Asking Your Advice: Turning supplies for store

[Rob Wallace]

We are soon getting a new independent home center and woodworking store in our community (Ames, Iowa), and I have been asked by the manager of the retail operation of this new business to make some suggestions as to what woodturning tools and supplies should be stocked and made available to turners (and other woodworkers) in our area.

Obviously I want to encourage this kind of interaction, and I would like to be able to provide this manager with a 'desiderata' list of those products that would be convenient to have in stock for woodturners.

I'd like to ask your advice on what products that you use (...or frequently run out of!) that you would suggest having in stock to support woodturners' activities. (I have my own ideas, but think it would be best to get a range of opinions). This could include tools and/or other turning supplies. While this will not be a "woodturning store" specifically, they do want to have items in stock that would be a help to the woodturners in our area, as well as for the general woodworkers (...those "flat" guys).

What turning items would YOU like to see in this kind of a store? Any suggestions you have about what products to stock for woodturners would be very helpful! Thanks in advance for you replies!

Rob Wallace

[This request was also posted to Woodcentral Turning Forum]

 

[Griesbach]

Rob, you are lucky to have something like this available to you and to be asked for your input. Certainly I would like to see sanding and finishing supplies that turners typically use. Sanding supplies in the higher grits and qualities including sanding discs, rolls and mandrels. The various oils for finishing and perhaps some of the typical waxes. Some of the tools would be nice but I'm not sure there would be enough call for them to bother stocking them. Then there are the specific lighting needs and perhaps carving (hand and power) and pyrography supplies and equipment. Tool making supplies like HHS square and round stock in a variety of diameters and lengths as well as cutters for homemade hollowing tools and steel bar stock. Also dyes both alcohol and water mixable as well as other coloring agents.

It would seem that many of these items could also apply to other hobbyists
and not just turning specific and little or none of this is available in any of my local hardware, home center or borg stores. I hope this helps and that you get many more suggestions.

 

[Tony K. in NC]

Can't forget CA

Gotta have CA in varying thicknesses, 2 part epoxy, and just an array of adhesives. as said before good for all not just turners. Grinding wheels for sharpening, wont sell alot but when needed is handy.

 

[DennisTholen]

Segmented turners use an long open time glue, such as, Titebond Extend wood glue. None of the brick and mortar in our area stock.

 

[Burt Alcantara]

I have a Woodcraft almost in walking distance. It is a great store and run well by owner and staff. I am on a first name basis with everyone there.

However, Woodcraft seems to jack up prices over MSRP so I don't buy everything there. My most frequent purchases are impulse or need-it-now:

CA, chuck jaws, , flex hose, augers, face shields, t-shirts, magazines, books, dvds, table saw blades, router bits, small wood stock, finishing supplies. Rarely buy turning tools since I use Thompson or make my own.

I do take advantage of their sales. Picked up my Tormek 20% off, bought my Nova 1624 there (sold it, now have Mustard from ToolNut).

 

[MichaelMouse]

Undercapitalization and inventory control are the doom of too many small businesses. Means he should stock CHEAP and EXPENDABLE items, not specialist items. Tool Steel blanks, chuck jaws (which?), carving and pyrography supplies are going to be ordered on line, because they're so limited in their market and worth the cost of shipping. Before anyone steps up and says they want to saddle a startup business with things like this, please ask yourself when you last purchased items of fifty bucks or more without price-shopping.

Glues and adhesives, you bet. Same with sanding mandrels, paper and some of the highfalootin' stuff like micromesh that's highly touted, and used mostly by turners. Wood dyes sound like a good idea in their dry form with long shelf life, and some shellac flakes, in moderation, would be a nice thing to have available. Moderation too with pen supplies, friction polishes and similar because of limited appeal and short shelf life.

I don't think I'd stock any tools, especially "boutique" tools with famous names and exotic alloys. I would try to find a wholesaler who would sell by the piece, as difficult as that may be, and make it a break-even special order for such things.

 

[hockenbery]

Things you need right now when you have used the last one.

Waterlox, shelac, Sanding discs, CA glue, Shafts for craving tools, a few carving tools, woodburner tips......
anything that supports classes being taught inn the area.
maybe offer a discount to student or teachers....

For me it is a 2-3 hour round trip to woodcraft.
On day I wasn't getting along well with my foredom (total operator error). I let the tool catch my shirt tail and broke the shaft. About 20 minutes later I did virtually the same thing to my back up shaft.
Off to woodcraft. Normally I would order these from one of the catalogs but when you need it you need it.

regards,
Al

 

[Bill Boehme]

I agree with the other comments regarding specialized woodturning tools. Even in a large metropolitan area, the number of woodturners is extremely small and specialized tools would just become shelf queens.

 

[john lucas]

I would probably try to carry some tools or at least a small set (even thought I don't like sets). The average guy who walks in a store and is thinking about turning usually wants a set of tools. You might even consider carrying a small mini lathe.
After that I agree with the others, sanding supplies, finishing supplies, and maybe a decent inexpensive grinder.

 

[Jake Debski]

Rob,

Having worked part-time in a local woodworking outlet I think MM's inventory advice is right on target. The daily consumables are the best bet to start. As the owner/manager gets to know his customers he can increase his inventory lines accordingly. Most new turners I've dealt with thought the purchase of a lathe, generally mini/midi, was their only large expenditure. The mere mention of quality tools, chucks, grinders and their prices sent most scurrying home to the internet.

 

[Rob Wallace]

Thank - You!!

I would like to thank all of you who took time to reply to my request!

Very sound advice indeed! Your responses confirmed some of my earlier thoughts about what might be good to have in stock (e.g. abrasives, CA, other glues), but several other suggestions were made that I hadn't thought much about.

I met with the manager of the new store this morning, and took him a print-out of this thread - he was quite amazed at the level of assistance and advice (including sound business thinking) that was given! He and I talked a long time (along with the business owner, too) about turning blanks, preparation of stock for woodturning, tools needed, and other aspects of turning that they had no idea about.....a very productive and educational session!

It is hoped that the retail part of this new business will be open in about another month or so. Right now there's a lot of roughed-in drywall, new electrical fixtures, etc. being finalized, with first stock to begin arriving in another 2-3 weeks....

I really appreciate your help with this!

With thanks,

Rob Wallace