Hi,
Just a post to say that I went to the Lie Nielsen tool show at the Crucible in Oakland, CA on Saturday. There was a goodly crowd in the late AM, it seemed to thin tremendously by mid afternoon. Hard to gauge how many were buying, but I do know my buddy dropped some coin with Kevin Glen Drake.
I wasn’t too sure of Drake’s double gun-handle saw last year, but I test drove it this year, and I see where he’s coming from. Drake sells both the tools and his methods of work for using them, so he provides a complete system.
I test drove every flawless infill hand plane Sauer and Steiner Toolworks brought. The big jointer plane was estimated at around $10K, 28″ of steel and ebony. Oh, my, it cut like buttah. One plane featured a powder metal blade (thanks to Ron Hock himself for providing an educated and enlightening explanation of how its made), intentioned for horribly hard wood (African blackwood was mentioned), which might ordinarily turn an A2 iron into a dull bit of metal in just a few passes.
John Economaki from Bridge City Tools brought his Jointmaker Pro saw. It is a nifty solution for safe and accurate cutting of small parts, but $1300 is durn spendy for an un-assembled tool, he adds another $250 for assembly. For $1550, I’ll find another way to get the job done. Or I won’t use small parts.
The biggest draw was Lie Nielsen’s sharpening demonstration. Ya’d swear there was a nekked lady there, what with all the whooping and hollering going on. No, just a bunch of equally excited galoots putting deadly edges on A2 irons.
Anyone else go?
Cheers,
Seth
Replies
Seth,
Sounds like a show not to be missed. Is this an annual show?
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Chris,So far, yes, it's annual, I went last year, too; I just don't know if they had one in 2007 or earlier. I suppose as long as there is enough turn out that leads to show sales, Lie Nielsen will continue to sponsor it. Last year, Steve Latta was demonstrating Lie Nielsen's inlay tools, laying holly stringing into some table legs. He does nice work. No extra demo this year, just the LN staff.At this show, LN showed their fishtail chisels, tongue 'n groove plane, and a chamfer plane. Chris Becksvoort apparently collaborated with LN on a special chisel tool to do drawer lock sets.Not an overly huge crowd on Saturday, I think I saw the bulk of it from noon to 2. Maybe 100 people + at any given time? I'm a poor guesser.The Crucible is a hip, artisan workshop. Wood, metal, glass, ceramics, foundry, welding and blacksmith all share a roof. http://thecrucible.org/Cheers,Seth
Edited 2/15/2009 7:04 pm ET by Hamelech
Seth, while we were up in san francisco visiting 2 of our 5, i got a kitchen pass from the mrs. (sitting out in the truck doing crossword puzzles) to wander around for an hour and a quarter. mike and chris wenzloff were there, great saws;kevin glen drake was there with wheeler ?,and i agree his explanation of his thought process was insightful; denab, ericka and patrick were doing great for lie-nielsen; the sauer steiner planes were gorgeous but i was afraid to ask price; first time to the crucible and first time to this show, wish they had one closer to me down along the central coast. now i just gotta send some more $ to glen drake and lie nielsen . . . .
I was there on Friday afternoon to pick up a #4 A2 iron and chipbreaker I ordered from Ron Hock. It was a nice small show. Everything for the Galoot... pure handtool porn. No loud machinery... just the soft sounds of scraping, sawing and planing.
I tried John Economaki's new Jointmaker Pro. Like you said, it's a bit spendy, but it sure does take precision cuts to a whole new level. The miters I cut were glass smooth. I probably won't get one, but it's nice to know there are people innovating in the non-powertool arena. Everything John brings to market is unique and high quality.
Those Sauer and Steiner planes are really functional art. Beautiful things... but you could outfit a small shop for the price of one plane. Heady stuff for sure.
Of course Lie-Nielsen was there with all their goodies. I wanted to take a shopping cart and fill it up with everything they make. It took a lot of willpower to walk out without more than the blade I came for.
Best,
Raul
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