The Woodworking Source

Have recently discovered The Woodworking Source and am very pleased with the vast amount of materials and tools they carry. Everyone there is so knowledgeable and helpful, they go out of there way to make sure you find everything you need and offer great advice to help you with your projects.
Haven’t taken any classes, but it’s looks like a great place to learn a new hobby.

I’ve been to this store twice and had two completely different experiences.
During the first visit I was met by a very knowledgeable lady who teaches the pen turning classes. She was very attentive and showed me the different parts of the store and the shop in the back. I was simply visiting for the first time and I was interested in learning about the store. I bought a push stick and some penetrating oil. Two measly little items and I was treated like royalty. FIVE STARTS
During my second visit I was looking for a silicon bristle glue brush. When I asked for help, a very tall gentlemen was extremely rude about the entire question, responding, «That’s a Rockler item and we don’t sell that stuff here! Besides, it doesn’t work and you would be better off with this product,» pointing to a glue spatula. Such a shame that some employee would give me such a bad impression of their store. It will take a lot for me to return to their store. I guess Rockler will get more of my business rather than Woodworking Source.

Nice specialty store. I don’t do a lot of woodworking, but they look like they have it all and know what they are doing. I needed some hide glue to repair a crack in my Ukulele. Home Depot and Lowes don’t even have it on their website, and when I called them, they acted like I was talking in foreign language. It was so nice to find a store that knows their stuff.

I stopped in today to load up on supplies and use my Birthday coupon they sent me. Gary was the only sales person there today. The owner had a family emergency and the other sales person was at the doctor. I put my pile of supplies on the counter and Gary warned me that he was a little slow on the register. Not his regular task. The coupon was a challenge but he made it work out and then an error on the receipt also was a challenge. Every thing worked out fine in the end.
Ralph, you should give Gary a big pat on the back for taking on the challenge and filling in for everyone in a truly professional manner.
I have always had a good experience when shopping here. Thanks!

Over the last 5 years I got into woodworking and have gone to several of the local suppliers over that time. For the last 3 years I have I have mostly gone to the Woodworking source. They have a bright clean store with a great selection of tools, woodworking supplies and a real good selection of the higher end woods. I have also taken several classes at there shop that made my life a lot easier around my shop.
What I like most is the staff. They are always helpful with lots of suggestions on how to do it, what to buy and how to save money. Ralph is the owner and stands behind his products and services. If you havent been there you should stop by if your into woodworking

The friendly and professional staff went above and beyond to help me out yesterday.
Ok, Let me back up…
The look of the store was very tidy and organized. The shop was immaculate. They had fewer tools than Apex, but they have a lot of quality stuff. They don’t have furniture paint, but their finishes were high quality hard-​to-​find stuff (i.e. Old Masters brand). They also had Kreg Jig brand galore.
The staff were not what I expected from a retail shop… Jeannette who manned the front of the store helped me on the phone and in person, and mentioned that she has this job «for fun» in her retirement, and she’s a skilled woodworking teacher and artist herself. Ralph and the guy in the back (forget his name, sorry) routed some wood for me, and they seemed to love being there and helping people. The three were a mature, knowledgeable bunch –very friendly and helpful –in contrast to the younger, less knowledgeable staff at say Lowes or Home Depot (on average — forgive me for generalizing).
I needed to replace the custom routed trim around my new patio door (which was larger than the old one), but I didn’t have the router or knowledge to do it. I called them and explained the predicament, and they offered to do it in their shop. They charged $ 35 per half hour (and no tax) to use their shop, but since they knew I had limited experience with that machine and it would be quick, they routed it for me for no additional fee. (More complex jobs might be a different, but it is worth calling them if you need help with something to see how they can work with you.)
I don’t think they could normally be expected to help with custom wood working jobs on the spot, but it worked out yesterday that they could do it while I waited. They even loaded and unloaded my 2×6 boards out of the truck. Most people don’t even open doors for their customers carrying in heavy items, let alone insist on carrying it for them (see my review of Windy Moon Quilts).
Not only were they incredibly helpful and responsive when I called and came in, but they hooked me up with a special guide for one of my tools that isn’t normally for sale… They had an extra one and just let me have it because they saw how I excited I was, but they don’t normally sell or distribute those guides at all.
Highly recommended! I hope to take some classes there someday.
PS – Those classes, or at least the Router 101 class I asked about, was 3 hours long for $ 65… not bad!

Incredibly helpful and supportive staff. WIde range of tools for the professional or hobbyist.
I bought a direct drive variable speed lathe for large projects at this store because of a great discount and tremendous assistance I got from the staff. Ralph — the owner — is extremely knowledgeable and has provided ongoing advice as I’ve begun doing larger and more interesting projects. The other staff members also know what they are doing and spend time with me each time I come in.
There are a wide range of classes at what appear to be fair prices.

I’d driven by this place several times with the intentions of checking the place out, but never seemed to have the time. Anyway, my wife finally forced me to stop. Wished I’d stopped much earlier. This place is great. Awesome people and a great selection of wood and wood working tools. I was really excited when I found out they have a workshop area where they put on classes. I’d always wanted to try turning with a Lathe and found out they had several turning classes with different skill levels. I signed up for a beginning turning class and have been hooked since. I turned around 30 pens and wine bottle toppers for Christmas presents and spent a lot of time at the Woodworking Source. I’ve gotten to know the staff really well. They are all great people and very helpful. Since taking my first class, I’ve taken several other classes. The classes are fun and educational. I’m making fancy pens with veneer inserts and Celtic knots and I learned the skills in the classes I took. Great Place.

I went to the Woodworking Source today to inquire about creating/​designing bookshelves from some wood with «character» and not simply using generic materials from a big chain store. There were two men working this afternoon, and I was the only customer in the store. It was quickly apparent however that they were more interested in checking inventory than helping an actual customer. The store does have a nice selection of different wood and cuts/​finishes, but when I asked the man working the back room about some of the options, pricing, and their services I was only given one-​word replies, if any at all, with no inclination that that either worker cared that I was shopping there. I likely would have placed a handsome order for 60+ feet of custom work, but apparently you have to catch the workers during a more convenient time than «open hours» to do so.