Many thanks to the entire Festool USA team for not only hosting Festool Connect 2013 from JLC Providence, RI but also for streaming it so those of us stuck at our home bases could at least see and hear the happenings.
In my shop all of us took turns watching. When something of special interest would happen, the 'official observer' would announce it over the PA system.
We had work late Tuesday and Wednesday and planned to work late today to stay on pace or slightly ahead of schedule despite enjoying Connect 2013.
All of us did enjoy ourselves. I have always been a major fan of Allen Kensley, Steve Bace and Brian "Curly" "The Sedge" Sedgeley. I happened to the the 'Observer' while 'Curly' demonstrated cope, stick and raising with the CMS. Having had the chance to build doors with The Sedge in class, I turned my seat over to our Frame, Door and Front specialist. He was most impressed since he has never met The Sedge.
Our Frame Guy perfected his methods long before the CMS was designed. His methods work very well, but still he was open to seeing how other perform familiar tasks. He uses a Felder shaper to raise panels and one each router tables for the cope and stick. Our cope table has a Woodpecker coping sled which works well for us. The stick table has a power feed. So does the shaper, but we do not use that when raising panels.
Unfortunately for me I had to take an important emergency meeting so I missed Steve Bace, Allen Kensley and Norm Abrahms. Well, I have many of Norm's shows on DVD, I'll be seeing Allen in Culver City on 4 May at Anderson Plywood and I virtually live at the Henderson, NV Training Center with Steve. You know I spend way too much time there when the Sunset Station has my name on a parking spot.
For 2014 the cunning plan is that two of us will fly to Providence for JLC. The fellows will work out the selection process. I am not guaranteed a spot unless I promise to pay my own way and my health allows. So that is something we can look forward to doing.
Please know that you folks did all of us, your loyal Festool Fans, a solid today!