Best Online Dealer

[jaguar36]

Who's your favorite online dealer?  I generally try to buy stuff locally, but finding some of the less common things (like Platin abrasives) is difficult.  I used to use Bob Marino, and after that Toolnut/FestoolProducts.  They were great because they were nerby and stuff would come in a day or two.  Recently I've noticed though that they are taking quite a long time to ship things, and it now takes more than a week to get my orders (despite living nearby).  This slowdown does seem to have coincided with the addition of a "expedite processing" option for an additional fee.

So anyone have another favorite online dealer with fast shipping?

 

[Peter Kelly]

https://www.toolnirvana.com

 

[jonnyrocket]

Toolnirvana.com
x2

 

[nclemmons]

+1 on ToolNirvana.  Chip is knowledgeable and ships quickly.  Items are really well packaged.  They carry Festool, Shaper, Sawstop, and some workwear brands.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I've read nothing but good reviews of ToolNirvana but I have not bought from them.

I have bought from https://www.oaktreesupply.com  and the experience was 100% positive.

 

[peacefulandpatriotically]

Tool Nirvana and Oak Tree are two I have used and would recommend 100%

 

[gharel]

I've gotten great service from Bits & Bits.
I frequently buy from US Tools & Fasteners also and their shipping is very quick!

Sent from my Pixel 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Packard]

No mention that our favorites are Festool dealers.  So I will chime in with Northern Tool.

After my first purchase, they put me on their mailing list, and those emails have some incredible deals.

They also carry some items under their own brand name, and those have been of high quality.

They carry tools for woodworkers and metal workers alike.  Some of their own brand stuff is priced like Harbor Freight’s, but all of these bargains are of substantially better quality.

The place where I used to work, ordered 3 welders.  Our purchasing agent could find no bargains, but she was able to order from Northern Tool with free freight and no sales tax.  I don’t know if that is still the case.

They have a “Prime” (Amazon) like membership that gets special offers and free shipping.
https://www.northerntool.com/

 

[jaguar36]

Ohh Tool Nirvana will make up custom assortments of abrasives, for a bit of a premium.  That's awesome, I'll try them out.

 

[pixelated]

I like Tools for Working Wood. They ship very quickly, usually the same day, so in NJ , you would have your stuff the next day.
The main downside is that they don't carry as much stuff as some of the big places.

Lee Valley is good if your order gets shipped from the NY warehouse, otherwise shipments from Reno take a while if you're in the East.

 

[Muttley000]

Oak tree supply is both for me. It’s an hour drive and they have a nice store, most online orders get to me next day for free.  Logan and Amanda are amazing and will take care of you!

Oak Tree Supply

 

[Packard]

A & H Turf for Blum hardware with a couple of caveats.
https://ahturf.com/

First of all, they always are nice, and their prices on Blum hardware are the best I’ve found.

They also never charge any sales tax.

Negatives: 

The big one is their website is significantly worse than dreadful.  The search function only works well if you have the exact Blum part number.

Also, the images shown with the part number do not match the actual part.  For example, I order knock-in hardware, but the image shown is screw in.  I had to call and confirm which part that would ship.

My workaround was to download the entire Blum catalog and write up my order in advance with part numbers and then place my order.

Also “1” can mean one item or one lot, they don’t make the distinction on the acknowledgment.  I ordered 30 hinges, the acknowledgement showed “1”, meaning one lot of thirty.

Finally, they are in Billings, Montana and UPS is very slow from there. (If you have ever visited Billings, you would understand why.)

But their prices are good enough to put up with these faults.

Note: They do take phone orders and that addresses all but the slow shipping.

 

[gunnyr]

Another Tool Nirvana fan!

They ship very quickly, will put together assorted packs of sandpaper for you and Chip is very knowledgeable and friendly.  I often get shipping updates/notes from him after hours, the guy must work non stop! Oh, and they only charge sales tax in IL!

 

[Chip S.]

The comments are much appreciated. With it being a frequent question I'd like to point out that in addition to the sandpaper assortments which have been mentioned, we offer 10-packs of any grit in all of the common Festool abrasive lines. Also, we do have 10-packs remaining of discontinued DTS 7-hole sandpaper at half the prior rate (clearance).

Here's a few more of our popular custom items:

• Hand Abrasive Set
• Polishing Packs for the RO90
• Conturo Glue Variety Pack

 

[OConnorStP]

Yet another "Another Tool Nirvana Fan" fan. 

After a long, very confusing journey through Festool's site I decided they really wanted me to go through my local dealer (Farrell Tools in Eau Claire, WI) to get answers to configuration and compatibility questions.  I bought the miter saw from them about a decade ago, so off I went.  Alas -- over the last 10 years, Farrell has dropped the ball on Festool.  Skimpy inventory and the salesperson was a "let me check that out on the website" type guy.  A wasted trip.

I went looking for a Festool Owners Forum and...  here you are.  And, with this thread, you put me in touch with Chip at Tool Nirvana.  Who hit the ball out of the park.  Patiently answered all my nit-picky questions, guided me through his web site (which is *way* better/faster than Festool's), had all the stuff in inventory, pushed the order 5 minutes after we finished up on the phone.  We talked at 10am this morning and all the equipment is arriving tomorrow (Saturday).

UPDATE - after the tools arrived

I have to tell you about the packing job Chip's team did on the tools.  A work of art.  Comparable to Apple Computer packaging.  The exterior boxes are very high quality/durable and each of the toolboxes were stuffed with extra packaging that made sure nothing got damaged.  I normally cut down cardboard, but these boxes are so good I'm going to drive them 25 miles to a pack-and-ship place so they can reuse them.

Stupendous. 

Thanks to all of you who posted!

 

[jronman]

I haven't had issues with ToolNut myself. I have always thought they were great to work with. i also live not far from the geological center of the United States. Everything gets here pretty much the same time regardless of west coast or east coast. I might have to try this Tool Nirvana site out.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I try to buy local as often as I can, but it's not always as convenient as ordering online. For that, my favorite is Hartville Hardware, though I have bought from most of the more well known sources at different times. Toolnut, Tool Nirvana, US Tool & Supply, Highland Woodworking, and even Amazon
It just kind of depended on who had what I needed (or was taking pre-orders of new tools)
The pandemic caused some limited supply issues, so I had to buy from the ones with inventory, simple as that.
When I was first looking for a TS75, they had been essentially sold out for months, to the point where people were guessing that it may have been discontinued. Somehow US Tool popped up first with a limited supply? They sold quickly.
I have had good experiences with all of the ones I listed, don't think you could go wrong with any of them.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

For any UK guys;

Power tools - FFX and Powertoolmate
Hand tools, adhesives, measuring etc. - Axminster Tools
Abrasives - Southern Filters
Paint - The Paint Shed
Metalwork, stainless balustrade parts - S3i
Timber profiles - Dresser Mouldings
Anything router-related - Trend Direct

I’m sure to think of a dozen more within 10 seconds of hitting ‘Post’ ….

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I sure do wish Trend had a better presence here in the US. They have an amazing line of products, a very small list of which are easily available here, though I'm not sure why.

 

[Packard]

There was a CMT template that was not available in the USA.  I bought it from IGM Tools.

I don’t even remember what country their operation was located.  But they had a huge variety of tools and machines, and they were very accommodating.
https://www.igmtools.com/

It used to be that The Tool Nut was very busy local store in Jeffererson Vally, NY.  I really did not need any online store.  The Tool Nut was very competitive, carried just about everything I needed and they were very accommodating.

Plus, they opened early to accommodate the local contractors, and closed late for that same reason.  So I could pick up tools on the way in to work or on the way home.

But all that changed when they went online.  The early hours were curtailed and also the late hours.  As I recall, they then started closing on Saturdays.

And, it seems that all the items they have one “sale” are factory promotions which I can get anywhere.

The old Tool Nut was a terrific local retailer.  The new Tool Nut is, well I have other online retailers that I prefer to use.