442 WIA 2010 Day 1

Another Woodworking in America has come and gone and it's left a lasting impression. Not just on me but everybody I've talked with who attended. This is like no other woodworking show out there right now.

It's not about the vendors, it's not about the lecturers, it's all about the people attending. And I'm willing to admit I was wrong about my fears of the show becoming too big too fast.

Even with the introduction of power tool classes and the combining of design seminars with the handtool lectures, Woodworking in America didn't lose it's focus on what today's woodworker wants to learn and more importantly experience, and it's that experience that will keep me and so many others coming back year after year.

Even if you missed the deadline for signing up to attend the classes with the likes of Frank Klausz, Jim Tolpin, Roy Underhill, Ron Herman, George Walker and Michael Fortune you can still run into them in the marketplace, and what a marketplace it was too!

Imagine all the vendors you've heard the staff of Popular Woodworking go on and on about in article after article regarding the new small manufacturer who's not just selling you a great tool but are using the tools in their own shops too.

Still the one thing that blows me away each time I attend, are the attendees themselves. You may arrive alone, plan a quiet weekend of great lectures and maybe buy yourself something nice but after the first class you'll suddenly find yourself having conversations with your fellow attendees as if you'd known each other for years.

Don't take my word for it, ask anyone who's attended! In fact, checkout some of the great links we've been putting together from my fellow bloggers and podcasters. Here's a link to a post where we've been adding them so you can get another perspective on the event CLICK HERE.

Today's episode contains snippets from a few of my classes on the first day. Including a lecture by George Walker, Chris Schwarz, Michael Fortune and Roy Underhill. Enjoy, I know I did.