LOML and I are on a road trip. The first stop was a visit with our son who lives south of Baltimore. Then it was up to Pennsylvania, northwest of Philly, to the little town of Bally. Bally is the home to Bally block, a major manufacturer and distributor of maple, ash, walnut, Cherry, etc. butcher block. You wouldn't believe the huge building just piled to the rafters with maple! They and their sister store, Michigan block, sell to home supply retailers and ww stores like Woodcraft, Grizzly, and ww bench vendors, etc. While they don't sell retail, they sell a limited amount of seconds and blemished items to locals and others at really good prices out of the factory. I picked up a 30" x 72" x 3" thick solid maple top that had been returned by a customer. A maple top this large would have cost me several hundred dollars retail and 12/4 rough sawn maple would have cost an additional $200-300, but I only paid $75 for a complete top. Also, Russell, the guy who runs that part of the shop ran my top through a wide belt sander, so I will not need to spend any time on that when I get it home. He also sold me some rough 8/4 maple for the table skirt and vise faces. Total bill $120! Since the three vises I plan to mount on it (Lee Valley twin screw end vise, a WC quick release front vise, and a WC sliding end vise) were purchased with my WC contest prize winnings and the beech I am using for the base was free, I should end up with a $1000+ woodworking bench for only $120 plus whatever I spent on bench dogs!
Later we stopped by the Woodworking show at the Dulles Exp Center in N. VA. I only spent an hour and a half there. I didn't see any cleavage at the Jewel Tool display - I guess that is why Brent wasn't there! I picked up some 2-1/2" hose and some small blast gates for my central vac and some tips for a dial gauge, but I just didn't see anything else I wanted or needed. The isles were wide open, and it was the lowest turnout I can ever remember. Maybe Saturday will be busier.
Later we stopped by the Woodworking show at the Dulles Exp Center in N. VA. I only spent an hour and a half there. I didn't see any cleavage at the Jewel Tool display - I guess that is why Brent wasn't there! I picked up some 2-1/2" hose and some small blast gates for my central vac and some tips for a dial gauge, but I just didn't see anything else I wanted or needed. The isles were wide open, and it was the lowest turnout I can ever remember. Maybe Saturday will be busier.
