Next month I’ll pack up my tool chest and drive to Waterloo, Ontario, for the grand opening celebration of Lee Valley Tools’ newest store.
In addition to signing books and letting people root through my chest, I’ll also be giving some short seminars on tools, shop set-up and chest construction during three days: Sept. 22-24.
I’m one of several exhibitors who will be speaking and teaching at the store, including Konrad Sauer of Sauer & Steiner Toolworks, Dan Barrett of D.L. Barrett & Sons, Rick Blaiklock, the director of research and development at Veritas Tools and several other experts on woodworking and gardening.
Many of the seminars during the grand opening are free; a few have a minor entrance fee. All net proceeds from the event are donated to the United Way.
For those of you who are not Ontario-savvy, Waterloo is about 90 minutes west of Toronto – not too terribly far from the border (but yes, too far to tunnel there). I’ll be driving to the event because my tool chest will not fit in the overhead bin of an aircraft.
I haven’t been to Canada for three years and am greatly looking forward to seeing the new store, getting to meet Canadian woodworkers and hang out with some of the other demonstrators. If you’ve never been to a Lee Valley retail store, they are worth the trip – they are just as special as the company’s catalog.
Below is the schedule for my seminars plus the description of the seminar as written by Lee Valley Tools.
The Tools, the Toolbox and Everything
Thursday, Sept. 22, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Join Christopher Schwarz for a talk on his work to date, with highlights from his most recent book, “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest.” Chris will briefly go over his philosophy on woodworking tools, toolboxes and woodworking in general.
Fee: Free
Meet Christopher Schwarz: Author/Publisher/Woodworker
Friday, Sept. 23, 9:30 a.m. to noon
and
Saturday, Sept. 24, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you have one of his books, have followed his blog, and/or read his articles, you won’t want to miss this great opportunity to meet Chris. There will be book signing and a general discussion on woodworking.
An Overview of Shop Set Up
2 hours
Friday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
What tools and equipment do I really need to become proficient at woodworking? Do I need a cabinet saw or will a contractor’s saw do just fine? What about a router: fixed base or plunge? Do I really need to buy a jointer and a thickness planer? As woodworkers, we are bombarded with sales pitches telling us that we need a shop full of expensive tools and equipment. But what tools and equipment do we really need? These are the questions Christopher Schwarz will answer during this session.
Fee: $20
Tickets will go on sale in early September. To purchase tickets call 519-746-2555.
— Christopher Schwarz