Replies

1. 
   ~~bones | Aug 15, 2005 07:33pm | #1

   Any pic's of the festivities?

1. 
   wdworkr | Aug 15, 2005 08:32pm | #2

   http://www.montanafest.com/festpics.html

1. 
   ~~bones | Aug 15, 2005 08:42pm | #3

   Thanks, sure looks like god's country, may be next year.  Who knows, this could be come the sturgis of woodworking!

2. 
   WillGeorge | Aug 16, 2005 08:57pm | #4

   NICE to see some 'youngins' in there... We need more of that...

2. 
   JeffHeath | Aug 16, 2005 11:04pm | #5

   It's Tuesday, and I just got home from the 1478 mile drive home from MontanaFest!! 

   Wow!!!!!!

   For all of you that missed it, you missed one heck of a great party!!  To all that were there, I had a great time meeting all of you, and feel like I added many new woodworking pals to a very short list!!

   Thanks to Lee and Ruthie Grindinger for opening up their home and woodshop to us.  Can't wait until next year!! 

   Jeff

   P.S.  Here's a couple pics of one of Lee's neighbors looking for the keg of DEERSLAYER ALE!!!    Or was that Moose Drool!!   Great beers!!

   
1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Aug 17, 2005 11:05pm | #6

   Tim, Smitty and Jeff, it was great to meet you guys and it would be impossible to tell you how much fun Ruthie and I had, thanks so very much for coming.Oh, we're, err, sorta having a finish-the-keg party this weekend..., any takers?It was a great time and the group was utterly fantastic. If I were stranded on Gilligan's Island forget Mary Ann and Ginger, I'd want a group of woodworkers to keep company with!Lee
   MontanaFest

1. 
   TimLoupe | Aug 18, 2005 03:42am | #7

   Lee,

   Finish off the keg hmmmm ....If you where on the south side of Yellowstone I'd be there , but all them giant RVs going 25 mph and stoppin to look at all there is to see ... maybe next time. Better idea bring that keg down to Colorado and we'll have another party , there's know way it will be done as well as yours but my back is feelin better and I want a chance at them horseshoes.I hope we didnt leave to big a mess for you ,and Ruth thanks again for all your hard work and generosity.

   Tim ,Angie & Lydia 

   Edited 8/17/2005 8:43 pm ET by TimLoupe

2. 
   benchdog | Aug 18, 2005 04:36pm | #8

   I knew I would regret not making it out there, but I'm happy to hear the fest was such a sucess. Count me in for next year, even if the Cubs are playing the Cards like they were this time! And yes, I know it's a sickness, I'm a Cubaholic and I need help!

3. 
   desertrat | Aug 23, 2005 05:40pm | #9

   Sure want to thank you for spending time with my grandson Chris. He's floating 6' off the ground. He really enjoyed the weekend as well as myself.
   If there's a next year, count me in.
   You and Ruthie are the greatest and you have the most beautiful sunsets, but boy does it rain hard.Sending more photos soon.dick

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Aug 24, 2005 03:58pm | #11

   Really Dick, the pleasure was mine. Your grandson is quite a guy and it was a treat to have him, you and Morry here.I still owe you a shopping list on carving tools. I'll make it the tools he needs to carve the stuff we worked on here. Yeah, it rained here..., that's quite a thing because like you we are a high desert and we don't generally get clouds after the 4th of July rodeo. There was a great silver lining to it, though. Ruthie and I realized how great it was to have everyone in the house for dinner and sitting around one large table. That's something we would not have known if the weather had been better. We realized that clearing the decks for the band was the wisest way to go. Dancing on lawn is tough and although most of you tough guys were out at the campfire or horseshoe pits I was dancing with every hot babe who was here.It was a blast and Ruthie and I are going to do it next year. We'll select a date soon and get the new website up to spread the word. LeeMontanaFest

1. 
   JeffHeath | Aug 25, 2005 03:48am | #14

   Lee

   I forgot to thank you for allowing me a dance with the hottest chick there.  (No offense to other attendee's!!) 

   I've been inspired since returning from Montanafest.  I can't wait until next year.  I need some more 1 on 1 with that whole carving thing!!

   Jeff

2. 
   LeeGrindinger | Aug 25, 2005 04:36pm | #15

   You know, she let you dip her..., perhaps if my chest was the size of yours and my waist was, ummm, errr, ahh... smaller she would let me dip her. Ruthie said she'd let me try with mats or in a pool but over concrete? No way.She enjoyed the dance as well, Jeff.LeeMontanaFest

3. 
   AlanYoung | Aug 24, 2005 05:07am | #10

   I got home to Michigan yesterday afternoon around 1:00 EDT. The Trip from my families place in North Dakota was long but worth it as I took a side rout to see a friend in South Dakota and meet Carol the Router Lady.

   Below is a link with a few more pictures of the event. Lee, thanks again to You and Ruth for planning and carrying it off and to all the presenters- Joe, Dave, Robin, Rob - WELL DONE

   Thanks also to Taunton, Woodshop News WoodCentral, WoodWorker West and the any other vendor I forgot who provided prises. My boys each got a great book from the Taunton Library- I'll be storing them in my bookshelf!

   http://www.woodwardwoodworks.com/MontanaFest.html

   Alan

1. 
   LeeGrindinger | Aug 24, 2005 04:07pm | #12

   Great shots, Alan. I'm so glad you guys used your cameras, mine sat idle most of the weekend. Thanks for making the trip, it was really nice to meet you Young guys. We are working on the things that will allow me to have more one on one time or small group stuff between workshops. I'm glad we found ourselves together Sunday morning, I hope it helped. That top can be made to really shine with a couple more agressive sandings and brush coats. Your last sanding should be with 220 before the last coat, then 3 weeks or so curing and a gentle rub out, it will be beautiful. Did the swirl marks from the 150 show after that poly dried? During build coats it doesn't matter and a finer grit before the final coat will solve that issue. The objective is to have a finished film thickness that's quite thin so agressive sanding between coats is the key.LeeMontanaFest

1. 
   AlanYoung | Aug 24, 2005 06:50pm | #13

   The top turned out great. When I got back to ND I sanded and appliedtwo more coats. My other brother Tom and his wife love the table and can't keep their hands off it!Thanks again Lee. It's hands on information and instruction like this that makes events like MontanaFest a take-home success for attendees.I am looking forward to next year.
   AlanHere are some shots of the table.http://www.woodwardwoodworks.com/consoletable.html