Wood Working Show Dilema

[Maurice Ungaro]

OK, here's the rub: The Atlanta WW Show is next weekend (28th - 30th), and it's just 10 miles up the road from me. My wife doesn't mind me going, but says I only have $150 to spend there. I've never been to one of these, and WANT to go, but do I need to take more money to make it worthwhile, or is the visit itself worth the price of admission? Will I only lust after things that can't be had, or will I find that some "Show specials" fit those budgetary constraints?

Maurice

[Mark Rhodes]

Im heading to the same show for the first time as well. My other half has been a little more (not much) understanding with the wallet. It would be good to know what is available and are the prices good? The website for the show is pretty poor.

[Peter Stahl]

I've been to several shows and prices are not super low but there are some package deals that save you a little. I go just to see stuff in person. The most I ever spent was when I bought a Tormek. Had the wife with me, she insisted I get it. Depending on what you want to get should be what you take, it's like going to the casino, don't take more than you want to spend/loose. Good place to meet people from WW Forums too!

Pete

[Mark J Bachler]

Do your homework before you go. Take catalogs with you & check prices, for instance, Freud had their 96-tooth 12" ultimate chop saw blade at the show for $114. 7 corners ( a local tool shop) had it for $98 in their catalog. 7 corners had a booth right across from Freud but didn't have any blades on hand at the show. Freud matched the price after a little persuasion. Just because it’s at the show or say’s it’s a show special doesn’t mean it’s the cheapest price in town. By all means go to it though. There’s allot of cool demos & you’ll pick up some good ideas.

p.s. Tell the Mini Max guys that Bachler says hey.

[Steve Jenkins]

don't hesitate. Just go. I try to go to as many as I can and quite often don't spend a penny except for a drink or two. I go because I like to see the machinery and tools up close and there are people that I only see at the shows. Nice to say hi once a year or so, face to face. Since you are in Atlanta you should plan on going to the IWF in 2006. 2nd largest woodworking machinery and supply fair in the world.

[Tyler Howell]

Like Mark said, Do your home work. Like anyplace else they are using the hype and Glitter to sell stuff.
I posted this to get together with the folks from this area. There is a lot of truth and good suggestions from this soggy bottom bunch. Enjoy.;)


http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=12934

[Chris DeHut]

Hi Maurice,

While there are some deals to be had, there are a couple more reasons to consider going.

As someone already mentioned, watching the demos and seeing the various tools is a great experiece. Down the road when the budget gets a little better to purchase some tools or products, you will at least have had a demonstration to gain a better understanding of the tools or products. Keep in ming though, that when watching the demos there, these folks are very good at demonstrating their products advantages. They demonstrate their products 3 days a week all day long so they are very good at making things look easy.

There are other seminars at these shows too. While often times you end up in the back row and can barely hear the speaker, you can learn some nice techniques for "free".

So, while the shows are a place to purchase tools and products, you can also leverage the show as a learning experience to use further down the road.

Chris DeHut

[Scott Coffelt]

Good thing is it is a three day pass usually, therefor you can go and spot out things you may want. Then go home a research then go back. At 10 minutes drive, no big deal.

I always find the show to be enjoyable, if not buying at least to just check out stuff first hand and also watch demos and the such. Last year I watch for at least an hour the guy at the Logasol booth wressle a huge cherry truck. It had him using his best knowledge and trial and error. I kind of fdelt bad for him, cause in the end I bet there was a huge number of folks that said no way and heck would you catch them doing it.

But the results of the cherry cut were worth the price of admission. If I had the space I would have bought the green wood right then and there.

[Peter Gavin]

Does any one know if there is a show in the Chicago or Milwaukee area coming up?

Peter

[John Shuk]

Go. It is fun and informative. You can spend the $150 and get alot of tips and information for the future. It is a good time.

[Mike Tempel]

I agree with the rest. Go but do your homework prior to buying anything. I like to go on Friday and just hunt:cool: . Then I will go back on Saturday and go in for the kill:eek: . I try to not go on Sunday as I find myself buying things I normally wouldn't since I am overly awestruck by the show. Also, since I am going to the Houston show the price of parking exceeds the admission price - and the show ticket is good for a three day admission while parking is somewhere around 7 or 8 bucks.



Heck - I have to take vacation to go to the show and I don't mind one bit. That is one of my top vacation spots. Where else can you go and see all those tools, smell all that sawdust, meet interesting people, and totally blow a year's tool budget all in one room??

[Ted Shrader]

Maurice -

Go! Enjoy yourself!

Go with research in mind. Where else can you see and touch so many different products in the same place?

Take a catalog or two along for reference prices. The show prices are typically a little bit better (sometimes not), plus there is the instant gratification factor. For $150 you are not going to copme away with a big piece of iron. You will be able to pick up a few jigs and tips and tricks.

Go, do some research and save your money to later order what you were able to pick out.

Ted

[Chris DeHut]

There should be a show in Milwaukee at the state fair grounds in February. We may be exhibiting there, but not decided yet. There should also be one in Rosemont (just west of Chicago) in Feb as well. I believe the website for the company that runs the shows is www.thewoodshows.com

Chris DeHut




Does any one know if there is a show in the Chicago or Milwaukee area coming up?

Peter

[Aaron Montgomery]

Does any one know if there is a show in the Chicago or Milwaukee area coming up?

Peter


Feb 4-6th in Chicago (http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/index.php?pageName=Show&eventName=Chicago%20-%20Spring) I haven't been for a few years, but it appears the spring show is in a new location this year.

I agree with the rest - go mostly to look and touch - know what you are interested in and what they cost ahead of time.

Edit: Meh! Chris beat me while I was posting. :p

[Peter Gavin]

Thanks for the info. Will the Chicago show have more 'Stuff' because it is in a bigger market? Or are they pretty much all the same?

Peter

[Doug Shepard]

Go ahead and go. Maybe you'll meet a woman who'll let you spend more than $150 at next year's show.

[John Miliunas]

Thanks for the info. Will the Chicago show have more 'Stuff' because it is in a bigger market? Or are they pretty much all the same?

Peter
Peter, State Fair Park in Milwaukee, Feb. 25-7. Never been to the Chicago show, so I can't compare, but it was a lot of fun last year. One thing, which I haven't seen mentioned is, I found some decent deals on instructional books and the selection was great. Karl Laustrop and I are hitting hard this year on the first day!:D :cool:

[Greg Mann]

Maurice,

As everyone has said, there are plenty of reasons to go beside purchasing. One question. How much money would you need to take that would enable you to leave with everything you wanted?

Greg

[Chris DeHut]

Hi Peter,

There are two types of exhibitors at those shows, national and local. The folks that exhibit at all of the shows (national), are at all of the shows, that is essentially their business. Some of them have a storefront of somesort somewhere, but most rely on the show circuit for their income.

The local companies, such as ourselves and even the local Rockler, Woodcraft, and other woodworking retailers exhibit at shows only in their regions. This is where you would find a difference between the Milwaukee and Chicago shows - in the local exhibitor group.

All in all, I would say they are the same show, with the majority of exhibitors at both shows. This year, the Chicago show is at a new place, Rosemont Convention center. I don't know if that will bring in more exhibitors (and attendees) or not. Parking at the Rosemont is higher and getting in and out of the place is not nearly as convenient as Milwaukee State Fair Park or even the Odeum (where it used to be in the Chicago market).

Hope this helps!

Chris DeHut






Thanks for the info. Will the Chicago show have more 'Stuff' because it is in a bigger market? Or are they pretty much all the same?

Peter

[Peter Gavin]

. Karl Laustrop and I are hitting hard this year on the first day!:D :cool:
John,

Unless I end up going to the Chicago show i'll try and run into you in Milwaukee. The problem is some of us have to WORK on Fridays.

Peter

P.S. If the Chicago show is really great maybe I'll do both.

[John Miliunas]

John,

Unless I end up going to the Chicago show i'll try and run into you in Milwaukee. The problem is some of us have to WORK on Fridays.

Peter

P.S. If the Chicago show is really great maybe I'll do both.
Yeah, I normally do, as well. Karl & I decided to make "a day of it", so I'm taking a vacation day, have a good time and still end up with two shop days!:D :) :cool:

[Keith Outten]

I suggest that you buy something instead of just lurking. We haven't had a woodworking show in Virginia in three years simply because the sales at the shows in Norfolk and Richmond were so poor the vendors would not continue to support the events.

Use em or lose em :(

[Maurice Ungaro]

Keith - GOOD POINT! While shows are great for browsing, the vendors are there to sell product, and without product you don't have a show.

Thanks to all who have chimed in. No, I won't go looking for another wife who will let me spend more next year.....she's already let me spend enough this year. Plus, we just got married last April. I doubt seriously that the proverbial "next" one would be any better, just different.

Maurice

[Dennis McDonaugh]

Go ahead and go. Maybe you'll meet a woman who'll let you spend more than $150 at next year's show.

Yeah Doug, but that will cost you a lot more than the $150!! :D

[Hal Flynt]

Look at the bright side. :D If your SWMBO can go to Mall and only spend her limit, then you are indeed lucky. I always take my wife's lead. When I ask her how much something cost as she comes in with those big shopping bags, the answer I get is "Oh this was on sale and I couldn't pass it up, I saved over $50." :rolleyes: So in the past 4 years, I've saved well over a $1000 and have a new PM66, PM54, DC1100, New Dewalt 18v Drill and trim saw, another shop vac, and a Rikon 18" on the way.

Also, from her perspective, cosmetics, underware, place mats are not in the "budget", but necessary items and I :p ;therefore, think of shop supplies, safety equipment, and finishing items also are necessities and aren't included in my "budget".

For some reason, she just won't go beyond my answer because she know's I'll do "What's good for the Goose is good for the Gander". :cool:

FYI Married 27 years. :)

See you there in Atlanta, I'll wear my SMC hat!

[scott spencer]

I've been to three and enjoyed them all. I doubt I've spent $150 on all three including admission and lunch. Go with a buddy and make a day of it. Make a list of needs and wants. Circle the show once for a "preview", then decide where to spend your time and money!

Have fun!

[mike lucas]

Many venders have good prices, while others shouldn't even show up! Woodpecker, for instance was at the Columbus show last weekend. (They are located about 100 miles north of Columbus!) And they did not have any discount at all. I ask about it, and the lady, told me there was free shipping. Wooptie-doo, I have a free shipping volcher from them good until 4-30-2005. Then she said that she may be able to knock $5 off the PRL router lift. I will wait on a better sale.

Yet All-in-One clamps had some very good package deals, as did a few others.

These shows are looking more and more like a flea market every year! There had to be no fewer then 10 booth`s that looked like mini Harbor Freight stores :rolleyes: Lots of cheap junk!

[Steve Clardy]

Just go. I've been going the last 16-16 years in KC.
This year I am going to St. Louis and KC both.
There were times I only spent 20.00. Other times were much higher.
Just depended on what the deals were, and what I needed.
Some I didn't really need either.:rolleyes:

[Joe Scarfo]

I go every year irrespective of my spending budget. It's a great chance to feel and try everything.

Take catalogs to compare prices. Take a note pad for notes and a digital camera for pic. The note pad helps you remember what you saw and can buy at a later date via the net or somewhere else.

When I bought my Unisaw at the show, the LOML was at home surfing the web when I called for pricing. This strategy was great leverage.

$150 will go far for shop consumables, but not for tools themselves..

I always walk the place 3 laps before spending the first dime. It gives a good feel for what is there and how much. Hence ... use the note pad referenced above.

Good luck and enjoy the sounds and smells. I always do.

Joe in Tampa

[Steven Wilson]

Well, what do you need? I make a list of things I need along with the things that I'm interested in, and write down the prices I can get them at from my normal supply sources. Then I go to the show. For me the show is a place to;

1) pickup stuff
2) see stuff in person that I've seen on the web
3) compare products (i.e Minimax vs Laguna bandsaws)
4) visit with friends
5) Find cool new products to put on the wish list.

As for budget it really depends on what I need. This past year I didn't need anything and I didn't spend anything at the show as there wasn't anything that I needed and nothing new that jumped out and said "take me home". Other years I've spent a lot. So, what do you need?

[John P. Smith]

Does anyone know if the Atlanta WWS is going to be open today (Sun the 30th)? I have to drive up from the Macon area and sure would hate to go that far in questionable driving conditions and find it closed when I get there.
Thanks to all, John

[John Hulett]

New to woodworking (started in August '04), I went to my first show in November. I went on Sunday - the last day of the show. Kelly Mehler was doing demo's for Jet. After spending about 90 minutes watching him do a Jointer demo and another 40 doing a TS demo, I came to the conclusion that I could have gone to the show all three days and maybe not seen everything there was to see. I found out that Kelly was doing different demo's each day of the show - i.e. Friday, the TS demo was ripping, Saturday TS deom was cross cut sled, and on Sunday he show the cove-cutting technique on the TS.

As for cash - though I wish I had the money to buy most things there, I walked out spending under $100 - picked up a couple of roller stands from Rockler, big dust pan, etc.

There's another show here close to my home in Ontario put on by Wood Works Events. I hear it's more inspirational and less sales than the one by TWS I went to in November. I'm planning on going at least two days. I have about $400 to spend - looking at a DC, but I've priced them out so that I will know if I'm getting a good deal or not. Also, at the November show, I was set to buy an Incra fence, and found that they will not be at the show next weekend - so I went ahead and ordered strait from Woodpeck. Your research may include knowing which vendors will be there, along with knowing prices on the items you seek.

- John

[Sam Chambers]

...on Sunday. Atlanta was covered in ice on Saturday, and it wasn't safe to drive anywhere. I was suposed to go on Saturday with a buddy, but we went Sunday instead. One of the vendors said there were only about 50 people there on Saturday. There was a big (and mean BIG) cheerleading competition at the same venue, just like last year, but they also got delayed by the weather on Saturday. As big as the convention center is, there were no parking places to be found.

I didn't buy anything big this year, but my buddy spent several hundred on K-Body clamps. He had researched all the prices on the web, and the prices at the show were lower. TWC was the lowest.

[Maurice Ungaro]

We were without electricity from 1:30 pm Saturday until 4:15 am Sunday. Given that even our church (2 blocks away....we always walk to it) was closed, we decided to get chores done around the house. I had originally decided to go on Saturday to the show, but thought better of it when my regular 20 minute drive to Peachtree City took a harrowing 50 minutes that morning. Once I got home and the power went out, we basically holed up for the weekend - my wife was happy that I stuck around. It'll come around next year.

Maurice

[Hal Flynt]

My son-in-law and I made it Saturday. The elevated roadways were the biggest problem, primarily due to inexperienced icy road drivers doing 360's and all sorts of uncontrolled maneuvers. It took about 1 and a half hours to get there from Roswell, (normally a 30 minute trip). Most of the vehicles on the side of the road were luxury models or SUV's w/o 4X4 followed by SUV's with 4x4. These kinds of conditions just are not at all common in Atlanta so I can't blame the locals too much for not being "Bad road saavy".I didn't have much trouble in a 4x4 Dodge Ram.

There were not as many vendors as past years, but the low turnout made for some good 1 on 1 information. We picked up a few gadgets, and watched a few demos and we each picked up a "Little Giant" ladder at a rather good savings. Due to the bad weather, they closed at 4:00PM (The original plan was to leave at 8:30 AM, but that didn't happen. I think we walked inside the show itself around 11:30AM.) and I didn't pick up as much "stuff" as I may have done with another hour.

I felt badly for the vendors because I think there may have been a few hundred people there Saturday, I hope it was busier Sunday.

[Sam Chambers]

Hal, it was certainly more crowded on Sunday, though I have been to more crowded shows. To my surprise, they still closed the show down at 4:00. I was hoping they'd let them stay open longer since they closed early on Saturday.