of the phone.
