Visiting USA

[themackay]

If one is visiting usa what woodworking gadgets,gizmos ,tools etc hard to get items over here would be on ones shopping list.
Alan

 

[wizard]

Something not too heavy for ones butler to carry back maybe

 

[Spindle]

Hi

Go to Sears and weep - it's all way cheaper than over here - buy whatever takes your fancy not forgetting the prices shown in store do not include tax. I've bought loads of Craftsman brand tools and they have all proved equal to or better than I can get in the UK for similar price.

Travel out light and back heavy :wink:

Regards Mick

 

[themackay]

Im planning New York later in the year Il have a look for a sears,as well as tools Im thinking what small items screws special nuts jig fittings things like that thats expensive/cant get here.
Alan

 

[Harbo]

Tools for Working Wood are over in Brooklyn - they sell all sorts of goodies - have a look at their website.
No other proper woodworking shop there as far as I can tell?
You could order stuff in advance from Lee Valley ( Veritas), LN, Rockwell etc to be delivered to your hotel. Most offer free surface delivery?

Rod

 

[marcros]

Depending on what woodwork you do, veritas things are worth bringing back over. LN may be similar but I haven't looked. The issue may be getting it- some states take several days for shipping and it can be a bit tight on a weeks visit. Not sure what items are stocked by retailers.

The other things I look for are bessey clamps and pipe clamps from Home Depot or one of its competitors and transtint dyes which you can't get here. Oh and dmt diamond plates are miles cheaper.

 

[rdesign]

if you have a festal track saw can get cool dogs for the rails to speed up set up and repeatability. I bought the holdfasts online I know someone on the forum makes similar ones but since they r now distributed by a company cheaper in usa.
vix bits are also awesome something i hadn't seen in europe. and mitre clamps are all things i have bought living here for a year. really nice 220 volt machinery for cheap over here but hard to fit into a suit case

enjoy your trip,
regards richard

 

[themackay]

OK looks like I have the makings of a list
Alan

 

[Mark A]

If you do any carpentry work then I would wholeheartedly recommend a wormdrive circular saw. Have I said they're fantastic? :mrgreen:

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Rigid do a palm router (110 V of course but fine here with a tranny). Its only about $90 which is impossible to get here new and its very solidly built. Home depot sell them. I use mine all the time as a permanent round over tool.

 

[RogerS]

They always seemed to have very useful gizmos in their large hardware sheds. Things like a flexible doofer with a small magnet on the end. Dremel stuff is also cheap. Rockler stuff for making jigs? Space balls to stop panels rattling. Hershey bar.

 

[RogerS]

I just saw one of these from Rockler on a US website. Looks pretty useful to me

Here

 

[themackay]

Yes that looks usefull Roger
Alan

 

[KevM]

I've made some great savings on all sorts of stuff over the years; always dollar for pound prices at the worst - i.e. if it sells for £100 here it will be $100 in the US, generally things will be much better. The exchange rate is good for you at the moment so happy days!

Unsurprisingly US made stuff is generally the best bargain e.g. Flexcut carving tools, Spyderco and Arkansas stones can be hard for bargain prices compared to here; I recently bought a Spyderco stone that sells for ~£80 here for $55. Don't forget to add the sales tax, but it'll still turn out cheaper.

 

[kinsella]

I did the NY trip with the missus, so trying to get away to visit a tool shop was not going to be easy. I got a stroke of luck, we went to Bloomingdales on the Sunday and it didnt open until 10am but it was 9am. Amazing i found a Home depot around the corner in Manhattan. stocked up on router bits as they were small and packable. They were really cheap compared to here.

 

[themackay]

Hi Kinsella,I will definatly be stocking up on router bits and the like.
Alan

 

[dejaa]

You should try woodcraft ( woodcraft. Com) what they dont have you probably won't need. Their nationwide but I do know they are in philadelphia and n york

David