Thread: my first woodshow

Thought i'd share and say thanks,

Well what an awesome time i've had, i've met some really talented woodfolk (can i call us that?) I had an absolute blast going from friday lunchtime and all day saturday. My nephew joined me on saturday (14y/o).

I had the pleasure of sitting in on the forum stand for a few sessions and showing folks what we do on the forums, had a ton of passing interest and watching Wendy ooze enthusiasm it was hard not to get as excited as she was about it all, i managed to get her talking about routers and boxes between passers by. Putting quite a few faces to forum names was really nice too, was lovely to have met everyone i did and shake a few hands and chat.

I think at one spot we had 4 or 5 Neil/Neal's in close proximity, i only got caught once at end of saturday by Wendy. Us Nei/al blokes are a careful lot.

I held myself back a lot on the spending front, i was fearful of buying poorly or get caught up in the excitement of it all, i dropped about $60 all up. However i managed to learn a TON. Seeing all the displays and stands and products all under one roof had me slackjawed and drooling most of both days.

I did the TimSkilton turning the honey dipper and i think i did a passable job, while i guess i didn't need to and wasn't really the object of his demo i sqeezed myself in, it was a way for me to see if it'd be ok for the nephew to try on the following day and i was able to use the hamlet chisels and see how the little mini lathes worked for me (i hadnt considered them really before now). Tim was great, clear, concise, informative and patient.

I got to meet and see Neil Ellis do his thing on the woodturning finishing demo and partially caught his bit on flat stuff, thoroughly enjoyed it, Neil was so very approachable question wise and again i learnt a lot. was also on stand, and i bothered him with a few of my newbie questions as well. I hope i can do the product justice, bought myself some EEE and glow.

I caught most of Roger Gifkins small box presentation, enjoyed that. Watched a bloke from Wood n Workshop turn up a sierra(?) pen in acrylic. That was cool. I caught up with Phil and his lovely wife from the forums here and their toy plan stand and talked toys and wheels with them (the nephew is right into trucks, so i think i might have a go closer to christmass). Also found out i have a woodworkers club right around the corner from me who had a display on. I also spotted Jim Carrol i think. Caught up with the guys at 043 turning at the end of saturday as well.

(NO this isn't a plug for forum sponsors, or just name dropping, i'm not like that, just what i experienced, and it's about the coolest thing i've experienced recently)

I bought some bowl blanks, some pen blanks (Thanks for Mykpenturner for helping me choose nice stuff and advice on what to look for) and a couple of thick flat cheap unfigured timber for laminating projects, a red cedar that wasn't much red, and a bit of norfolk pine to contrast it. And thanks to the freebie from Neil (Dai Sensei) of a couple of acrylics he had cast to try out. Also bought meself a little brass chisel angle guage.

My head felt like it was on a swivel, i talked the ears off my missus, packed a lot of new info, faces and names into the head, it's a wonder i dont have a headache. What an awesome two days so far. I got to take in all the little bits and pieces i'd like to explore in my woodworking, pens / toys / turning / boxes and more besides.

Hope everyone else had a similar time.


Here are some pics. (i'd forgotten i had a camera in my phone till staurday i was so distracted)

1. My overgrown 14 y/o nephew having his first go on a woodlathe makin chips.
2. Fuzzy pic but since it has on a coffee run it was worth including.
3. A clearer shot of our little forum booth/lounge.
4. What i spoilt myself with.

Neal.