Feed back

[John Saxton]

Any of you folk out there that went to the Melbourne WWW Show got anything to report in the manner of new innovations,tooling or up and coming ideas in the immediate future?
The Melbourne show is regarded as the main Show of the year and a lot of Manufacturers/Planners opt to open their product display here for the exposure given.
For those of us that didn't partake of Neils coffee it would be great to hear from those that did!!!
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif


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Johnno

[Shane Watson]

Actually thats a good idea... Would love to get down to the Melb. show one year.... But in the meantime, it would be great for someone to wet our appetites http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Cheers



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Shane Watson..

Combine Love & Skill & You Can Expect A Masterpiece!

[Iain]

I took a few photo's with the dugital camera which I have emailed to Neil, I'm sure he will figure a way to get them up.

[gazaly]

I think crosscut sawing competitions should be outlawed!!!!!!

[b]ONLY CAUSE YOU LOST; Added by [b] http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif


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A cigar a day, keeps Monica at bay!

[This message has been edited by (edited 01 November 2000).]

[Roving Woody]

I spent a considerable amount of time at WWW show in Melbourne, watching various demonstrations and inspecting products. The show was smaller (or seemed to be) this year. There was mumbling from stand holders about the high cost of taking a stand. Perhaps a change of venue is needed so that costs can be reduced. Somewhere like the Showgrounds or even some of the race tracks. The fact that it clashes with 2 other major events (M/C Grand Prix and Camping and Leisure show) does not help with getting the public in the door.

It was good to see the major power tool companies (makita, metabo, bosch, festo etc.) present this year.

One thing that is obvious is that most salesmen are not good woodworkers. I wish that companies would employ tradesmen type demonstrators that know how to use machines safely and properly. To illustrate this point: A sliding cross cut mitre saw cutting through a wide piece of timber, bars unlocked, starting at the edge of the board. No ear muffs or safety glasses on. Next one: a thicknesser being used, 3x2 pine fed in and one side machined, salesman turns timber over and wonders why other side ends up with feed roller grooves on other side.

The difference between those and some other sites. Mik international had a chap using the Hegner scoll saw and what a difference with a demonstrator that knew his machine and could make it “talk”. Carbatec had a lot of demonstrators that knew what they were about and if a salesman (or woman) didn’t know they got some one who did. Gifkin knows his stuff as well. Ubeaut knows their stuff and while I was standing there, they answered all sorts of questions. Organ oil also knows their product. Beenatree and Carrolls answered many and varied questions about lathes.

The demonstraters that were doing the seminars were interesting and informative as was Guilio Marcolongo(sp?) The people that run the Monash kids in woodwork stand deserve a medal in my opinion for their patience and tolerance. As usual some people take advantage and use this as a baby sitting service.

Safety is of concern to all people who use machinery and the safety standards at this show were very high. I was told by one stand holder that they were expecting a visit from OHSS and this could account for it. However it does not matter how high the standard is, you cannot remove the idiot factor from the public like the chap who tried to get around one screen to feel a piece of rotating timber by moving the screen.

The only down side was the obvious “slagging” of a product by a competitor. It does not do your reputation any good by slinging off at the opposition by having Orange balloons with “no you beaut backyard products here” written all over them. If you feel that threatened you should perhaps get a new job.

The Roving Woody.

[gazaly]

I must agree at the 'slinging stupidity' of Orange. I took it apon myself to don a UBeaut hat and stand around their stand looking dismally at their product. I got one or two filthy looks. I tried to remove the balloon but kept getting caught. Sorry Ubeaut, I tried.

Cheers,
Gazza.

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A cigar a day, keeps Monica at bay!

[This message has been edited by gazaly (edited 01 November 2000).]

[Iain]

I must have been in too early as I missed the 'Orange' floorshow but I heard about it.
Generally I found it a good day out apart from a ruptured eardrum as a result of Neil seeking the wherabouts of an itinerant .
(about 200db)
I am also aware that Neil was ecstatic about the S11 stand next to him. Good to see the manufacturers putting on a good show.

[ubeaut]

Friday night saw near fisticuffs with the Orange Oil man when he launched into a tirade of abuse, threats, foul language, etc. directed mainly at U-Beaut Polishes but also Organoil & Beenatree Crafts. Saturday, repeated requests from the organizers to remove the offending signs & balloons fell upon deaf ears. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/mad.gif Sunday morning my daughter presented us with an idea for a counter sign which was promptly made and hung directly opposite his site. His signs read (this was one of the nice ones) “no you beaut backyard products here” later changed to u-beaut. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/frown.gif

Ours said:
"Made in our own backyard - AUSTRALIA" http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif The signs mysteriously disappeared after that.

Sadly I believe he even spent part of his seminar time slagging of at other polishing product at the show. Very sad that an international company feels so threatened by the home grown product that they would stoop so low. Just goes to show, us Aussies backyarders must be doing something right. http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/wink.gif

U-Beaut Polishes has always strived for fairness, steering people to the product that will do the best job, if this happens to be an Organoil product, one of Gilly Stephen's or another manufacturers products, or even a polyurethane we tell the customer where to get it and how to use it. I am sure that the reverse could be said of other manufacturers. I know for a fact that Organoil often recommends using one or more of our products in conjunction with theirs.

This is the way it should be. We have never passed judgement on Orange Oil or slagged their products and will continue in that vein. Unlike him, we consider ourselves to be professionals. However I just have to say this.
YANKY GO HOME!!!! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/mad.gif

Oh, by the way, we would like to say a big thankyou to Mr Orange (Howard Products) for boosting our sales, in what can only be described as a BACKYARD BONANZA! http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

Now that's off my chest, WHAT THE HELL WAS WRONG WITH OUR COFFE!?!? Did you expect the silver service or something? At least Gazza got his cigar, must have worked as I didn't see Monica there with him.

Cheers
Neil & Pauline http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif
"U" & "Beaut"
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Beaut suggested I tone this post down a bit. Who am I to argue. Yes dear.

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 02 November 2000).]

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 02 November 2000).]

[Iain]

One site at the WWW intrigued me and that was the Fein. Strange tool, looked like an angle grinder with an assortment of broken blades/discs. Appears it oscillates back and forth and cuts the said material without spinning but in much the same way as a grinder but without the debris. I have seen Fein reviews (on other tools) but I have never yet seen a stockist. This tool was $445.00 complete which I thought was a bit steep for a gimicky item. Anuy others see this, or buy one?

[RETIRED]

Gooday.

I spent a bit of time at the Fein stand because I was intrigued by it.

It works because the blade oscillates around its centre. 3 degrees I believe is the figure.

Because of this action, it rotates the various blades or cutters.

Now that the techy side is out of the way. Are they worth the money?

I had one of the original Fein sanders (it cost $595) when they first came out. A magnificent little machine for getting into tight corners and awkward spots. You wouldn't want to sand a whole cabinet with it but that was not its intended use.

I have a mate (got some http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif ) who installs shower screens and he swears by his new Fein for lopping off that little bit of aluminium that always seems to be in the way. Another friend (thats 2 http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif ) is renovating a place and had to replace some floorboards. They have tried the usual ways (power saw and then hand) but when he saw that jigger he reckoned that was the way to go. No reports back yet.

My personal opinion is that for certain jobs it would be a godsend.

(why don't I still have it? It was stolen 3 years ago and I haven't had the need.)

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Ian () Robertson
"We do good turns every day"

[Iain]

I've got a little tiling job to do, I mean little, it's about 3" square and some tiles need to be cut out to make way for a cabinet.
Yes, the Fein would do this wonderfully but I just bought a little cutoff wheel for the dremel for about $10 and it will do as well evenif it is a lot slower. If I was doing it full time then I would probably get one but in this instance it woukld sit on the shelf for the next forty years.
What surprised me was the number of people buying them.
Love you .......thats 3 http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/eek.gif
Someone noted the Monash Uni child minding centre, I thought it was the ubeaut woodturning school! Honestly though it would take a lot of patience and it is abused, although for the staff it could be said that with patience and perseverance you can stretch a bullants bum over a doorknob.
Another impressive site was the hand tools by Colen Clenton (sp), they were absolute gems, and what a comedian. My tools are rarely used but put on display..........which is good really as it cuts down on warranty claims. If I had one I doubt I would use it.
I also saw the same licenced thief was there as last year, flogging crappy drill bits and demonstrating them drilling through detempered files. Mc Jing had some interesting gear and was challenging carbatec on prices for drill bits and spade bits.
Have never used orange oil and after this unless it is a ubeaut bottle I won't even bother, my only beef with ubeaut is that I have always used organoil and I have now found I can achieve the same finish in about thirty seconds instead of ninety minutes.
Grumble grumble.