NOVEMBER 2008: Sponsored by TJ and Beaver Tools

[Matthew Schenker]

Everyone,
We're ready to start the November 2008 contest.  This month, we have something very different!

For the past six months, Festool has generously supplied tools and other prizes.  But the goal has goal was always to spark wider sponsorship.  With that in mind, I've been working offline with the Festool dealers who are part of this forum, in order to arrange dealer-sponsored contests.

I'm proud to announce that several dealers have stepped up and agreed to be sponsors.

From now on, each month one dealer will sponsor that month.  As a sponsor, the dealer decides what the theme will be, and they supply the prize.  This is a great way to add more variety to our contests and get even more people involved!

This month's sponsor: TJ from Beaver Tools.
This month's theme: "Most creative way to hide tool purchases from your spouse, OR how to convince your spouse to buy tools."
This month's prize: 1.3Ah NiCad C12 Drill

Everyone, get involved in this month's contest!  Write something up -- use description, fun, photos, humor and your unique creativity.  At the end of the month, we'll choose a winner!

Post your entries in the About Our Members section.  I'm looking forward to seeing what people come up with.

Please join me in offering a big thank you to TJ and Beaver Tools for sponsoring this month's contest!

Let's all have some fun with it.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[Brice Burrell]

Thanks TJ for coming through for us this month. Not being married I lack the motivation to spark the imagination that will come up with a winning idea but good luck to everyone else.

 

[SteveD]

Oooh, Interesting.
And thank you TJ as well.

I AM married and in the interests of keeping the divorce level down, can we lock this to members only and two levels of passwords, finger prints and so on?

There are two important questions I'd like to bring up - before we get going.

The first question is, "How many spouses of members also check the group?" 'Cos if they do there are sure to be lots of, "Oh honey..." followed by some creative explanations.

The second question is, "How many spouses (or significant others) are going to use the information to buy a surprise Christmas or anniversary/birthday present?"

I look forward to reading the ideas of others!

My entry and the only one I would 'fess up to would be, "Honest honey, I won it in a competition in the Festool Owners Group Website!"

SteveD

 

[nickao]

Just remember every tool purchase you hide, that's 3 dress purchases she is hiding.

I know the theme is a joke, but seriously,  if you have to hide the purchases I feel bad for you. If someone is spending money they need for bills on tools they have a problem. If you have the money and your wife will not let you spend on a hobby or for work tools she has a problem.

Hiding tool purchases or any purchases is not the way to go. I think a better topic would be "Most creative way to convince your spouse to agree letting you make a Festool purchase." Then again I am not giving away the tool, so good luck guys!

Nickao

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
Yes, this month's theme is a bit of a departure from the usual, project-related subject matter of our contests!

But when a dealer is generous enough to sponsor a contest, I feel they have earned the right to promote something new!  Let's see how it works out.

Of course, one does not necessarily have to be married to enter thie month's contest.  In fact, maybe unmarried members can contribute more freely, since they have no fear of reprisals!  Just a thought.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Afternoon,
Just to let everyone know, I moved a few posts out of this disussion into a discussion for all the contest entries in the "About Our Members" board.

To read the entries, and add your own, click here.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[butzla]

Matt,  Are you ever going to go back to contests based on projects and manuals or is the new trend?

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Matt,  Are you ever going to go back to contests based on projects and manuals or is the new trend?

We're starting a new system for contests: dealers are now sponsoring them.

Each month, it will be a different dealer.  As part of the new system, the sponsoring dealer for that month gets to determine what the theme will be.  This month, for example, TJtools is sponsoring the contest and they chose the theme, "Most creative way to hide tool purchases from your spouse."

So, no, it's not a trend.  Next month, the sponsoring dealer may go back to having it be projects.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Frank Pellow]

I don't think much of the theme, so I will bow out as a judge this month.

 

[nickao]

Oh I miss understood I thought the sponsor picked the winner this month. The theme is a joke theme I hope.

nickao

 

[danrush]

I'm not sure I agree that promoting deception is such a great idea. 

Dan

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Evening,
Remember, this is all in good fun.

But to take away the idea of deception, TJ has revised the theme as follows:

"Most creative way to hide tool purchases from your spouse, OR how to convince your spouse to buy tools."

Hope that helps!

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[jeffguy]

Does anyone in this group have a sense of humor?  You festool people take yourselves way too seriously.  Do you people really think the sponsor is trying to promote deception?

Its a free tool people LIGHTEN UP. 

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Does anyone in this group have a sense of humor?  You festool people take yourselves way too seriously.  Do you people really think the sponsor is trying to promote deception?

Its a free tool people LIGHTEN UP. 

... The theme is a joke theme I hope.

Making these contests happen takes a lot of offline communication and coordination.  After six months, I was feeling that we needed some variety in the way it's done, to make it more inspiring to members... and also for the administrator!  That's why I decided to ask dealers to sponsor the contests.

Altering the theme so it's not just exclusively about projects adds more life to the forum.  Remember, the idea of the contests is to get people involved and posting all kinds of material.

Next month, we may return to project-based contests, or maybe our sponsor will think of something entirely different.  Variety is what makes this forum fun and unique!

I hope everyone understands what this effort is all about.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[SteveD]

Yes honey, NOW I believe you won it from the FOG contest. Well done, even if yours was the ONLY entry.

SteveD

 

[wnagle]

It's obvious to me that this theme was in good fun from the begining...  I can't imagine the design was to promote deception or be offensive in any way.  It's to have a little fun...  And for me, I had fun writing my little ditty.  The quality of the woodworking projects submitted on this forum each month are so absolutely incredible... way out of my league... and probably many, as I, feel a little intimidated.  I don't really feel I would have a chance of winning anything with my feeble projects.  For once, I felt I had something to offer...maybe a smile  for someone AND a chance to win a tool.  It's all good.

Frank, I really like reading your comments and veiwing your great projects.  You always have so much good to offer and always have a great attitude and seem to be someone who really enjoys life.  I'm sure you have made a positive impact on most everyone on this forum.  Surely, Frank you may bow out as judgeing this contest if you wish.  However I hope you might reconsider the intent as just having a little fun.  Most guys have had, at sometime, a funny or awkward  story in there quest to put tools in the shop... However, we all share a commonality for good purpose... that is we build stuff... all of us build stuff with our tools.  Some for hire,  some for fun, some for family and friends.... Everything I build I give away... thats my fun...  My point is we all use our tools for good purpose and many have stories to share, all in good spirit, so lets have a little fun... I'd hate to see someone offended, when I bet, no offense was meant. 

Just my thoughts...

 

[TJtools]

It's obvious to me that this theme was in good fun from the begining...  I can't imagine the design was to promote deception or be offensive in any way.  It's to have a little fun...  And for me, I had fun writing my little ditty.  The quality of the woodworking projects submitted on this forum each month are so absolutely incredible... way out of my league... and probably many, as I, feel a little intimidated.  I don't really feel I would have a chance of winning anything with my feeble projects.  For once, I felt I had something to offer...maybe a smile  for someone AND a chance to win a tool.  It's all good.

You hit the nail right on the head.  This theme was not to promote anything besides humor.  I thought it would give everyone a fair shot at winning a free tool and spread some laughter in the process.  If you are lucky enough to NOT have to convince or hide major purchases from you significant other then that is a prize itself, but if your like me I DO have to convince my wife (to be) to let me buy anything over $50 and when she says no well, then I have to hide the purchase (just until its delivered). I mean i didnt just WANT the 56" plasma it was NEEDED and she uses it too so we both win.   But come on people ITS SUPPOSED TO BE FOR FUN !!!!   If you have never hidden something or convinced anyone of anything...... MAKE IT UP make me laugh and Ill give you a FREE Festool Drill. 

 

[nickao]

My wife asked for a new vacuum cleaner for the one carpeted room in the house.  I got her a CT 33, then stole it for the shop after two weeks. She did not even realize it was for woodworking for those two weeks and yelled at me for ruining it with saw dust!  She now uses an Oreck, I kept the CT33 and got another to boot!

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Evening,

Oh I miss understood I thought the sponsor picked the winner this month.

Yes, judging will be done by the sponsoring dealer from now on.  If the sponsoring dealer would rather not judge, that's OK.  But I think the sponsor should have the right to decide on this.

This month, Beaver Tools will be judging the contest.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[peter halle]

I am lucky that I don't need to hide my Festool purchases from my wife.  She in fact has been the primary purchaser of my green tools.  Here is what she did to me....

But first, let me set the scene.  We had built a 10' x 12' shed after we moved into our house.  In 2003 hurricane Isabel deposited an 85' tall oak tree with a trunk 4' in diameter onto that building.  When the insurance company offered a $14000 check I didn't ask twice.  Because my business had shifted to being mobile versus the shop, the tools I use to make a living were not in that shed.

Rather than tearing it down, I repaired it and then built another.  The interior of that original shed has to date never been cleaned up.  Ultimate mayhem exists as things get piled inside.

Christmas 2005 - I have been intrigued by the fact that I haven't seen the holy grail of presents under the tree.  Great presents but something was missing.  My wife played it like a fiddle and then sent me out to the shed for my present.  I was puzzled because someone had visited the day before and they had asked to see the shed and I had opened the door and allowed them to see the mayhem.  I went out, looked, and returned puzzled.

She was shocked that I came back empty handed and demanded that I go back and look.  I was not to return until I found my present.  I went back and started to tear thru the pile of stuff until I realized I was getting cold so I thought about shutting the door.  To do so and remain in the shed requires a move similar to those of a karate practitioner.  Once the door closed and I was inside, there was my my first Festool - my 55 and rail hidden behind the door - because she knew that the door wouldn't open all the way and allow me to see behind it.

Bethany should win this contest, but I have a better idea and will be working on it.  It has a little of David Copperfield in it and will be adaptable to all.  Stay tuned.

Peter