West Australian Woodshow 2017

[Derek Cohen]

It's that time of the year again. The West Australian Woodshow was this past weekend. Chris Vesper, toolmaker extraordinaire came to stay, as he usually does, and I spent the weekend on his stand. Usually we get up to some form of mischief, but this year Chris brought along a few boxes of NOS saw files ... which were the very best I have ever seen ... 5" Nicholsons needle files made in Australia and sold last in 1998 ...


https://s19.postimg.org/hgmx6v6oz/Files1.jpg


And so I spent a couple of days demoing filing saws. It's amazing how many people will stop to watch and ask questions. Got through a few ...


I was also there for the furniture competition. I had entered the Sofa Table (with hidden drawer) ...


https://s19.postimg.org/4p45mm7j7/1.jpg


This year I won first prize.


https://s19.postimg.org/z7ty7kwpv/2.jpg


Second prize went to this hall table. It was really nicely done with some of the most amazingly fiddleback Sheoak ...


https://s19.postimg.org/6w8eajctf/3.jpg


Third prize went to the winner of the past three years in a row. Ian specialises in veneer. This piece had a waterfall edge, the product of a recent workshop run by Michael Fortune ...


https://s19.postimg.org/b6n264hwj/4.jpg


He also did this chest, below, which was one of my favourite pieces. The drawers let it down (not dovetailed) ...


https://s19.postimg.org/f4abvj4pv/5.jpg


Another good piece was this bombe (let down with some poor finishing) ...


https://s19.postimg.org/dqip085gj/6.jpg


There were interesting boxes, although I did not find that these were up to the standard of last year. First prize went to this unusual piece ...


https://s19.postimg.org/72m3dmlyb/9.jpg


This piece was the second place ...


https://s19.postimg.org/3yg0ukujn/10.jpg


The winner of the past few years, who has built some amazing boxes, came in third. He actually entered a trio of boxes, and this may have been his undoing. Here are two ...


https://s19.postimg.org/hn0m9yftv/11.jpg


https://s19.postimg.org/6jlli3jxf/12.jpg


There were some fantastic embellished turned pieces. This was first place ...


https://s19.postimg.org/krba6qwmb/7.jpg


First in collaboration ...


https://s19.postimg.org/fwczuq8wz/8.jpg


There was also a category called "small treasures". I didn't really get the first place ...


https://s19.postimg.org/he31k131f/13.jpg


And a last picture, from the carving section ...


https://s19.postimg.org/8t9psusv7/image.jpg


Until next year ..


Regards from Perth


Derek

[James Pallas]

Congratulations Derek. You are definitely up in some rare air with that kind of competition.
Jim

[Rick Malakoff]

Derek, what great news that you got first place, I loved the simplicity of the design and the gracefulness it projects.
Thanks for sharing pictures of the other entries.

Rick

[Kees Heiden]

Well deserved!

[Hasin Haroon]

Congratulations Derek, especially impressive considering the quality of the competition. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Joe Bailey]

Congratulations, Derek.
After years of following your work (and growth), I feel a vicarious sense of pride!

[Brian Holcombe]

Well done Derek! Congrats!

[Brent Cutshall]

Wow, that's great! I've got to say, I've never won first place.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Congratulations, and also thanks for sharing. Your award is well deserved.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Congratulations! And very magnanimous of you to highlight your (tough) competitor's efforts.

[Jim Koepke]

Congratulations, Derek.
After years of following your work (and growth), I feel a vicarious sense of pride!

+1 on that and you deserve your winning.

jtk

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks all. I was very surprised at the result. I guess begging and pleading works. :)

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Bill McNiel]

Yippee for you Derek. Nicely done.

[Frederick Skelly]

Congratulations Derek!!!!!!!!!

(Told ya you should have sent that beautiful table in to FWW. :))

[Pat Barry]

Very nice Derek. Thanks for showing us some of the other fine work. Looks like you finished your project just in time before the show! Congratulations.

[David Eisenhauer]

What beautiful, outstanding work from all, including your work Derek. Good on ya.

[Jeff Ranck]

Congratulations Derek. I have always enjoyed your designs and hope one day to have a fraction of your skill.

Jeff.

[Derek Cohen]

Many thanks to all of you for your very kind words. A significant part of my results comes from the encouragement and discussion of you guys on this forum.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Christopher Charles]

Very well deserved and I'm sure it was all the more satisfying after being so close in recent years.

And many thanks for sharing the other fine work from the show--always inspiring.

Best,
Chris