I wrote a while back about Alex coming to Tucson Woodcraft Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. I attended his seminar Tuesday. It was Snodgrass Method through and through. It did turn my resaw thinking upside down. He resawed a 10" board with a 3/8" Carter blade and the MagFence II as a fence (3" tall), set parallel to the blade with the F.A.S.T setup blocks, and got a perfect slice. He explained in great detail why he swears by it, and that he can completely eliminate drift. I've always used a dedicated resaw blade and gone through accounting for drift by angling the fence. I get perfect results that way, but I'm definitely going to play with his technique. It sure would save a lot of hassle.
The 3D cutting board class was yesterday. The news I was saving was that I was the classroom assistant, so I got to spend the day with Alex helping out. I had doubts about the class being able to finish 10 boards, requiring 78 cuts each on a band saw (there was no table saw used), but everyone finished ahead of schedule and every board came out great.
I'm not going to write a long report, but it was one of the best woodworking experiences of my life. Being able to ask him real-time questions and getting his thoughts on how I approach resawing and band saw used in general was awesome. He really is a down-to-earth guy who loves to share what he knows. I learned more than I could possibly share in a forum post.
And, of course, he did his quick antlered buck (or whatever that animal is) with the 1/8" blade and Carter stabilizer. I wasn't aware of it but he holds the patents for dozens of Carter products.
The final step for the boards before going through the drum sander was for Alex to resaw about 1/8" from each side in order to minimize the passes needed on the sander. He put the stock fence on the Jet JBS 14 and used his 3/8" Carter blade. Zero drift, and perfect veneers.
Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner
Very cool Rich. I'd like to see his resaw setup. I think I'll attend when he comes here. I wasn't offered the "assistant" position though so I'll be sitting out of the cutting board class...
It was, Lar. Kenny, Ryan, the class project is straightforward and would be routine for you both. He's spread thin during it and doesn't have a lot of time to focus on any one student. I was fortunate to have a few hours of time alone with him helping him set up for the seminar and class.
I highly recommend the seminar. He spends over an hour and stays to answer questions. Tucson Woodcraft limited it to 20 attendees, so folks had a lot of time with him afterward. Some seminars are letting in as many as 80, so that could limit your access.
Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner
Thanks for posting this. I have wanted Alex's YouTube at lease 6 time to set up my resaw on the bandsaw.
As an aside, my new Harvey Alpha bandsaw with blade as shipped and no special set up worked perfect in resawing (rosewood?) in half for butterfly inlays. Just moved the fence over and cut.
What a great experience! I hope "someday" to go to an extended class (handtool, furniture building, etc). YouTube helps, but not the same as in person and hands-on. Thanks for sharing (and trying very hard not to be too envious!).
Of course it's far more expensive, but his Marc Adams School class is way more in-depth regarding band saw tune up and use. He said for that class, he goes in early each morning and backs off each student's guides so they have to retune it. They make three boards in five days.
Half of what we read or hear about finishing is right. We just don’t know which half! — Bob Flexner
He used to go into places, and ask for the worst looking, running, BS they could drag in, and he would do his normal set up, and then do his show with it. He said it was to keep people from thinking it was that "perfect" saw he was using. The biggest cheerleaders were the owners of the junk saws.
He and Michael Fortune are 2 people who if you can get close to will improve your BS game on the spot, both are proponents of, there is no drift. Alex is a lot more colorful than Fortune, and I imagine spending a few days with him would be a treat.
