IWF-Atlanta

[bleeth]

SO who's goin? Anybody up for an after show closing meet and greet dinner one night.
I figure on being there Friday and Saturday.

Dave

[billp]

Dave,
There's a pretty large Shopbot community in/near Atlanta so I think it will be pretty well attended. We're going to have TWO booths at this show ( one for the full sized machines, and one for the Buddy/Power stick setup...). We're still in the running for the Challenger award as well;
http://www.shopbottools.com/shopbot_buddy.htm
and that should have a lot of first time people at the booths.
We're all probably going to be pretty busy once the show gets started, but make sure to stop by and say hello...

[harryball]

I will be at the IWF and working in the SB booth at different points to help them cover for lunch etc... I wouldn't mind meeting as many of you as I can. My wife will probably be around for some of the days as well. If you organize something let me know.

/RB

[laserguy]

I will be there all day Wednesday and also Thursday morning. Lemmi know if there are any plans for that time frame :D

Mark

[jamesb]

Vector Art 3D will be at the show with our own booth 4160 - so drop by to say hi, it would be good to see you again Dave. Same goes for anyone else that wants to see a lot of nice carved samples, many made by Oscar Garcia on his Buddy!

James Booth

[harryball]

I will be visting James for sure. I've not worked out Wednesday yet, but I will be there Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Does anyone know if cameras are allowed?

/RB

[beacon14]

I was thinking of inviting any ShopBotters who will be in town for the show to come over to the house/shop on Friday evening for an informal meet/eat/greet session. I live about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta (maybe a little more on Friday evening). If everyone who attends can chip in five bucks or so we can grill hot dogs and hamburgers and just talk shop for a couple of hours.

Send me an e-mail if you are interested.

I have not seen anything about photography not being allowed.

[cabnet636]

yes i have always brought a camera!!

jim mcgrew

[bleeth]

Ok-Instead of blowing a bunch of bucks on a restaurant Dave's works for me as long as my wife permits!! She may insist on a Peachtree area eatery!

Bill, James, Bill, Ted, etc.: I'm looking forward to seeing you guys again too. It has been a couple of years now.

Bob-You can take pictures, videos, sound recordings, or whatever.

Advice to all who have never been to one: Wear very comfortable walking shoes and allow as much time as you can. This thing is immense. If you have certain specific interests it is best to identify where they are in advance and be sure you don't get too distracted by the incredible quantity of toys there.

[jamesb]

Mr. Buchsbaum (so as to avoid confusing the Davids in the thread), I sent you an email if you did not receive please email me at jab(at)carve3d(dot)com - thanks,
James

[beacon14]

Sorry, I was out of town for a few days and have not been returning e-mails as promptly as usual. Just got home so reply coming soon.

BTW not many people call me Mr. Buchsbaum. Mostly only the Scouts in my son's Boy Scout Troop. David B. feels much better.

Judging from the response so far it looks like it will be a small crowd with the emphasis on small. But sometimes smaller is better. Of course local 'botters are welcome as well whether you will be at the show or not (can't imagine why any local 'botter would miss it though). If transportation is an issue we could arrange carpools and/or use Marta as there is a station 5 minutes from the house and we can arrange to pick up/drop off at the station.

[beacon14]

Well, it's getting a little more exciting. James Booth from Vector Art 3D is coming and has graciously offered to pick up the food for us, and Tony McKenzie from Vectric has also indicated that he would like to come.

That makes 7 total so far. Anyone else?

[Gary Campbell]

David...
Put me down as a possible maybe. I am still trying to go to ATL, depending on how things go in JAX on the 18th. I will call you prior to leaving. (other items)
Gary

[andyb]

David,
About what time are you talking about getting together Friday? I'll be at IWF on Wednesday and Saturday. Will be coming from Gainesville on Friday.

Andy B.

[beacon14]

The show runs until 6PM so with travel time I'd guess we'll start around 7 or so.

[gene]

What do you all think about parking away from the show and taking marta . Safe or not ?

[bleeth]

Very safe. The only way I do it.

[andyb]

David B.,
Thanks for the info. Count me in. Can you post the address or shoot me an email with it? My email is in the profile.

Gene,
Dave's right. Very safe. I'll be taking Marta from Doraville to the show. The only way to go.

Andy B.

[harryball]

I will be driving to the show, I have a few things I'm taking with me as well that probably wouldn't carry in the train well.

If one or two folks want's to ride with me Friday evening from the show to David's let me know. I can't bring you back but I do pass the airport on my way home. Or I could drop you at a near by marta station.

/RB

[gene]

What is a good exit to get to a marta station where my vehicle wont get stripped ? I am comming from augusta on i 20

[beacon14]

We have left our car for a week at the Chamblee station while traveling with no problems. I'd suggest any of the outlying stations on the north side - Chambleee, Doraville, Perimeter, North Springs.

I'll send address info to all who have responded later this week. If you will need help with getting to/from Marta just let me know.

[ckurak]

David,

I am interested. I have sent you email.

Charles

[beacon14]

An e-mail has just gone out to everyone whom I have heard from so far. We are around twenty at this point including a few spouses. Let me know if you have not received the e-mail by the end of the day.

[conceptmachine]

David,
I may be able to come as well depending on whats going on at work.

shawn

[harryball]

Wow I've been busy... I might get to do some botting today. I forgot how crazy things get as September approaches.

I thought I'd offer some information you guys coming to Atlanta may or may not be aware of.

This is s decent source of Atlanta information, http://www.atlanta.net/
The Atlanta guide online, http://atlanta.net/vg/julyaug08/
Marta transit system maps http://www.itsmarta.com/getthere/schedules/index.htm

To get there from a little further out is Xpress, http://www.xpressga.com/
They have a lot right on I-75 at the Stockbridge exit which is also home to many hotels which might prove more economical than downtown. Go to Xpress Home - Routes for information.

Keep in mind, with gas prices like they are much of the commuter services are running near capacity. Calling them for a specific lot might be a good idea.

There is a lot to do downtown and plenty of resturants all in the guides. IMHO much of the stuff is over rated including the resturants, but it's easy enough to find something.

If you can get transportation, moving a little further out to things you won't know about...

Head south on I-75 to Exit 201 and eat at Buckner's Family Resturant. The best fried chicken and southern food on the planet. All you can eat and you sit around large round tables with a big lazy susan in the middle. Peach cobbler for desert, always. Plenty of sweet tea.
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=2598 Well worth the trip if you can make it and love southern food.

In the little ole town of McDonough (my home town) is a little resturant called Redz, (http://www.redzrestaurant.com/) Maybe a bit too upscale for us woodworker guys ;-) but it's a great place. It looks suit and tie but check out the pictures. The owner is a great guy.

Get out of the city one day to Stone Mountain Park, http://www.stonemountainpark.com/

One of the best most under utilized State parks, Panola Mountain State Park. http://www.gastateparks.org/info/panolamt/
A bit of a trip but generally virtually empty. Nice nature trails.

For stranger entertainment... we have a Northern Tool Catalog Store in Stockbridge, GA. And a Grainger Catalog store in Forest Park, GA. :-) LOL.

/RB

[Gary Campbell]

David, et al...
Cross me off the list. With my son at JAX and the storm coming, I am going to be jammed up all week. Then you would all blame me for bringing the rain to ATL with me!

Livin' in the Cone,
Gary

6811

[beacon14]

Shawn, hope you can make it.

Robert, nice rundown.

Gary, very sorry to hear that. Although anyone bringing a couple of inches of rain to Atlanta right now would get a hero's welcome - as long as it's within reason. Here's what happened the last time a hurricane blew through Florida on its way to Atlanta.


6812

Best of luck with your son and with the weather.

[jerry_stanek]

the company I work for has built two booths for the show and I was hoping to go down and install them but no joy there. I just won't make it this year.

[gene]

David
Do you have room for 2 more ? I would like to be in on this and i plus an guy that works with me is comming to the show on wed and thurs . i would love to hear what everyone else is doing with their bots.
Gene

[beacon14]

Gene, there is still plenty of room. I'll put you on the list.

If anyone else is still deciding or thinks they might come at the last minute please let me know so we can make sure to have enough food.

[wmcghee]

David, I'm planning on going to Atlanta and would like to join in. It would me my wife and I. That is if I can talk her into it after all day at IWF ;).

[harryball]

I will be there tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, I plan on being at the SB booth from about 11AM to 2PM to help and let others go to lunch. I plan to attend with my wife as well. If someone wants to grab a ride over Friday evening let me know during the show.

I'm bringing some items with me to sit around and show off the bots abilities... or at least my abilities and application, the bot is capable of way more than I ask of it.

/RB

[wmcghee]

I will be driving to the IWF. Can you give good directions to your house from the event. I know nothing about Atlanta,

[beacon14]

Wayne, you have mail.

I am purposely not posting my address here but it's certainly not because I'm trying to exclude anyone. If anyone wants to come but realizes at the last minute you don't know where I live call me at 404 dash 309 dash 9146.

[myxpykalix]

It would be a GREAT idea if some of you guys going would take your digital cameras and take a bunch of pictures to post for those of us who can't go. Maybe post them over on flikr? Some video would even be better for youtube.thanks

[harold_weber]

Maybe one of you going to the IWF show could find and post info or contacts for a vendor who sells a small smoke detector that would install in a vacuum hold-down suction line? I would think it needs to go before the bypass valve if you run a regenerative blower, so the pipe diameter will only be 2-3 inches.

What really worries me - a spark or ember on the spoilboard top has the benefit of the air rushing into the TRUPAN - its like your own blast furnace,,,,,,,,,

[andyb]

Here are some of the pics that I took. I wish I had taken more but the show was so big and only had a day to see it all.

Andy B.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29794736@N04/

[harryball]

My first day there was great, getting ready to head up for the second Day!

Highlight of the show was meeting Tony with Vectric and James with VectorArt 3D. Tony personally, himself and in the flesh handed me his business card as did James! Like a visit from Bill Gates... except mabye without all the cash :-)

I'm looking forward to this evening and my wife is wondering how many other wives will be there. I promised her at least one other would be there so don't let me down.

I'll be driving over and have a few extra seats in the car. I still don't know where we are going (exactly) though I assume I'll find out more at some point. Call me at 770 followed by 262 then then enter a 0 follwed by 800. Unless otherwise informed I plan to be near Jame's booth around 6PM today.

:-)

/RB

[gary_n]

Andy,
Your link to flickr does not work.

[oscarg1971]

Gary, it does work. Just copy and paste it into your browser. -Oscar

[njandpa]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[porscheman]

One of the items that I was looking for at the IWF show this year was Amana's insert-style planing bit (for spoilboard surfacing, hardwood planing, etc.). For more details on this cutter, see this thread:

http://www.talkshopbot.com/forum/messages/29/26647.html?1201191130

I came across a booth that was offering a full 35% discount (below suggested list) on the entire Amana line - other booths were selling Amana stuff with show discounts in the 10 or 15% range, but this vendor was way lower than anyone else (I think he's a small guy trying to attract new customers by selling show stuff at his cost....).

Anyway, he indicated his show pricing would be good through the end of this month (the end of next week). If you are interested, here's the info:

Fred D'Antonio
Bull Sharpening Service Inc.
6332 W. Roosevelt Rd.
Oak Park, IL 60304
708 386 2365

Final disclaimer - I have no affiliation with this company and haven't done any business with them before, so like myself, you'll be buying at your own risk. But given the $235 list price of the RC-2252 cutter, his discount price is $153. Not a bad savings.....

John

[porscheman]

Oh, I forgot to mention that David Buchsbaum had a great turnout at his informal get-together this evening. David and his wife/family provided an excellent meal and tour of his house and shop.

As David mentioned earlier, thanks to James Booth from Vector Art 3D for funding the dinner and to Tony from Vectric and Chris/Scott from ShopBot for answering questions and giving the group some insight into future directions for the software and hardware.

Thanks to all for a great evening!!!

John

[gene]

I agree , The highlight was meeting Tony and James . also there was a company that has carbide router bits @ 70 % off = a 1/4" 2 flute compression is about 13.75 . They gave me some 3/8" down cut to try but i dont have the right size collet ( But it is on order)
I'll also post how the bits cut and their website ,the sale is on for 4 weeks so there will be time .
It was a good I W F show . and i hope all who attended had a great time and will share the leads and info with all who didnt make he show...

[harryball]

Enjoyed the get together at David's, Thanks David (and to your wife) for hosting.

Now, off to the IWF again!

/RB

[paul_n]

David & Amy...
Thank you -SO- much for allowing us all to gather at your home... It was great to see 'old' friends again, and meet new ones... Thanks James for the food. Great to see Tony again !!!

Paul

[andyb]

Thanks David and Amy. Especially Amy and daughter for getting all the food ready. Thanks for the food James B.

David, Thank you for showing us your process for cutting the closet cabinets from melamine and some of the personal projects you have going on. I always come away with something new every time I get together with a group of Shopbotters.

It was great to finally meet Tony with Vectric. I'm excited about the new things to come from Vectric. All I can say is WOW!!!

James, Thanks for the great info you provided and the samples you brought to show. Oscar did a great job cutting them out.

Let’s not forget Chris and Scott from Shopbot. Thanks for answering our questions.

Time to go process all the info from last night.

Andy B.

[gene]

The company with the carbide router bits is RBTOOLSUPPLY.COM They have 1/4" single and two flute compression cutters for 13.20 and 3/8" single and 2 flute compression cutters for 19.67 .
To get a catalog and price sheet Call 877 247 7320. This price is good until 09-20-08.
I am going to order some to try and i'll let you know how they work , but they apear to look very good and are very sharp. Hope this helps ..

[gene]

I forgot to mention there made in the USA

[cabnet636]

i raced over to the rb booth onlate saturday and got thier price list, the quality of the bits was excellent!!

jim

[jamesb]

I just wanted to publicly thank David for hosting the mini-camp last week. I enjoyed meeting new people and seeing old friends. The information was very interesting and David really showed us what is capable with a Bot some imagination and perseverance.

I would have added to the thread earlier but was driving back to Toronto from Atlanta for the last few days! If anyone found a sony-ericson cell phone at David's its probably mine - let me know if anyone saw it...

Cheers,
James

[harryball]

I wondered who's phone I was using to call my friends in Japan ;-) Sorry, couldn't resist, haven't seen it though. Bummer loosing a phone. Keep calling it, maybe someone will answer. (mean time at David's "WHERE is that RINGING coming from!?!?")

I too enjoyed David's mini-camp especially meeting everyone including James and Tony. One thing I came away with was a renewed energy to be creative!

/RB

[beacon14]

That explains the ringing in my ears the last few days. Sorry James but no unclaimed phones have turned up here.

Thanks to all who turned out, we had close to two dozen in the shop, comparing notes and exchanging a few stories and some laughs. Thanks again to James Booth and Vector Art 3D for providing the food and drink (yum).

There's been some talk of trying to make this a regular thing, we have enough critical mass in the Atlanta area that we should be able to visit a different shop every 3 or 4 months to keep things interesting and fresh. Since I have the e-mail addresses I'll send out a tickler later this year if no one has issued an invitation.

As for the show the overall attendance was way lower (half?) than at previous shows, but from what I heard the folks that were there had money to spend. Shopbot and Vector Art 3D were two of the few booths that had consistent crowds almost all 4 days. I found a few new tricks and saw a lot of familiar faces. Still trying to get caught up at the office after being focused on the show and get-together all week.

[gene]

Hey All
My order of some bits from RBTOOLSUPPLY.COM came in and i cut some 3/4 poplar ..Very good cut quality .I will be ordering more . They are on sale until 09-20. A 1/4" Compression single or double flute 13.20ea and a 3/8" compression single or double flute for 19.67 ea. Hope this helps