Replies

1. 
   brianmexico | Aug 02, 2005 12:57am | #1

   Matthew,

   I just got back from the show as well and saw many things that caught my eye (my wallet is another story). I did buy a few tools and took advantage of the discount that several manufacturers were offering at the show. This is the short list of a few things that I needed and thought were worth the price:

   1) Laguna 16" bandsaw with mobility kit, 5 blade package, cool blocks and 4hp motor. I thought that this was a well made saw and the resaw demo's that the salesman showed me was impressive to say the least. $1,300.00

   2) Lie Nielsen #4 1/2 and #60 1/2, just because I couldn't resist the temptation.

   3) Large Keller dovetail Jig, I've had the smaller jig for years and it's been a great little unit, so I got the larger aluminum unit. Maybe the handcut dovetail guys will shun this but I can't cut dovetails by hand fast enough for it to be profitable so I go for this jig because it's easy to setup and gives consistently great results.

   4) Montana brand drill bits and plug cutters (great idea)

   5) Time shaver sanding block, very handy.

   6) LOTS of literature from hardware companies and some great kitchen ideas.

   7) LOTS of contacts with veneer and hardwood suppliers.

   8) Fastcap tape measures and glue bottle and several other little handy items they sell.

   In general I thought the show was great, I was only there for three days and would have liked to stay another because it was sooooo huge in there. After walking around all day in there my wife and I then walked around past midnight everyday around town. I feel like I've walked a couple hundred miles in the past couple of days. We went and saw David Copperfield and the Cirque du Soliel show "O". In general I had a great time and thought the show was excelent. fI also won $50 on the slot machines. This was the first time I've ever been to Vegas, a few more days would have been nice to see more of the city.

   What did you think.

   Brian

1. 
   jazzdogg | Aug 02, 2005 06:58am | #2

   Brian,

   Glad you had fun!

   Can you tell us more about the Montana brand drill bits & plug cutters? I've never heard of 'em.

   Thanks,-Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   RickL | Aug 02, 2005 03:05pm | #3

   A quick google search turned this up...

   http://www.montanabrandtools.com/PageID/124/CategoryID/155/RootCategoryID/0/MBT_Category.aspx

    

1. 
   jazzdogg | Aug 02, 2005 07:57pm | #5

   Thanks for the link. Perhaps one of the few times when being "self-centered" isn't a bad thing...-Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   brianmexico | Aug 02, 2005 11:57pm | #6

   Jazzdog,

   I'm not really into the gimicky new bits and doodads that serve no real purpose but the demo on these self centering bits was really impressive, I've always wanted a plug cutter that you can use easily with a hand drill and these did a very clean job. I ordered the full set including countersink bits, I guess we'll find out how long they last.

   Brian

1. 
   jazzdogg | Aug 03, 2005 12:12am | #7

   Thanks, Brian,

   Sounds like a good concept. I'll be curious to hear your reactions after using them.

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

2. 
   MatthewSchenker | Aug 02, 2005 04:21pm | #4

   brianmexico,
   The show is a bit overwhelming. Two floors, and 68 total acres of space (at least that's what the literature said), make for lots of stimulation, but sore feet at the end of the day! It's almost too much to summarize, but here are some of the highlights:SawStop. I've already said how impressed I am with the SawStop contractor and cabinet table saws in Forestgirl's discussion on this subject.JessEm. I've been impressed with this company before (I owned their Router Slide about five years back). Their tools just keep getting better and better. They are releasing a new sliding table for contractor and cabinet saws, and it is made very well. It's mounted intelligently to the table and it has numerous bearing slides that slide the table with almost no effort. No deflection that I could detect (I put a lot of my body weight on the unit when the company rep wasn't looking). The miter gauge is heavy and moves into position positively. I don't own a contractor or cabinet saw (oh no, what am I starting here) but if I did I'd be looking at this unit. It is supposed to be available in Woodcraft stores over the next couple of weeks.Blum hardware. I had never seen the full collection in one place. Very heavy-duty. The slides weigh more than most drawers (well, I exaggerate a bit, but you get the idea). They also gave away great tote bags!Before I say my next impression, I will tell you I didn't drink anything before the show. I was impressed with Grizzly. The reps for Grizzly were among the friendliest in the show, not pushy at all but very informative and patient, even when I told them my complaints. On the tools, I was pleasantly surprised by Grizzly's large jointers (14"?) which I could never own but are a site to see. Their 6" and 8" jointers look pretty good as well. But what I was most impressed by was Grizzly's new sliding table saws. They are smooth, and cost quite a bit less than the competitors' versions. Again, I don't plan to own one, but they are interesting to look at.Original Saw machines. Oh man, standing next to one, I felt like Alice after she ate the mushroom and shrank. They make a radial arm saw (14" blade I believe) that can cut along a full 4x8 sheet.Magic Molder. I'm not really into using a table saw this way, but it was impressive to see them do curves and all kinds of detailed molding on a table saw.Leigh FMT machine. I watched the demo of this machine a couple of times. It seems well made and pretty simple to use. The results, at least in the demo, were impressive. With some caution, it is now on my preliminary want list.Festool. You know how I feel about this one!There was more...

   Edited 8/2/2005 9:27 am ET by Matthew Schenker

1. 
   brianmexico | Aug 03, 2005 12:25am | #8

   Matthew,

   I also was impressed by the sawstop machine however I've heard a few comments from people trying to cut green wood who have had some problems and this makes me leary of this saw, I think that in a few years this technology could advance a great deal and we could see a superior machine come out in a short time. I have the left tilt unisaw X5 with the 50" fence and so far I've been very pleased with it (still have all my fingers). How much does that electronic thingy cost every time you trip the saw?

   Other then that you've thrown out some interesting names: Jessem (saw it but didn't stop because my wife wanted some lunch and I didn't walk by there again, sigh) Blum (speachless) Grizzly (liked the full woodworking catalog I got and the large floor model sanders) Original (going to be buying one in the next few months, very impressed) Festool (Nice and EXPENSIVE) Leigh (Very cool but looked kind of finicky, I've never used one so I don't know how practicle they are).

   I was thinking about buying the magic moulder you mentioned but I'm wondering if I would be better off saving up and getting a shaper?? I've never owned a shaper, I'm currently doing all the moulding on my router table (3 1/4 hp porter cable) and it has been adequate for my needs up till now. Maybe that's another thread.

   I also bought a woodworker 2 Forrest blade and balancer, WOW does this thing cut nice on my saw. Should've bought one a long time ago. They were selling blades at the show for $90 plus the balancer ($30 or $40 can't remember). When I got back I setup the saw with this blade and cut some maple, felt like I was cutting butter!!!

   Miller dowels?? any thoughts from any one, I like the way they look and they seem to be cost effective but I've never used them. I wonder how cleanly the bits cut on difficult woods?

   Which hotel did you stay at and what did you think? (I ask because I have to go back to Vegas in December and I'd like to try a different hotel) I stayed at the Hilton, it was cheaper then some others and the room was clean and newly remodeled. Line-ups for elevator were no good.

   Brian

3. 
   longboard | Aug 03, 2005 07:32am | #9

   it doesn't sound to me like you missed much!most people are satisfied with the $50 slot play.

2. 
   ron4 | Aug 03, 2005 02:24pm | #10

   I heard Powermatic was showing the new replacement for the 66 tablesaw. Did you happen to see the display?