The Woodworking Shows

I got a nice email from the PR firm for The Woodworking & D.I.Y. Shows, and I'm happy to pass the information along. This is a series of shows across the country, with the New England show coming up in West Springfield, MA, January 14-16.

I'll be frostbite racing in Boston Harbor on the 15th, but I'd like to get to the Friday or Sunday session. The exhibitor and seminar list is pretty power-tool centric, which doesn't hold much interest for me, but there are other exhibitors such as Lee Valley/Veritas, one of my favorite hand-tool suppliers. So there appears to be something for everybody.

Then there's one that looks worth the price of admission alone: The Shelter Institute. They come from Woolwich, ME, just across the road from the Montsweag Flea Market, where one of my favorite old tool sellers hangs out. They teach classes in building timber-frame structures, plus they have a retail tool and book store (formerly Woodbutcher Tools). I haven't been in there in a few years, but it's a fun place. I'd love to take one of their classes some time.

The Shelter Institute is going to be building a full-size timber-frame structure on the show floor. That's cool! Also seems like a big job when it's time to go home. But I want to see that! Wonder if someone will be doing a time-lapse video of the build and teardown...hint, hint.

Fine Woodworking editors will also be doing seminars, so let's hope Matt Kenney will be there with a bunch of hand-tool presentations.