I just attended the first day of the Houston Woodworking Show. I've never
attended one of these so did not know what to expect. I must admit that
reading this newsgroup and exposure to high quality dealers and publications
perhaps has made me a bit of a snob. I found the woodworking show to be
almost like a carnival. There were numerous booths with gobs of imported
junk. I don't mean to imply that imported=junk. Otherwise I wouldn't have
any tools. But some of this stuff was pure crap.

I also expected to see more competitive woodshow pricing. For the most
part, the big tools had about a 10% average mark down, if they were marked
down at all. Much of the smaller stuff was actually priced equal to or
higher than what I see in the store every day. There were several
highlights and high quality demonstrations. The Grip-tite booth wins the
prize for the most compelling demonstration. I also saw a few really odd
monstrosities like the numerically controlled laser burner that was doing
tiny high quality etchings in wood. The guy in the booth was dressed in
full suit and tie (in a woodworking show?????). I could have bought one of
the gizmos for a mere $23,000. (yes that's five digits).

Minmax and Dewalt had some of the bigger spaces. Torben was there by himself
with 3 Laguna bandsaws and lathe. He gave his understated demo of "a
bandsaw is just a couple of wheels with a blade that runs around - it should
simply make a straight cut when you guide the wood along the fence." Yes,
these saws are impressive as he repeatedly cut wafer thin slices from
various large blocks of wood.

One booth was selling hardwood veneer in large sheets for $3 each (how do
they do this?).

My ever faithful dealer was there in spades. I went by his store on Thursday
and virtually every stationary tool was missing. They hauled it all to the
show. He's got the best prices on tools that I've seen all year. That
Powermatic bandsaw is calling my name!

I think I'll go back today and see if I might get more out of it than
yesterday. If you have any suggestions on what to watch for at these shows,
I'm all ears. We have two more days.

Bob

One booth was selling hardwood veneer in large sheets for $3 each (how do
they do this?).


On Sunday afternoon they go for $1 a sheet - at least that's what they did
in Atlanta.

In rec.woodworking
"Mike Schwarz" wrote:


One booth was selling hardwood veneer in large sheets for $3 each (how do
they do this?).


On Sunday afternoon they go for $1 a sheet - at least that's what they did
in Atlanta.

Glad to hear because I was going back for some today. I think I'll wait
till then and load up.

If they are worth having, at $3 a sheet, do you think there will be any to
load up on if you wait that long?



"Bruce" wrote in message
...
In rec.woodworking
"Mike Schwarz" wrote:


One booth was selling hardwood veneer in large sheets for $3 each (how
do
they do this?).


On Sunday afternoon they go for $1 a sheet - at least that's what they
did
in Atlanta.

Glad to hear because I was going back for some today. I think I'll wait
till then and load up.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Leon"
Newsgroups: rec.woodworking
Sent: Saturday, February 07, 2004 10:47 AM
Subject: Houston Woodworking Show


If they are worth having, at $3 a sheet, do you think there will be any to
load up on if you wait that long?



In Atlanta there was lots of cherry/maple/walnut left on Sunday. Figured
woods were gone in the first few minutes at $1/sheet. Bundles of wlanut
burl went for $20/pack of 24 sheets.

In rec.woodworking
"Leon" wrote:

If they are worth having, at $3 a sheet, do you think there will be any to
load up on if you wait that long?

Sure, they must not have run out in ATL because here they are 4 days later
with plenty. They have piles of each flavor 2' high. OTOH, I don't have
any pressing (pun) veneer projects.

I'm convinced I could buy the 18" Laguna bandsaw and slice up old logs
instead of paying these ripoff prices. Uh, maybe that's not convincing
enough and I need another story.

Bob

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
In rec.woodworking
"Leon" wrote:

If they are worth having, at $3 a sheet, do you think there will be any
to
load up on if you wait that long?

Sure, they must not have run out in ATL because here they are 4 days later
with plenty. They have piles of each flavor 2' high. OTOH, I don't have
any pressing (pun) veneer projects.

Day 2 was much more worthwhile than yesterday. I invested the time to watch
several demos. This was an opportunity to get a close hand look at some of
those fancy gadgets and understand their worth (or not).

The Jointech and Incra fence systems were quite impressive. The guys giving
demos were also very, very good. They made a compelling case for how a fence
system with a precise repeatable micro adjustment can be an asset. I was
also wooed by the 90 day money back guarantee that Jointech offered.

The company that developed Gripper was there. They had a product which the
guy claimed just came into production for this show. It was a simple plastic
device that mounted in a zero tolerance throat plate to act as a splitter.
It somes with a jig to precisely drill three aligned mounting holes with the
saw kerf. The mounting jig was clever and worked well. The jig and
splitter piece sold for $14. The splitter could be removed and mounted in
another throat plate. They also had precut throat plate blanks for $9 each -
not bad if you don't want to hassle making your own.

The Gripper is a good product, but the demo lacked integrity. The guy had a
two piece router fence with the outfeed side set back about 1/32". You had
to look closely but it was there. Of course he didn't point this out to the
audience. He showed routing using a push block. He guided using the infeed
side of the fence, then would imperceptibly and quickly move the wood into
the offset outfeed side the last half inch. It created a gross example of
snipe - a simple slight of hand on his part. He blamed it on the push
block. Then he ran a piece through with the Gripper and magically the snipe
disappeared. It was totally dishonest. He could have demod the product
without creating this "feature". I was about to buy the splitter and maybe a
Gripper until I saw this demo and left in disgust.

I watched a routing demo showing three bits for making various locking
joints. I've read about these, but never actually seen them used. The
speed and quality with which the host made these joints was awesome. These
three bits (Oldham) were sold in a boxed set for $139. I was reaching for
my wallet but decided to go home and check the internet first.

Bob

"Bob Davis" wrote in message
link.net...
I just attended the first day of the Houston Woodworking Show.

In rec.woodworking
"Bob Davis" wrote:

Bob, whatcha think of the Sand Flee psuedo drum sander? $298 is pretty
cheap. The big flaw I see is that you can't precicely and repeatably
thickness sand.

Bruce, I saw it, but only in passing. Sorry I can't give more of an opinion
than that.

Bob

"Bruce" wrote in message
...
In rec.woodworking
"Bob Davis" wrote:

Bob, whatcha think of the Sand Flee psuedo drum sander? $298 is pretty
cheap. The big flaw I see is that you can't precicely and repeatably
thickness sand.

If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people? I meant to stop by their booth before the show closed, but
got delayed at the Lie-Nielsen booth until it was over.

Thanks,
Mike

Well Mike,
What did you buy at the Lie-Nielson booth?
And didn't the houndstooth dovetails that Rob Cosman made blow you away?

"Mike Schwarz" wrote in message
. ..
If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people? I meant to stop by their booth before the show closed,
but
got delayed at the Lie-Nielsen booth until it was over.

Thanks,
Mike

In rec.woodworking
"Mike Schwarz" wrote:

If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people? I meant to stop by their booth before the show closed, but
got delayed at the Lie-Nielsen booth until it was over.

Mike, I'm leaving in a few. I'll try and get that for you.

"Lowell Holmes" wrote in message
...
Well Mike,
What did you buy at the Lie-Nielson booth?

This year I got 2 butt mortise planes, a small chisel plane and a leather
case for my dovetail saw (very nice, wish it was American made and not from
France). Why 2 of the mortise planes? My Uncle T. sends me walnut, I send
him nice tools. I wish I would have gotten the 10 1/4, but funds were
limited at the time.

And didn't the houndstooth dovetails that Rob Cosman made blow you away?

Deneb, who was manning the booth last year, was doing demos of that joint at
last years show - very impressive. I would like to try that, but I think it
would be very hard on a half blind and that is about all I do.



"Mike Schwarz" wrote in message
. ..
If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people? I meant to stop by their booth before the show closed,
but
got delayed at the Lie-Nielsen booth until it was over.

Thanks,
Mike

Well,
I came away with a crosscut carcass saw to go with my dovetail saw. I also
got the handcut dovetail video and a bottle of the rust preventative. I
don't read Japanese and there were no instructions for the rust
preventative. I assume you spray it on periodically and wipe it down :-)

I didn't know who made the dovetails since Deneb wasn't there, but I had
never seen them before and I was dumbfounded when I saw them. I'm sure I
will be ordering the second video after viewing the one I purchased.

I was pleased to discover that Homestead Heritage has a second rocking chair
class where you build the tiger maple rocker. Hmm . . . . . .

"Mike Schwarz" wrote in message
...

"Lowell Holmes" wrote in message
...
Well Mike,
What did you buy at the Lie-Nielson booth?

This year I got 2 butt mortise planes, a small chisel plane and a leather
case for my dovetail saw (very nice, wish it was American made and not
from
France). Why 2 of the mortise planes? My Uncle T. sends me walnut, I
send
him nice tools. I wish I would have gotten the 10 1/4, but funds were
limited at the time.

And didn't the houndstooth dovetails that Rob Cosman made blow you away?

Deneb, who was manning the booth last year, was doing demos of that joint
at
last years show - very impressive. I would like to try that, but I think
it
would be very hard on a half blind and that is about all I do.



"Mike Schwarz" wrote in message
. ..
If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people? I meant to stop by their booth before the show
closed,
but
got delayed at the Lie-Nielsen booth until it was over.

Thanks,
Mike

Info from Terry Adams's business card. Terry is the National Sales Director
PH: 210 377-1288
Fax: 210 377-1282
E-mail:
www.jointech.com

I've had their system for a couple of years and really enjoyed it. I had a
problem w/the rails/fence alignment that I had been working around. Their demo
tech spent 20 minutes walking me thru the alignment procedure - I came away w/
a much better understanding than their manual had provided.

If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people?

In rec.woodworking
omore (Glider Rider) wrote:

Info from Terry Adams's business card. Terry is the National Sales Director
PH: 210 377-1288
Fax: 210 377-1282
E-mail:
www.jointech.com

I've had their system for a couple of years and really enjoyed it. I had a
problem w/the rails/fence alignment that I had been working around. Their demo
tech spent 20 minutes walking me thru the alignment procedure - I came away w/
a much better understanding than their manual had provided.

If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people?

I got it for you:

www.sharptoolsusa.com
1-800-872-5489

If anybody is going today could you get me the website/phone # for the
tormek people?

I got it for you:

www.sharptoolsusa.com
1-800-872-5489


Thanks!!!!

It's bookmarked now.