Somerset nj woodworking show


Freddie

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I missed Freddie at the show. :mellow:  But I ordered my first real plane. LV  low angle Jack with a 30 and 40 degree Iron and MK2 sharpener. Got a CMT raised panel set and slot cutter set too!  

 

By the way...those LV guys are awesome. Being the newb i am at using planes, this older gent working the stand spent an individual 1 on 1 lesson about planes and sharpening techniques with me for well over an hour. What a cool guy!

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==>individual 1 on 1 lesson about planes and sharpening techniques with me for well over an hour.

 

That's one of the huge advantages of the smaller wood shows... Actually, Chris Schwarz consistently rates the Somerset show as #1 best woodworking show in North America. It's small, but still gets decent vendor participation -- you just don't get as many demos/classes or Euro tool guys... Luckily the weather is cooperating...

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that's good because the floor model with a big "SOLD" sign on it made me think otherwise :D i was disappointed with most of the floor model stuff solely based on the wear from the show. I thought the whole point of having floor demos was so you could touch it and open the compartments and really feel how things are. a lot of the knobs and guides were off on pieces like the pm 1500 and the jet oscillating sander, same with the drill press too. sure, i understand that floor models are floor models but still... the knobs and little details are key for me on new equipment.

 

i took a disabled friend who doesn't get out of the house much, he loved the show. i got to meet bob from take a dip and get into his antique tool club (CRAFFT) which meets near me (high bridge). apparently a few of the guys in the group do historical restoration which is what my entire spring/summer/fall is going to be consumed with. 

 

i got some mini diamond cards for sharpening bits, a few of the $5 mag racks from peach tree, a digital angle dohickey, some jig building stuff, a new card scraper, also got one of those shop vac filter condoms, and last but not least the hammer ice cube tray for my girl who uses ice daily. 

 

i felt like the show was dimly lit, did anyone else notice that? 

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I'm pretty sure selfies are a violation of the posting guidelines.  Or at least they should be.  You'll have good looking kids, though. :)

 

As much as I favor a Domino over a HCM for all the reasons we previously debated, I still find myself a bit jealous. :D  Nice machine bro!

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Congrats on the new toys, Freddie.  Overall I thought it was a good show.  Spent some time talking with Wilbur Pan - you are right, he is a great guy.  And Wilbur did a couple of fantastic presentations at the CJWA booth.  I was at the NJWA booth next door so I got to listen in.  Bob from Take a Dip Tools had a huge selection of tools on display.  Very cool.  Lee Valley's and Peachtree's booths were pretty impressive.  But I was hoping to see more vendors/options on power tools.  I guess it's a relatively small show so maybe they don't want to make the big investment.

 

I'm curious - Did anyone attend a pay class?  Worthwhile?

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I didnt attend any paid classes, nothing on the menu sparked my interest. I did hang out with matt kenney and mike peckovich for a while and chatted. I shared photos with mike of my carriage door build since they were inspired by his fww article. He loved them and also congratulated me on my mortiser purchase. He has the same model and praises it. We talked shop for a while and he is just an awesome and sincere guy. I am going to run to hf tn and grab a cheap mortise bit to get started while i wait for my fisch bits to come.

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I had a great time meeting Freddie, and seeing Kris again. The estimate I heard was that there were over 8,000 people there over the course of the weekend. Regardless of the numbers, this show has been getting busier for the past few years straight, and it was a fun time overall.

 

P.S. Nice score on that Stanley 45, with the screwdriver!

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