Going to SFO and Phoenix

[Makkus]

I will be traveling on Friday to San Francisco, stay there for a week (IEEE conference) and then be traveling to Phoenix to visit family.
Any suggestions a "Festoolian" should visit in these 2 cities? I'm not looking for normal tourist spots, more like some specialty shops which carry tools for woodworking.
I would like to get some planes (Veritas or Lie Nielson).

Thanks

-Mark

 

[djwong]

I am not aware of any specialty woodworking tool store in San Francisco.  If you have any interest in Japanese woodworking, you should drop by Soko Hardware in Japantown, and Hida Tools in Berkeley.  Soko Hardware carries a small selection of generic japanese tools.  Hida carries a good selection of planes, chisels, saws, and sharpening stones.

 

[Makkus]

Thanks a lot! I definitely will stop by Soko Hardware. Not sure if I can make it to Berkley. Well, thanks a lot for the hint!

-Mark

 

[panelchat]

I have been to Hida, its a nice little shop with some very nice tools, some quite beautiful. Things that are hard to find in the US market.

 

[rnt80]

Go to the Thos. Moser store in San Francisco.  It's pretty small but the pieces there are very impressive and the staff is more than willing to let you look around.

 

[Gneyenhuis]

In the Phoenix area, there are 3 Festool stores; Timber Woodworking, Rockler, and Woodcraft. I am partial to Timber Woodworking because they have not only a great stock of Festool products, but they also sell used larger industrial woodworking machines. Interesting place.  Rockler and Woodcraft also are interesting places to go. If you want to see some great woods, go to Woodworkers source. Their supply of exotic wood is awesome and they sell over the Internet. Enjoy the sunshine and great weather.
Gary