Blacky's Boy
Moderator
Registered: 06/17/07
Posts: 3184
Loc: Buck's County PA USA
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Hi Gang,
Man, am I tired!! I made it to Valley Forge yesterday from about 1:30pm until 6:30pm and then was there today with my good buddy Mike from 8:30am until about 5:00pm. This was one full weekend!
Besides getting a chance to finally meet up with Bob Zajicek I was lucky enough to score one of his new dovetail chisels. Oh, these babies are SWEET! I also got to meet Ron Brese as well as Jameel Abraham. Ron and I spoke at length about infill construction and just generally had a good time chewing the fat. And let me tell you, Jammel's bench vises are even more impressive up close. I want to build a new bench just so I can add these bad boys! 
Joemac and Ron
And I finally tried out Ron's small high angle smoother! YEEhaw that was a hoot to use! But that SS Panel plane left me breathless! Stainless steel tweed INDEED! If you are curious about that comment, you need to ask Ron Brese!
It was great to be around all those great tool makers. Plus they are a bunch of sick puppies! One of these guys hung a "Harbor Freight" sign over Andrew Lunn's booth! Gee (Bob) I wonder (Bob) who did (Bob) that? Now you just gotta love a sense of humor like that!!
Right next store I got to speak to Andrew Lunn (Eccentric Toolworks) and had the pleasure of trying out several of his OUTSTANDING saws! They look as good as they perform. And let me tell you, Andrew is a real nice guy and easy to talk to. It was real cool to see his face light up when Roy Underhill showed up to his booth to check out his saws.
I spent an inordinate amount of time at the TFWW booth discussing tool design with Tim and Joel. I ended up buying some of those Naiwa stones (Thanks for the heads up KSprings!!) as well as a Kanaban and some 45 Mic diamond paste. The new Graymercy saw vise looks so cool! But to say it made from sheet metal really doesn't give you an idea how BEEFY this tool is! It is very well made and if I have my way will soon be added to my tool coral (along with some files for saw sharpening)! Tim even helped me remove the back from a Keystone/Disston dovetail saw so we could re install it properly (it was backwards!) and straighten out a very small kink
I also spent some time at the LN booth, Konrad Sauer's booth, and Blum Tool. I also got to try out the molding planes at the Clark and Williams booth!
And my visit would not be complete without a trip to the Lee Valley booth!  I took a good long look at the small shoulder plane and have decided that this would be a great birthday/Xmas present for my lovely wife to get for me. Now I just need someone to pass this info along to her.......
As an added bonus I got to meet up with Blaine and JoeMac! That was real cool to finally meet these guys face to face and they turned out to be a real hoot to talk to! I also got to meet Jerry Sats, hung out with Bill from Landsdale, and got to see my buddies Raney and Wilbur again.
I attended the Ron Herman's Hands on session about Western Saw use. That was a VERY informative lesson and I got a ton of good pointers on sawing technique. I really need to make that saw bench he uses!
Ron's Filing Guide for saw sharpening
Saw Bench
After that I attended Mike Wenzloff's Hands on Saw Sharpening session. Mike gave some very good pointers on filing amd sharpening and got us going right away.
Mike was very helpful and very available to answer questions. Unfortunately there were a lot more people than tools. (BTW I look at this more as a testament as to how popular this class was). Just about every time I got a hold of a tool I needed to use, it would disappear if I put it down for a second. After a while that got sort of frustrating. But I did stay around long enough to joint the saw blade and file a couple teeth. So I accomplished what I set out to do.
Towards the end of the day I attended Roy Underhill's Dovetail seminar. I really enjoyed watching his technique and learned quite a bit. And as always, Roy was a real hoot to listen to.
Now I'm pretty beat. So I'm heading off to bed early!
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See ya around,
Dominic
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Wesley Snipes in Blade: "Some ***** are always trying to ice skate uphill."
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janus frey
Avatar Challenged
Registered: 03/08/08
Posts: 12621
Loc: West Chester, PA
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Was heading out to VF yesterday morning. Got into the car after getting my coffee, and "why do I smell gas?' Looked under the car......puddle of explosives. Called AAA instantly for a tow truck.
Split fuel line.
I'm here, you're there at WIA. You suck, but it is what it is.
Maybe I'll have a party here at the hacienda mid-winter when everybody is bored.
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"These new regulations are going to fundamentally change the ways in which we try to avoid them"
http://www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua/en/
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RyanC
Weaned Pup
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 4608
Loc: Murray, KY
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Am I the only one who thinks of Jeff Daniels when he sees Mike???  
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-Ryan C.
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Schtoo
Member
Registered: 10/12/04
Posts: 3416
Loc: Japan.
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Just ever so slightly envious, but looks like this one may have been better than the last one. 
Oh yeah, those stones would be 'Naniwa'. The sign that was hanging over my workshop said "Naniwa Sangyo" which means "Osaka Manufacturing" just in case you wanted to know.
"Naiwa" would mean "You don't have any?" and that wouldn't quite be the same now would it? 
And yes, they (as in Naniwa, not Naiwa stones) are not too bad at all. 
Nice report, and you suck.
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My blog and Japanese tool store.
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Alex_HH
Member
Registered: 01/03/07
Posts: 26
Loc: Hamburg, Germany
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Thanks for your report and the pictures Dominic, much appreciated I wish I could be there as well, but the trip from Germany is a long one ...
Did you have a chance to look at the new try squares from Dave Jeske (Blue Spruce Toolworks)? Maybe even a picture? Just curious, I love tools for marking and measuring. Well, I like all tools I guess 
Thanks again,
Alexander
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Peter Tremblay
The Chaplain of WoodNet
Registered: 10/29/07
Posts: 7355
Loc: Forestville, Maryland
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Man!
I would have loved to be there but eveything from the swine flu to the celebration of the feast of St. Francis has conspired to keep me from yet another WIA... 
I'm glad that this was such a good success.
Hello to everyone and I'm sorry that I missed you.
Peter
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Do you want a better world?
Then, forgive those who didn't ask for it.
Love those who dislike you.
Show patience and kindness to those that you disagree with.
And allow others to disagree with you.
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RyanC
Weaned Pup
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 4608
Loc: Murray, KY
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"And I finally tried out Ron's small high angle smoother! YEEhaw that was a hoot to use!"
I think you mean MY high angle smoother
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-Ryan C.
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Blacky's Boy
Moderator
Registered: 06/17/07
Posts: 3184
Loc: Buck's County PA USA
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RyanC said:
"And I finally tried out Ron's small high angle smoother! YEEhaw that was a hoot to use!"
I think you mean MY high angle smoother
Ryan,
yeah, I saw your name on it! Nice job by the way. It performs VERY nicely!
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See ya around,
Dominic
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Wesley Snipes in Blade: "Some ***** are always trying to ice skate uphill."
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JerrySats
Member
Registered: 07/07/08
Posts: 1572
Loc: Phila PA
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Just got back from the last day of WIA . This was my first WIA event and whatta first it was ! I can't say enough good things about it , the staff did a fantastic job they we so helpful from ladies greeting you at the sign in desk to the editors .
The seminars and HOC were outstanding, the talent they all possessed was incredible. The wealth of knowledge in the building between presenters , staff, vendors and attendees was second to none. ( had to get everyone in there )
I hope my fellow Woodnettters get to experience a WIA event at some point in the future . It's worth the time ,effort and expense.
Heck that Banquet show with the George Washington Players was worth the price alone .Not the mention that Brace Yourself For a Hole in One competition bewteen Megan , Heather and Kerry .( sorry if I got some of your names wrong )
Good times all around it was nice meeting all the woodnet guys .
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I dont' belong to "The Party of No" . I'm part of the party of HELL NO !
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Rick_B
Member
Registered: 02/25/03
Posts: 2697
Loc: Memphis, NY
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My first visit too - I only spent Saurday at the classes and Sunday at the market place. My class time was 4 hours or so with Chris swartz - bench planes and sharpening (BTW Chris is a great presenter - unqiue combination of knowledge and entertainment). Also attended a presentation on 17th century with Peter Follanbee(sp) and finally a class with Mario Rodgriguez. the event organization was very good and the reception area was very well managed. Spent more money thanI should have in the market place (also got to meet Bob at the Chekz Edge booth. LV booth guys spent a lot of time with me on sharpening discussion. All in all an event well worth the money. I kinda wish I had gone for the whole three days. Hopefully the next one will be close ebnough to attend again.
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Rick
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