Choosing Woodworking Supplies
Determining what woodworking supplies you will need for your project is half the battle, the other half being finding a good supplier for your supplies. While there are many online stores to purchase woodworking supplies from, it is best to work with someone locally so that you can examine the products before you purchase them. If you are new to woodworking, you may want to look to see if you can find a local woodworking group and ask them where they get their woodworking supplies. Many times these groups can be a valuable resource.
Selecting Good Woodworking Supplies
The most difficult and most important item to select among your woodworking supplies is the actual wood. Quality will vary greatly between different pieces of wood, and it is imperative that you find a supplier you can trust.
In addition to wood, other woodworking supplies that you want to get locally will include furniture and cabinet hardware. Quality again varies greatly between different hardware and even hardware from the same manufacturer. It is best to examine it in person to ensure that you are getting a quality product and that the color matches what your plan is for your project as images on the internet may not be a true representation of the actual hardware.
Tools are another item that you will want to get locally to make sure that they feel comfortable and are easy to use. Without examining them yourself, it can be impossible to tell if the tool will work for you. You may or may not be able to find one source for all your woodworking supplies, but do not be afraid to shop around and use multiple shops. It can be easier to get everything in one place but this may not be in your best interest.
Some shops that have outstanding wood may not match it with quality hardware or even carry the tools you are looking for. For the most part, finding several suppliers of high quality woodworking supplies is easy. There is always the Home Depot and Lowes option, although generally speaking smaller shops will provide you with higher quality products at better prices.
If you know for a fact that you want a specific tool and it is carried at one of the larger hardware stores, by all means purchase it there if that is what you want. Again, the important thing when looking for woodworking supplies is to not limit your options.
