If there was any wonder whether the Woodworking Shows’ Big Ten series would continue to provide another great weekend experience for attendees and vendors, ring up the Columbus venue this last weekend as a winner. The show opened on Friday, February 2nd, to a packed house and it stayed busy until the early afternoon on Sunday. I think that it’s pretty encouraging to hear people complaining that they had trouble navigating the crowded aisles and they just didn’t have time to take in all the educational opportunities. A couple of the vendors were upset that they had run out of stock and had to ship purchases. Not a bad weekend, all in all.

For me, one of the highlights was the return of the Columbus Idea Foundry. With the promise of a much larger exhibit space, Alex and Company brought examples of the many disciplines that the community workshop both teaches and encourages. Adhering to their motto of “Knowledge, Talent and Mischief”,  they had something to interest everyone. The scorpion circular saw racer was something that every serious tool freak should have. OK, maybe not. There was even a smithy’s furnace there and attendees watched a demonstration on metal forming.  A project car, the “Inhaler”, is a collaboration of the foundry and Todd Perkins Design and it garnered a great deal of attention. Information on this very interesting group and concept can be found at www.columbusideafoundry.com.

in an attempt to service those woodworkers without a full complement of tools or lacking the space to build their project, the Build More Workshop people were on hand to answer questions about this somewhat unique enterprise. Hourly and monthly rates are available to use this complete workshop that is open to the general public. President Brian Blum told me that both woodworkers and metal workers have access to the tools, advise and space they’ll need for almost any project. You can get any additional information from them at www.buildmoreworkshop.com.

If you came out to the show, hopefully you got a chance to spend some time with Ralph Jones, the host of one of our most popular forums. Ralph has a lot of knowledge and was more than willing to share it.

The winner of the Show Off Showcase in Columbus was John Haywood’s “Rustic yet elegant log dresser”. This was one of the most uniquely compelling projects this season and the construction and finish were very well executed. John claimed a Bosch Power Box  shop radio as his prize. His project will be entered in the final judging in Houston this coming April.

 Second place went to Anthony Stineburg for his cherry “Entertainment cabinet.  And finally, the third place entry was a “Canister set” by Philip Davis. Each of these two entries received a Bosch tool also.

I can all but bet that St Louis, the sixth venue in the Woodworking Show’s Big Ten series, will be as big a success as the previous five have been. We don’t call ‘em the Big Ten for nothin. The venue at the Gateway Center in Collinsville has always been a favorite of local woodworking enthusiasts and when we arrive on February 10-12, I expect that a record number will have made the annual pilgrimage once again. If you are planning to attend, and I hope that you will, you should preregister to avoid the inevitable lines at the door. And follow this link to save two bucks off your admission.    http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html. There is a lot to see and do and you’ll be glad you made the trip. I will be in the WOOD Magazine booth in the hallway just off the show floor. Come out and see how a little “Embellishment” can add interest and a personal touch to that special project.

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

When the Woodworking Shows go to Kansas City each year, I know that I can expect a great weekend. This last weekend was no exception. I guess that I didn’t realize how interesting and fulfilling my time in KC would be. I arrived on Thursday, January 27th, and headed out to Whiteman Airforce Base at the invitation of a woodworking friend, Michael Stauffer. Officially the home of the B2 Bomber, I was there to see the vestige of a second world war aircraft. The Waco CG-4A Glider carried troops and equipment behind enemy lines after being towed there by bombers and was an integral part of the D Day operations. Very little of these wooden and cloth ships remain and a “crew” of very loyal volunteers is rebuilding one in a hanger on the base. The size is amazing with a wingspan of 83 feet and fuselage of 48 feet overall.  After four years, they have managed to build the tail section and most of one wing while working off a very old and confusing set of plans and specifications. The pride in their accomplishment is evident as is the attention to detail. I could have spent hours there listening to the resident “historian”, Frank, talk about the importance of the Glider’s mission and the effort to bring this one back to life.  Here is a link to more information. http://www.pointvista.com/WW2GliderPilots/wacocg4a.htm

While on base, I was given a private tour of a Minuteman ICBM launch silo and control building. Now decommissioned, this remnant of the Cold War defense system was awe inspiring. I knew that they existed but I never thought that I would get the chance to descend into the bowels of one of the most secure and devastatingly lethal sites on earth.

 Beneath at least 50 feet of hardened concrete and behind two foot thick concrete blast doors, Sgt. Steven Busse showed me how and where rocketeers could have launched our response to a nuclear attack. In this almost surreal enclosure, you could only imagine the mindset of those entrusted with such a responsibility.

 Of course, after being assured that nothing would happen, I had to touch something.

The Woodworking Show opened its doors on Friday, the 28th, to one of the largest crowds we’ve seen on opening day in quite a while. This had to be a record for Kansas City and for the next two days the aisles would be jammed during the entire show. Sunday was a bit lighter but very well attended none the less. Our hapless “Crazy Canadian”, Paul Moore, fielded hockey pucks fired at a makeshift goal  by attendees hoping to win bottles of Titebond glue. Most were much better woodworkers than scorers as Paul kept reminding them that he was not the target.

Most vendors reported very brisk sales over the length of the show and some buyers made multiple trips to their vehicles. There was a good range of products on the show floor covering both tools and supplies. In fact, one vendor ran out of stock on Saturday! Likewise, those booths with educational offerings were also very well attended. Lee’s Summitt Woodworkers Guild had a great display and discussion about the techniques of assembling and turning segmented bowls.

 Frank’s hand tool demos drew nice crowds in his Heritage School of Woodworking booth.

  And Tommy Mac kept the crowd entertained at the entrance to the show on Saturday with his hand plane review.

The Show Off Showcase was another bright spot this last weekend. The number and quality of the projects made the judging somewhat difficult. Just a few votes separated the first and second place finishers. In the end, it was “Tyler’s Tool Cabinet” by Jay Helland that took the top spot. The bookmatched material and the joinery on this piece drew attention.

 Second place went to James Wilcox and his “Jewelry Chest”. His attention to detail made his project a real standout. Third place was a carved wall hanging made by Lew Johnston. this man’s talent and sense of humor made him a pleasure to talk to.

 Each winner selected a Bosch Tool and Jay’s project will go on to the final judging in Houston this April.

Those of us involved with the show and the show’s management heard this same refrain all weekend. We were told by our fellow woodworkers that of all the shows they had come to, this was the best they had seen yet. On behalf of those who own, organize, set up and display at the show each weekend, thank you. Personally, I had a great weekend also and had the added benefit of a visit by those I admire at WOOD Magazine. Nate Granzow, Karl Ehlers, Marlen Kemmet and Bill Krier made the three hour drive from Des Moines to say hi and take a look around. Tom Davis, our group publisher, also stopped in. I’m told that you’re judged by the company you keep. How could I not love what I do.  

WOOD Magazine and the Woodworking Shows travel to Columbus, Ohio this next weekend, February 3-5, at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. We have used this venue for many years and expect to see the same great attendees. For our part, we hope to provide an experience that will inspire and equip you to be an even better woodworker. Ads I’ve mentioned in the past, please plan on preregistering to beat the crowds at the door. We are getting quicker at processing same day attendance but you’ll be happier if you can bypass any possible lines. And follow this link to save two dollars off your admission. http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html. Stop in at the WOOD Magazine booth and see how to add a little embellishment to your project. I’d like to meet you.

‘Till then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

This last Friday, January 20th, the Woodworking Shows opened its doors in Indianapolis, Indiana and I began my trek down there on Thursday. This is usually a pretty quick trip of about four hours. Not so this time. Mother nature and some “fearless” drivers would add another hour and a half to that trip. With visions of taking that checkered flag, 18 wheelers looking like snow ghosts passed we Sunday drivers creating clouds of swirling snow and severely limiting any real visibility. Ignoring the proverbial yellow caution flags that would have been waved on overpasses and curves, they discovered the laws of physics still apply when traveling over packed snow on an iced roadway. I can only imagine the rush of adrenaline that three of those drivers must have experienced as they plowed into each other. Traffic had slowed to ogle another would be Parnelli Jones about 100 yards ahead whose big rig was nose down in a culvert. We were detoured around all the action and back onto I-65 Southbound after a lengthy delay. Not to be outdone, further south on the northbound side of the “expressway”,  a semi crash and trailer fire resulted in a  red flag closing the roadway and backing up race fans for miles. Sure glad I was a spectator and not a participant.

The show in Indy was held in the State Fairgrounds which also hosted the annual home show in the next building over. Our venue, the Toyota Blue Ribbon Hall, was packed with attendees all weekend long.

Though parking was at a premium, everyone seemed to have navigated the lots well and found their way into the show. There was a wide selection of tools from area dealers including air tools and stationary tools.

 Hollingsworth Lumber brought some really nice stock so one could learn a technique at an educational booth, pick out some great material and then bring home the tools needed to finish everything. Kind of a one stop shop, if you will.

If you were looking for some instruction on how to build a Greene and Greene inspired furniture piece, Bernard Woodworking School was the place to get started. They have classes in all phases of our craft and some beautiful examples of finished work on display. The Women’s Woodworking Guild of Indiana also had a booth showing the accomplishments of their members.

It seems that the show continues to add new content for attendees and now Ron Brown from Woodline USA  can be found conducting short turning classes from his sales booth.

The Show Off Showcase had some nice entries this last weekend. The first place winner was Alan Brittingham and his “Caleb’s Wagon”. All but completely of wood, this project was well constructed and sure to please the intended recipient.

 Second place were a pair of pierced turning plates called “Charlets Web” by Duane Leach.

 And third place was a very unique three legged “Figured Maple Chest” by David Valentin. This project caught my eye when I first walked by the displayed pieces and David was justifiably proud of his effort. Each of the winners took home a Bosch Tool.

Kansas City is next up for the Woodworking shows. We will be there the weekend of January 27-29 at the Overland Park International Trade Center on 115th Street in Overland Park. This is another of the Big 10 shows and we anticipate nice crowds and a hall full of venders, schools and educational booths. You can check out www.thewoodworkingshows.com for the locations of the remaining shows in this season.  Judging from the last couple of shows, it would be a good idea to preregister on line and avoid the lines. if you are coming out, follow this link http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html to save two dollars off your admission price. You can also have your single day ticket extended to all three days for free by stopping at the information counter on the show floor. If you plan to take in all of the free education, you’ll need the extra time. These are the best shows you’ll find to provide the knowledge, supplies and tools to build that special project. Stop in at the WOOD Magazine booth and I’ll show you how to add that personal touch that will really set your project apart from the rest.

Oh ,and inside the hall, you’ll find a well lit and warm environment with dry pavement. We want you to be a participant, not just a spectator. Try the tools, ask questions and engage your mind. We’re here for you. Just drive safely getting here. OK?

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

 The New England show was the next stop on the Woodworking Show circuit and I flew into Bradley International airport in Hartford on Thursday, January 12th. I had gotten an invitation from Tommy Mac to stop out at his shop and this was the perfect opportunity to see him. The drive from the airport to his workshop in Canton, Mass would take about two hours and the time went by quickly. Located in an industrial park that was once a textile mill, his shop was spacious with machines arranged to provide easy access for the filming of his show, Rough Cut with Tommy Mac. He and his assistant, Eli, are already preparing for the next season of his show and Eli was busy turning a prototype lamp base that Tommy had envisioned. As we walked through the shop, Tommy talked about the process of producing a show and the constraints of building and explaining a project in 22 minutes. He is proud to say that these are his original designs and he hopes that his efforts will provide his audience with enthusiasm and inspiration.

Tommy is passionate about his craft and, in a room off the main machine area, he showed me his pride and joy. This exquisite furniture piece took him years to finish and I could feel his sense of accomplishment as he touched each element of it. He said that in a perfect world, this is what he would do every day.

A little later we stopped out at his home and he and his wife, Rachel, showed me more of his furniture pieces that grace a part of every room. He is a very talented artisan and a very gracious host. He indulged every question I had and made me feel welcome in what I know must have been a very busy schedule. The couple of hours that I spent in Canton made this weekend even more fulfilling. I love my job and the people it has allowed me to meet. Tommy sure succeeded in providing me with the increased desire to spend as much time as I can in my own shop.

The New England show venue was in West Springfield, Mass and the doors opened at noon on Friday the 13th to a hall filled with vendors, clubs and educational booths. I wish that there had been more tool vendors but there were places to buy table saws, jointers, portable tools and woodworking supplies. David Keller was there with his dovetail jig and Lee Valley had an impressive display of hand planes and hand tools. The Shelter Institute also sold hand tools in addition to the timber framed buildings that they have become known for. Many of the attendees took advantage of the blade sharpening at the Freud booth.

Turning clubs were out in force this last weekend also and had some very nicely crafted bowls and vases on display in the Central Connecticut Woodturners booth. I watched the process of cutting the open, almost filigree look, of a shallow bowl.

New to the show this last week was a slice of a redwood log. I didn’t ask how old it was but counting those almost imperceptible growth rings would have taken forever. It was already beginning to split with the dryness of the building and the hope is that this will stabilize enough eventually to stand up to the constant moving that the show does around the country.

The new tool I found this last week was a sharpening jig with a twist. The Sharp Skate is a finely machined guide that uses the entire length of a sharpening stone by grinding the blade edge from side to side as opposed to front to back. The wheels on its bottom side allow for a very smooth even stroke and an impressively quick sharpening on the completed edge. A video on www.getsharper.com shows this better than I can explain it.

The winner of the Show Off Showcase this last weekend went to Matthew Caveto for his Mahogany and Cherry game table. The work was very well done and the inlayed flowers really showed the craftsman’s skills.

 The second place entry was a bench of Birds Eye Maple and Mahogany by Kevin Net and the very unique night stand in Curly Maple and Bittersweet by Alexander Grant took third. Each winner chose a tool from Bosch as a prize for their efforts.

The Woodworking Show heads to the Midwest this upcoming weekend of January 20-22 and we’ll be at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. We will be in the Toyota Blue Ribbon Pavilion with a real blue ribbon show.  This has always been a great venue and there is no reason to expect anything less. You’ll have plenty to see and do with all the vendors and educational areas. It looks like the weather will cooperate and you can save a couple of bucks off your admission by visiting this link. http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html. And preregister to save time in what will surely be a long line to purchase tickets at the door. The show continues to make changes to enhance your experience. Come out and see what we’ve been doing. And stop by the WOOD Magazine booth. I really enjoy seeing members of our extended woodworking family. You’ll feel right at home.

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

The holiday season, New Years and the bowl games are now just a memory as I begin the winter and spring road trip to the Woodworking Shows. For as long as I can remember, the first show of the year has always been in Baltimore. Even having traveled there many times, I still enjoy this city and the hundreds of years of history in it.  Arriving on Thursday gave me time to do a little exploring in downtown Baltimore. Destination, Westminster Church.

 Or more accurately, the graveyard beside and under it. Though many cities lay claim to being the home of Edgar Allen Poe, Baltimore is his final resting place. In 1875, a monument to this acclaimed author was unveiled in a cemetery befitting the genre of his work and times.

 Earthen, concrete and stone crypts provide a look back to the 17 and 18 hundreds and there is even a catacomb under the church itself. Poe’s actual gravesite is at the back corner of the cemetery as are the reinterred remains of his wife and other family members. The local elite class demanded more elaborate edifices and this Rosicrucian Temple is but one example. A very interesting place to explore in the daytime. At night, quoth the raven, ‘nevermore’.

The show’s doors opened on Friday, January 6th to easily the largest crowd of attendees this season with even the owner, Joe Strong, risking life and limb on an elevated fork lift to place the final banner at the entrance. A performance you just don’t get at any other trade show.

Once inside the doors, there was much more to see. This weekend, there were at least ten free educational areas on the show floor providing very diverse topics throughout the day. I’m not sure that you could take full advantage of them all  over the three days of the show. Tommy Mac was back and dazzled the crowd and my camera with a taste of his “Rough Cut” woodworking show. Robert Settich reviewed cabinet construction and the “Crazy Canadian”, Paul Moore,  showed us how it’s done up north.

Speaking of Paul, and in an effort to highlight new tools, the clear winner this week is the “Canadian Table Saw” (patent pending, of course). Though he will be the first to say “don’t try this at home”, he was able to whip up a pretty mean dovetail box, eh. It does have a fence and I’m sure as soon as he has a splitter and blade guard ready, this will be on to OSHA. He was not taking any advanced orders as yet.

A number of woodworking clubs and schools were on hand to show what their members and students are able to accomplish. The Maryland Artisan Guild had some beautiful turnings at the booth.

 With a great saw banner, the Annapolis Woodworkers Guild displayed a very unique live edge chair. The Acanthus workshop talked to attendees about the upcoming class schedules and had some of the student and instructor work on display.

There were many tool and supply companies on hand and I got a great price on some heavily figured birds eye maple in a booth that also displayed some of the nicest burl turning blanks I’ve seen in a while.

The Show Off Showcase drew a lot of attention this last weekend also and picking winners was a tough decision. First prize went to David Diamon’s “William and Mary Ladies Desk”.

 Done in a figured cherry, this will provide some stiff competition in the final judging of the season in Houston. Second place went to the “Pennsylvania Slant Front” done by Matt Miller. and finally, Greg Ward’s “Katie’s Trunk” took third place. Each of the winners received their choice of a  Bosch Tool.

Well, if you weren’t able to make the woodworking show in Baltimore, you missed a good one. But there are nine more of these over the top shows between now and April. This coming weekend, January 13 – 16, we will be in Springfield, MA at the Eastern States Expo. You can check with the shows at www.thewoodworkingshows.com for a full listing of the venues and dates as well as what to expect when you get there. And use this link, http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html for a discount on your admission. While you’re on their site, it would be a great idea to preregister and avoid the lines on the day of the show. You can walk right past the crowds and into the venue. New this year also are a limited number of headsets tuned to the seminar presenter’s microphone. No more straining to hear what’s being said in a loud hall. You’ll also find large projection screens in each booth to make seeing the action easier too. For some of us older (read more seasoned) woodworkers, being able to see and hear what’s going on could be a whole new experience.

If you do get to the show, please stop in the WOOD Magazine booth and say hi. And bring a story. It doesn’t even have to be about woodworking. I always enjoy the company and the conversation.

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

At the Prairieland Woodcrafters booth, there were a couple of nice projects on display. The carved leaves and the jewelry box were but two of them.

 One of the highlights there was meeting Will Schreier.  Considered a local treasure by his fellow club members, Will’s creations and his easy banter could keep you in the booth for hours. This retired electrical engineer has paired his woodworking skills with a love of all things mechanical to create some amazing projects. The very intricate gearing of the carousel and the wooden mockups just begged to be touched. I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to meet and get to know so many interesting people each weekend and Will is one that I gladly added to that list.

I also spent some time with my old (sorry, seasoned) friends at the Fox Valley Woodworking Club who had projects on display as well. These clocks were very well done.

It was nice to have Matt Seiler at the show on Friday. Matt, our forum moderator at WOOD, spent the entire day in the booth, walking the show floor and talking in person to those he normally “sees” on line. We also had dinner together after promising each other that we would not have anything with turkey in it.

The Show Off Showcase had some very nice entries this last week. Adapted from a WOOD Magazine plan, this cheese and cracker tray with lid and cutting board used a router instead of a lathe for the majority of the construction. My granddaughters would love the scroll sawn carriage that was fit for a princess. Not on Santa’s list this year.

It was Ray Lupori who garnered first place with this “Truck, Lowboy and Bulldozer”. This very detailed creation with countless moving parts will be a gift to his grandson. Second place went to the “Sam Maloof Inspired Rocker” made by Paul O’Donnell. It was Paul’s first attempt at a chair. I think that we’ll see more from him in the future. And third place was William Close’s “West of Denver” table. Here also, the work was stunning.

This was the last show of 2011. Beginning on January 6-8, 2012 the show moves to the East coast and opens in Baltimore. This is the start of what is called the “Big 10”. These next shows boast very large woodworker attendance and larger halls to house the greatly increased number of vendors and exhibits. If you haven’t been to a show in a while, it will be well worth the trip. And if you’re going, visit this linkhttp://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html to get a couple of dollars off the admission price.

With no woodworking shows in December, this Santa will be busy in his shop. The first “gifts” I’ll be making will not the under the tree but hanging from the wall as I finish up the cabinets that have been on my wife’s list for what I hear has been a long time. I think that there will be more HO HO HOs when I’ve finished them. Not as many until then. I love being in demand.

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

This last weekend’s flight on November 18-20, took me  a little more than a thousand miles west of my home in Huntley, Illinois to Denver, Colorado and to a change in both climate and altitude. The Woodworking Show would open its doors about a mile above sea level and to an arid 60 degree sunny weekend. Taking full advantage of the area and the weather, I drove out to Boulder to see the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which is situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain National Park. Funded by the National Science Foundation, NCAR does not predict the weather but analyzes all atmospheric behavior and transfers that knowledge and resultant technology to benefit the world. As an example, my flight that day was guided by instruments calibrated by data from this institution. The causes and effects of pollution on agriculture and communication issues in times of solar flares are more of the things I learned that they are involved in.  The programs, building and grounds made this a great stop.

The Denver Woodworking Show drew nice crowds, and for those who have felt that there weren’t enough tool companies at the show, they sure were treated to some of the best selections we’ve had. In addition to our show sponsor, Bosch Tools, attendees found reps selling Milwaukee, Hitachi, Makita, Saw Stop, Rockwell, General, Delta, Powermatic, Jet, Festool and Porter Cable and Dewalt. Hammer also had their professional line of stationary tools.

 In fact, the show probably had more space dedicated to these manufacturers than we’ve seen. And most had some form of demonstration going on continually throughout the day. It was easy to pick out those who hadn’t seen the hot dog and the saw blade matchup at Saw Stop.  Wow, did they jump when the bang signaled the hot dog the winner!

I stopped in at the booth of the Front Range Woodturners (actually lured by the invitation to have a fudge brownie), and talked to Larry Cook. This club of over 300 members had some beautiful examples of their work on display. His “flame bowl” was the result of a turned bowl blow out that he had salvaged and sculpted into something he was justly proud of.

My surprise this last weekend was how relatively few entries we had in the Show Off Showcase. The winners surely weren’t complaining though. Rick LeBlanc took top honors with his very well crafted “Cedar Strip Kayak”.

 His entry (a digital version unless he’d like to paddle that thing down to Houston in April) will be entered in the final grand prize judging at our last show of the season. Second place went to Kevin Loyd for his “Floating Wall Cabinet”. David Dent’s entry, “Surfboard Table”, took third.

All of our winners left with a Bosch power tool and the recognition of fellow attendees.

My travels will take me East this upcoming weekend, November 25-27, but only about 35 minutes by car from home. We will be at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, Illinois and inviting woodworkers to gobble up (sorry, couldn’t help it) all the education and deals we offer. We hope you’ll be stuffing (again, sorry) your bags with the tool deals you’ll find and your mind with all the free seminars. You can take your nap later.

And, if you follow this link, you can take $2 off your admisssion. http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html 

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

This last weekend the Woodworking Shows traveled to Portland, Oregon. This is still one of my favorite destinations on the tour as it blends some of the most beautiful scenery in the country with a talented eclectic group of wodworkers. I took advantage of the only sunny dry day of the weekend to drive out to the Columbia River Gorge with fellow educator Roland Johnson to show him why I find this area is so amazing. Though I have experienced fall in many parts of the country, the season here is even more lush than normal. We spent the afternoon walking, taking pictures and solving world problems. Not a bad days work.

The show opened on Friday to some of the heaviest fog I’ve seen. No problem for the locals who have come to this venue for years And there was something for everyone to see. Before the doors opened, Paul Moore from Stockroom Supply ran a fun clinic on hockey, Canadian style, and awarded bottles of Titebond glue to those who answered questions about our northern neighbor. One of the first booths in the show featured examples of Intarsia and carving. The booth was literally jammed with projects and club members demonstrating their specialties. There was also music from the carved flutes on display. Kind of a multisensory experience.

Woodworkers seeking more formalized education checked out the Guild of Oregon Woodworkers who had class schedules posted and someone to talk to about what to expect when they enrolled. In another booth there were demonstrations of marquetry and the techniques to make it easy.

The Show Off Showcase was easily the best to date and definately raised the bar for the eventual overall winner in Houston. Portland’s winner was Richard Babbitt’s “Table de Vino”. The top was white oak crotch veneer and Macasar ebony and the carved base was Mudrona. This flawless rendering will grace the foyer in the Babbitt home.

Second place went to the “Hitachi Crawler Crane” by Mike Rohrbach. Made almost entirely of wood, all the parts were operable.

 Lastly, the “Chamarros Sunburn Rocker” by Kelly Gerke was a very gracefull interpretation of a Maloof chair and his first attempt at a dyed finish.

 Each entrant took home a Woodworking Show goodie bag and the winners each had a choice of a Bosch tool.

Not only did I enjoy the weekend but I also got to take home a prize. Don, one of my loyal regular attendees brought a block of Tillamook cheese that I’ll enjoy for a while. I also received a few abalone shells and about half a board foot of a 2000 year old Redwood. I said that this was one of my favorite cities.

Next week, November 18-20, we will be in Denver,  Colorado, at the Denver Merchandise Mart. Each week the show gets larger and Denver should be the busiest yet. If you’re in the area, please come out and see what we have to offer. And bring a friend. Brush up on your slap shot and take home some glue. Enter the drawing for the free bandsaw that’s given away at each show. And use this link to save a couple of bucks on your admission. http://thewoodworkingshows.com/styled-6/index.html
You’ll be glad you came out.

‘Til then, I’ll see you on the road.

Jim Heavey

WOOD Magazine Traveling Ambassador

Like most large companies in the world, the Robert Bosch Company has grown not only through innovation and development of its own product lines, but also through acquisitions of existing companies. For example, in recent years Bosch has acquired Sia Abrasives, a Swiss-based company making sandpaper and other abrasives for many industries, and also Freud, the Italian business that makes cutting tools (saw blades, router bits, shaper cutters, etc.) and produces its own carbide.

My next stop was the former Scintilla company headquarters in Solothurn, Switzerland. At this facility Bosch makes jigsaws, sanders, electric drills, 55mm circular saws, and oscillating mulit-tools. I was able to see Bosch’s newest oscillating multi-tool, which will have a tool-free quick-change head, so you won’t need a tool to remove the tiny screw to change out accessories. This tool will be available by March 2012. I also got to see a new high-end jigsaw that will be on the market by summer 2012 and will have improved blade guides, LED lights, a plastic-infused foot plate, and a swivel-mounted power cord. Here’s a photo timeline of Bosch’s jigsaw history:

I got a thorough walk-through of the production and assembly lines, but, as proved the case at every stop, I was not allowed to take photos. (Companies worry that published photos could give away proprietary manufacturing secrets. And since I’m no James Bond, I was not able to secretly take any photos.) Like the other Bosch plants I’ve seen, this one was clean, reasonably quiet, and laid out for efficient work flow. Many of the tools are now being packaged in the newer system containers, made for stacking and locking together for easier storage and transport. (Think of them as very similar to Festool’s Systainer boxes, but colored Bosch blue, and you get the idea.)

I learned a great deal at this stop about the world power tool market. According to our host, about 20.3 billion dollars is spent each year on power tools and accessories. Bosch’s share of that figure is about 4.8 billion dollars, tops in the world. Bosch ranks No. 1 worldwide in total sales of portable electric tools, total accessories, and measuring tools, and ranks No. 1 for accessories in masonry drilling and demolition, jigsaw and reciprocating saw blades, circular saw blades and router bits (including Freud), and mixed drilling and driving sets. Globally, Europe ranks No. 1 in tool sales, with North America second, Asia third, and Latin America/South America fourth, but also the fastest growing.

Here’s a ranking of accessories (regardless of brand) sold in 2010 throughout the world:

1. Coated abrasives (sandpaper, for example)
2. Bonded abrasives (chop saw blades, for example)
3. Circular saw blades
4. Diamond cutting tools
5. Metal-cutting bits
6. Industrial cutting tools
7. Non-woven abrasives (Scotch-Brite or foam pads, for example)
8. Small concrete hammer chisels
9. Reciprocating saw blades
10. Mixed sets of drill and driver bits
11. Hole saws
12. Impact/rotary bits
13. Wood-drilling bits
14. Screwdriving bits
15. Large concrete hammer chisels

**—Jigsaw blades, router bits, and oscillating multi-tool accessories ranked 17^th through 19^th.

The next stop was St. Niklaus, a tiny village in the Alps near the Italian border. The only way to get to this village is by train, so even the trucks carrying supplies to Bosch’s plant hitch a ride on the “ferry” train through (and by that I mean through tunnels) the towering mountains. Each day this truck brings in a load of raw materials and leaves with a load of blades and other accessories. Why this remote location? According to our host, following World War II there was a shortage of manpower throughout northern Switzerland, but this quaint Alpine area had workers, so that’s where Scintilla set up shop. And Bosch has left it in place since acquiring it in the late 1940s.

At the St. Niklaus plant Bosch makes all its linear-edge accessories: jigsaw blades, reciprocating saw blades, stepped drill bits, and oscillating multi-tool blades and attachments. They make 752 types of cutting tools in 5,217 different packaged versions—about 200 million products per year. Bosch ranks No. 1 in the world in sales of jigsaw blades and recip blades. While touring the production floors I learned that nearly all the world’s jigsaw and recip blades are made here, including for most competitive brands. So if your blade says “made in Switzerland,” it was made by Bosch at this plant.

At the Bosch Archives (which is more like a Bosch museum, but they had already named it before I arrived) I enjoyed a guided tour through the facility from the curator. He told me about how Robert Bosch, born in 1861 in the area near Stuttgart, Germany, grew up with a desire to be a precision mechanic. He studied under a number of established practitioners in Germany and the U.S. (including Thomas Edison), and later found his calling making parts for internal combustion engines. His magneto, the part that generates the spark needed to burn the fuel in the engine cylinders, was his signature product, and his business grew well from that. That magneto is visible today as a cross section in the Bosch company logo. (Run out and grab a Bosch tool and study it, or just look at the photo here of one of the original magnetos, and you’ll see the logo in the cross-section of the armature.)

 As Bosch’s business grew, he delved into making parts for automobiles, and today that sector accounts for 60 percent of Bosch’s total business. In 1928 he launched his first power tool, the Forfex hair cutter, shown here. A few years later he added the first jigsaw, electric drill, and concrete hammer/breaker.

The Bosch company continued to make tools and automotive parts and also added other industries as it diversified. As you might expect, the Bosch factories were bombed in World War II as the company was forced to make armaments and supplies for the Nazis. But Robert Bosch was secretively helping the French resistance movement at the same time. Robert Bosch died in 1942, but he set in place a business model that would ensure the company would survive and thrive, primarily by investing in the workforce and developing new products. Bosch was a very philanthropic man, and his company continues that tradition 125 years after he started the company.

On a visit to Bosch’s headquarters for the power tool division in Leinfelden, I watched hundreds of workers machine parts for many Bosch products as well as assembling angle grinders and concrete breakers (jackhammers). It’s an efficient process with raw materials coming in one end of the facility and packaged tools leaving from the other end. And it was surprisingly clean given how many industrial cutting tools used oil while machining the metal parts. I also got to see lots of tools from one of Bosch’s training and development managers, and I even got to try out some of the tools, including concrete rotary hammers and breakers, which I’d never used before. Pretty cool!

They didn’t have any new tools to show me that might be coming to the U.S. market soon, so that was disappointing, but it’s due in large part to the fact that I saw many of the soon-to-hit-the-market tools at Bosch’s Chicago office in June. Anyway, I did get a closer look at many of Bosch’s green-branded power tools, which are marketed towards DIYers and home-owners. They’re comparable to Skil’s brand of tools sold in the U.S.—a more affordable option to the blue-branded professional line of tools.

One of the coolest tools I saw was the IXO Vino, a 3.6-volt cordless driver with a corkscrew attachment for opening bottles of wine. It’s really slick—but it’s not available in the states, and likely won’t be unless they launch it in the Skil line, which makes sense because Skil already has the IXO driver by itself. But Bosch officials said they don’t plan to sell the corkscrew attachment as a separate accessory.

Later that evening I got to enjoy a guided tour of the Porsche museum, also located in Stuttgart. That was really cool, but because I’ve got a lot of photos of the many cars I saw, I’ll add that later as a separate entry.

Tomorrow we head for Switzerland to see one of Bosch’s manufacturing facilities for accessories. Ciao!