Festool tools from Germany, though new to the US and Canadian market, have been around since 1925. Their website states, “At Festool, our reputation has always been built on attention to detail, ergonomic design and unyielding precision. Our power tools are designed to solve problems and facilitate the highest-quality workmanship. ” I found that this statement accurately reflects the sentiments of those that use these tools.

Lee Valley recently added the Festool to their line and all this weekend they have their seminar room set up with all the Festool tools that they carry; drills, domino joining systems, dust extractors, guide rail system, jigsaws, miter saw, multifunction tables, planers, routers, sanders, circular saws and storage systems. Staff members are there to demonstrate them and answer any questions that you have.

Continue reading 'Festool Demo At Lee Valley'

This one day seminar on green bowl turning was part of the Celebrating Woodturning In Nova Scotia week, hosted by Lee Valley in conjunction with the Nova Woodturners Guild.

The project that was planned for the day was a Calabash bowl turned from green Poplar. We got off on a bit of a late start (Mike was grounded in Newark the night before because of an East Coast storm – surprise, surprise so the class started a few hours later than scheduled) but once it began it was like ‘all get out’.

Mike started with a brief introduction of himself and then showed and explained a few examples of his work:

Continue reading 'A Day With Bowl Turner Mike Mahoney'

Kevin is a member of the Atlantic Tool Collectors Association and has been collecting tools for many years. He recently bought a farm here in Port Williams that has several large barns that will be used exclusively for this endeavor. His goal is that over the next five years he will be able to get his tools organized and displayed into the different areas of specialties like livery, cooper and wheelwright. There’s even plans to hold workshops in the use of these tools and the making of their specific wares!

The highlight of the tour was the collection of pedal operated tools from the W.F. & John Barnes Company of Rockford, Illinois that were built in the 1870′s. Here are a few photos of these fantastic tools:

Continue reading 'AWA – A Tool Museum In The Making'

Troy began by telling us that the company started because of the passion he has with period architecture and that he had found how hard it was to find well built wooden windows and doors. Using tried and true building techniques, modern technology, high quality woods and with the help of two employees he crafts real, old fashioned quality windows and doors.

Restoration and replication is a large part of their business. Troy swears by the use of AutoCad which ensures authenticity and correct details. Then, using Thermopane glass units modern functionality is ensured with historic attributes.

Most of the windows made here are for great rooms and grand entrances with about 40% of the finished product being shipped to the Eastern United States.

Continue reading 'AWA Wooden Window & Door Tour'

I arrived just as Vic Tesolin, editor of Canadian Woodworking magazine, was beginning his seminar on ‘Tuning a Smoothing Plane’. He gave us a short and sweet version of the key adjustments that need to be made before using a smoothing plane. He also covered the set-up of a smoother and the proper planing technique for effective hand planing, including the proper stance.

Vic also had a booth here at the show where he was willing to answer any woodworking questions that you might have and to give more in depth explanation of the plane.

Continue reading 'The Moncton Wood Show 2009'

There were several different exhibits that included the Instant Gallery, The Spindle exhibit, exhibits by Gary Knox Bennett and Merryll Saylan, the Chapter Collaborative Challenge and the Spirit of the Southwest exhibition.

The Instant Gallery is an annual event where the attendees to the Symposium are invited to bring pieces in for this presentation. Each year, the attendees bring a wide range of beautiful pieces from all skill levels, from novice to professional.

This is the largest of the exhibits with the last estimate that I heard was around 900 pieces! Unfortunately, although I took hundreds of photos, I can only post a small sampling here:

Continue reading 'The AAW 2009 Symposium Exhibits'

The Trade Show was opened throughout the Symposium which allowed you drop by anytime. As you can imagine it was a hubbub of activity.

There were tool suppliers, lathe manufactures, wood suppliers, books, videos and a full variety of woodturning accessories. Some of the vendors included Craft Supplies, Fox Chapel Publishing, Jet/Powermatic, Oneway Manufacturing, Packard Woodworks, Stubby Lathe USA, Tropical Exotic Hardwoods, Unique Mesquite, Woodworker’s Supply and dozens more.

One of the neatest things about walking around this area was not only the fantastic tools, deals and buying opportunities was some of ‘big names’ of woodturning that you would meet.

Here’s a few photos taken from the show room floor:

Continue reading 'The AAW 2009 Symposium Trade Show'

Chris demonstrated the painting and finishing technique that he uses on his vessels and discussed the development of a signature dye for hollow forms. He also explained in-depth his lacquering and buffing process.

The vibrant colors are achieved through this unique staining process and the brilliance of the finish is a result of up to a dozen coats of carefully applied lacquer.

Seeing this pieces up close and being able to handle a few of them was worth the price of admission!

Continue reading 'The AAW 2009 Symposium – Day 3'

Marilyn first gave us a great slideshow overview of her past work and work done by others that displayed the results of the technique that she would explain today. She then went through the steps for using epoxy not only as a glue but as a medium.

She demonstrated two particular techniques, one where the wood was cut into flowing shapes and refitted with epoxy of varying colors and thickness and the other where a channel was cut in the top of a plate and then filled with different colored epoxies and materials, like these pieces here:

Continue reading 'The AAW 2009 Symposium – Day 2'

Attending the Symposium was such a fantastic time, there was so much to do and see! I got to meet so many great people and see so many great turnings. To be totally immersed in this for over three days was an absolute thrill.

The Thursday before the Symposium was open for registrations, the demonstrator’s dinner, gallery reception and a special evening presentation called ‘Believe It Or Not, A Contemporary Look At Woodturning Artists Today’. This was an entertaining look at the more notable woodturners as they might not want to be seen. The slideshow was presented by Jacques Vesery and Terry Martin. It was a real hoot to see the ‘big names’ in turning in humorous situations. The storyline that coincided with the slideshow was outrageously funny.

Friday, June 26th, was the official opening of the Symposium and it started with a bang, literally. The Star Feather Group from the Jemez Pueblo, located about 50 miles North of Albuquerque, began the day with traditional Native drumming and singing. This was well received by the attendees as could be seen by the amount of photos being taken. The beating of the drums also drew us all nearer to the Kiva Auditorium in the Albuquerque Convention Center for the opening ceremony.

Continue reading 'The AAW 2009 Symposium – Day 1'