Holiday to USA, anything worth picking up?

[Prizen]

Hi all

On a trip to Massachusetts shortly, any recommendations on what to pickup in terms of anything woodworking related that will fit in a suitcase? Stuff that is perhaps only available stateside or is quite a bit cheaper over there?

 

[marcros]

Have a search because there are recent threads on this, but the summary is that nothing much is cheaper at the moment.

There are some things that are hard to get here, give us a clue what you are into for suggestions.

 

[sunnybob]

Remember that you are required to declare anything valued over £25 to customs.
They will charge Import duty and VAT on all items.
That usually wipes out any savings you might make.
Many dont declare stuff, thats your choice, but if you dont and then get caught, theres a fine as well as confiscation.

 

[lurker]

Whatever you buy will need to go in the hold baggage.
Do not lock your bags cos "homeland security" will take a perverse pleasure in opening the bag for a rootle, and it's then down to luck if it gets closed or ransacked at thiefrow
DAMHIKT.

 

[user 4112]

I know where you live Bob and probably have more experience of this than most be £25 seemed a little low. This site suggests it’s £390, what have I missed?

John

 

[sunnybob]

WOW, I stand corrected. My info now is many years out of date. The UK has finally allowed for inflation. =D> =D> =D>
I used to import a lot of motorcycle parts and £25 was the start for duty back then.

14 years ago now, I brought back an entire large suitcase filled with a custom motorcycle front end. I knew the fork tubes and wheel axle would look bad on the x ray machine, so I very carefully labelled each part with make model and part description.
When I collected it at gatwick it was the last case on the carosell and yes, the padlock was missing. I trudged it through customs green channel with an empty heart.
When I got home, everything was still there, and there was a nice little card from Homeland explaining what they had done and wishing me a nice day.
You pays yer money and you takes yer chance.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I already have one of these. I love it, but it's not available in the UK. Mine was imported for me. It's an original Italian job, but this Diablo (sic) brand is made in China. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference in quality, given Freud's generally excellent reputation.

So my mate Dave has ordered this 2-pack and we will have one each. Mine will be obviously second-hand by the time I come back so I'm not expecting any trouble

 

[SVB]

Prizes,

Not sure what your main interests are (these is space to put this in you profile for just this type of reason) but the following worth a look from my perspective as mainly a turner:

Turning tools -
Carter & Sons used to be bit cheaper stateside (although are available in UK from Toolpost)
I’ve just got a friend to bring back a haul of Stuart Batty Turing tools (SB Tools) that are not available in UK

Carving / Texturing
Rotary Chisel - lovely little texturing cutter - I’ve not used the larger 6mm shank ones but the 3mm shank ones give lovely texture and are really controllable. They will ship to UK but not worth it as postage / packing etc costs more than the tool!

Stains / finished
Nick Agar has recently launches some really interesting aging / staining products for finishing. Water based so no problem putting in hold baggage. Supplied through Chromacraft.

In terms of advice on problems, I’m sure it’s all correct and some may have had issues but my wife and I used to regularly travel to / from US without issues (other than bag locks from HLS - heed that advice although all out luggage now has the facility for the bypass key).

Happy travels / shopping,

Simon

 

[Prizen]

Thanks all. Well I have an MFT style table and track saw. Everything is based around that. I work mostly with sheet goods. In based in Ireland, where the threshold for declaration is much higher.

 

[mbartlett99]

I'm in Annapolis right now and tbh not seeing much worth grabbing - exchange rate has really taken away the savings. Only things that seem attractive are the high end specialist stuff that just not imported into the UK - looking at some large french curves myself.

If you're after some diamond stones that might be worth the effort.

Weirdly over here people seem to be willing to pay nearly new prices on ebay so I won't be picking up a Lie Nielsen for xmas

 

[sneggysteve]

I already have one of these. I love it, but it's not available in the UK. Mine was imported for me. It's an original Italian job, but this Diablo (sic) brand is made in China. It will be interesting to see if there is any difference in quality, given Freud's generally excellent reputation.

So my mate Dave has ordered this 2-pack and we will have one each. Mine will be obviously second-hand by the time I come back so I'm not expecting any trouble

Sorry to give you a spoiler but the same taxes / VAT are payable on second hand goods.

 

[ED65]

Well you'll be in the NE, the mecca for secondhand woodworking tools in the whole of the US. Depending on your timescale and availability of transport it could be worth hitting a flea market – which can be huge – or other likely venues if you want to try your luck hunting for some rusty vintage gold. I know someone online who recently acquired two no. 2s for virtually nothing (you could figure it as two bucks apiece) so the bargains of yore are still out there occasionally.

P.S. If you're on Facebook, well worth checking the marketplace while you're there. This has become the new Craigslist.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Thanks both. Ho hum.
We will have wheels and Dave has lots of FWW contacts in that neck of the woods, so I think we have an exciting itinerary.
Lobster, boats and woodie stuff. What more could a man want?
(A decent exchange rate, perhaps? )

 

[Rich C]

WOW, I stand corrected. My info now is many years out of date. The UK has finally allowed for inflation. =D> =D> =D>
I used to import a lot of motorcycle parts and £25 was the start for duty back then.

I think it's £25 for things shipped into the country (i.e. something posted), the higher limit is for things you bring back in person.