Rockler Woodworking & Hardware

Very helpful and friendly.
The definitely know their stuff and aren’t afraid to share their knowledge.
A great place to go. Will definitely be back.

Very friendly and helpful staff. They have all the tools and supplies a woodworker will need. Even if you’re not into woodworking, it’s a great place to get some things to fix up the home.

They the only one with a 48″ walnut dowel rod I needed. And they got stuff that can let you McGyver anything!

Solid woodworking go to. There is a vast selection of product lines from large machining equipment to small hobbyist items. Great place.

When I first entered the store, I was greeted with a obnoxiously loud carving machine that ran for almost 15 minutes. It made talking nearly impossible without having to shout. I was told by my girlfriend that a couple people behind me asked if I needed help, which I clearly couldn’t hear.
Overall, they have a pretty good selection of wood, especially the smaller cuts that I needed for the type of projects that I work on. There’s an extensive tool selection, but they didn’t have what I needed. Normally, that’s fine, but my experience with the store employee was not. When I tried getting help to find a smaller, tapered dovetail saw, this grouchy, cantankerous looking dude picked out an expensive Japanese backsaw and said «this is what I use». Well, great, but that’s not what I asked for. He then just walked away since I wasn’t worth his time apparently.
While I don’t consider myself an expert woodworker by any means, there seemed to be a bit of a pretentious aura that didn’t welcome amateurs. I felt like I was in a guitar store. I’d probably go back *just* for wood, but that’s about it. It’s these types of experiences that push me to just order from Amazon.

Coming to this store is like being a kid in a candy shop.
Being a carpenter and a cabinet maker, I would have to say that they have most everything that you would need. You can also purchase items on line but I like to touch and feel what I am purchasing.
The staff is pretty friendly and nice. They are quick to ask you if you need help and then let you shop around if you don’t. I like that about them.
They are located a few miles from my home so I don’t come here to often, but when I do I like to take my time and look at all the toys, I mean tools ;-)

FAO Schwartz for the woodworker. They have seminars here every Saturday morning given by the staff who are a helpful assortment of old splinter pullers. I had just purchased a 60 year old vintage table saw, & never used anything better than a $ 200 vibrating aluminum model. The saw was a steal on e-​bay, but I spent almost 3 times the cost running a 220 line out to the garage. Meanwhile back at the ranch… I asked the guy what he’d recommend for a good quality (maybe I shouldn’t have used the word good?) general purpose saw blade & he walked me past the closeout bin & over to the entry level $ 70 saw blades. $ 70 for a saw blade when you can buy a saw w/​a blade for just over $ 100??? Her majesty says «don’t be stupid (cheap) you have a nice saw, get a good blade». I pulled out the 20% coupon, that comes with their incesssssant fliers. I took. the blade home, scraped, sanded & siliconed the table top & put a piece of notebook paper (white oak) through it. Now I wonder what the $ 100 saw blades cut like.
They have good sales, but they sometimes only last a week. They are the next exit after Ikea (Schaumburg) so I wish’t they would have fewer sales & make them last longer. It’s not uncommon to receive a flier in the mail for a sale that ended last week, but I should probably give that credit to my negative four star letter carrier.