Local Woodcraft

[Sparktrician]

Since the Woodcraft stores are franchises, I believe that it's up to the franchise owner to train (or not) as they see fit.  Very few apparently do choose to train.  Most that I've visited seem to not even care that the display tools have been set up correctly and/or may be missing parts.  Thankfully, I've noted one big exception - in Rockville, MD.

That Woodcraft store in Rockville is GREAT!

Peter

Sounds like I should check out the Rockville store.

You'll not be wasting your time.  It's far and away better than the NoVa stores. 

 

[Vondawg]

I too have noticed the inventory reduction at my local Woodcraft (Rochester,NY) For a while now...it seems  their enthusiasm for selling Festool has diminished as well....I’m told they have to put together a large enough order then wait for it....I recently waited (Partly because I wanted to support my local store) over two months for a new 125 sander

 

[otis04]

Perhaps the inventory level in the stores is indicative of demand for Festool in general.  if there were still strong demand, there would be inventory.

I have two excellent hardwood dealers in my area that also carry Festool, the Festool display isn't great and there is little inventory.

 

[Sparktrician]

Perhaps the inventory level in the stores is indicative of demand for Festool in general.  if there were still strong demand, there would be inventory.

I have two excellent hardwood dealers in my area that also carry Festool, the Festool display isn't great and there is little inventory.

There's a lumber yard local to me that offers Festool goodies, but their staff is not knowledgeable and their display area is not expansive or well-stocked.  I had hopes for them as a good source in NoVa, but I'm afraid that unless they invest in training and promotion of the line, they'll soon stop selling Festool. 

 

[sancho57]

The woodcraft near my house when I first started going there Oh Id say about 6 years ago they werent very knowledgable about festools. I would actually brief them about festools. There was one guy who was especially interested in them. Well I noticed after my last visit they have been trained and the one guy seems to be their expert.

But that is something these dealers need to do is invest in someone to be their expert if they really expect to sell these tools. As we all know they are a different approach to woodworking and they do have a learning curve.

Even my main lumber supplier has lost their festool guru. I think they still have another one but he isnt working the counter like the last guy and I dont know who he is. I know who their finishing and their hardware guy is but the festool guy nope.

So though I still go there for hardware and plywood , timber etc, I have another suppplier for my festools.

They are a bit of a drive but I can always make a phone call and get the info I need / want.

But not to repeat myself, If these businesses want to be successful at selling festools they have to invest in their employees and send them to training. I would say train them on a Bi annual basis to keep their skills sharpe and learning new things. A plus would be someone who actually uses the tools at home.

The store can benefit by their expert putting on demos such as how to build a cabinet, other projects utilizing some various jigs we use and techniques we use and set ups etc

 

[GoingMyWay]

There's a lumber yard local to me that offers Festool goodies, but their staff is not knowledgeable and their display area is not expansive or well-stocked.  I had hopes for them as a good source in NoVa, but I'm afraid that unless they invest in training and promotion of the line, they'll soon stop selling Festool.

Would that lumber yard happen to be located in Manassas?

 

[Sparktrician]

There's a lumber yard local to me that offers Festool goodies, but their staff is not knowledgeable and their display area is not expansive or well-stocked.  I had hopes for them as a good source in NoVa, but I'm afraid that unless they invest in training and promotion of the line, they'll soon stop selling Festool.

Would that lumber yard happen to be located in Manassas?

No, Sterling.  Tart Lumber.  For most anything else, they're good to deal with. 

 

[GoingMyWay]

No, Sterling.  Tart Lumber.  For most anything else, they're good to deal with.

Oh ok.  Is that a good place to buy hardwood?  I saw some other people weren't crazy about buying from Woodcraft for hardwood.  The only other time I've bought hardwood is from Bell Forest Products.  That was my first time buying (bought some cutting board kits) and I was happy.

 

[Sparktrician]

No, Sterling.  Tart Lumber.  For most anything else, they're good to deal with.

Oh ok.  Is that a good place to buy hardwood?  I saw some other people weren't crazy about buying from Woodcraft for hardwood.  The only other time I've bought hardwood is from Bell Forest Products.  That was my first time buying (bought some cutting board kits) and I was happy.

Their focus is the construction trade, not the woodworking contingent.  Have you tried Vienna Hardwoods?  You night want to give C. P. Johnson Lumber in Elkwood, VA, a try, too.  There's also Exotic Lumber in Frederick, MD. 

 

[Cheese]

I saw some other people weren't crazy about buying from Woodcraft for hardwood.  The only other time I've bought hardwood is from Bell Forest Products.  That was my first time buying (bought some cutting board kits) and I was happy.

Woodcraft is expensive because they go through a middleman. Their products are great but because they go through another source, everyone needs to take their cut. It is what it is...for the cheapest prices.............go directly to the source.

 

[sancho57]

Ive never considered WC as a source for buying wood. I went online to my local WC and checked prices. I guess if I was in a fix on a Sunday and my suppliers are closed I would by what I needed to complete the job. Otherwise , Id wait til monday

 

[HAXIT]

Buying hard wood from any retailer is the mistake if you are looking for the best price. Another thing should be considered is the limitation and quantity that they are always low on both and would not be a good choice for big project. Matter of fact a tool store has no interest to sell lumber, they just bring some in to make it convenience for some people for a small project. 

 

[HarveyWildes]

Depends on what's available locally.  In Colorado, the selection of wood from sources other than retailers is very limited.  Here are my sources:
1.  Trees (doh!) - I can occasionally get access to urban lumber if I know of a decent tree that is being cut down.  I can get it sawn for ~$50-$75/hour saw time, plus the cost of blades that are ruined by nails.  Species I've gotten locally include ash, oak, cherry, maple, Russian olive, mulberry, apricot, plum, and elm.  I have to dry them myself, and since I don't have a kiln, it's 1-2 years to air-dry.
2.  Mills - Only one mill within 50 miles does anything other than aspen or pine.  That mill is a good source of slabs, but for lumber it is about the going rate of the retailers.  I have been known to drive to Iowa, as I mentioned above.
3.  Woodcraft - Our local Woodcraft makes an effort to get a decent selection of wood, and is the least expensive of the retail options.  The wood is decent quality.
4.  Other retailers - We have pretty good options, including several in Denver, but they are the most expensive options.

Going from 1-4, the price goes up, but so does the selection and flexibility.  Depending on the situation, a case can be made for buying from any of the sources.  However, Woodcraft seems to get most of my wood business these days.

The takeaway of this thread for me is that you have to be creative and do your homework for your location.

 

[epicxt]

Our local WC in Seattle is very knowledgable about Festool and has the largest selection and most organized display, followed by Hardwick's. For hardwoods, we've got Crosscut Hardwoods and Compton Lumber, conveniently located across the street from each other.

 

[HowardH]

I live in the DFW area.  The local Woodcraft has greatly expanded their Festool display and I was told that over the last few years, their Festool sales have gone up 10 fold.  I asked if they knew if the sales increase is to contractors or hobbyists and he said both.  They generally have a pretty good selection but their store is a bit on the small side  so it's hard to find accessories/consumables sometimes.  All Woodcrafts in Texas are owned by one guy and his other stores in Houston and San Antonio have huge Festool displays since those stores have much larger footprints.  Rockler should have paid attention.

 

[Cheese]

Hey [member=61231]HarveyWildes[/member] , just curious as to what the color of the Russian olive wood is once it’s cut? My folks had several of these on their property.

 

[HarveyWildes]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member]

It's kind of a drab olive green when cut, over time the color changes to a medium brown.  You will find some color variation.  It's not a spectacular wood for the most part, but it can be useful.

Russian olive is about the same hardness as red oak, and has open pores similar to oak (maybe even a bit larger).  When you are working it, watch the grain because the large-pore layers seem soft to me, and may collapse on sharp edges or corners.  I've managed by making sure to ease the corners.  Aside from that, it works pretty well.  I've made table legs and a table top out of it.  It's not suitable for small, detailed pieces.

It finished nicely with oil, but you have to wipe down an oil finish as it's drying to control the bleed-out from the pores.  I haven't tried surface finishes, and I haven't tried filling the pores.  I've been wanting to try stabilizing the grain with black-dyed epoxy finish soaked into the grain for both stabilization and appearance, but haven't had the right project yet.

The biggest pieces that I have are about 5' long.  For the most part, it's hard to find trees that have straight, well-defined trunks, and the widest boards I've been able to get are about 12" wide.  Often trees used for landscaping have better trunks to work with because they have been pruned.  Bottom line - if you have a couple of trees with reasonably sized trunks or branches, and you understand the limitations of working the grain, it's not a bad wood.  I haven't found that it's particularly hard to air dry.

 

[yetihunter]

The designated Festool area at my local Woodcraft just keeps expanding.
They may not have a massive dedicated room like their nearest Festool competitor, Berland's, but
they probably do, mostly, have at least one of everything in the store.   
They receive new shipments from Indiana to replenish stock, at least once a week. 

Don't be too jealous that I have a bajillion dollars worth of Festool inventory on display within 10 minutes
driving distance of my house:  When on sale, Woodcraft's domestic and exotic prices are the same
as the local lumberyards.    [eek]