MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The Wood Hobby Shop offers service members and their dependents a healthy and creative outlet aboard the Base.
Visitors can build just about anything they can think of here, said Eddie Vasquez, an attendant at Wood Hobby Shop here.
In addition to providing tools, an air-conditioned space and a well-lit environment, Vasquez explained the shop offers all domestic hardwoods on the market at very low prices.
“Our prices are really tough to beat compared to out in town,” said Vasquez.
To use the shop, one must take a safety course that lasts about one hour. It explains all safety procedures, like how to use the power tools in the shop safely and effectively, said Vasquez. The course is held Wednesday - Friday at 11:45 a.m., with two classes Saturday and Sunday at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Patrons can pay by the day, month or year to use the shop, said Vasquez. The daily fee is $3, a 30-day block is $15 and the annual fee is $45.
A feature appealing to car enthusiasts is the ability to build speaker boxes for car stereos, said Vasquez. They also sell medium-density fiber board used to make quality speaker boxes at nearly half the cost it would be to buy one commercially.
“Marines can pay more than $300 for a speaker box out in town. Instead we offer them the option of producing it here for a quarter of the price,” said Vasquez.
Visitors can find any tool, service or help they may need to get any job done, from fixing a chair to building book case, said Vasquez.
The shop has a large array of patterns and plans but they are not always required for building what a person wants, he added.
“You could come in with a picture and we can help you develop templates and plans for it so you can build it,” said Vasquez.
Anything a person can think of can be made at the shop from large to small items, he said.
“We have people who build shadow boxes (a small case used for displaying things such as medals), and then we’ve had people come in and craft a canoe,” he said.
Fabricating things yourself produces a higher quality product and there is a great feeling of satisfaction, said Reid Dahart, a 66-years-old retired Marine.
“To buy this equipment and put it in your garage would be so dirty and cost a fortune,” said Dahart, who is currently building a hall bench at the shop. “I have built a variety of things here for myself, but at this point I’m making them for my children.”
Camp Lejeune’s Wood Hobby Shop is located on Birch St. in Bldg. 1249 and for more information contact the shop at 910-451-5191.