Hello all,

Well I am back from a trip to Minnesota for a wedding. Thanks to all who responded to my request for locations to find white oak. That's why I love this forum. I ended up instead spending all my money on tools! I just want to say that you guys can never ever rag on me again for the beautiful waters I paddle in, because now I have seen western red cedar at Home Depot for around $1.50 a board foot. I was like a kid on a sugar rush.

It started with a trip to Menard's where I got the new Porter Cable 892 router for just $165! This is the one with the built-in lift mechanism so you can lift it from the top of a router table when used in such a way. I was disappointed to find that the handle for the lift mechanism is sold separately, but stoked to get the router at that price! Then I went through the tool section: 24 router bits for $49. INSANE! HVLP spray gun (although not the highest quality one) for $26!!! We were running behind, so I didn't get to go to the wood section but I did rack up on tools.

THEN I believe it was Dave that posted a response that Rockler had a store in Minnesota. What? Rockler? The place I go online and drool over all their beautiful blue-anodized router accessories? Could it be? Turns out he was right. Apparently they even have a home office in MN. So on the way back from the wedding I asked if we could make a detour. Lo and behold it turned out it was the next exit. Walking into Rockler was like passing through the gates of heaven, except instead of streets paved in gold there were aisles paved in blue anodized aluminum. Amy said "Oh my God, he's never leaving." My friend's kid was running amuck and I was being told "Hurry up, we need to get Gavin home." Ugh... So I had little time, but enough time to get the tool for the router lift that didn't come with the router, a router plate, a fence, and some t-slots. As I cried and screamed and held for dear life onto the salesman's arm I was dragged out of the store before I could buy anything else.

I also went to Home Depot and got the plunge router base for my Dremel tool so I can do inlays much easier. I picked up a new chuck for $6 that was going for $12 locally. That was when I smelled the amazing wonderful aroma of CEDAR!!! OMG. They had cedar in up to 6x6" and lengths to 15'. I was in bliss. I was picking up cedar and smelling it. A guy walked past me and looked at me kind of funny. I think I was drooling. I was literally saying aloud "OMG, they have a whole aisle just for cedar! Oh look- cedar decking, and look- cedar posts, cedar planks..." So anyway I decided not to try shipping any wood since it was now Sunday and a holiday weekend. I do wonder now why my HD doesn't get in the furniture grade pine that the ones in the US have. We have red oak and poplar, but that's it. Our other lumber is horribly crooked and knotty. No cedar, no redwood, and a lot less tools.

Another thing I saw was nearly every house had a garage, which I was calling a "workshop." "Look dear, they have a workshop." "That's a garage, not a workshop." "Maybe to you it is." We walked through a neighborhood and every single house had a workshop either attached or detached. :-) Down here land and building costs are too expensive. Only the mega-rich have garages. I am fortunate to have a spare room that opens to a porch so I can have a workshop where I can roll all the tools outside for mess-making.

So next time I post a picture of clear blue water, sunny skies, and white sandy beaches, you can't complain. Just respond with a picture of Home Depot's cedar section, or Rockler's storefront! By the way, I must say that the water in the St. Croix river was pretty brown. Even the stern wake from powerboats was brown. It was also getting cold. 60 degrees- which to me is freezing. At least winter is a great excuse to build a boat! I guess everything is a tradeoff. By the way another thing- food cost. Four adults and one kid had dinner in MN for $36. The first night home we (just two people) went out for just an appetizer, one bowl and one cup of soup, and two beers each... $48 without tip.

Thanks to those that responded, especially Dave for letting me know Rockler was in town. I actually buy from them online but didn't realize they had retail outlets. Dave you are a saint in my book, but Amy isn't too happy with you! :D So I went to MN with one carry-on bag, and returned home with three checked bags chock-full uf tools!