Woodworking Shows 2023: A Casual Reflection
So, here I am, sitting on my back porch on a lazy Saturday morning, coffee steaming in my favorite chipped mug, and I can’t help but think about my adventures at the woodworking shows this year. Let me tell you, it’s been a wild ride, full of moments that had me scratching my head and laughing at myself when I finally figured things out.
Now, I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not a professional by any stretch. I’m just a guy from a small town in the Midwest, balancing my nine-to-five with the urge to shape and carve wood into something that resembles a beautiful piece of furniture—or at least something functional to get the kids’ toys off the floor.
The Journey Begins
I went to my first woodworking show of 2023 in the spring; it was held in a big ol’ barn just outside of town. You know the kind of place—it smells like sawdust and fresh-cut wood, and the sound of various tools humming and whirring echoes in the background. As soon as I walked through the doors, the scent of cedar hit me like a wave. I could spend hours just inhaling that smell. It makes you feel like anything is possible, right?
Anyway, I had just gotten a new router (a Porter-Cable, if you’re curious) and was itching to learn some new techniques. I thought, “This is it! Today, I’m going to unlock some woodworking secrets that’ll turn me into a pro.” Spoiler alert: it didn’t quite go as planned.
The Router Conundrum
So, I wandered over to a demo station where this bearded fellow in a flannel shirt was showing off some fancy edge profiling tricks with a router. Like, smooth curves and everything. He made it look effortless, and there I was, already imagining how I’d use those skills in my next project—a coffee table for the living room.
When it was my turn at the station, I grabbed my router, all excited-like, but let me tell you, I completely misjudged the depth settings. I panicked and thought to myself, “What could go wrong?” Well, I learned the hard way that when you set the depth too low, instead of a smooth edge, you’re left with jagged grooves that would make even my dog turn his head in confusion.
I almost gave up in that moment. I could hear the laughter of the other folks who were watching, and I felt like the biggest amateur. But the instructor, noticing my frustration, leaned in and said, “Every great woodworker has made mistakes. The trick is to learn from them—or, you know, run with it and make the most of it.” That hit home.
Finding My Groove
Fast-forward a few hours, and I found myself at a vendor’s booth where they were selling a bunch of exotic woods. I swear, folks, the smell of mahogany alone nearly made my heart skip a beat. I picked up a piece and said to the vendor, “What’s your best-seller here?” She handed me a beautiful chunk of purpleheart, and I thought, “This would look killer in my next project.”
That evening, at home, I sliced into that purpleheart, and let me tell you, it was like cutting through butter. The way the grain swirled, the vibrant color—it was almost mesmerizing. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself because, just earlier that day, I felt like I was about to give up. That piece turned into a charcuterie board that I later gifted to my sister. And the smile on her face? Worth every minute of that earlier frustration.
Learning Curves (the Tools, Too)
As the shows went on, I found myself geeking out over all the different tools. I glanced over at a booth featuring this high-end table saw, and the moment I saw it in action, I thought I’d found the holy grail. It rip-cut through a slab of oak like it was nothing. I chatted with the guy running the booth, and he casually dropped the fact that it was a SawStop—fancy stuff, but I left imagining how my janky old table saw barely cuts straight.
I had a chuckle, thinking about trying to make my old saw work like that. I almost wanted to record the sound it made when I turned it on—kind of a wheezy, sad little whir—which didn’t help my frustration at all. It’s a constant reminder to myself that sometimes it isn’t about the tools but how you use what you’ve got.
Unexpected Inspirations
One of the highlights was a talk by a veteran woodworker who shared how to make mistakes work in your favor. He brought in several projects that started as “oops” moments but turned into masterpieces. One story still sticks with me: he made a beautiful bench only to find that the legs were uneven. Instead of trashing it, he crafted a cool design that incorporated the angles. It immediately inspired me.
Now, every time I work on a project, I remind myself that it’s okay to mess up, to laugh a little, and to be creative in fixing those errors. It’s all part of the journey.
Wrapping It Up
So, as I sit here sipping my coffee and reflecting, I can’t stress enough how much fun it’s been, but also how valuable those lessons have been. If you’re tinkering with wood or just thinking about trying your hand at it, go for it! Don’t get discouraged if things don’t go as planned. Embrace those “oops” moments; they might just lead to something better than you expected.
After all, that’s what woodworking—or life, really—is all about. So grab that router, that piece of wood, and just dive in. You’ve got this!
