Woodwork stores in California

[Brian Deakin]

I live in the United Kingdom and will be going to California in July 2012 for a family holiday

I have identified the the location of the Woodcraft stores and the Japan woodworker .Can anyone recommend other woodwork stores that I may find of interest

regards Brian

[frank shic]

those are the big ones. there's a rockler's down the street from me in concord, but woodcraft is a much larger store.

[Jamie Buxton]

Where in California are you going? This is a big place.

[glenn bradley]

Sounds like a NoCal visit since Japan Woodworker is in Alameda. The Rockler is about 25 miles away.

[Brian Kent]

I assume you're going to the San Francisco Bay area. Our advice is different if you are going to Los Angeles / Orange / San Diego, or other Southern California counties.

[Brian Kent]

Hey Glenn, if he visits SoCal could he see that new computer in your avatar????

[Van Huskey]

Where in California are you going? This is a big place.

Reminds me of some friends that came to visit from the UK and I let them plan a driving trip without input. We were in Montreal and headed to DC and they had planned to make a detour over to see Niagra Falls. Until we actually drove it they had no idea how big a space even a small area of the US takes up. I would probably be the same way in Australia for example.

[Brian Ross]

A lad emigrated from England to Ontario and was working with a friend of mine. A long weekend was coming up and the lad was telling my friend how excited he was as he was going to visit his friend in Vancouver. The long weekend was over and my friend asked what he thought of Vancouver. He replied that they didn't realize it was that far away. They drove for 6 hrs and took another look at the map and realized it was not a trip that could be made in a 3 day weekend by car. Normally a 4 day drive , one way.

Brian

[Brian Kent]

And if I go to Australia, I want to take a day-trip on a sailboat over to New Zealand. They're only like an inch apart on my globe.

[Brian Deakin]

Thank you to everyone for your replies

My holiday plan is as follows

One night Los Angeles airport,one night Pismo beech,one night Monterrey, three nights San Francisco,two nights Yosemite,one night Sequoia,three nights Las Vegas ,one night Grand Canyon,one night Lake Havasu,three nights San Diego then return home to United Kingdom

Total journey distance 2100 miles in 17 days

regards Brian

[Brian Kent]

Brian,

Japan Woodworker store would probably be the most unique opportunity.

In San Diego, a tiny store called Craftsman Studio is excellent.

At Japan Woodworker the Mujingfang planes are outstanding and inexpensive (but the shoulder planes do nto work well). It is also a great place to handle Japanese saws and chisels.

Craftsman Studio sells a full range of Lie Nielsen planes, some Veritas saws, and other excellent finds. The owner if a fantastic guy.

Other Brian

[frank shic]

brian hope you're bringing a steamer trunk with you to cart all that iron back home ;)

[Craig Michael]

Thank you to everyone for your replies

My holiday plan is as follows

One night Los Angeles airport,one night Pismo beech,one night Monterrey, three nights San Francisco,two nights Yosemite,one night Sequoia,three nights Las Vegas ,one night Grand Canyon,one night Lake Havasu,three nights San Diego then return home to United Kingdom

Total journey distance 2100 miles in 17 days

regards Brian

Off woodworking. If you plan on hiking in yosemite, check to see what reservations/permits you might need. It is popular and places like half dome require permits in advance and they are limited.

[wes ikeuchi]

Brian...excellent advice on Japan Woodworker in Alameda...you should also check out Hida Tools on San Pablo Ave.in Berkeley. It's a tiny store packed to the rafters with Japanese Woodworking, Gardening and Kitchen Cutlery items.Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They have the most amazing hand made planes, irons,chisels,knives and saws. Hida's is the one store that hand tool fans should not pass by.

[Jamie Buxton]

Feh.. you seen one tool store, you seen 'em all. Now, lumber is different. You might be interested in a couple of hardwood dealers. Two good ones in the SF area are MacBeath (http://www.macbeath.com/) and PALS (http://www.earthsourcewood.com/site/index.aspx). Yeah, I know it'd be difficult to carry home a plank of 16/4 walnut, but you're going to go see the Sequoias, and the same argument applies to them.

(Yosemite and the Sequoias are very good choices. Truly amazing.)

[Brian Kent]

Brian...excellent advice on Japan Woodworker in Alameda...you should also check out Hida Tools on San Pablo Ave.in Berkeley. It's a tiny store packed to the rafters with Japanese Woodworking, Gardening and Kitchen Cutlery items.Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They have the most amazing hand made planes, irons,chisels,knives and saws. Hida's is the one store that hand tool fans should not pass by.

Welcome Wes. I was in Berkeley 3 years and did know about Hida Tools.

Brian