thank you for your service to our country during these very trying times !!

I was there a few years ago and like every other place in the Nation,
D.C. is undergoing constant changes. just wait until you get moved in
and settled down then start looking for something in your close vicinity.
hopefully, you can find a shop with the power tools you are looking for
within a close distance. all the luck and best wishes in your new duty station !!

John (USN-RET)

.

 

Back to DC. Bummer

Ft. Meade had an auto shop, but I don't remember a wood shop. There was a pay-"club" I think in Rockville, but I don't remember a big sander. Never seen one that large not in a big comercial shop. There is a Woodcraft in Rockville.

Might I suggest embracing older technologies? Go look at the work that was done long before electricity. You don't need 48 inch sanders.

Even getting wood was not easy. DC area mostly does not do things themselves. Very "disposable" environment.

 

Even getting wood was not easy. DC area mostly does not do things themselves. Very "disposable" environment.

- tvrgeek

Cant speak for DC, but the VA side and southern MD side of the DMV has plenty of hardwood lumber available at the local lumber yards.

As for communal shops, iirc there are a few. Though I've never paid much attention to what and where. There was one in Manassas that had a 50" widebelt, but it is no longer there.

If you make friends with the local cabinet shop getting rental time on their widebelt isn't that hard.

 

I live in MD and there is a Woodcraft store in Rockville, MD that has a shop in the back. A long time ago I took a class (when they were in a different location) and I remember they had quite a few woodoworking machines (e.g. tablesaws, drill presses, lathes, etc.) not sure if they have a wide belt sander. They had an option where you could buy time to use their equipement. I'm not sure if they still do that-you will need to contact them to find out. I know there is a hardwood distributer in Frederick, MD that has a wide belt sander (Exotic Lumber Inc, Frederick)-I doubt they will let you use the machine but they may sand something for you for a price.

 

Edit: Thank you for your service to our country

There's a maker space up in Reston(Near Dulles Airport) I believe.

Try Dunlap Woodcrafts in Chantilly(little south of Dulles Airport) is another option.

 

Right before I left, ( just shy of 3 years) the Lowe's in Bowie had a batch of Walnut. I wanted to buy it all but in the middle of retiring and moving was not a good time. Usually just oak and poplar. Occasionally maple. All pre-milled and very expensive. No Baltic Birch or anything.

There was a hardwood supplier in Gaithersburg, but they had bankers hours. Closed on weekends was not terribly bright. Might not be there any more. Woodcraft does have some small amounts of wood. The Woodworking show in Balto sometimes had lumber suppliers, but now Peachtree has pulled out, the show got very thin.

At least we have the Hardwood Store here in NC.

Even getting wood was not easy. DC area mostly does not do things themselves. Very "disposable" environment.

- tvrgeek

Cant speak for DC, but the VA side and southern MD side of the DMV has plenty of hardwood lumber available at the local lumber yards.

As for communal shops, iirc there are a few. Though I ve never paid much attention to what and where. There was one in Manassas that had a 50" widebelt, but it is no longer there.

If you make friends with the local cabinet shop getting rental time on their widebelt isn t that hard.

- Jared_S

 

Contact a community college or high school that has wood shops. You might be able to rent time there.

 

That would be cool, but I have to ask "what century are you living in?"

Contact a community college or high school that has wood shops. You might be able to rent time there.

- MrRon

 

It's a little bit of a drive from DC but there is the Fredericksburg Workshop in… you got it, Fredericksburg ;-) I'm not a member there but my BIL is stationed up there and I went by there to buy some exotic woods when I was visiting. It's a nice shop and the owners are very knowledgeable. Good selection of exotics when I was there and if I'm not mistaken, they've added a large selection of domestics as well.

Thank you for your service!

 

Contact a community college or high school that has wood shops. You might be able to rent time there.

- MrRon

Most, if not all of the HS around here have ditched their woodshops in favor of STEM based stuff. You'd have to seek out the vocational schools in order to find any woodworking machines. Very sad.