Thread: Melbourne T& WWW Show 18-19-20 October 2013

Originally Posted by doug3030

Well at least my intentions were good. Its not my fault someone chose to open another avenue for discussion.

Well it was posted on a Friday.

Originally Posted by doug3030

Just be careful, the Drivel Police may pop up and order us all back into our sheds to do something useful.

Like checking our pipes and tubes for diameters and now hollow metal cylinders as well.


Peter.


PS I know I'm going back to my workshop for some turning.

Hi all, in case there is any confusion over timings, the show opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm today. Sunday it opens at 10 am and finishes at 4 pm.

Friday was a good day and quite busy, looks like today may be even busier - get there early!

To all forum members planning to visit the show this weekend:

1. It is NOT AT THE SHOWGROUNDS this year. It is at Melb Exhibition Centre, Southbank.

Don't be like me and the steady flow of others who didn't check before turning up.

2. Don't park in the Exhibition Centre carpark - it will cost $10 per hour, max fee $40.
If you can't use public transport, you can park in an open air carpark in Munro St. corner Montague St. for $8 per day.
It is a coin in slot, place ticket above dashboard type setup.

From this carpark, it is only a short walk up Munro St. to the Exhib Centre. See Melway Map 2E H11.

3. Fill your pockets with nut bars and fruit before leaving home. You will pay $9.50 for a chicken/salad roll or a burger at the show.


I would rather spend my money on woodworking tools than on parking etc.

Hope you enjoy the show.

Rob

Dam .... my pockets were full of sawdust.

I'll have to empty them for tomorrow's show tKe room for food

Originally Posted by DaveTTC

Dam .... my pockets were full of sawdust.

I'll have to empty them for tomorrow's show tKe room for food

I left the sawdust in my pockets when we went yesterday. We walked a couple of hundred metres to the DFO for lunch.

I didn't even look at the food being put on at Jeff's Shed having had previous bad experiences with it, both cost and quality, at other events i have attended there.

The food at DFO was nothing to get excited about but it was edible and affordable.

Cheers

Doug

"2. Don't park in the Exhibition Centre carpark - it will cost $10 per hour, max fee $40."


Not on the weekend - I paid a flat rate of $15 yesterday for the 5 1/2 hours I was parked (directly underneath the Wood Show too!)

First time that I have ever been able to park undercover despite always arriving at the Exhibition Centre 1/2 to 1 hour before the previous Shows. One stairwell with all of my purchases in hand (as opposed to struggling all the way back to Munro St. or to the Crown carpark which was the designated overflow in previous years.)

Well, it was a very long and enjoyable show. Thank you to all the volunteers that made this years forum stand a very simple one to organise and run. A special thank you to slidingdovetail who went the extra yards and got some emergency printing done for us! She was lucky enough to win a prize draw so I guess karma kicked in.

The stand was very busy except for Sunday where things just cruised along.

When I first turned up on Friday I must admit I was a bit unsure how it would go; the venue was smaller and the aisles tighter, there seemed to be less of 'something' but I couldn't put a finger on it.

So, a review of the facts, and a rumour or two:

Friday was busy! Saturday was busy! Sunday was a relaxed day but, if the rumour can be confirmed, the Showgrounds crowd numbers were surpassed at about 11am on Sunday - I never heard the final result.

Feedback from over 7 stalls where I asked was that trade was very good on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday a bonus. Some said it was their best year.

Friday. We heard a lot of people took flex time on Friday to come to the show, that is a bonus of being close to the city I guess.

Traffic was abysmal from the west, I also heard the trains had some issues. I was lucky to arrive just before opening after a relaxing hour and a half doing bumper to bumper. Thankfully the forum helpers were there and leaped into action; the stand was ready when the gates opened. There was a steady stream of attendees until about 4pm when things quietened down. Everything seemed to go well although at times the aisles jammed up with people who, for reasons known only to them, stop mid aisle and block it completely. This does not happen at the showgrounds thanks to the generous width of the aisles.

Things were brisk until about 2:15 when I assume people left so they avoid rush hour, after that it was quieter but not 'dead'.

Parking - my only gripe. I find it hard to figure out where to park and it is a bit of a maze. I parked in DFO's area under the bridge and found I could get 1/2 price if I bought food from the DMO area. One facacia later I owed $15, not $30! (the facacia was $8, ouch!). I was told later that by parking under the event centre I could get $9 all day as I was an exhibitor. This turned out to be incorrect, however the parking was $15 all day so I just parked there for the convenience.

Saturday. Another busy day, Saturday stayed pretty busy until about 3:30 when it slowed down. I got the impression that most vendors did not really mind the break at that point. A few new items caught my eye and a few more snagged my wallet. If anyone is interested in bandsaws I recommend the Laguna's as a must-see; their first time at the show and a very impressive machine, especially the 14" resaw they demo'd. Choosing between the Laguna and the NB4400 from Hammer will be difficult for some. The Kiwi's had on display a new sawmill based on a chainsaw. If you have the chainsaw already this will be a cheap milling option. I expect you will see more about these soon; rumour has it that an Australian dealership may be on the cards. Lie-Nielsen have some new backsaws that are very nice to use (internet order coming up) and Jim Davies had a few new bits that proved irresistible to me: 4" sprung clamps for dust collectors, G15 and some other bits and bobs.

Sunday. My favourite day. Time to walk around and watch some demos, busy but not crammed. Acquired one of Chris Vesper's new vernier rules with the Scale Stopper Body. Later in the day Stan Ceglinski and friends put on some impromptu music which was fantastic! (I will post a Youtube link once I convert the video.) These events bring out the best in the woodworking community, the kids there loved it (even the 50-60 year old kids). Internet shopping is just not the same and certainly not as entertaining, well done Stan and the band!

So, what is the verdict? I can't remember my first show very well any more but this was probably the best all-round I have been to. I met a lot of very interesting people and the forum stand ran itself thanks to the volunteers.

Top effort "groggy"; thank you sir to you and all the volunteers...
Thanks Dave for the show photos.....

I volunteered 4.00 till 5.00 on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed it
as usual. Had a look around, spent a few bob and then had an hour
and a half on the Forum.

I shared time with LRP and PAGIE on the Forum as well as time with
Groggy and was good to meet KEV M from Tassie again.

Blokes such as MULGABILL and ISSATREE dropped by for a quick
chat which made it all the more enjoyable.

One of my purchases on Saturday was faulty and I returned on
Sunday where it was exchanged with apologies. The trip in was
marred by my vehicle blowing a radiator hose and the RACV towed
it to where I replaced the hose. On the way home, you would not believe
it ... it blew an oil seal and it came home on a tow truck as well.

It must be said once again, Groggy does a fantastic job organising
the Forum site, no wonder volunteers in Melbourne are always keen
to assist him.

Allan

This weekend was the best time I have had in very long time. I got to meet other forum members, drool over fancy tools, make my own mallet, spend some $, watch great demos and I won the volunteer raffle of a chilly bin full of uBeaut products! It will take a few weeks just to wipe the grin off my face.

A big thank you to Greg. You had done a top job in running the stand and making me feel welcome. Thank you to Neil for your wonderful chillybin of goodies. Thank you Chesand for being my volunteer buddy. Thank you Dave for posting all the pics, it's great to recap after an overwhelmingly awesome weekend. And every volunteer should give themselves a big pat on their back A special thank you to those who have had to travel from afar to volunteer or just look around. I hope you all make the journey home safely. Now lets see how well we have done in the coming weeks of new members!

My 11 yo friend Maddox said he had the time of his life when we came back on sunday. He came home with a few tools to start off his new hobby on top of the mallet he made and the goodies given to him from funnyman Stan after entering the wood cutting comp. Watching his enthusiasm grow as he got hands on experience was priceless.

We are already planning to come back next year

"....The Kiwi's had on display a new sawmill based on a chainsaw. If you have the chainsaw already this will be a cheap milling option. I expect you will see more about these soon; rumour has it that a Australian dealership may be on the cards....."

It is no rumour. Announcements shortly, and it could come from a Forum Member.

I worked with Big Stan on the Billinudgel Wood Works stand and agree with Groggy's summation. Overall it was a great show, fantastic Friday and steady on the other 2 days.
I met a lot of forum members passing and good to see the support the forum members gave Groggy and Neil by volunteering their time. Guys like Chesand (Tom) and DavidTTC for floating around on standby.

Well done guys and gals

I want me one of those saw mills

Loved the show!!! While there may be much discussion over improvements etc I would definitely prefer what we had over nothing

If it went longer I would still want to be there.

Great meeting everyone.


Dave

The Turning Cowboy

I must say I enjoyed several hours at the show Friday morning and managed to spend some dollars. A nice new Nielson Chisel and some other bits and pieces. I was however disappointed there weren't more power tools. I was up for a small portable drill and an random orbital sander. Yes I could have dug deep (very deep) and bought Festool, however not all of us have a budget that large. I've not been to the show for a few years and thought there would be more in the way of power tools.
Over all it was good.

Kerry

Originally Posted by Larkan

I must say I enjoyed several hours at the show

I've not been to the show for a few years and thought there would be more in the way of power tools.
Over all it was good.

Kerry

I must say - that is one thing Canberra did have and I was surprised not to see here. A large stand with DeWalt and a few other brands


Dave

The Turning Cowboy