C S  Osborne Specialty Upholstery Tools ( Webbing Stretchers, Hammers, Needles, Knives, Shears, etc.)

C S Osborne & Co.  sets the standards when it comes to top of the line upholstery tools, leather craft tools, awning and canvas hand tools. C. S. Osborne was established over 175 years ago. The truth is that the technology used in the upholstery craft has changed very little during the life of this company. That means they had 175 years to refine and perfect their line of upholstery tools and leather craft tools. No other upholstery tool manufacturer comes close to the selection and quality of C. S. Osborne & Co.  C. S. Osborne & Company is uniquely positioned to serve the specialized needs of the upholstery trade.

Since 1826, the Osborne family has dedicated itself to providing the very finest of industrial hand tools, leather working tools and upholstery tools for automotive, marine, furniture trimmers and upholsterers. Assisted by employees who average over ten years of service to the company, the seventh generation of the Osborne family still manages the firm and continues the tradition requiring strict adherence to the highest standards of quality and service. This dedication continues to put the best possible industrial tools in the hands of the professional.

At Brandt and Whitney, Inc. we are proud to be distributors of the full line C S Osborne upholstery tools, leather craft and specialty industrial hand tools. You can view many of our best selling Osborne upholstery tools and leather craft tools right here in our store.

I have been a doing professional furniture upholstering for over 25 years and I know when I retire 20 years from now, I will have some of the same C S Osborne upholstery tools and leather craft hand tools that I purchased when I started in the re-upholstery trade all those many years ago. Not all of it, but many of Osborne's tools and equipment will last a lifetime and beyond.

Things to look for when buying C. S. Osborne upholstery hand tools would be to inspect the general condition, making sure the tools are free from rust and other imperfections, and be sure to purchase from an authorized C. S. Osborne distributor. As the C S Osborne & Co. GUARANTEE states:

"We will replace, free of charge, any tool which may prove unsatisfactory in performance if sent for inspection, transportation prepaid. Tools which are known to have given reasonable service, or have been misused, or damaged will not be considered defective."

Someone who is considering getting into upholstery or just needing some tools for a do-it-yourself project around the house can quickly get confused by the many choices of Osborne upholstery hand tools in each category. I think I can help guide you to the best furniture repair tool(s), depending on the job.

Number one, the C S Osborne tack and staple remover puller. If you don't have one, or you don't feel the staple remover you have works for you, my first recommendation is  the C. S. Osborne #120 1/2 staple lifter. This is by far the best selling upholstery hand tool in the line we stock, and every single upholsterer I have worked with in the past 25 years owns one. If you want a second option for an upholstery staple lifter, then the C. S. Osborne #124 staple lifter is also a favorite of professionals. There are many other staple and tack puller / lifters from C. S. Osborne. They are all good tools and all have their place on the upholstery work bench.

Next, C. S. Osborne upholstery webbing stretchers.  For webbing stretchers the most versatile is the C S Osborne #253 Gooseneck Webbing Stretcher. It is about twice the investment of the smaller, less expensive Osborne #255.  For that extra investment you get a hand stretcher that allows you to work close to the frame with plenty of leverage and it is designed for left or right handed. The webbing canvas pliers C. S. Osborne #250 and C. S. Osborne #251 are both also great for stretching webbing. These are tools you will find in the tool box of most professional furniture upholsters.

Next we have C. S. Osborne Upholstery Hammers. Most professional upholsterers only need 3 different hammers in their tool box. One is the Osborne #33 hammer, which has a solid head of bright bronze at one end for hammering and a steel-tip at the other which is a permanent magnet. The magnetic end is used for the hands free setting of upholstery tacks. Not the decorative upholstery brass tacks, but the upholstery tacks that are used to fasten fabric to the frame as a substitute for staples. It has a very balanced design for accuracy with a hickory hard wood handle. The other hammer I use is the C.S. Osborne #36. This hammer is designed similar to the C S Osborne #33 but has a large face that is fitted with a nylon tip. This prevents damage to the finish on decorative nail trim. The nylon tip portion of this hammer is replaceable. The C.S. Osborne ripping hammer is also a real time saver, but it is not used as a hammer in the sense of installing fasteners. It's used to automate and expedite the process of removing the old layers of fabric, strapping and batting while tearing down. I have seen upholsterers over the years use other upholstery hammers for different reasons and applications.