Whats the best Bang for your buck at the Somerset, NJ woodworking show?

I don’t know what is good there. It’ll be my first time to a show. My son and I are going tomorrow (Fri.). There are coupons online for $2 off admission at the door. There are also a bunch of other coupons for various stuff.

http://www.thewoodworkingshows.com/attendees/coupons.htm

I’ve not been able to get to a show, but i did just finish shopping for a TS fence. Mostly online, so i didn’t get to touch a few of the contenders. The Delta T30 could have been delivered at under $180, and i nearly ordered one on reputation—but tonight i see Tools-plus shows it as no longer being carried. The Vega Pro 40 is about $250 on Amazon, good rep, thin web site. Calling Steel City direct you may be able to get their Industrial 30” right at about $300—or that was the upgrade price if i’d bought one of their warehouse sale saws—fuzzy memory on that. Nearly bought an older Delta Platinum contractor with a Unifence for $300 in relatively unused condition, but arranging transport and half day off in the moment couldn’t happen (not to mention having bought a 21833 and not yet selling the BT3000—my Bride is patient but a third TS would have put her over the top!!). So…i’ve got an Incra TS-LS 32” on the way. In your budget you’re not THAT far off, around $400 for the system.

Armed with that info for your show visit—see if somebody’s got a deal. Good luck!!
earl

Frustrated. Peachtree had the Panel Max Gluing Jig at earlier shows, not at Somerset. It is $350 at their site, was $200 at the earlier shows.

A word of caution, make sure you don’t get sold on something that is already setup to be used for the show. Two years ago a friend came with me to Somerset and bought a $150 Freud bit set for a desk project he was “going” to do. The demonstration of the locked miter set was great, but the tools are setup to perform the task they are trying to sell you! He never used them and ended up giving them to me because he would never use them…I’ve never used them either.

FYI- Lee Valley will ship you your plane…cannot go home with one. Bought one 3 years ago and was disappointed I went home with a receipt and nothing more, although the plane was delivered and have never been disappointed since. Any of the Lee Valley tools would be my recommendation. Plus, don’t miss our fellow LJ Paul Sellers who will be there. His seminars are awesome!

I will be there tomorrow too and cannot wait. Good luck.

Was my first show when it was in baltimore. Spent most of the time watching Paul Sellers and didn’t even realize it. People seemed to be buying up clamps from peachtree. i’d check that out if you need some.

-- In the end, when your life flashes before your eyes, will you like what you see?

Thank you all for the advice as I am off to show. Hey green acres, I understand the ups and downs of table saw drama very well. Like the 180 deal.

-- Everyday Woodworking is saving my life.

I got a good 21833, everything is true so they may have fixed the out-of-square problem or i got lucky. The stock fence isn’t bad but i’m not fond of the 2 piece rails. Spent some time trying to buy/piece together an Incra system in the used market—finally gave up and bit the bullet. Good luck!!

Check out the woodpeckers booth i purchased a few items at a good price. Not many of the booths discount.

Ditto on the Woodpeckers. I got the router lift with the extra inserts for $229, $300 for both on the website. The Woodpecker’s stuff in person is very impressive. I also got two things I had no intention of getting going in: their saw blade/fence alignment gauge and their 24” T-rule.

The Panel Max Gluing jig was at Peachtree for $199. One is now in my truck.