Descending Ashtray

I just got an annoucement in the mail yesterday that The Woodworking Shows is/are coming to Portland October 20, 21 and 22. Happily, this coincides with “Girls’ Weekend,” and Sarah will be out of town at the coast. If you’re following along at home, this leaves me unsupervised for the biggest Tool Porn festival this side of the Mississippi.

Don’t think you’re off the hook, Brandy. The show is in Des Moines the weekend before – October 13, 14 and 15.

I went to this event two years ago, and it was a lot of fun. There are booths from every major tool manufacturer, and a lot of small ones you’ve probably never heard of. The smaller ones tend to be the most interesting, though, showing off unique products that accessorize things you already have. I enjoyed seeing a chainsaw mill in action, and the product demonstrators are pretty entertaining, if a little over-enthusiastic about marginally useful features.

It’s also neat to see and touch things you’ve salivated over in catalogs or online. Most vendors are selling these products, and the prices are competitive with online prices from a casual glance. If you’ve got some specific purchases in mind, probably best to research pricing before you go and compare when you get there. Many of the vendors offer “show specials,” too. Plus, you avoid shipping charges …

Anyway, a lot of fun, and the web site offers a “bring your spouse for free” deal, although that may temper your purchasing ability somewhat. Admission is $8.