Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 08, 2003 08:01pm | #1

   Hi Brian.  We had a great time at the show in Seattle last fall.  You might be able to find some other Knotheads who are going and meet up for lunch or a brewskie.  WWA people often try to gather locally.  Here's a link to their site:

   http://www.woodworking.org/     Look for Infeed/Outfeed - that's their forum.

   One suggestion is to spend 1/2 hour or so at the GripTite booth watching the guy demo the magnetic featherboard outfit.  It's a bit like watching a blender-salesman, but if you get past that laugh I think you'll be very impressed. 

   You've probably seen a list of seminars somewhere.  Most of those, you can hang out on the periphery for free. 

   Pick up all the catalogs you can.  There are lots of small companies to investigate.  Be skeptical though about everything you see -- it's easy to go broke otherwise!

   Remeber:  90% of the people you see in the booths are salespersons, not woodworkers.  That means they'll try to talk you into things.  It also means that they may say something stupid about a very good tool.

   Think through priorities the day before.  It can be hard to prioritize spending once you get to the show.  If you're not shopping for a big tool like a bandsaw or something, you can still get some pretty good deals on small supply-type stuff, or sometimes clamps.  Watch out for the cheapie stuff.  Was never sure about that bulk sandpaper -- how good it is.  Maybe someone here knows.

   Fun!  Where's it being held?  I lived in Davis for 21 years  Love the heat, eh?

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   nannie4annie | Apr 09, 2003 03:24am | #2

   Great deals are to be found on Sunday afternoons since they do not want to take the big stuff back to the stores. You need to know what major tool and the best price you can get before you go. Bottom line have a good time. My friend and I drive 120 miles one way every year and have a great time shooting the bull and no wives in tow.

2. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 09, 2003 09:20am | #4

   Hello again Jamie! Thanks for yet more great advice.

   The show is at Cal Expo. Never been there for anything before so it will all be brand new.

   I do know that glazed look.

   Later! Brian

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 09, 2003 09:37am | #5

   Ahhhh, Cal Expo, knew it well at one time.  Horse shows at the time, I believe.  BTW, you should be able to get some good prices on saw blades.  The Freud booth (yep, here she goes again) had great discounts at the show last fall.  Pick up an LU84 (combo), an F80 (fine crosscuts and veneers) and a 24-tooth rip blade and you won't need any other blades for a long time!

   Actually, there should be a Lee Valley/Veritas booth there too.  Oh, you're gonna have fun!  Got any big things on your shopping list?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 09, 2003 09:14pm | #6

   Hey Jamie, I'm a freud fan too..Got a great deal yesterday from a WW friend who was clearing out most of his shop (He's moving and is up in years). I got a complete door set (five bits) and five additional bits, all 1/2" shank plus some clamps for $150. I'm pretty sure the door set was worth that alone. He bought the set and did about 15-20 doors and was done with them. You ever use a 1/2" shank finger joint bit? Scary!

   I definitly need to upgrade as far as a table goes. When I built mine it was with a stable of 1/4" bits in mind and it's also not as flat as it should be anymore. The veritas looks great, and ya, my first question was "what about a miter slot?". I plan on doing alot of cope and stick work and would like to get away from a copeing sled. The veritas system looks good but expensive. Waiting on the video.

   Nothing big in mind for the show at the moment. But you know how that goes....:)

   Later, Brian

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 09, 2003 09:23pm | #7

   Sounds like you got a great deal on the router bits and sets! 

   Don't know about your sense that the Veritas outfit is expensive.  The table, fence and sled, as a set, costs only $310.  Compared with other sets I've seen, it seems competitive.  The other thing to consider is that accessories sold for the fence are very reasonably priced too.

   When you said you want to "get away from a copeing sled" are you referring to a sled you're using now, or to sleds in general?  Whyfor?

   I'm a fan of 1/2" shank bits -- just feel safer using them than the 1/4".  They're all scary, though, heh?forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

2. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 09, 2003 09:37pm | #8

   Well hello there! Haven't really done any research on table prices yet. Guess I just wasn't expecting to spend that much but now that I think of it that probably is right in the ballpark. If I go with it I may just get the stand too. Fifty bucks? That would save alot of time. Orrrrrrr...do something like you did.Hmmmmm......

   I'm completely cleaning my garage/shop out this weekend (have a friend helping) and going to reorganize the whole place (reorganize? never very organized in the first place!) Can't wait! If I move my TS then I could add the Router wing like you did. Again...Hmmmmmmm.

   Later, B

3. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 09, 2003 09:43pm | #9

   Oh the sled...The one I made didn't work very well. The clamp tended to pull the rear of the sled up when depressed. I adjusted it but it was either not clamping well enough or pulling up the rear of the sled. Part of my predjudice comes from the sled slipping under the fence after the first pass trimmed it so thin too. Another reason for a table/fence upgrade!

3. 
   TomODonnell | Apr 17, 2003 03:29am | #18

   You are correct with one thing that most of  the people demonstrating their wares are only trying to sell the product are are not fully aware of the potential of the machine they are trying to sell. I have been demonstrating the use of the router for years and I am not there to sell them, I am there to demonstrate how versatile the machine is and to illustrate the use of the template guides. These guides have been neglected for years and therefore over the years we have not been using the router to it's full potential.

1. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 17, 2003 08:09am | #20

   Hi Tom, Will you be in Sacramento? I'll look you up. Brian

1. 
   TomODonnell | Apr 17, 2003 12:54pm | #21

   Sorry Brian

   Oooop!  One thing I forgot to mention in my posting I am from Western Australia and all my wood shows are here all over Australia. The first is in Brisbane Queensland in May.

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 09, 2003 04:33am | #3

   Am redirecting #3 to you, Brian, as I have no wife to tow, LOL!  My sweetie never goes to these with me any longer, because he breaks out in a cold sweat every time I get that glazed look on my face while standing in front of a new tool.  And, he doesn't understand why I spend $85 on a saw blade, when I could get one for $17.95 at Ace or wherever.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

3. 
   jc21 | Apr 09, 2003 09:58pm | #10

   Bring money. I went to the Twin Cities show in Saint Paul last weekend. Not everything I expected but still worthwhile. Some great deals to be had. 36 3"x21" sanding belts (Klingspor) for $23.00. Factory reps and some good demos, too.

1. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 09, 2003 10:26pm | #11

   Cool, thx! cash and plastic are ready! Brian

2. 
   forestgirl | Apr 10, 2003 06:07am | #13

   That's a great price on Klingspor stuff.  That's where I get my sanding stuff from when I remember to order in advance.  Will have to watch for them this year in Seattle.  Didn't notice them last year.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   jc21 | Apr 10, 2003 06:59pm | #14

   I couldn't pass it up ............ the purple 3M belts are more than $3.00 each at the lumberyard. Definitely will go again next year but I'll go on a Friday; Saturday had big crowds. Lots of factory reps with useful info; Makita, PC, Dewalt, Bosch, and General were there ......... Milwaukee was noticebly absent. General had a cabinet saw on display (think it was the 650) and it's a really an impressive piece of equipment. The truth is in the sawing but from the looks of it, the General has got the Unisaw and the PM 66 beat imho.

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 10, 2003 07:09pm | #15

   I've never seen the 650.  Got a Wilke's catalog yesterday that shows the 550.  Yikes!  Did you know Bridgewood makes a left-tilt contractor's saw?  Didn't know any of the contractor's saws were left tilt.

   A number of manufacturer's seem to have dropped out of the show-circuit.  Grizzly used to be there, but it may have gotten to expensive for it to pay off.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   Dick38 | Apr 09, 2003 10:54pm | #12

   Hi Brian,

   Went to the Sac show last year and I'm planning on going again to this one.

   It was a great show last year. I went to the San Mateo show last fall it sucked

   big time, could not belive it was the same producers as the one at Sac.

   Have fun, Dick

1. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 11, 2003 06:42am | #16

   Hey Dick, Maybe I'll see ya..I'll be the one with the odor of melting plastic surrounding me. :) Brian

5. 
   forestgirl | Apr 17, 2003 02:43am | #17

   OOOooooh Briiiiiiaaaaan.  You have not reported yet!  Did you not know that it is a Knothead requirement?!  If you're going to gloat in advance that you're going to a WWing show, you must report afterward!!  How'd it go?  What'dya do?  Get anything good??

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   BrianMcG | Apr 17, 2003 08:08am | #19

   It's not till the 25th!!!!! I'm going on the first day (Friday) to avoid as much of a crowd as possible....I know! Iknow! best deals are on the last day but I have to work that Sunday. I was lucky to get that Friday off too. You will receive a complete report Mon General!

1. 
   forestgirl | Apr 17, 2003 06:38pm | #22

   Oops, all the excitement, I thought it was last weekend!  The best deals might  be on Sunday, but the closest you'll get to sanity and elbow room will be on Friday.

   Whew!  I was mystified why we hadn't heard from you, glad it was my mistake!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)