Buying Big Boys Toys

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jttheclockman

jttheclockman

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Feb 22, 2005
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Just was on another forum and a person started talking about needing to buy a full size drill press. He was sort of desperate and was willing to buy at Sears. But They did not carry full size tools any more in his area.

It got me into thinking, if i had to buy all my full size tools over again or even want to upgrade where in the world would I get them??? I am not buying HF junk, Home Depot junk, or even Sears. The tool store that I bought almost my entire shop from went out of business about 5 years ago. I was a huge Delta fan and most my big tools are Delta and have stood the test of time. But there is no tool store that I know of in my area.

How in the world do you buy a cabinet tablesaw, 1hp drill press, 6" jointer, 1hp shaper, Bandsaw and so many other large tools on the internet??? The shipping would kill you let alone the fact that you have no hands on experience with the tool. I do go to the woodworking show every year but that is one time a year and yes you can work out deals for free shipping or even pick the tool up there. But what happens when you need it after that time??

So my question is how many lucky people are there here that can still walk into a big boys tool show room and play with the toys. In that store do you have the ability to look at many different manufacturers?? Or is Jet the tool of choice such as in Woodcraft stores??
 
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I've bought my 1015vs lathe, a dewalt Benchtop planer, and the 14twelve bandsaw at Rockler about 2 hours away in Houston(not all at the same time). But we occasionally go to Houston to shop. I typically do research online for whichever tool I'm interested. If it's not something a big box store would have I'll look in Houston or even Amazon. I've bought quite a few tools from Amazon as well.
 
Craftsman was my go-to brand for many years, but no longer. The quality is just not there any longer & good luck finding anyone in the store who can answer any questions about their tools.

Now I do my research on-line to decide what I want or at least narrow my choices. I can usually find what I want at Woodcraft or Rockler -- fortunately, both are very convenient for me, and I try to buy when they run a sale.
 
We are fortunate to have a great tool store in town.....Acme Tools, out of North Dakota, I believe. I have bought almost all my standing tools from them. I have spent a lot of money with them over the years for the big tools....I even got a Laguana Revo 18/36 lathe delivered last week! While, for instance, the saw stop I bought was 3000.00 their profit was not that great. The money these stores need to live on is the smalls... blades, chisels, drill sets....etc, so I try to buy as much of that there as possible so they will be around when I need them to get the big stuff.

Sure, you can probable save 5 to 10 dollars on a blade by buying it on line, but on the big stuff you can really enjoy the conveniences. For instance, I ordered this lathe when the 10% off came on from Laguana, and it came in 2 1/2 weeks.....It was delivered when I wanted it, almost to the minute, it came on a small truck with a tommy lift, the guy put it EXCATLY where I wanted it and he left.....I missed a 1/2 hour of work and literally didn't touch it during delivery. I have received that treatment many times from them.....and sure I help to keep them in business in some small part, but I get back too. I have gotten more free t shirts, complimentary tools, and hats, not even considering the added service than I can remember. I read on various sites about this customer service is good or that one is nasty.....I have no idea....I ask them to take care of it and they do!

Many of my friends tell me I pay more than they do for the smalls...but I feel they are the one loosing in the long run.
Support your local businesses first!
Just my .02
 
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John,
Do you mean like this? They are right here in northern VA. Sounds like a nice road trip for you!....even have lunch with other turners!
 

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John, I purchased my Sawstop cabinet saw through woodcraft. My bandsaw and thickness sander are from Grizzly, I am pretty happy with them. And Sears has been carrying other manufacturers for years now.

But if you haven't bought tools in awhile you are in for sticker shock, they have gone up a lot!!!

Mike
 
There was a tool place in town years ago where I got my table saw and my lathe. They have since closed up that shop, but their main shop about 40 miles south of me is still around--I think. My latest acquisition came through a co-worker who has a buddy who was selling off his late father's woodworking tools. I'm not sure where I'd shop if I had to start from scratch.
 
moke said:
We are fortunate to have a great tool store in town.....Acme Tools, out of North Dakota, I believe. I have bought almost all my standing tools from them. I have spent a lot of money with them over the years for the big tools....I even got a Laguana Revo 18/36 lathe delivered last week! While, for instance, the saw stop I bought was 3000.00 their profit was not that great. The money these stores need to live on is the smalls... blades, chisels, drill sets....etc, so I try to buy as much of that there as possible so they will be around when I need them to get the big stuff.

Sure, you can probable save 5 to 10 dollars on a blade by buying it on line, but on the big stuff you can really enjoy the conveniences. For instance, I ordered this lathe when the 10% off came on from Laguana, and it came in 2 1/2 weeks.....It was delivered when I wanted it, almost to the minute, it came on a small truck with a tommy lift, the guy put it EXCATLY where I wanted it and he left.....I missed a 1/2 hour of work and literally didn't touch it during delivery. I have received that treatment many times from them.....and sure I help to keep them in business in some small part, but I get back too. I have gotten more free t shirts, complimentary tools, and hats, not even considering the added service than I can remember. I read on various sites about this customer service is good or that one is nasty.....I have no idea....I ask them to take care of it and they do!

Many of my friends tell me I pay more than they do for the smalls...but I feel they are the one loosing in the long run.
Support your local businesses first!
Just my .02
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Mike

I am right there with you buddy. Yes it was quite some time ago that I bought all my big toys but I did support that store by me for basically all my tools. They use to be a vendor at the woodworking show also and I would get some better deals there back in the day. I also bought my glues and woodworking books and router bits from them. Yes I could have gotten cheaper but as you, I felt they needed the support. We had a Woodcraft in our state and in fact 2 that were easily reached but they put them in obscure small malls and they did not do well. They both left at the same time. I did get some closing deals that I loved but again this was many years ago.

I just did the search thing for powermatic and I would have to go into NY. Now you have the NY taxes and the hassles of that commute. Not good.

I envy you people that have stores like the Woodcraft and those big showrooms. As far as sticker price shock, I have been watching prices every time I go to the woodworking show and realize the differences. I probably would double my spending at least for the same tools today. As I said back in my day, Delta was the king of tools. I guess if I move I better just take my tools with me. I was thinking of starting all over and building the workshop fresh. Maybe I will have to move someplace with a tool store close by. That should go over quite well.:smile:


Charlie, that is the kind of store mine was too. You walked in there and all brands set up and you could actually touch and try the tools and there were trained sales people there that knew their stuff and in fact every Sat they would have woodworking classes of some sort. It would vary every week. I miss that place. If anyone from NJ is reading this Force Machinery was the name of the store on Route 22 Union.
 
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Here in the Phoenix area we have a Woodcraft, a Rockler, and a Woodworker's Source. (I live within walking distance of Wordworker's Source and they have the largest selection of exotic woods I have ever seen. Wood porn....big time.)
 
sbwertz said:
Here in the Phoenix area we have a Woodcraft, a Rockler, and a Woodworker's Source. (I live within walking distance of Wordworker's Source and they have the largest selection of exotic woods I have ever seen. Wood porn....big time.)
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:frown::frown::frown::crying::crying::crying:
 
I live about 4 blocks from Woodcraft. A 10 minute walk and I work from home..
It's a miracle I haven't come home with more stuff.
 
sschering said:
I live about 4 blocks from Woodcraft. A 10 minute walk and I work from home..
It's a miracle I haven't come home with more stuff.
Click to expand...

Walking to the shop is smart, limits your haul to what you can carry on your back.

Me, I have to research items on the net, see items at mates shed or fluke items at markets. It's about 75km to a decent woodturning shop, 100km to Felder and 2 seconds to the computer.

I try to support local shops, but there is a dearth of suitable shops.
 
I have bought a lot of tools off Craigslist for half price, in new or near new condition, fully assembled. A lot of would be wood workers buy tools and never use them much if at all. Visions of making furniture or making small things to sell fill a lot of men's heads. It takes time, talent and skill to do them and many give up when it is not instantaneous.

The Powermatic band saw I bought had the blade installed up side down and would not cut wood so the owner let it sit for a few months then listed it for sale.

My Delta hybrid table saw was in new, unused condition, as the fellow who just bought it and had a family member injured his hand on a skill saw cross country the same week he set it up. Too much like a table saw for his wife. His wife came unglued and did not want him near that saw. He broke down and bought a SawStop to make her happy and had this new table saw in his way. Listed it on Craigslist for $500.00 and I was over there buying in in less than an hour.

My Powerematic jointer was used only three times according to the seller. Sold to me for a little over half the new cost with a free mobile base and extra set of blades. You just need to watch Craigslist a lot and be willing and able to snap up the deals when they come. No one will hold anything for you for days on end when they are getting ten calls a day to buy it. Have money in hand, show up as fast as you can and don't try to hassle the seller when the deal is already very good. Pay your money and take your new tools home and enjoy.
 
In my area if your want quality tools you are SOL. You wind up eating the freight and dealing with curb side delivery. Either that or rent / borrow a trailer and drive 2.5 hours one way to get to either a Woodcraft store or a PowerMatic vendor. Every once in a while you get lucky and the tool you want is on a promotion and the shipping is free.
 
I bought my floor lathe off Craigslist. The guy who sold it to me even delivered it from 50 miles away for an extra $20 for gas.
Even though it didn't need it, I rebuilt the headstock with all new bearings, etc. so I know it'll last for the rest of my natural life.
I got it for just about 1/2 the cost of a new one.

As for buying other tools, I have gotten some fantastic deals off Craigslist over the years. The best time to catch a sale is in the Spring, when a lot of people decide to move & they don't want to haul a bunch of heavy shop tools around.

That shop in Va. isn't too far from where I live. They have a heck of a showroom.
Might be worth the drive, depending on where you live of course.
 
I like to spread my business equally between the local Woodcraft and Rockler, and used to give a lot to Tool King before they went out of business. If it is significantly cheaper or something I just can't get locally, I like Grizzly. Got my 8" jointer through them. Woodworkers Supply also has always been a great online supplier unless you are lucky enough to live within driving distance to one.

In general, always give the local stores first chance to earn my business so that they are able to stick around. Mail order through one of the dedicated woodworking and machinery outlets for something specific. Amazon as a last resort.
 
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