So, I played hookie from work for half a day (I work in uptown Charlotte for one of the major banks) and made a beeline for the Woodworking Show.
As you may or may not know, I'm setting up shop from scratch, buying virtually everything woodworking related (I don't have scrapers, measuring tools, anything really, except my 22124 TS that I picked up last weekend, and basic handheld tools that I've used for various household projects).
I spent the majority of the day watching the salesmen and demonstrators pitching their wares, and writing down *advertised* show prices for items that I need to buy.
It appears that some of the Bessey K-Body clamp packages they are offering are very good deals. Klingspor's has some attractive prices on the majority of the Delta Power Tools they have there (average 10%–15% below retail—not including freebies like mobile bases, rip fences, etc.), and, the new Forrest WWII blade (raker every 5th tooth) they are demoing makes me wonder why hand planes haven't gone the way of the dodo—BTW, you can pick up an old FWWII for 79.99:-D
Freud has its blades and bits at decent discounts, and if you're looking for Incra or Kreg products, the packages they are offering appear to be discounted to some degree (I'm not in the market for these yet, so my knowledge/research is lacking). Peachtree Woodworking from Hotlanta has a very large collection of "necessities" available, and the Bosch rep was wheeling and dealing all afternoon:idea:
After coming home and spending several hours pouring through every woodworking retailer I can find (for the 10.000th time), I think I'll do well by flashing my checkbook and trying to hammer out a deal on a nice package of "big-ticket" items tomorrow (planer, jointer, bandsaw).:mrgreen: :mrgreen:
As an aside, the ATM machine they have onsite at the Merchandise Mart was broken, and the $4.50 hamburger was damn good.:rolf: Parking is $6.00 and 20oz drinks are $2.00 (I'm putting a cooler in the truck tomorrow).
Just noticed I put this in the Buy and Sell Tools forum…feel free, por favor, to move at will
As you may or may not know, I'm setting up shop from scratch, buying virtually everything woodworking related (I don't have scrapers, measuring tools, anything really, except my 22124 TS that I picked up last weekend, and basic handheld tools that I've used for various household projects).
I spent the majority of the day watching the salesmen and demonstrators pitching their wares, and writing down *advertised* show prices for items that I need to buy.
It appears that some of the Bessey K-Body clamp packages they are offering are very good deals. Klingspor's has some attractive prices on the majority of the Delta Power Tools they have there (average 10%–15% below retail—not including freebies like mobile bases, rip fences, etc.), and, the new Forrest WWII blade (raker every 5th tooth) they are demoing makes me wonder why hand planes haven't gone the way of the dodo—BTW, you can pick up an old FWWII for 79.99:-D
Freud has its blades and bits at decent discounts, and if you're looking for Incra or Kreg products, the packages they are offering appear to be discounted to some degree (I'm not in the market for these yet, so my knowledge/research is lacking). Peachtree Woodworking from Hotlanta has a very large collection of "necessities" available, and the Bosch rep was wheeling and dealing all afternoon:idea:
After coming home and spending several hours pouring through every woodworking retailer I can find (for the 10.000th time), I think I'll do well by flashing my checkbook and trying to hammer out a deal on a nice package of "big-ticket" items tomorrow (planer, jointer, bandsaw).:mrgreen: :mrgreen:
As an aside, the ATM machine they have onsite at the Merchandise Mart was broken, and the $4.50 hamburger was damn good.:rolf: Parking is $6.00 and 20oz drinks are $2.00 (I'm putting a cooler in the truck tomorrow).
Just noticed I put this in the Buy and Sell Tools forum…feel free, por favor, to move at will