Good Woodworking Store in the SF Bay area

[HarveyWildes]

I'll be in the north bay area for a few days in Sept.  Any high-end woodworking shops that I should visit while I'm there?  I'm thinking shops like Highland Hardware in Atlanta or a Lee Valley retail store.  I have access to Rockler and Woodcraft, so not looking for one of those.

 

[copcarcollector]

I have purchased a few Festools here in the past, never been to the store though:

K-119
925 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno, CA 94066
Tel: +1.650.588.0160
email: k119tool@yahoo.com

Mon-Fri 7:00a - 5:30p
Sat 9:00a - 5:00p

 

[live4ever]

Quite frankly, no.  The area really lacks those kinds of stores.  Further north up the coast (Mendocino area, 3 hrs from the Bay Area), there are some interesting woodworking stops including Hock blades and the College of the Redwoods, but that might be well out of your way unless you can plan a whole day trip though.  Definitely worth it as it's truly one of the most lovely parts of the state.

Japan Woodworker was (is?) in Alameda but I'm not sure what happened to the store after Woodcraft took it over. 

 

[RKA]

How about Hida Tool?  I've never been there, just drool over a few items on their website.  Their selection would be focused on Japanese hand tools if that interests you.

 

[Trevin]

Hi Harvey,

I am in San Jose and there is not many stores in the bay area.  Woodcraft (San Carlos) and Rockler (Concord) are about it.  I do go to K119 Tools a lot when I need some Festool stuff as they have a big inventory there but the store is really crowded with merchandise everywhere.  Not really a "woodworking" store, more of a "Tool" store geared towards contractors.

[member=21249]RKA[/member] Hida Tools looks cool!  I think I will plan a trip up there.

Trevin

 

[HarveyWildes]

I managed a trip to Hida Tools and bought three chisels (one timber, two paring) a small square, a Shinwa bevel square, and a couple of inexpensive awls.  Very small shop, with small town hardware store organization, but well worth the 40 minutes I was able to spend there.  I also visited the Concord Rockler store.  It was a very nice Rockler store that is vastly understocked on interesting quality hand tools.  I may be able to make K119 in San Bruno this afternoon if the schedule works out just right, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[HarveyWildes]

Well I did make it to K119 in San Bruno.  Even more like a small town hardware store wrt organization - cram packed, stuff all over the place.  It's a fun place to explore.  I also got a couple of small accessories to commemorate my visit.