A project is that a "project" not a final pictures. I guess I must have missed his making of the project in other threads. I have not read through them all, only the newer threads.

I envisioned pics of the projects in stages showing the Festools being used in the pics.  Pictures of the final project show no details at all. I think that is the difference between a regular woodworking forum and this.

The Festool techniques I thought were an integral part of the premise of the contest. I guess I did not read the contest rules correctly.

Yes, I do it for a living and I do not see how you can NOT find the time to take pictures. Before my house fire I had pics of every deck, gazebo, house I worked on. Every project that I did I took pics from 1989 on. I lost 13 years of pics in the house fire. The pictures is what got me work in the future.

Knowing about this contest now, ahead of time, I think pictures can be taken as you go. I think that a contest it that, a contest and the progress pic should be mandatory. If people are  going to submit work that they are doing on a 40 or more an hour a week job - that is totally unfair to the guys that work 40 or more hours sitting behind a desk. The least a tradesman can do is take 30 seconds to snap some pictures.

If pictures are not mandatory of Festools techniques being SHOWN in the project submission I suggest at least two categories. People that do it for a living and people that don't. I know there is one prize I really don't care.

I do not think making progress pics showing the Festools in action is a negative in anyway. Isn't that the point off this contest? Isn't that why Festool is involved, for Festools. Not the actual project, but how Festools are used in making the project should be the point here. If anyone has a problem taking a 5 sec picture showing the festool and how it is used there is something fishy going on.

Now I am going to work and use my Festools.

Nickao

Hi,

     I think that having everything in the Member Projects Area  automatically entered will make it more difficult to discuss the entries. Also does this mean that people can have as many entries as they want?   There may even be people that have posted projects that do not want them entered for what ever reason.  I think there should be a seperate board / area just for contest entries. And that people wanting to enter should start a thread on that board for there entry. If they want to enter something that they have already posted, cut and paste makes it easy to repost.  I think that this would really help organise this as a contest.


Seth

            TWO

Keeping everything in the "Member Projects" board is a way of letting the forum continue as normal, without changing things just for the contest.  Just keep posting your projects to the projects board, and it will be in the contest.  That keeps things simple.  Asking people to post their projects in the "Member Projects" board, then re-post it in the contest area, I think, adds complications.

If there are members who don't want their projects entered in the contest (as Ned Young has stated) they can simply say so.  I've added this to the description of the contest in the first post of this discussion.

Matthew

While many, many posts have expressed concerns regarding fairness, logistics, existing versus new projects, etc.... I think there is merit to doing this. This is a pretty eclectic group and the first impulse has been to think about what could go wrong and how might it hurt the group. I agree with the comment Jesse made about the Henderson trip. We worry too much. Perhaps it is our collective nature. Who knows. Let's do it, in whatever way Matthew chooses. If it does not work out we will recognize that and either modify our approach or do away with it altogether and we will most likely be no worse for it.

The concept of broadening the contest or having a category for school projects and/or parent/child projects is laudible as well. I think this may be a nice way of increasing the awareness of these fine tools that have brought us all together.

Matthew, since I personally have spent most of my retirement money on Festools and there is not much incentive for me to participate in the upcoming contests I would like to volunteer as a judge if you are looking for folks to fulfill that role. At any rate, I expect my skills as a judge are probably greater than my skills as a woodworker.  

Just an added thought: I really believed I was spent out about 2 or 3 years ago; what was left to buy? Let's see, since then we have the Domino, TS75, Kapex, MK700, MFT3, OF2200.....Oh, well, maybe I'll have to enter after all.  

I would be a judge, but I fear my narrow view of how the contest winners should be viewed may or may not be desirable to you.

Nickao

  Nick, the way I've interpreted Matthews rules, we are looking for a project/thread that is the most exciting, entertaining, educational and just plain fun to read and participate in. If someone can achieve that without pictures documenting the construction, I have no problem with their winning the contest. Since the idea is to have a project thread that is "exciting, entertaining, educational and just plain fun to read and participate in" there is no unfair advantage to the professional woodworker.

  Its all about generating excitement in the forum, the guy that goes the extra mile to do that will have earned the prize. That's how I see anyhow.

I agree with all that.

But I suspect great pictures and showing the Festools in the project are going to be a great advantage to the people participating in the contest. In this day and age making something exciting without pictures will be tough.

Nickao

Hi,

      I think it is absolutely necessary for the judges to state clearly why they chose the winner.  This will give insentive for others to improve there entries.


Seth

I don't mean to keep coming back to this, I really want to get more kids involved in woodworking.  The PS2, X-Box, etc have taken them away from many of the activities that we enjoyed in our youth...perhaps leading us to one of the most rewarding hobbies that there is.

Furthermore, FestoolUSA has a school buying program that allows substantial discounts for educational facilities.  With school programs cutting dough away from the Wood Class, what a better way to size down a shop, and begin teaching the techniques and methods of work that one uses in a smaller shop environment.

I like Brice's suggestions as to design as well....also taught and incorporated in the classroom.  Whether or not the school has Festool is irrelevant.  The purpose of the School Contest would be to get the FT name out there, and perhaps generate buzz around "Shop Teachers."

2 more cents!!

Timmy

Sounds just about right!  OK, so now we have four judges: Brice, Jonny, Nick, and me.


Of course, that's why I like the idea of creating an open discussion about it in the "Tool Contests" board.  Members can put out their ideas about their favorites, and we can have a friendly discussion about the merits of the various projects.  In the end, the judges make a decision, and describe what went into their decision.  It does not have to be overly formal -- just a discussion like the ones we always have here in the FOG.  Members can pick up project tips from the discussion.  The next month, we start it up again.  A project that "almost wins" in May might be a top candidate in June, July...!
Matthew

Matt, I love you but you can't count very well. You have Five!

Oh, right, five: Brice, Jonny, Greg, Nick, and Me.

Matthew

Thanks, I am under a deadline for April 30th and after staying up the entire weekend the client gave me until the May 9th. If I only would have know this Friday. Anyhow I got a lot done.

Nick

Fred, my wife speaks English very well (and constantly), and isn't known for her tolerance. She can also be quite dangerous when provoked.

If I should suddenly disappear from this forum, you'll know something went terribly wrong with my plan. 


John