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[Celyddon]

I promise this is cosplay related!

A lot of the major hardware stores (Ace, Lowes, Home Depot, Harbor Freight) have their Black Friday ads out already, and the sales are top notch this year. If you are looking to upgrade your cosplay workshop, and you have a little spare money, this would be a great time to do it. Michael's ad is also out, along with Walmart (not really a craft store, I know) and JoAnn's will be coming shortly. (I don't know if Hobby Lobby does Black Friday.)

Things to consider purchasing--

A shop vac if you want to make your own vacuform machine
A dremel or oscillating tool for sanding edges, engraving, or light prop drilling
A reciprocating, jig, or scroll saw if you want to make props out of wood
Metal snips if you're going to make jewelry/small accessories from metal (be careful!!)
PVC pipe cutter if you make a lot of sectional staves
Computerized sewing machine (or upgrading the sewing machine you have to the next available model) (or getting your first sewing machine)
Folding work table or cutting (fabric) table
Knife or scissor sharpening tool to keep your sewing shears sharp
Thread box for holding all those spools and bobbins you acquire over time
Dressform if you take commissions or need a body model to pin-fit to
Slow cooker to keep you fed while sewing/creating

[benihime]

or fabric in general? I know my boyfriend and I will be hitting up joanns at 6am on black friday! I need TONS of fabric for my new hana outfit and it's expensive...so yay, sale! Plus i'm going to help my boyfriend pick out his fabric.

also, a heat gun. They're good for wigs and props

[Celyddon]

Heat guns are great, though I've never seen them on sale on Black Friday. >.> Why not?!? I actually just taped a segment today for my podcast on heat guns and how to shape foam armor with them.

Fabric is ALWAYS good to stock up on, though some fabrics get a better sale price on Black Friday than others (specifically, broadcloth, Kona cotton, lining fabrics, and muslin bolts). There are certain times of year, though, when you can get sales that are just as good as--or better than--Black Friday sales for other types of fabric. Independence Day and Labor Day weekend come to mind. JoAnn's is pretty reliable about announcing their sales though--I'm eagerly awaiting their ad since they are one of the two places I trek to every year on Black Friday. (Half Price Books is the other.)

[benihime]

really? that's...odd...
but i didn't really expect to get it on sale unless I find a good harbor freight coupon or something.

I also hope some online wig stores have some good sales. I'm still waiting for epic cosplay to get back to me about a wig question :\ boo.