New woodworking store

**dbhost** · 07-17-2009, 12:08 PM

Good to have WW shops close by, but for that kind of money, you can have your own WW shop unless you are urban landlocked. And even then you can get a lot done even in a little 1 BR apartment if you are creative...

**Uncle Cracker** · 07-17-2009, 12:27 PM

I'd be happy to use the store, but $10K would buy a lotta tools for my own shop... Think that's the way I'd go...

**drillman88** · 07-17-2009, 12:32 PM

That makes me wonder how shop time would be alloted/scheduled among the members and how many of the same tools will be available. Shop time is hard to come by and that could really create some conflicts.

**cgallery** · 07-17-2009, 12:45 PM

It is a substantial shop, judging from the linked picture.

But I'd want to know about the finances of the organization I'm basically buying into. I know a lot of Rockler/Woodcraft stores have closed during this downturn. It would suck if the outfit starting this one wasn't capitalized well enough and ended up pulling the plug in 1-2 years.

**Uncle Cracker** · 07-17-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally posted by cgallery

But I'd want to know about the finances of the organization I'm basically buying into. I know a lot of Rockler/Woodcraft stores have closed during this downturn. It would suck if the outfit starting this one wasn't capitalized well enough and ended up pulling the plug in 1-2 years.

A valid concern, to be sure. With $10-large from everybody using the shop, you'd think they'd be better capitalized than most, but it does beg the question of what happens if they back the trucks up in the middle of the night, and haul everything off someday. How would one get his money back out?

I also assume that the shop would only be open certain hours, and others would be wanting time there concurrently.

I think I'm stickin' to my own shop, even if they open one of these next door to my house...

**radhak** · 07-17-2009, 02:04 PM

The only part interesting is a vast area to work in for $1000 a year, or $80 a month. Not easy to get that.

OTOH 10k would buy me enough tools to satisfy all sorts of needs, and all 'professional' quality. (Okay, maybe not the european TSs, but who needs those?). And anytime, I'd be able to sell all of those and recover a majority of that money.

Here, I'd never see that $10K again, and even the logistics of using is not that great - they seem to be considering regular 'office' hours. The time most convenient for me to work in my shop is what they (or many others) might consider insane : 9pm to midnight (or even further), or 6am in the morning, or the weekends, particularly long weekends

!

Heck, in these times, one might do better by finding somebody with an garage and paying them $100 a month just to use it. BYOTs (bring your own tools)

!!!

**kevincan** · 07-17-2009, 03:41 PM

A agree with what everyone has said - $10k is a lot of money. I don't think I have that much in my shop/garage and that includes my van that is parked inside.

I am excited about having a WW store close by. The only places now are BORGs and hardware stores. The closest Rockler was around 90 miles for me and that closed down over a year ago. The closest Woodcraft store was 70-80 miles away and they just closed. I know that I can always order online but sometimes I like to see things first or need something quickly.

**radhak** · 07-17-2009, 03:52 PM

I forgot about that - good point Kevin. A WW store is always welcome, a new one really so, and when it's as rare around you, you must be bated breath.

And it may not hurt to have that community milling around in the back - always nice to get to chat about ww!

**jackellis** · 07-17-2009, 03:54 PM

There's a place in Sunnyvale called the Sawdust Shop. It has a 4000 square foot wood shop that you can use for a fee. Here's the schedule.

It's about 20 minutes away. I briefly considered just signing up there but it is far more convenient to work at odd hours or when the mood strikes.

I would not buy into someone else's shop without a real ownership stake and a solid contract. As others have pointed out, $10k can buy a lot of nice tools that you can always sell if you change your mind.

**BearPipes-1** · 07-17-2009, 04:27 PM

I'm rather closer than Jack to the Sawdust Shop, but agree that the convenience of a home shop, even a pathetic one (I'm talking about mine here, not his) makes more sense for me.

They have many classes, and with CNC tools, etc., I could see taking some if they last until I have an overlap of time and money.

I'm not holding my breath until that overlap occurs, however.

New woodworking store

New woodworking store

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