Where do yo buy your tools and equipment?

Nathan

Where is everyone buying their tools and equipment? Are you buying online or at local stores? Big Box?

savant

I buy equipment everywhere I can. Suprisingly, our only local drywall supplier has no professional tools,(except stilts) no box mud, no drywall clips, not much strait-flex, forget about no-coat, just lots and lots of rock. It's like HDepot's Drywall dept., but 10 times as much of the same stuff. We're only 1 hour north of NYC. I wonder what's in everybody elses' area stores...

Nathan

Do any online shopping or do you always head for a brick and mortar?

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Nathan

savant

I believe I'm typical of experienced contractors. I don't go out and pay retail for complete packages of the most expensive equipment. Lots of guys just starting out immerse themselves in debt, and figure that the more furiously they work, the sooner they'll get out. It usually doesn't work that way. In all their fervor, the end up hemmorhaging money, because they don't want to take the time to think their decisions completely through. They usually don't have enough experience to know how to care for their tools, the tools break, commitments get stretched, and they end up spending more money to compensate.
So, yes. For specialized equipment I shop online exclusively.For consumables, I patronise local retailers almost entirely, and make do with what's available. Occasionally, you can prod a supplier to carry a new line of materials.

Al Taper

What about Storber in Congers?
For me they just put a Ames store in Jersey City. They have every thing.

savant

We have a Strober King in Vails Gate, and 2 in Middletown. The one in vails gate I regularly use for building supplies. It is literally down the street from my shop. But they store the drywall outdoors under an open shed, like a horse shelter.(Building Specialties uses a nice butler building.) The yard monkeys waste at least an hour of my time whenever I need something like 20 sheets of Thermoply.(BS loads me up while I am paying @ the counter) They always have the wrong type of insulation,(the R19 is faced, the R30 24" is not.) They DO have No-coat. But, you usually have to order the cool stuff. no drywall clips, no specialized tools
Only tool belts, vinyl windows, and lots of Doug Fir.
Al Taper, Does the one in congers have equipment?

Al Taper

Not sure never been to Conger store. What about Capital in Newburg. Or i think its some other name now.

savant

Yeah, Capitol Gypsum is now Building Specialties. I like the dry building, but there's no tools. I went in there one time asking about drywall clips, you'd think I was speaking hindi, or something. They tried selling me bullnose 3-ways.
I know alotta guys slam the PC7800, but I use them. Anyway I went in there one time to get a new one(no vac) and they told me it was gonna be $650. I almost choked.

Al Taper

I have been to the ames store in Jersey City. Eric there treats me great. All types of Knifes and stuff. Right off the NJ turnpike. And there is Force Tool in Union NJ. on Rt 22.Thy have every thing ( tool wise). Harrington Knifes.Force has screwguns,saws.drills ect.Great store.

savant

That ames store looks like it's easy to get to. Next time I take the train down to manhattan, maybe I'll take a detour, and check it out.

route514

I have had alot of good luck with Ames for all my needs. Tools both basic and specialty. Some times I can find a good deal at big box stores. They had a pretty good selection of everything from boxes to bazookas.

savant

I don't rent, I'm assuming they sell only stuff that doesn't say ames, right? I'm considering going there for stuff I need the next day.
I went to Strober this mornin' and they said they'd order something if I needed it. I was like "Whoopdedoo, I can order stuff too. You have no idea how much stuff I have to keep in inventory." That's why I make do with what's available on hand @ suppliers. I may have to make an exception for the NAILER. Too bad All-Wall does not carry the plastic one.

JCardoza

All-wall.com! it's great! new tools, knowledgeable sales people, fast delivery. that's where I get everything I don't need the same day. Also order spray stuff from sprayrig.com

tburritt

When I need something in a hurry I run down to Ames but if it is something I can research I will find it online and order.

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A small fish in a big pond making a difference one job at a time!

pacesafety

Our company almost exclusively rents our taping tools from Ames. Their store is really close by and because we do so much business with them, they are more than willing to make sure that we are happy. We get our Drywall from Gypsum Drywall Supply (USG Sheetrock manufactured board) right down the street. We get our framing tools from Hilti with service contracts. Our shop has a great location for obtaining supplies rapidly.

1wallboardsman

Do they know that they could own automatic tools for half of what they pay for a years rent?

jdl

1wallboardsman

You can order No-Coat from Grabber at Grabberman.com and get around the mark up.
jdl

ghost

I just checked the price online for ultra flex 325 $31.99 a roll if you buy 10 or more rolls,$29.99 for 20 or more. I only pay $29 a roll when I get it deliverd with my rock. What do you pay where yor from?

1wallboardsman

I get Ultra325 from a distributor in ATL for around 25.00 per roll, it is the smart series pre-formed corners that usually get marked up quite a bit. The supply house here in Knoxville almost doubles it.

brdn_drywall

large purchases online , hand tools/material local.