Woodex 08 at the Warwickshire exhibition centre 18-20th April.

I`ve just visited the site for the woodex event & it looks like it may be worth a visit, but then, so did the ally pally show?

So it got me wondering, has anyone from the forum been to previous woodex shows, if so what did you think of it.

For the turners amongst us there looks like there is going to be plenty of well known demonstrators & it`s free entry & parking.

So any thoughts please.

Baz.

Baz, who puts on the Woodex show?

D.

Meridienne exhibitions Derek

The show site is www.woodex.co.uk

Baz

Thanks for that Ben.

Baz.

I went last year and thought it was a great day out.  There weren't a lot of trade stands but I think the days of great bargains may be behind us. 

There were lots of demonstrators and lots of club stands and displays of work which I enjoyed immensely - just chatting to other turners was great fun.

I'd recommend it and it's free!

 Cheers Dave

Dave,

when you say there are lots of displays of work, is that mainly/ exclusively turning, or are there other pieces such as furniture etc? I find these far more interesting than the trade stands. 

Mike 

Hi Mike

There were displays of all sorts of work - toys, model carriages and carts, model wheelbarrows, furniture items and many other things that escape me now.  Perhaps the website has more details?  There were also carving displays. 

 It isn't a big show but very intimate and I found it great fun.

Hope this helps

CHeers Dave

I went to Woodex 07 and must admit it was quite disappointing. Not any freebies that I

could see, not much wood. Had to pay last year. Coffee was vile. Demonstrators good

though. Will be going this year - its FREE. Should be more people. Lets hope its an

improvement.

Hi all

A guy named Steve cooper was at woodex 08, doing thin wall turning does anyone how i can contact him.Thanks woodys

Steve Coopers should be listed on the register of professional turners, if he can be contacted his address or phone number should be there.

Ralph

Thx Ralph

i'll give that a look at.

I popped along to Woodex and thought they had done much to improve things since last year. Free entry, better catering facilities, a much bigger crowd and a really good atmosphere.

Apparently they are planning to do a 'winter woodex' as well towards the end of the year.

Cheers,

Matthew

www.workshopheaven.com

I was planning to go Saturday, Cant now..... so let me know what i missed. please

Ralph

I'm going on Saturday, I hope it's good it's over 200 miles round trip! I'll let you know

Cheers Dave

I went too - just over 200 miles round trip and yes, for me it was worth it. I met a couple of pals and spent quite some time talking to the guys on the Model Wheelwright stand, something I used to do some years ago. I picked up some very useful tips and information and my enthusiasm is renewed - watch this space (but don't hold your breath!)

I had a chat with John Berkeley who was demonstating a "uni-chaser", a new tool from Ashley Isles; it is very competitively priced. It is a double sided chaser so you only need one tool. It's only available in 16TPI at present. John has them for sale. I have known John for some time and can recommend a day with him if you want to learn to chase therads. He was aso using alternative material and I bought a couple of pieces to have a go with.

Nigel Fleckney from English Hardwoods was also there with some spectacular burrs and timber of all sizes. I parted with the necessary and brought home a superb bit of Lime burr, waiting to be turned into a platter about 22" in diameter, another piece of Horse Chestnut Burr and a log of boxwood. all for £35! His timber is very well priced and I had to refrain from buying more, even though you can never have too much wood

Another high spot was watching Stephen Cooper turning and end grain natural edge bowl and I picked up some good tips.

There were two stalls selling cheap tooling of verious types and someone selling a "miracle chamois" and another selling a "super brush"- you know the sort of thing - works great at the show but never seems quite as good when you get it home. Haven;' we all be caught at some time?

Does the show have a future - I don't know. It was much smaller than last year when I went and not that busy. Perhaps it would have been busier if there hadn;t been another show this weekend just up the road.

Cheers Dave

Sounds good Dave

That lot of wood was a good deal at that price, I was fortunate enough to see Stephen Cooper last month at Yandles you can certainly learn a lot from watching him,

I last went to the midlands show in the 90s it was a big show then, there were a lot of competitions running for most types of woodwork, sadly that is no longer there by the sound of it. the shame is not only no comps to enter but half the display space was for these items which made a good display.

The show sounds like it will be worth a visit next year though.

Ralph