Boy, I’m just getting this entry in under the wire for Day 1
(Sunday) of Get Woodworking Week. For
more information on Get Woodworking Week and the genius behind the idea, hop on
over to Tom’s Workbench at www.tomsworkbench.com. This week devoted to getting folks out into
the shop, encouraging those new to the craft and engaging the woodworking
community, both locally and virtually, was the brain-child of Tom Iovino one
year ago. That officially makes this the
Second Annual Get Woodworking Week. When
you’ve done something more than once, you can start calling it “Annual”…much
like “Pete’s Fourth Annual Cholesterol Check-up” or the “Umpteenth Annual
Disappointing Season for the Dallas Stars”…back off Red Wings fans!
The week also could not have started off on a better note
for me woodworking-wise (say that ten times fast!) We just wrapped up the Woodworking Show here
in Denver! I attended all three days and
soaked up as many great presentations as I could. I have many pages of notes…and a few less
dollars. The boys’ college funds are
still intact though.
This leads into my first recommendation to any beginning
woodworkers out there. Go to the
show! For any of you living in or near
the cities hosting the next seven shows of the season, be sure to check the
roster of instructors and classes and get yourselves out there. (http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/shows.htm)
Sure, there are a lot of product vendors, some with really
good demos/instruction, and some that are a little more cheesy and
sales-pitchy, but they’ve really stepped it up in the educational experience
since my last show up in the Twin Cities a couple years ago.
One of the vendors you should make time for is Alex
Snodgrass of Carter Tools. He runs his
band saw clinic and really sheds some light on how to best use this amazingly versatile
tool. He and his dad will answer
questions all day long for you. I had
purchased a set of Carter guides at the last Minnesota show I attended, but
never got around to installing them on my own saw. Having been so inspired this weekend…my band
saw is now torn apart to make way for these great guides.
The highlights of the show for me were connecting with a few
of the local woodworking clubs and sitting in on presentations by Jim Heavey
(Wood Magazine) and Andy Chidwick (Chidwick School of Fine Woodworking.) Jim taught a three-part series on finishing,
and I left with a bunch of new ideas and things to try. He’s also an excellent speaker and
story-teller. You can tell that he genuinely
enjoys sharing the craft and teaching others.
Andy (The Woodworking Coach) is just one fired up individual with a real
passion for sharing his vision and bringing out the vision and creativity in
others. His sessions covered a wide
range of the craft from the technical to the philosophical. I am very interested in making it up to his
school in Montana some time for one of his week-long classes and trying out his
new online extension of the school coming in May. I was inspired!
So there you have it!
Get out to the show! If you’re
not able to make it to one of the shows this year, be on the lookout for other
opportunities to get plugged in with others around you. Chances are there is a woodworking club or
guild in your area filled with folks who love to share and teach. Reach out and start making those connections
that will move you along in your journey.
Be sure to hop on over to Tom’s Workbench to check out links
to other blogs that are also participating in Get Woodworking Week - 2013.
Before I leave you, take a peek at these few links related
to my own show experience.
Jim Heavey’s blog of his experiences at the shows - http://www.woodmagazine.com/blogs/woodworking-blog/tag/jim-heavey/
Meet Jim – a great
interview with the guys over at the Modern Woodworker’s Association (the first
few minutes of the interview are lost, but it’s still a great intro to Jim!) - http://www.modernwoodworkersassociation.com/2012/10/mwa-podcast-episode-14-jim-heavey-of.html
Andy Chidwick’s School of Fine Woodworking - http://chidwickschool.com/
Meet Andy – another
great interview by the guys at MWA - http://www.modernwoodworkersassociation.com/2012/12/mwa-podcast-episode-19-andy-chidwick-of.html
For my Colorado peeps…
So now you have a short list of links to get going after. You have no excuses to not start digging in
and getting engaged in your woodworking.
Now go Get Woodworking!
Pete
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