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Best Tool Stores to Visit?

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Handyandy23

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In a few weeks we're planning a little family road trip, which will basically loop around Lake Erie. The plan is to come across from Canada at Niagara Falls, go west along the US side of Lake Erie (making some stops along the way), and then loop back up to the Detroit / Windsor border crossing.

Being in Canada we seem to miss out on a lot of fun stores, selection, and deals. I'm planning to hit up the obvious stores - Harbor Freight, Home Depot and Lowe's (US seems to have a way bigger tool section than we get here), Menards, NAPA (again US has many more tools and Carlyle line that we don't get here), maybe a Meijer to fondle some Tekton stuff.

What am I missing here? I know a lot of tool shopping is done online these days rather than brick and mortar. But I just want to make sure I'm not missing any fun specialty tool stores in the area. Hand tools, power tools, whatever.

I'm planning to scope out the flyers / coupons leading up to our trip and try to have some targets on my radar, but I also want to make sure I'm not missing out on anything.
 
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Brownsfan

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If you are going to be near Cleveland then Visit Lakeshore tool and supply in Lorain oh. They Carry SK, Proto, Wright in store and in stock. Among other brands as well. They have a great selection of Channellock and Klein as well. Its a great independent store with decent prices. Pay cssh and prices are close or better than online.
 
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redragoon

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Greenville SC
I would search for some decent flea markets near your planned stops. They all usually have a used tool shop and several people selling unwanted items that were in a garage or shed.

Probably able to find some interesting pieces near Detroit. I would definitely keep an eye out for large cast iron pieces and mechanic tools from the early auto industry.

Rockler stores are good if you have interest in woodworking. There are also Ace Hardware/TruValue lumber hardware stores that are the small town style store.

Detroit also has some place known as Wholesale Tool Company. Sign out front says it is open to public, but I cannot make out the hours.
 
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Handyandy23

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Brownsfan said:
If you are going to be near Cleveland then Visit Lakeshore tool and supply in Lorain oh. They Carry SK, Proto, Wright in store and in stock. Among other brands as well. They have a great selection of Channellock and Klein as well. Its a great independent store with decent prices. Pay cssh and prices are close or better than online.
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Thanks! I think we'll be passing right by there so I'll have to drop in and take a look. SK / Proto / Wright are tools I definitely never get to handle in any stores in Canada (that I've found).

kngelv said:
Try these outside Detroit. https://www.performancetoolcenter.com/ https://www.kittstools.com/

James
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Thanks for the suggestions! Not sure we'll end up that far west but I'll have to see once our route is firmed up.

mike93lx said:
I dunno, spending time at home depot and lowes on vacation doesn't sound like much fun
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Well it's definitely not the main focus of the trip, but I also know we'll have lots of down time. Our kids are still pretty small and we won't be driving long distances at a time. The main point will be stopping and doing activities, but I'm sure in the evenings the kids will be passed out in a hotel and I'll have some free time to look around.

M_George said:
You'll need to tell us about your trip when you return!! :thumbup:
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Will do!

Dibiase77 said:
No cool tool stores in Erie, PA. But there's always some other fun stuff to do. Check out Presque Isle if you pass through.

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Thanks for the tip, I think Erie is one place we'll be stopping around so good to know!
 
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KnurledNut

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I don’t know if Channellock has a showroom or does tours, but they are in Meadville PA which isn’t far from Erie.
 
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pstemari

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Wright's factory is in that area. Dunno if they give tours.

A bit further south is Gerstner & Sons in Dayton, if you like traditional machinist chests.

Not tool related, but the National Museum of the Air Force is also in Dayton, not far from Gerstner.
 
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ttpete

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Stop in Dearborn and see the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. There's a new restaurant called Ford's Garage nearby on Michigan Ave. that specializes in burgers.
 
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Dibiase77

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It's about 30min down I-79 from Erie. Honestly have driven by the channellock factory hundreds of times and have never stopped. Couldn't tell ya if they have a tour or showroom. Same thing with Reed. It's literally less than 3 miles from my house and I've never stopped in and said Hi. Also the Flagship Niagara may be in town depending on when you plan on passing through. Also check for tall ships Erie where a bunch of battleships from war of 1812 are in town. Pretty sure most are replicas but it's pretty cool. Also Drake's oil well down in Titusville but that's about an hour and change drive south of Erie. Lots of history here if your into that sort of thing.

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measuredtwice

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The Case knife and Zippo lighter museum and store is in Bradford, PA about 1 1/2 hours East of Erie.

Great Eastern Cutlery is about 1 hour South of Erie.
 
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Dibiase77

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measuredtwice said:
Haha!



You caught me but I deleted Harbor Freight from the list after I realized that the OP already listed it.
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My opinion of the quality of tools sold there aside. I still like going in there and looking around. Reminds me of the traveling tool sales that used to come to town when I was a kid. Pretty sure that was Homier tools.

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matt_i

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HGR Industrial Surplus in Euclid OH is worth a stop if you like stationary machines (metalworking, etc) and tool cabinets. There's also Small Tools in Euclid but I've not been to that to report back. One of the Production Tool Supply places are interesting, the "big" store is in Warren, MI I believe. I've mostly been to the New Hudson store.
 
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jgme

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Brownsfan said:
If you are going to be near Cleveland then Visit Lakeshore tool and supply in Lorain oh. They Carry SK, Proto, Wright in store and in stock. Among other brands as well. They have a great selection of Channellock and Klein as well. Its a great independent store with decent prices. Pay cssh and prices are close or better than online.
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Thanks for the post along with others who have posted about Lakeshore Tool and Equipment. I stopped there for the first time. Yes, impressive. They were very helpful. They will be getting some prices for me with some Proto tools that I still need for filling gaps in my collection. I look forward to shopping there more often.
 
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