Any good woodworking stores - Chicago Area

[colyn]

Will be in Chicago this weekend and was wondering if there are any good Woodworking Stores close to Evanston or Midway Airport ( can visit a store from MDW airport going into Chicago or on way to Evanston) . been to Wood World and would never go back......

 

[grbmds]

Woodcraft store in either Lisle or Woodridge (western suburbs in DuPage County but not really on the way from Midway to Evanston). I've been told this is a good store, but have never been there.

 

[Throwback7r]

I have been to the woodcraft in wood ridge/ downers grove They are nice.. I guess what are you looking for?

 

[Holzhacker]

Evanston lumber supposedly has a nice Festool and wood set up. I haven't been there so I can't say for sure. Just relaying what I've been told.
You could also go by the Chicago wood working school / shop ... can't remember the exact name ... on ravenswood and lawrence, montrose, Festool had one of their road shows there last year. Nice place to go if you just want to talk wood, tools, etc with people.
Shane? name address?
Are you looking to buy tools, Festools, or just find some 'stuff' to buy?
MSC on Belmont just W of western is always good. N Turek in the south loop is also great; Clark Devon (on your way to Etown) used to be great for tools and such. Their tool inventory/quality hasn't really recovered so well after the bust. Still a great hardware store though
There's also a hardware store in Berwyn, they are a Stihl dealer but also have lots of cool tools, odds and ends; can't remember their name; look up Stihl dealer in Berwyn and you'll find it; not exactly between Etown and midway though

 

[promark747]

Evanston lumber supposedly has a nice Festool and wood set up. I haven't been there so I can't say for sure. Just relaying what I've been told.
You could also go by the Chicago wood working school / shop ... can't remember the exact name ... on ravenswood and lawrence, montrose, Festool had one of their road shows there last year. Nice place to go if you just want to talk wood, tools, etc with people.

Jeff Miller Fine Furniture (it's right off the Rogers Park stop on the Metra UP-N train line)

 

[colyn]

Just wanting to browse and kill some time  :
I was hoping to find a good hand tool store or specialty store ......Any one been to any of the Woodcraft's in Chicago - is it worth a trip?  ( we have a Woodcraft in Louisville KY  - but not that great- min. inventory and small) .
Maybe a Rockler if not too far out
Not looking for lumber as I am flying and get GREAT deals for lumber here. [eek]

 

[James D]

If your looking for a tool store, you should try to make it out to Berlands House of Tools.

Address: 600 Oak Creek Drive,
Lombard, IL 60148
Phone: (630) 620-0026
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-2pm
Sunday Closed

I've spent many hours and $ in there, if your a tool buff, you won't be disappointed.

And it's really not to far from the Woodcraft store.

James

 

[colyn]

Thanks James- Might have to pay them a visit

 

[James D]

Also in the same area is Owl Hardwood Lumber, this is a small store that is strickly lumber.  They have a good selection of Oak, Maple , Walnut, furniture grade skinned plywoods, moldings etc. as well as exotic woods.

Address: 620 E St Charles Rd, Lombard, IL 60148
Phone630) 627-5060
Hours: M-F 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
          Sat 8-3
          Sun 10-2
Both Owl and Berlands have simple web sites you can check out.

James
 

 

[nclemmons]

Berlands in Lombard or in Palatine are both great stores with a broad assortment of tools - hand, power, good Festool display and a knowledgable staff.  Easily the best tool stores in Chicagoland by quite a distance!  I think they close at 1pm on Saturday so check their website first.  www.berlands.com

Owl is amazing if you want to see exotics - Lombard and Des Plaines are their two stores.  One of the best lumber yards for hardwoods I have been to.  www.owlhardwoods.com

Woodcraft closed one of their stores in Libertyville and I have not been to the other two stores so can't comment.

I was surprised you were not pleased with Woodworld in Chicago.  They have one of the largest selections of Festool in Chicago area, though not much in the way of hand tools and typical hardwoods but few exotics.  And a great staff.  www.woodworld.com

Jeff Millers Furniture shop is just south of Evanston and he may be there on Saturday or even Friday afternoon, but I'd call first. www.[/size]furniture[/size]making.com/

If you want to see some awesome handmade furniture, head up to Winnetka, two suburbs north of Evanston on Green Bay Road to Sawbridge Studios.  Really excellent selection of handmade pieces from craftspeople all over the country.  Might give you some inspiration for things you want to make.  They have a website with good representation of the pieces they have on their showroom floor.  www.sawbridgestudios.com

Evanston lumber stocks festool but no hardwood and few hand tools.  Closed on Saturday.  www.evanstonlumber.com

Enjoy Chicago!

neil

 

[colyn]

Thanks Neil
Looking forward to coming up to Chicago Area
I top was surprised about Wood World. Having driven over 5 hours ( on my way to Evanston) I got to Wood World around 4:30 a few months ago. They close at 6. There was One lady at the front counter and that was it. I walked in and she was so rude..."Like what the Hell are  you doing here......there was no one else in the place and she was doing nothing. I smiled and said I drove a long way to see the store and was excited after learning about it. She dissapeared in a book room never to be seen again,,,I looked around and although impressed by the wood selection there was no one around to help. The festool collection up front seemed thrown around and very selective.....maybe I was too tired from driving the last hour in traffic and terrible road conditions ( construction and pot-holes ) ....BUT never expected someone to be rude and of no help when the store was empty.

 

[greg mann]

Thanks Neil
Looking forward to coming up to Chicago Area
I top was surprised about Wood World. Having driven over 5 hours ( on my way to Evanston) I got to Wood World around 4:30 a few months ago. They close at 6. There was One lady at the front counter and that was it. I walked in and she was so rude..."Like what the heck are  you doing here......there was no one else in the place and she was doing nothing. I smiled and said I drove a long way to see the store and was excited after learning about it. She dissapeared in a book room never to be seen again,,,I looked around and although impressed by the wood selection there was no one around to help. The festool collection up front seemed thrown around and very selective.....maybe I was too tired from driving the last hour in traffic and terrible road conditions ( construction and pot-holes ) ....BUT never expected someone to be rude and of no help when the store was empty.

I visited a while back and remember a lady being somewhat 'abrupt'. That said, I spent about 45 minutes talking to one of the guys about how they came to taking on the Festool line. They do not see themselves as a woodworking tool store per se, but rather as a wood products store that has taken on the Festool line because they found many of  their regular customers, folks in the trade, were using the products and appreciated being able to pick up abrasives, or a new tool when needed, at the same time they were picking up their wood product orders. My impression was they are not particularly adept at setting up great retail displays because that is not their primary focus. It was, however, not hard for a dedicated Festool browser to take stock in short order.  [laughing]

 

[mlfaber]

Thanks Neil
Looking forward to coming up to Chicago Area
I top was surprised about Wood World. Having driven over 5 hours ( on my way to Evanston) I got to Wood World around 4:30 a few months ago. They close at 6. There was One lady at the front counter and that was it. I walked in and she was so rude..."Like what the heck are  you doing here......there was no one else in the place and she was doing nothing. I smiled and said I drove a long way to see the store and was excited after learning about it. She dissapeared in a book room never to be seen again,,,I looked around and although impressed by the wood selection there was no one around to help. The festool collection up front seemed thrown around and very selective.....maybe I was too tired from driving the last hour in traffic and terrible road conditions ( construction and pot-holes ) ....BUT never expected someone to be rude and of no help when the store was empty.

I am surprised to hear this.  I have been to WW many times and have always had a positive experience.  Ask for Chip or Brody.  Brody was always excited to demo Festool products and talk shop.  He is a woodworker and seems to really appreciate the craft and the tools.

 

[colyn]

Berlands - WOW - worth the drive
Thanks Neil for the info.