The Return of Powermatic Down Under, and a Stu’s Shed exclusive offer

Yes, it is true.  Powermatic, one of the well recognised gold standards of woodworking machines that others get compared to, is returning to Australian shores.

What is more, that as a Stu’s Shed reader, you have been given the unique opportunity to attend the product launch. 
Now before you decide to pass it by, there is a door prize, and more importantly, plenty of catering!
The door prize is only likely to be a Powermatic bandsaw or similar from the range, but don’t let that sway you.  Free food!

Of course, if you don’t come to the Melbourne release, more chance for me 🙂

I don’t have any Powermatic machines in my workshop……yet! 😉   MMmmmmmm Powermatic.

Details are:

Mon Nov 11th Brisbane Store 5:30 Start
Tues Nov 12th Sydney Store 5:30 Start
Wed Nov 13th Melb Store 5:30 Start

Refreshments and Drinks provided
Lucky Door Prize in every store – drawn on the night – (winner must be in attendance)
Substantial and exclusive offers on the night.
Powermatic and CT staff on hand to answer questions
Dancing Girls……sorry……..NO dancing girls. (Note from Stu – who needs dancing girls, there is tool porn!)

RSVP is essential (for catering etc) by 1st November

If interested….attendees MUST make contact with Carba-Tec via:  marketing@carbatec.com.au

Be in quick – once the places are full, that is it.  And you cannot just rock up on the night – entry by invite only.

1 Week Warning!

A week from today (in fact many will even start a day before that), the majority of the work goes into setting up the stands for this year’s Melbourne Working with Wood Show.

It is that time again already!

As in 2011, I won’t be doing anything formal at this show (although due to much less controversial circumstances), but still have no intention to miss it!

As many will be aware, the location has changed for this year, with a return to Jeff’s Shed, although at a smaller scale to the last time the show was there.  And no, I don’t intend to call it “The MCEC” – if you say it quickly, sounds like something my cat does after eating grass!

You can find the official list of exhibitors here, and map here.

Alternately, here is a version I have created for you, combining the two!  Text might be too small for some, but hopefully this is more useable! Click on the image to open the actual PDF (larger and more readable!!)

Had to look up some of the exhibitors – no idea who they were.  Still don’t?!

There are plenty of stands I am looking forward to getting into.

Looking forward to playing with a SawStop (I may even get to set one off, which would be exciting!)
Henry Eckert and HNT Gordon are always particularly dangerous stands, as is Chris Vesper’s next door – fine handtools are always a real temptation.
Carroll’s Street (as I call it, perhaps Carroll’s Lane) is well done.
Vermec (and their CNC) and 3D Printing will be getting a fair few questions!

This is just a sample of what I will be looking at, and there are plenty of others worthy of mention as well, but perhaps just head along and enjoy what is on offer!

This is a smaller show that what we are used to in previous years, and as much as I believe shows should be about getting a company’s name out there, promoting up-coming products, and generally selling the brand, I also understand it is an expensive business and most are hoping to make as many sales as possible.  This is the main parameter they use to justify coming back in future years, and it is concerning to see it continuing to shrink.

All I can say is – I hope the companies are doing what they can to provide the customers in the way of good prices and interesting stands.  In turn, we do need to buy things, not only because new tools are always welcome, but also because we want the wood shows to survive.

I always have a great time at the show, working or not.  Hope you do as well!

SSYTC049 Four Seasons in One Day

Many places lay claim to having such a feature of their climate, and Melbourne is certainly renowned for it.  Today was a very unusual day – hottest July day on record (23.3C), and then the temperature plummeted as a cold front swept in, bringing strong winds and a downpour.  At the time I happened to be conducting further trials of the GoPro timelapse jig, but the winds completely defeated any possible stability improvements I had made.

It goes to show that having a shed designed to survive excessive conditions is particularly important – after all, I have been through a shed collapse before (and it never happens when it is warm and sunny).  Having cast iron tools out in the elements is not exactly good for them!  I will get into more detail on Shed Safe in the near future – one way to add confidence to a shed purchase that it is fit for the conditions.

But back to what I was actually doing today – continuing trialing the time lapse capabilities of the GoPro.  I ended up shooting the following footage of the storm rolling in – if I had been more aware of what was coming, I’d have started filming earlier!

SSYTC049 Four Seasons in One Day

The occasional black flicker are birds flying through the view.  One frame actually caught a flash of lightning.

Soon this view will look rather different.  That little shed’s days are numbered (just not quite sure what that number is yet!)  The way the weather is going, it may go without any assistance!!

Spa Wars

I wasn’t originally planning on mentioning it here, but as the eBay sale fell through (original buyer reneged), I have to relist the spa pool I am selling (all part of the great cleanup!)

So if you are interested in a spa pool, and are somewhere in the vicinity of SE Melbourne, this one is available. Auction starting at 99c – more details over on eBay.

There is also a 14′ above-ground swimming pool, but you’d better be quick – there is only 10 minutes left!

Showbags!

The Timber and Working with Wood Show (Melbourne) starts tomorrow, and there is a production line in the lounge tonight making up showbags!

Contents include a Festool mousepad from Ideal Tools some disposable glue brushes from Professional Woodworkers Supplies, a copy of ManSpace magazine, and a bunch of flyers of various topics. If I can get any other retailers interested at the show, I’ll try to slip some other bits n pieces in.

Only making about 200, so it is quite an exclusive group that will be able to say they have a Stu’s Shed showbag! (And I’d be surprised if anyone else has a showbag at all!)

Set up the stand today- looking forward to a fun weekend. Hope to see you all there.

Stu’s Shed at the Melbourne Wood Show

In a week (tomorrow) is the start of the Melbourne Timber and Working with Wood Show.  The maps are now out on the Impressive Exhibitions website, and can be found here.   Exhibitor List  and  Floor Plan

Zooming in on the plan, and right near the entrance is Triton’s stand (#20 & #21), and as part of that is Stu’s Shed (and thanks to Triton (aka Kincrome) for use of part of their stand).

Stu’s Shed at Melbourne Show

I am still working on just how the stand will look (and function)- Kincrome are providing benches and storage units that look pretty cool, and provide a decent amount of working area.  I will have a Triton router table there (again provided by Kincrome) so can do some demos on that, and I’m hopeful of having one of the new Comet lathes from Teknatool as well.  Over the next week, the plan will reveal itself  (to me as well!)

Kincrome Worx Modular

Now I’ve a better idea of the location and size, I’ll make some modifications to my ideas – scale back some concepts!  Not a bad thing – it is very easy to try to do too much – grandiose plans!

 

Wood Show Season (Vic)

It’s wood show season in Melbourne, a fortnight of events.

Starting next weekend with the Oktober Woodfest, held at the Woodworking Warehouse in Braeside. (11 Citrus Street)

Friday 10am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 3:30pm.

Woodfest

Not sure who will be there this year, Woodworking Warehouse (obviously), and Professional Woodworkers Supplies (definitely).  I’d assume like previous years that Australian Furniture Timbers will be there as well.  I got some nice pieces from them last year.  There is the BBQ, and as Mel has just had a new bub, another friend of mine will be manning the grill.

There is no entry fee and street parking (and free BBQ), so you can save your coin for the specials inside., and not feel like having to spend it just getting to, and being there.

Be interesting to find out what is happening with Jet, given that Carbatec have been given national distributorship.  Personally, (from Woodworking Warehouse’s perspective) I’d be dropping Jet (why be forced buy from your competitor), and bring in a new brand, such as Grizzly.  The Grizzly range looks to be made in similar factories as the original Carbatec range (including my discontinued TS10L), and as Carbatec may be dropping that range in preference for Jet (time will tell), there is definitely a market.  I’d also be getting Gabbett to provide some of the SawStop range – might as well have it on the shop floor in one of the retail outlets in Melbourne.  That’s my 2 cents.  I have a few Jet tools (jointer, lathe, bandsaw) and currently have the lathe and bandsaw stored – not because I want to, but I am simply out of room.

Anyway, back to the day – there will be specials, there will be new products (Professional Woodworkers Supplies have a number definitely worth seeing).  Check out PWS’s Zhen knives – I have a Nakiri blade, and it is brilliant for chopping up vegetables (you’ve seen ads about slicing tomatoes to reveal how sharp a blade is, but the real demonstration for me is just how easy the blade can cleave and skin a pumpkin.  Tomatoes are soft, and any half-sharp blade cuts them easily).
The following weekend (Friday – Sunday) is the Melbourne Timber and Working with Wood Show, and Stu’s Shed has a small stand there, but more on that later.

The weekend after that is the Stitches and Craft show, and along with ManSpace magazine, a few of us will be setting up a men’s break corner.  Few demos, comfortable couches, bunch of ManSpace mags to flick through etc.  Again, more details closer to the day, but if you are going to be heading along (penance for attending wood shows perhaps?) drop on by!

 

Do you want a Torque Workcentre?

No – seriously.  Have you seen all the footage I’ve made, read all the articles I’ve written and just wished you could afford one of these for yourself, but the $4000+ price tag has been just too much to be able to justify?

I have been approached, to sell, a near new (virtually unused) 2 metre Torque Workcentre, with a 900mm arm, and the usual collection of accessories that are normally optional extras.

The normal pricing is:

Torque Workcentre $3720

Drill attachment $55

Saw attachment $230

Copy attachment $180

Dust guard $110

Total of $4295.  But what will it actually sell for? $3500? $3000? less? How low may it go?

 

You’d have to pick it up from South-east Melbourne – it is fully assembled, and I am not wrapping it!

At this stage I will consider offers if you (as Stu’s Shed readers) are really, really keen to own one (and really, really quick to tell me), otherwise this may become the very first Torque Workcentre on eBay.

And no, before anyone asks: this is NOT my 2.5m Torque workcentre that sits in my workshop.  Hands off!!

The Melbourne Woodshow Approaches

And for the first time in many years (I can’t even remember how many now), it is likely that I will be there as a ‘regular’ punter, rather than working on a stand.  I’ve done Triton, Carbatec, Maxis, Professional Woodworker Supplies, MagSwitch, Torque Workcentres (sometimes shared at the same show)

Really strange feeling – not sure what I feel about it as yet.  In one respect, I am excited by the idea of just being able to wander around, take it all in, watch the demos etc without feeling guilty about having to get back to the stand (whichever one I was on for that year).

On the other hand, working a show is financially beneficial (I can buy a few bits n pieces (tools) without feeling guilty), and I enjoy being a part of the spectacle that is a wood show.

Last year I even had a “semi” Stu’s Shed stand, shared with (and primarily a) Torque Workcentres stand, but that wasn’t on the table for this year.  In fact this year has been a lot quieter on all fronts compared to previous years – a bit of the GFC biting Australia?  Or some other combination of overlapping effects.  Frustrating nevertheless.  Perhaps it will be good to step back at the show, without needing to push and promote a product (irrespective how much I believe in what I’m demonstrating).

Reminds me of the Formula One back a decade ago.  I worked at each event, multiple F1GPs, V8s, MotoGPs, and I was so busy doing the job, I didn’t get to really enjoy the racing.  You feel a real part of it, being one small cog in the delivery machine, but being part of it you don’t get to really enjoy the whole event.

So we will see how the week plays out, but come Thursday, I wonder if I will be seeing the show setup first hand, and being to wander from stand to stand chatting with the other regulars without the crowds around.

One way or another, I’ll enjoy the event, irrespective of which side of the fence I find myself 🙂

Productive Weekends

Last couple of weekends have been rather productive – managed to jump into some jobs that have languished for 12 months or more (some for 10 years!).  Getting rid of the 4 cubes of rubbish was certainly a good start, then getting some of the remaining cafe blinds installed.

Those are now up and completely installed, and the outdoor room is coming together.  Not that I am specifically looking for the modern concept of an outdoor room per say, more an outdoor area that is still sheltered from wind and rain.  Will be a great place to do some woodworking (wink, shhhhh!)  No idea how renovating competition TV shows manage to achieve so much in a few hours.  When doing a job like this properly, it takes so much longer than they ever show.

Got the first of the new sheds together as well – the fowl house that will be the new cat run.  Now once the AFL Grand Final is over, I might have a chance to get the other up.

Did a quick job for a friend as well – needing to make a bit of a modification to an entertainment unit, where the DVDs were catching on the top lip above the drawer.  There would be a number of ways to fix the problem, and tools that could have been used but the Torque Workcentre was by far the easiest.  Being able to secure the work down, then plunge a compression bit on an overhead-mounted router provided the best visibility of the cut, and finish.

Next weekend is the Woodfest (so long as the AFL isn’t a draw this year!), and two weeks after that the Melbourne woodworking show.

Productive times. Busy weekends