Shopsmith Forums

So for today's adventure in not doing too much the wife and I went off to visit the new Rockler store that is about 20 minutes away. The good news for me was that it was close to a Goodwill store so we both had places to go and could spend our time in our respective stores. There was also a Wendy's for a small chill afterwards.

The other Rockler store in the area is much farther away and in a heavy traffic lane most of the way. Results in even longer drive times if you happen to be unlucky, and if it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all.

They are in what they call a soft opening with the grand opening coming Sept. 3rd. Board cutting will make it official then.

So more employees then shoppers today. I managed to check out the whole store and of course came home with a couple of things. In talking with one of the employees he said they have 6000 items in the store, the catalog carries 16,000 so not everything you could want will be there but still a good size collection of things.

One item that I was looking for was not there, no big deal as I have the option to order it online and get free postage anyway. Another item I was looking at is the pen dust collector. Not designed for a shopsmith but I seem to recall that someone here had adapted it. It wasn't on sale and it will be a few months before I plan to turn more pens so I'll wait on that. It is being redesigned anyway, they will and a chip shield. No idea when that will be introduced but it might also go on sale then, well with the added cost of the shield.

Not sure if anyone else in the Chicago area would find this a better drive but you can check the new location online, it is in Bolingbrook, IL.

Ed

You
Lucky
Dog

Lucky you. I would have to drive all day to get to a Rockler store, but I can order and they mail whatever I need to me in a few days.

I'm sorry to break the news to you Ed: apparently you died and went to heaven.

Well I almost have what you have. I can get the Chili nearby and I only have to go about a mile to browse through the Goodwill store (which I never do). I also have a Habitat store nearby but no Rockler Stores.

dusty wrote:Well I almost have what you have. I can get the Chili nearby and I only have to go about a mile to browse through the Goodwill store (which I never do). I also have a Habitat store nearby but no Rockler Stores.

Dusty you miss the point the closeness of stores that attract the wife are a plus. I think any woodworking, sporting good, computer, or tool store are wise to locate near stores that interest wives. I know I can always interest my wife if I offer to take her to mall that contains at least 10 women stores and a Best Buy. Before they moved my woodcraft was across the street from a major mall. I could drop off my wife at the mall and know I had as long as I wanted to inspect everything in woodcraft. Unfortunately woodcraft moved they are near a dollar general but that doesn't hold the wife's interest for long. Dumb move only visited the store once since the move before I was in there at least once every month.

Would love to have a Rockler store in the area. Reible your are a blessed man!

OKAY. I understand your point. The difference between your situation and mine is that I do not go shopping with my wife and she does not go with me unless we are going to accomplish the same purchase.

My advantage is that I have two daughters who live here in Tucson and when one of the three wants company shopping (most of the time) they shop together. It can get costly (three women roaming the malls) but I just keep track. A big shopping bill eases the pain when I want to shop Shopsmith, or Woodcraft or Woodworkers Supply.

algale wrote:I'm sorry to break the news to you Ed: apparently you died and went to heaven.

Are you a fan of Patrick F. McManus? You comments reminds me of one of his stores about a fishing trip where everything is (to) perfect. Seems they can't remember how they missed getting hit by the logging truck but hey the times are great. Can't remember the name of the story or which book it is in. I'm a great fan of his and have read most of the humorous series books. While it was some years ago now I still remember the jest of a lot of them.

Thanks for the memory intentional or not.

Ed

Ed in Tampa wrote:

dusty wrote:Well I almost have what you have. I can get the Chili nearby and I only have to go about a mile to browse through the Goodwill store (which I never do). I also have a Habitat store nearby but no Rockler Stores.

Dusty you miss the point the closeness of stores that attract the wife are a plus. I think any woodworking, sporting good, computer, or tool store are wise to locate near stores that interest wives. I know I can always interest my wife if I offer to take her to mall that contains at least 10 women stores and a Best Buy. Before they moved my woodcraft was across the street from a major mall. I could drop off my wife at the mall and know I had as long as I wanted to inspect everything in woodcraft. Unfortunately woodcraft moved they are near a dollar general but that doesn't hold the wife's interest for long. Dumb move only visited the store once since the move before I was in there at least once every month.

Would love to have a Rockler store in the area. Reible your are a blessed man!

Maybe Rockler's should build next to Christmas Tree Shops!

I'm about 5 miles from a Rockler but I only get over there 3-4 times a year.

Back around April I picked up some fairly wide cherry boards. Rockler would never be categorized as "bargain" for wood prices, but once in a while I'll splurge.

Just today I started the rabbets and dados for a little cabinet project, using that Cherry I had picked up. I'm able to wrap the grain around the corners pretty well:

Chris