A neighbor & I spent some time this past weekend to drive up to Sacramento
CalExpo for the spring woodworking show. Great day, good company, really
not all that many vendors, far fewer than last fall.

My buddy came loaded for bear, hoping to purchase several major tools, but
left pretty much disappointed, money clip still bulging, as there was not
nearly the selection or depth of stock that had been there in the past. He
was looking for a SCMS, another router, and a couple of jigs, some other
major buys. He left with a new Akeda DT jig, 'so as not to go home empty-
handed'.!!!

I really enjoyed the 45 minute presentation on inlay techniques by Michael
Fortune. Enough that buying his portfolio CD @ $20 for inspiration seemed
a really good bargain. He seems a genuinely nice man, a good teacher, and,
by all evidence, a master craftsperson. That his inlay techniques can be
accomplished on a Larry Jaques-level budget, with tools that Conan the
Librarian would appreciate only added to the appeal. Somebody teaching,
rather than pushing big iron.

Steve Russell's green wood bowl turning demo served to remind me what I
don't know about that craft specialty. However, to do things his way
seemed to require a $5k lathe, a new drying barn, and $70 worth of DVDs, in
order to get the details of the no-warp bowl-boiling technique. Maybe I
missed something, though. Happens, once in a while.

So, finally, here's the question: How often, if ever, do you go to the
shows? Why? Has it changed over the past few years? Do you go, expecting
to spend money there?

Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent? Did you learn
something new?

Patriarch,
glad he didn't wait to buy the new lathe...

Patriarch wrote:

So, finally, here's the question: How often, if ever, do you go to
the shows?

About once every three to five years.

Why?

If I went more often, I'd never save up for stuff I *really* want.

Has it changed over the past few years?

Seems like fewer and less excited customers than in the past.

Do you go,
expecting to spend money there?

I do not take a credit card or checkbook. I treat it the same way I do
the Indian casinos; I take only as much cash as I'm willing to part with.
This after a couple of "Why'd I buy *that*?" experiences. See also
"Why?".


Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent?

The time is always well spent. Sometimes the money is well spent.

Did you
learn something new?

Always.

I goto the Houston shows. I have made the last several years and they
get smaller every year. This was the first time I got a big item. I went
on a Friday (first day). I found a Shop Fox 2hp dust collector marked
$225 with upgraded bags and a cheap hose kit. It was marked the same as
the 1.5hp unit. Right after I got it the salesman remarked the mistake
on the 2hp. I think it went up a hundred. Other than that I usually
leave empty handed.

Patriarch wrote:
A neighbor & I spent some time this past weekend to drive up to Sacramento


So, finally, here's the question: How often, if ever, do you go to the
shows? Why? Has it changed over the past few years? Do you go, expecting
to spend money there?

Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent? Did you learn
something new?

On Mon, 18 Apr 2005 22:38:30 -0500, the inscrutable Patriarch
spake:

A neighbor & I spent some time this past weekend to drive up to Sacramento
CalExpo for the spring woodworking show. Great day, good company, really
not all that many vendors, far fewer than last fall.

My buddy came loaded for bear, hoping to purchase several major tools, but
left pretty much disappointed, money clip still bulging, as there was not
nearly the selection or depth of stock that had been there in the past. He
was looking for a SCMS, another router, and a couple of jigs, some other
major buys. He left with a new Akeda DT jig, 'so as not to go home empty-
handed'.!!!

I really enjoyed the 45 minute presentation on inlay techniques by Michael
Fortune. Enough that buying his portfolio CD @ $20 for inspiration seemed
a really good bargain. He seems a genuinely nice man, a good teacher, and,
by all evidence, a master craftsperson.

Cool.

Going to the Santa Clara show next weekend? David Marks will be
presenting a wood embellishment seminar that I'd like to see.
http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/i...nar _Schedule


That his inlay techniques can be
accomplished on a Larry Jaques-level budget, with tools that Conan the

You can just say "bottom-feeder budget" next time, Glenn.


Librarian would appreciate only added to the appeal. Somebody teaching,
rather than pushing big iron.

I never saw the really good deals at shows on big arn that others
claim to have seen. Of course, I haven't gone late on the last day,
either.


Steve Russell's green wood bowl turning demo served to remind me what I
don't know about that craft specialty. However, to do things his way
seemed to require a $5k lathe, a new drying barn, and $70 worth of DVDs, in
order to get the details of the no-warp bowl-boiling technique. Maybe I
missed something, though. Happens, once in a while.

These guys wouldn't be hawking the stuff if it didn't make money for
him. Turning seems to be a YB hobby lately, with $200 tools for each
and every width and type of cut. They can have it!


So, finally, here's the question: How often, if ever, do you go to the
shows? Why? Has it changed over the past few years? Do you go, expecting
to spend money there?

I haven't been to a wood show since moving to OR. sigh The closest
I've seen is Portland, 245 miles away. As a SDFWA member for the last
few I attended, I got to volunteer to work as a helper in the teaching
sessions at San Diego and Pomona shows. I worked twice with
(sharpening) and once with Frank Klausz (dovetailing).


Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent? Did you learn
something new?

Regarding the show vs. the seminars, about 2/3 of the time I left
feeling totally unrequited, the Gransfors Bruks booth being the
saving grace in one case. That dude can really make _axes_!
But charging $8 to park a fracking car for a few hours is criminal.
At two shows, the only things I came away with were volunteer tee
shirts and the satisfaction of helping a fellow woodworker, but NO
TOOLS!


================================================== =======
Save the Whales + http://www.diversify.com
Collect the whole set! + Website design and graphics
================================================== =======

Patriarch wrote:

So, finally, here's the question:

How often, if ever, do you go to the
shows?
Once a year when they hold it in town, Sacramento.
Once every 3 years when I had to drive to Santa Clara.

Why?
To talk to the vendors about how to use the product or tool
that I consider buying. Especially when it has accessories
of which I want to get the correct combination.
To get good stuff I can not buy locally and for which I can
get a discount at the show, as Snappy self centering bits
(bought 4 for price of 3 and a free magnetic bit holder)
and Kleg pocket jig accessories.
To buy high grade tools and parts that cost about the same as the
shipping cost if I ordered them from a catalog store such as the
plugs and screws for pocket holes.
To buy the really cheap stuff that I want to look at before
I buy such as the set of 16 Forster bits for $20.
To get a discount on a particular machine, especially Sunday.
To hang out with a bunch of people my age who don't feel they
have to prove anything.

Has it changed over the past few years?
The people who have a bright idea of a new product have
disappeared such as ones who make special jigs and kits for them
or special tools that will make some particular task real easy.

Do you go, expecting to spend money there?

Yes.

Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent?
Yes, when I go Friday to see the demonstrations, lectures, and
products. Not always when I go a second time on Sunday looking
for something I missed.

Did you learn something new?
Always.

Patriarch wrote in message
36 on Monday 18 April
2005 11:38 pm:

So, finally, here's the question: How often, if ever, do you go to the
shows? Why? Has it changed over the past few years? Do you go,
expecting to spend money there?

Did you leave, feeling the time (and money) was well spent? Did you learn
something new?


I went this past year, for the first time ever, to the Novi Woodworking
Expo. The parking was outrageous. The $5,000 lathe was breathtaking; and
about $4700 beyond my budget that day! I took extremely good notes about
the boiling wood. So far, I have managed to tick my wife off and crack
several pieces of solid cherry (gloat wood). I measured the major thickness
and I boiled for one hour per inch and still they cracked. I'm not too
impressed with LDD, either, but that's a separate rant.

I will go again next year, a more informed consumer, looking for one really
nice piece of equipment. It might be a rip-your-arm-off router or a
saw-a-building-in-half bandsaw or an incredibly precise, powerful and
silent tablesaw. Who knows, it might even be that $5,000 lathe. But it will
be only one piece. I've decided that it is better to master one tool at a
time than to tackle every permutation possible simultaneously.

Bill

"Bill C." wrote in message
...

I went this past year, for the first time ever, to the Novi Woodworking
Expo. The parking was outrageous. The $5,000 lathe was breathtaking; and
about $4700 beyond my budget that day! I took extremely good notes about
the boiling wood. So far, I have managed to tick my wife off and crack
several pieces of solid cherry (gloat wood). I measured the major
thickness
and I boiled for one hour per inch and still they cracked. I'm not too
impressed with LDD, either, but that's a separate rant.

I will go again next year, a more informed consumer, looking for one
really
nice piece of equipment. It might be a rip-your-arm-off router or a
saw-a-building-in-half bandsaw or an incredibly precise, powerful and
silent tablesaw. Who knows, it might even be that $5,000 lathe. But it
will
be only one piece. I've decided that it is better to master one tool at a
time than to tackle every permutation possible simultaneously.

Bill

Novi, as in the mitten?

Don't boil, don't soak. Cut using some sense and control moisture loss
through paper. If in the mitten, you've got a basement. Put 'em down
there, on the floor where it's cool, and you won't lose a one.