The Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers’ (AWFS) annual fair is about to kick off in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event, which runs from July 15th through the 18th, will highlight new product innovations and offer attendees a new feature for the 2009 show, a “Green Desk,” where folks can drop by for information related to sustainable practices and products.  

Right now, we’re not seeing too many new developments, but Fine Woodworking will be sending crack tool sleuths (maybe junkies is a more appropriate term) Asa Christiana and Patrick McCombe to dig up whatever scoops might be hiding amid the neon glitter. Asa has personally assured me that he’ll be maintaining his professional decorum, staying away from all those tempting casinos and nightclubs.

UPDATE: The Latest from AWFS
A SawStop Cabinet Saw for Under $3,000 The safety-centric tablesaw maker unveils a more affordable saw with improved dust collection.
Easy-to-Install Spiral Cutterheads for $250 New spiral cutterheads by Shinmax offer easier retrofit for existing planers and jointers.
Beefier Delta Midi-Lathes Delta releases two new mid-sized lathes that offer more power, capacity and mass.
New Makita Slider Debuts Makita’s latest slider offers a 12″ capacity in a smaller package
12$ Bench Cookies Make a Big Hit They may look like simiple hockey pucks, but Rockler’s new “Bench Cookies” are a big hit.
New DeWalt Batteries Fit Older Tools DeWalt becomes the first toolmaker to produce new lithium-ion batteries that also fit older tools.
Laguna Debuts Two New Bandsaws Two new machines offer a whopping 14″ resaw capacity and rock-solid construction.
Laguna Cyclone is User-Friendly and Powerful A new cyclone by Laguna offers a step up in dust collection.
New Router Bits Make Hassle-Free Beads Kreg’s new line of router bits put an end to pesky face frame corners.
Grizzly Releases Euro-Style Sliding Tablesaw At around the same price as a standard cabinet saw, Grizzly’s new  G0700 could be your first sliding tablesaw.
Rockler’s Ready-Made Jigs Get You Working Faster For those of you who’d rather save time by using ready-made jigs, Rockler has several new answers.
Disposable Cups Save Time with Spray Guns Hate the hassle and mess of cleaning your spray gun after a job? Try Sata’s new disposable cups.

To whet your appetite, I’ve put together a few tidbits on some of the products expected to make their debut at the fair. Be sure to check back for more updates on new products and scoops throughout the course of the show.

Makita Leading the Pack with New Releases

It seems like Makita’s product developers have been working at breakneck speed. You can expect to see several new releases including:

Variable Speed Random Orbit Sander

Makita’s new BO5031K random orbit sander offers woodworkers variable speeds from 4,000 to 12,000 OPM. It’s also outfitted with a new system meant to control pad speed on start-up.

10″ Dual Slide Compound Miter Saw

Makita’s new LS1016L is being billed as offering woodworkers the largest cutting capacity in its class. The new saw boasts what Makita is calling “Deep and eXact Cutting Capacity (DXT). According to Makita, DXT means that this 10″ saw will have the crown cutting capacity (vertically nested) of a 12” model. 

Lithium-Ion Cordless Brushless Motor Impact Driver

Makita’s new BTD144 offers craftsmen and women a three-speed power control, an 18V battery and a brushless motor said to provide up to 20-percent more battery life. A brushless motor also translates to less friction and less heat. Sounds like longer motor life to me.

New Laguna Bandsaw Offers 14-Inch Resaw Capacity

Laguna’s new LT14 SUV Bandsaw offers users a full 14″ of resaw capacity-more than any other 14″ bandsaw.

Rockler Crosscutting Sled for Smaller Tablesaws

Rockler has effectively scaled down their original crosscutting sled for use with compact tablesaws. As we all know, the miter gauges that typically come with smaller saws are woefully inadequate. Rockler’s new Portable Crosscut Sled  offers a large and stable platform that’s outfitted with a sturdy fence, clamps and easy-to-read protractor.

New Trim Saw Blades By DeWalt

DeWalt is launching a new series of “Precision Trim Saw Blades” intended for high-end trim work. The blades offer a thin kerf and harmonic slots cut into the body. These slots are aimed at dampening vibration for more accurate cuts. The blades are also outfitted with 30-percent more carbide than their leading competitor. According to DeWalt, splintering was reduced by 30-percent when cross cutting birch plywood. Is there a correlation there?