Although it is still open, I had my day yesterday. it was a good show even though they started charging for the parking. Three building and two seminar tents, the bandsaw mills outside and lots of big tools to dream about.
There seemed to be more turners there this year. I always enjoy watching the lathe work. I got to see one man demonstrating a bowl saver and watched as the block broke free and caroomed off his face. Split lip and an "oh well that happens some times" spoke right to many of us that have had that dance with a spinning piece of wood. The big stores filled the centers of the two big buildings with their wares and the small vendors were along the outside. It amazes me each year home many big ticket items end up with sold signs on them during the show. General was out in force, even sponsoring a Secondary School's display showing a bunch of beginners working on projects. They wisely kept the General display away from the Delta folks. No comparison in quality with the big stuff. KMS Tools is now carrying General machines too which gives another local outlet for big green iron.
There also seemed to be more Non wood type vendors this year too. Stuff like shoe support inserts, glass cutters and the ever popular cleaning products. That part made me laugh the most. I watched many men leaving with boxes of new tools under their arm and smiles on their faces. Many of these also had a little something for the wife at home. One of the nonwood vendors was selling mops to clean lino, or tile floors. He was an animated salesman and his bunch blocked the aisle most of the time. Now these men, convinced that their wife needed this new mop to clean better purchased them. Picture if you will, the proud hubby arrives home with his toys, perhaps sneaking them into the shop and then proudly presents his wife with a new mop.. "Here honey, thought of you today at the wood show and bought you this wonderful new mop. I know that you hate to clean the floor but with this new one it will seem almost like a game. Why the man at the show just danced around cleaning and made it look so easy" I hope the cold temps didn't effect to many of these thoughtful men as they slept in the shop last night.
All in all a good show. Now it is out to my shop to play with my new toys as well. FWIW