Rockler has released their 2019 Black Friday “wrap” circular. It’s less than 4 pages and doesn’t have a ton of good deals, but there are a few that I’ll mention after we list out the deals.
The sale goes live November 29th and runs until December 2nd, 2019. My local Rockler stores usually open at 9am on weekdays, although in years past I know they’ve opened early. You need to check your local store’s hours.
Let’s start with the deals on the first page:
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- 20% off select domestic and exotic lumber
- 30% off regular priced router bits
- Dust Right 10 gallon separator $60 (reg $100)
- Dust Right universal small port hose kit $20 (reg $40)
- Jorgensen 600lb steel bar clamps $25 (reg $45)
- Rockler convertable benchtop router table $150 (reg $200-220)
- 10000 lumen 4′ LED shop light $50 (reg $80)
- 3000 lumen big LED bulb $9 (reg $18)
Benjamen’s take: The two deals on this page I find interesting are the Dust Right universal small port hose kit and the 10000 lumen shop light.
I’ve always thought the universal small port hose kit was overpriced, but it’s really convenient to have a few flexible adapters that fit everything rather than custom adapters for every tool. While $50 is a lot for a 4′ LED shop light nowadays, I’ve tested another Rockler shop light and found it to be really good quality construction and have a good color light output.
On the next page there are a bunch of Jet doorbuster deals that are marked down anywhere from $100 to $200 that are valid November 26th to December 3rd, 2019, but on the last page there is a Jet 15% sale running the same time. I have no idea if the 15% off runs on top of the discount or is included, so we’ll leave those alone.
Then we have the following deals:
- Laguna 14|Twelve bandsaw $1000 (reg $1200)
- Supermax 16-32 drum sander $1000 (reg $1200)
- Nova G3 Comet II lathe chuck $100 (reg $150)
- Freud 8pc CNC router bit set w/$50 gift card $150
- Freud 8pc Signmaking CNC router bit set w/$50 gift card $200
- Rockler Taper Jig $60 (reg $99)
- Rockler Anti Fatigue Mat $20 (reg $35)
Benjamen’s take: I’ve been impressed with the Laguna bandsaws and this is probably the model I’d purchase for my shop if I had the space. I own a smaller Nova chuck and have been satisfied with it — $100 is a good price.
It’s interesting that they are offering a $50 gift card instead of discounting the Freud CNC router bits. Perhaps Freud won’t let them discount the bits. The other reason could be is that they could offer a larger “discount” because a not-insignificant percentage of gift cards never get used.
I’m not covering 7 deals on hairpin legs, I’ll leave that exercise to the interested reader, otherwise the deals on this page are:
- Rockler HVLP finishing sprayer $100 (reg $150)
- Large Homeright spray shelter $36 (reg $60)
- Rockler 17pc universal T-track kit $23 (reg $40)
- Titebond III glue quart bottle $7 (reg $14)
- 24″ Jet parallel clamp $45 (reg $66)
- 31″ Jet parallel clamp $49 (reg $71)
Benjamen’s take: I do a lot of spray painting (out of a can) on metal projects and I’ve been looking for a spray shelter because the mist gets everywhere. For $36 I might consider purchasing one. The Universal T-track deal is okay, I’ve watched the T-track prices at Rockler over the last year and I think I’ve actually seen this kit priced lower. It’s hard to go wrong at $7 for a quart of Titebond III wood glue.
I don’t know if the price of parallel clamps has gone up, but these prices seem weak for a Black Friday deal. A few years ago in January, I purchased a kit with 2 of each of the clamps plus 4 clamp blocks for $120. Yes that was a clearance special, but I still feel they could do better this year.
From November 26th to December 3rd, 2019, you can save 15% off of Jet and 10% off Powermatic Tools. The flyer is claiming free home delivery, but when I went to the website listed to see the specifics, They listed dates in August – it doesn’t appear they’ve updated the site for this sale yet.
From November 28th to December 2nd, 2019, You can save 10% of all Laguna tools and accessories, 20% off Laguna bandsaw blades, 10% off Supermax tools and accessories, and 20% off Supermax abrasives.
In the same date range you can save up to $1250 on one of two Shark HD5 CNC’s and get a free mini 4th axis.
Out of all the deals on this page, I’m thinking the 15% of Jet Tools is the best deal. We regularly see Jet and Powermatic go on sale for 10%, but 15% is much rarer.
fred
They are also discounting their Miter-Fold Dado set:
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-miter-fold-dado-set-plus
Ben
That’s a bit of a bummer. I remember a post from the guy who originally designed that thing and it seemed like a good idea. Unfortunately it won’t work on a sawstop table saw which cuts alot of your market out right off the bat.
Jon
Do that many people actually use saw stop? Not a fan myself, but I can’t imagine that many people shelling out for saw stop.
John Sanford
The SawStop has been the best selling cabinet saw every year since about 3 years after it was introduced. Yes, a lot of that initially was driven by schools and such, but now? Individuals and small cabinet shops.
not being usable on one does cut into the market significantly.
Joel A.
Seems to be quite popular in the lower commercial/prosumer market from my limited seeing, in the US. I’ve read that it doesn’t get any real foothold in Euro markets since their tables are natively set up more safely to begin with. Personally, if I’m going to drop more than 2k on a table saw it’s going to be a big investment in a hammer k3 or something similar over a sawstop.
Adam
Even at $300, it’s still too expensive to be a good deal for most buyers. The truth is, it’s a limited application tool that’s really only useful for when you need absolutely perfect grain matching on 4/5/6 sides from one sheet of material. I see production shops possibly making use, and maybe people who make custom furniture for a living using one, but not the Average Joe home user.
If you only need the grain to be close (within a saw kerf), or don’t even need grain matching at all, a $100 lock miter router bit can produce the same type of joint and has the benefit of being easily honed with a diamond plate . If the joints will never be visible, then you probably won’t even bother with a specialty joint. Fair play if you say “not everyone has a router table,” but a splined miter joint can be accomplished on a table saw with a basic combination blade. Slightly more setup and more passes, but no capital outlay for any additional tooling.
Good idea, but it needed to be a $100-or-less tool to find a market with Rockler’s target audience.
Derek
I know everyone loves the Jet parallel clamps, but Home Depot has the Bessey version for a better price year round. You can typically buy the 24″ ones for $39 and the 50″ ones for $48. Right now they’re on sale for $38 and $42 each there.
Ryan
I’ve bought and returned Bessey parallels three times from the Depot.
Finally started checking them in the store, and not a single one had a square fixed jaw. Some toed in, some toed out. Ended up buying some jets, and they’re perfect.
Koko The Talking Ape
Toed-in can be okay, in my book. Tightening the jaws tends to toe them outward, so a little toe-in can compensate. It makes a difference especially if you are clamping things like round iron pipe.
David Zeller
Ben, there is a typo on the 17 piece T-track listing. You wrote it’s usually $50, and it’s usually $38, per the ad.
David
Benjamen
I fixed it. The website said $40, and I’m guessing I mistyped $50. The mat was also mispriced in the ad compared to the website.
When in doubt,I’m going with the website price.
Koko The Talking Ape
Just a gift-giving tip: I’ve only seen a few young craftsmen in their workshops, and I notice they tend to neglect ergonomic/comfort aids, as well as safety gear.
So if I knew a young woodworker, I would give them that anti-fatigue mat or the shop light.
And those Jorgenson clamps. 🙂
Benjamen
You can’t go wrong with misc hardware like bolts, screws, washers, nuts, etc either.
When is the last time you actually had enough on hand and didn’t have to pick up more halfway through a project?
mla
On the topic of spray shelters… does anyone use a standard canopy tent for that rather than a specialized tent? I was thinking something along these lines (with sides added, obviously):
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Caravan-Sports-10-ft-x-10-ft-Titanshade-Canopy-21006906011/205602045
Any reason a specialized spray tent would be better?
Ted
That is a great price on the SuperMax 16-32 Drum Sander. It was on sale in October for $1,079 at Rockler and Amazon but Amazon prime offered Free Shipping and Rockler charged $99. It will be interesting to see if Amazon has a similar offer when this goes live on 11/29.