anyways, I was thinking I would like to try some power tools. Im into amateur astronomy and when we have a club meeting/star party people bring their scopes... so you can look through the various kinds and sizes to see what you like and dont like, get the feel for the brands, measure out quality vs price, etc. Obviously folks don't haul their 8" jointers and 48" belt sanders around to club meetings so others can use them... so I was wondering if there are any/many tool rental houses that would rent fine woodworking power tools? I live near Cincinnati (Who-dey!) OH in case you wonder where I'm looking. Particularly I would love to rent a jointer, a power planer, big drill press, nice drum sander, maybe even a nice table saw
(probably have to be a contractor type), yadda yadda, for a day or so each to see what I like.

Anyone know if places do this?

The Big U near me (my alma mater) has a craft center w/ wood and metal shops, glass blowing and ceramic studios, and etc. For $17/day or $75 +/- a quarter I get full access to the wood shop.

They've got the usual big iron (Delta cabinet saw w/ huge outfeed table, jointer, BIG honkin' RAS, and 15" planer; Powermatic mortiser; stationary belt and disk sanders; drill presses, etc.), plus benches and layout tables, hand tools and hand-held power tools, AND ... dust collection. I have a restrictively small shop for the time being, so its great to have access to the big tools and the layout room.

The downside is this: sometimes, the tools are in pretty poor alignment or repair, other times, they're in great shape. You just never know what shape they're in until you get there, or when they'll get realigned by whoever does it. Also, they don't allow users to bring in tools, so I'm often left wishing I had one or more of my hand planes for that final fitting. Most of the time its worked out pretty well for me.