Iwf 2016

[Ajcoholic]

Surprised no one has mentioned the show yet.

Will Shopbot be there? It's a sold out show. Should be awesome!

I'm flying down with one of my employees on Thursday morning. Looking forward to spending time looking at what I can get next for the shop... Lol.

Anyone want to meet up for a coffee pm me for my cell #.

I'll be there thurs afternoon, all day fri and Saturday.

[mclimie]

Are there trade show only passes? The site doesn't make it clear. I'd love to attend the trade show. I live just down the road.

I was at SB training in March for a new machine we got, and if I remember correctly, SB will not be there this year...?

Marc

[JimDav]

I've been to everyone but one since 1990 but not going to be there this year I guess. It's just down the road for me too from northern 'burbs.
Doubt there are any 'trade sow' passes since everyone there will be in the trade more or less. I just usually buy the $10 or $20 registration since I never go to any of the seminars. The registration fee gets you into the entire show other than classes.

[Ajcoholic]

Almost every big dealer I have dealt with, and many of the woodworking trade magazines, have free codes to get registered for $0.

Anyone can attend, you dont have to prove youre in business or anything. But I would say the show is definitely heavy on the industry side of things VS the smaller hobbiest. I am a small shop, but if you buy anything (not just equipment but tooling, sheet goods, different hardware etc) its all there.

[Brian Harnett]

I used to go to that years ago my old job would send me, best to have an idea on what you want beforehand its a bit overwhelming even doing the three days. Fun to look at all the new stuff and drool.

[Ajcoholic]

I used to go to that years ago my old job would send me, best to have an idea on what you want beforehand its a bit overwhelming even doing the three days. Fun to look at all the new stuff and drool.

I always have a list of companies & products I like to inquire about, and where their booths are.

Currently I am not looking for much, with exception of a few accessory pieces for the shop. Some stuff for my big slider, another look at a Tiger stop for my radial arm saw and some tooling I need to invest in soon. Also, one company has a really slick panel handling cart I was thinking about picking up. They dont have a Canadian distributor so its a good time to revisit this while Im there.

Overwhelming for sure. But inspirational as well. I love to see new ideas and concepts of manufacturing too. Even in the small shop like mine, you can incorporate factory style methods if you look at the way things are done. Speed things up and streamline certain operations. Ive done this a lot in the past half dozen years and I can do things much more efficiently today than in the past.

For me, going to these woodworking shows isnt just about an individual piece of equipment - as much as seeing how things are evolving and how I can incorporate even a small bit of that into my own business to make things better. Might be as simple as a new cutter/blade/bit.