Woodcraft

Found this store online when I was looking for gel stain and decided to make a visit. I love specialty stores because they all kinds of neat things you would not find in your normal lumber store. Customer service was great, I was having difficulty deciding on how to save my project, but the staff member there was helpful, and I am almost certain his recommendations will save me thousands. Will certainly return for my wood working projects.

Woodcraft is receiving 1 star for the sole fact that they had what I was looking for.
Planning a little wood carving project for a gift. I have 0 experience when it comes to wood carving. I went to Michaels to find some beginner tools for woodcarving. Michaels has very little wood carving items. I was happy to find a specialty shop for exactly what I was looking for at Woodcraft.
The first mistake was on me. I walked in to Woodcraft right after work. I work in an office, so I have slacks, dress shoes, and a button up. As soon as I walked in, I noticed that the staff noticed me and they immediately scoffed at this person who did not belong in the store. I noticed this because the cashier looked me up and down and ignored me when I made eye contact.
I was un-​phased by this small interaction. I found what I was looking for — I then asked for help because I had a few questions about the product. Every question was really basic, but every answer I received was very condescending and demeaning. The cashier continuously rolled his eyes at me upon every question I had like if I was offending him for not having an immense knowledge of the wood works world.
I’m not the type who write bad reviews — but this experience should be a wake up call. I don’t think specialty stores get enough love from people, so they need to step up their customer service game so they could make up for not having a huge shiny store. If they could tell I was new, they should do everything possible to gain me as a customer and take an extra step to make sure they make me feel comfortable so I can recommend to others and have me return. I will not return.
Advice: go to the store wearing work boots. Maybe you can get away with making them think that you’re like them.
Step up your customer service game Woodcraft.

I am a complete neophyte when it comes to woodworking, but need a table with dimensions and features I won’t get any other way except to build it myself. To get started, I took the «Introduction to Woodworking» class at Woodcraft of San Carlos last Saturday. I had my doubts about whether I would even like woodworking, but it turns out I do! The class was great!
The instructor, Claude, had significant depth of knowledge and experience in woodworking and was also an excellent instructor. His demonstrations were clear and his feedback on each step of the project ensured that you got good results. The project, a well designed 5″ x 7″ lidded box, was carefully planned to be completed in one day (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) Making this small object provided experience on a jointer, planer, table saw, band saw, drill press and router, plus some hand tools including a hand plane, chisel — and don’t forget the sanding block!
Woodcraft’s «Shop Safety» class, an additional 3 hours, is a prerequisite. While being primarily about safety, that class, also taught by Claude, included a lot of «value-​added» information about the properties of wood, how equipment is designed, set up and used, what to look for in tools and equipment, etc.
You can probably find less expensive ways to get an intro to woodworking, but, for me, this was a worthwhile investment. I came away from it feeling more than successful, with a cool little poplar box I made with my own two hands, a rather intimidated feeling about how much more there is to know, but confidence that I will likely enjoy learning it.
Bottom line: Highly recommend this class.

I’m a woodworker and this place is my go to for anything related to accessories, jigs items, hardware and damn near anything I could need is there. Woodcraft normally has a lot of good sales, and I go there to liberate them from all manner of sanding papers, screws and other hardware on a regular basis.
If you’re a new woodworker, the staff at this place will set you right. Everyone is super friendly, and will point you in the right direction. Example, I was trying to build a jig for cutting angles consistently and safely for making lots of picture frames. I was brought into the woodshop they teach at and shown the jig they use. I got all the parts for replicating that jig, and now I cut any angle safely and can batch them like crazy. Lots of good hints and tips are sitting in those guys heads, you just have to ask.
Go in there with what you want to do, talk about your project and you’ll be sorted.
Great place to go, and I’ll probably be liberating a festool sander sometime this year from them too ;)

This is one of the Best wood shops in the area.

This place isn’t anywhere in my neighborhood but it is definitely worth the drive to visit. This isn’t necessarily an inexpensive place to shop, but if you value your woodshop and need tools and supplies… this place has it all. The amount of tools, jigs, and supplies is extensive and you can get pretty much anything you need, whether it be power tools, hand tools, jigs, measuring devices, finishes, stains… or whatever! I will not come back regularly because I have a woodshop on a budget… but when I have a need for something specific to make sure my projects come out right time and time again, I will come here to invest in something that will have a long and useful service life and retains its value. Pricey, but ohhhhhh so worth it. They have toys (tools) here worth drooling over.

I decided to pick up a «great deal» on Craig’s list… a desk that needed some refinishing. Well after spending a lot of money in products and supplies and a lot of time I did refinish it. Great store and staff; had all the products and answers to my questions. It was a good experience but ended up not being a great deal.

very helpful, very knowledgeable!

Extremely unhelpful staff. I actually went into the store looking to spend money, and the staff made me feel like I was bothering them. I was one of only 2 or 3 customers in the store, so they weren’t very busy.
Primarily, I went in looking for a set of hinges for a chest I’m building. When I finally got the guy behind the counters attention, I mentioned that I was looking for something like the Rockler Torsion hinges and his was response was «we don’t carry that, they are a competitor» and turned away. No attempt to try to guide me to an alternative. Then, when I got his attention again and asked a followup, he basically pointed me at a wall of hinges and walked away.
After that, didn’t see any reason to ask about the other items I was shopping for and I left.
Hard to see any reason to go into this store instead of just buying online. I get more help from a page of Amazon reviews than I think I can expect from the staff at this store.
(My experience seems very similar to what Eric H. and Darryl R. are reporting, so this doesn’t sound like i just caught them on a bad day.)

There is just something plain wrong with the staff at this place. I’ve had several experiences similar to the other reviewer here that gave them one star. Staff that are just weird, and who seem to prattle on about stuff and not provide help. Today I rushed in to grab some sharpening supplies, knew exactly what I wanted. Walked it to the register, the guy there is on the phone going on and on about Delta power tools with somebody, clearly not a sale. Now other folks line up as well, guy still on the damn phone, no acknowledgement, no apparent concept he has customers waiting. Woman wanders out, think she would run the register? Nope she goes off to talk to another customer. Does this place not get the concept of selling stuff? I just walked out and went and purchased what I needed elsewhere.
And good luck if you really have deep questions about stuff, from past experiences shopping here for finishing supplies the staff here don’t seem to know an awful lot. Don’t compare this place to Home Depot, that is such a useless low bar. There are lots of better places. Ordering online from Lie-​Nielsen or Lee Valley, shopping at Tooland in San Carlos, K119 Tools in San Bruno, CB Tool Group in San Jose, are all much better experience than shopping here. And forget their limited supply of crazy expensive wood, go shop at MacBeath Hardwood or Southern Lumber or other lumber suppliers.

Was looking for a spray for my small balsa plane. I know nothing about all the different sprays and lacquers, but the plane kit manufacturer recommended polyurethane spray. So I came to the shop looking at two different Deft sprays, one was «acrylic», another one was something else (don’t remember what it was).
I told guy that I am looking for polyurethane spray and he pointed me at the can saying «acrylic». I’ve asked him where does it say that it is «polyurethane», he pointed at word «acrylic» and said it is the same. OK. I took the can.
Then I did some googling and found that, actually, «acrylic» and «polyurethane» are two different things. It probably would work fine, but I have feeling guy just lied to me to sell the product. I don’t know.

Having searched all over the Bay Area for some hard woods (i.e. anything other than Douglas Fir and Redwood), I found Woodcraft.
They were polite and courteous on the phone. I told them I was just doing a small project, and I was looking for a 2×4 piece of hard wood. They said they had a variety and can mill just about anything I needed.
It sounded all too good to be true seeing as I’d called around to so many places. They must be lying to me. However, I was desperate for the wood, so I loaded my children in the car and off we went. The gentleman was so helpful and efficient. He showed me all the different types of wood and explained he could cut basically any size I needed. I didn’t need much — a piece of 2×4 around 24 inches long. I selected my wood, and then I asked if I would have to come back to pick it up later once it had been cut to my specifications. He said he could do it right away. He asked to give him 5 minutes. My kids and I waited in their kid friendly waiting area, and voila, he cut my wood in no time.
The wood is higher priced than what you are buying at Home Depot, but you are paying for a higher quality wood so you should be anticipating paying more. Also, the gentleman that helped me out said if I wanted to order several pieces the size I needed, then they would charge me for the time to cut the wood, however, because my cut was so small he wasn’t going to charge me for cutting. Again, point in their favor.
I’m a fan of Woodcraft!

It’s not them, it’s me. After reading all of the glowing reviews, that’s what it must be. Apparently I either don’t look like a person that would have anything to do with wood, I offend them with stupid inquiries or I don’t bow deep enough to their woodworking holiness.
I’m certainly not a novice woodworker — my garage, woodpiles and completed projects are testament to that — from structural stuff to cabinetry to (decently) fine furniture. But every time I walk into this store the staff there just treats me like I’m selling subscriptions to Highlights and Boys Life.
I’m getting ready to purchase a jointer but before I drop $ 600‑1200 dollars or more, I wanted to check them out in person. I walked in this store today and I could find only one jointer on the floor. They’ve got machines scattered about the store so I thought I’d ask the question…
me: do you have any other jointers besides that one over there (pointing to a pretty expensive Powermatic)?
him: its the only one i see so I guess the answer is no
me: i was hoping to get some hands on time with a few before making a purchase. You know, see how adjustable they are, see which ones have coplaner adjustments — stuff like that
him: [10 seconds of blank stare]
him: I can order just about anything
me: So can I. But I’d like to see several and make a good educated purchase.
him: [blank stare with a slight shrug]
me: Should I order them all and return all of them but one?
him: [blank stare]
me: never mind
Last time I was there:
me: I’d like to get a ³⁄₈ round over bit, ¼ inch shank.
him: hold on
me: ok
him: [3 phone calls later] what did you want?
me: ³⁄₈ round over bit, ¼ inch shank.
him: which one?
me: can i see what you have
him: go take a look in the glass cases
me: can you recommend one?
him: nope, its personal preference
wtf? I really want to like this place because its a wood shop with good products and I enjoy woodworking. But I resent the staff and the way they’ve consistently just been lousy at customer service. He was nicer to the people on the phone.
I would not go here at all if there were other options in the area.

Milk Paint is what brought me here but I stayed to ogle all of the cool possible projects and tools. The store is a good size. I tinker and probably don’t really know what I’m doing but I’m guessing their selection is enough to make any level of hobbiest squeal like a little girl. The people who work here are friendly and were very helpful. Old school service hasn’t gone out of style in this store. I can’t wait to get painting on my new project!

Needed some expert advice on find a marine sealer and finish product for my old chevy truck that I’m putting a new oak bed into. Living a block from the beach I needed a «maritime» grade product! Great group of folks down there.

Haven’t bought anything (yet) or taken any classes from Woodcraft; However, I am pleased to findout that they offer wood working services (ripping 2x4s in my case). I was about to purchase a table saw for a very small project, but am going to go the Woodcraft route and save some money and time by having them rip my material.
I talked to Steve over the phone, he was very polite and seemed very knowledgeable about what I needed done. Glad to see Woodcraft is doing what other big box stores simply can’t do; provide professional staff, service and products all under under one roof…
Will post a follow up once I get my wood work done.

I’m rating this place 5 stars for 2 reasons:
I bought a wood finishing product at another well-​known brand store and it didn’t even last one winter! I did some research on-​line, found a product I might like better, and that I could buy it at Woodcraft. When I went in, the gentleman who helped me was very knowledgeable and helpful, and I’m very happy with the product he sold me. It’s had 2 winters now and is going strong! I went back for some interior finish and again was thrilled with the product recommended.
My son is taking wood shop in high school — and the people here are so generous with their time, and very helpful to this kid who’s just discovering how fun woodworking is. I really appreciate their patience with him.
A note on prices — They sell the foam brushes here for just a bit more than you’d pay at OSH. However, the ones the sell here are made in America, and *much* better made! The others are from China, and the interior plastic bit which gives the foam stability is horrendous. It cut through the foam, the foam shredded, got floppy and was just useless! So much better to spend a few cents more and get a tool that does the job. Simple cheap tool — but the ones here were sooooo much better!
My only complaint — and it’s with the parent company, not this location — is that they put their own part numbers on Bessey clamps, with no easy way to cross reference them. It was frustrating to try to buy for someone else, when I had the Bessey number, and no other info.
Bottom line — Great place! Great people, great product, fair pricing, even great parking!

I’m giving it five stars even though I think they could offer a wider selection of brands as far as their chisels go. The service here is top notch, and the prices are competitive with similar stores.

I am not handy. My husband, «the weekend warrior» is, so I went in and did some reconnaissance at this beautiful, newly relocated shop. Store Manager Eric greeted me with warmth and enthusiasm and showed me around Woodcraft.
They’ve got everything a carpenter/​woodworker would want, from materials, to tools, to books, to classes on Shop Safety, Table Saw 101, Installing Crown Molding, to Making Boxes and more. They even have a section where my 4-​year-​old could be entertained with Lincoln Logs, a rocking horse, kids’ books, and other toys.
This is a spacious store with old-​fashioned customer service that has a great feel to it. Eric’s passion for woodworking is so infectious that I almost want to pick up a hammer. Maybe I’ll just pick it up and hand it over to Mr. L. We could use some crown molding.

Woodcraft is excellent! As a novice carver I found the staff superbly helpful, especially Don who took time to show me around, answered my silly questions, and even offered to demo tools. If you’re on the hunt for exotic wood, woodcrafting tools, classes, etc. visit Woodcraft.