I was astonished to have attended the Woodworkers Showcase in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Several years ago. It was the most perfect woodworking show I had ever attended. Why? Because of four things.
1. These seminars and classes were free. In one year, I learned more from Garrett Hack about cold-bending and furniture design than I had ever learned from Jere Osgood.
2. An amazing display of furniture, turnings and other objects (even a canoe!) that were built by the members of the club who put on the show, the Northeastern Woodworkers Association.
3. The entire weekend was filled with hands-on demonstrations and demonstrations of jigs and fixtures, carving, and sash-making.
4. There are also booths full of vendors selling vintage and new equipment.
Amazingly, all of this was only for adults.
This year, I was asked to demonstrate at the Woodworkers Showcase , a huge honor , on April 5 and 6. This weekend, it will be held at the Saratoga Springs City Center. For more information, click here
I’ll be demonstrating my scraper sharpening method after I purged the historical record. I will also be showing the three types of handsaw cuts I discussed in the Woodworking Magazine’s latest issue.
In addition to my demonstrations, you can also catch demos from chip-carver Wayne Barton, box-maker and instructor Doug Stowe (ask him about Sloyd if you see him) and Peter Korn, who runs the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship and is a talented woodworker. Plus, there will be demonstrations from members of the club on every topic imaginable, from marquetry to miniatures to turning to rustic furniture construction.
When Im not teaching, Ill be in a booth selling a few books, magazines and DVDs. If youre at the show, do stop by and say hello.
If you live anywhere in the northeast, this is a show that shouldnt be missed. Woodworkers Showcase attracts people from all across the eastern seaboard. Its worth it (heck I flew up from Cincinnati when I first attended).
Hope to see you there.
